Force coordination in static manipulation tasks performed using standard and non-standard grasping techniques.

PubMed

de Freitas, Paulo B; Jaric, Slobodan

2009-04-01

We evaluated coordination of the hand grip force (GF; normal component of the force acting at the hand-object contact area) and load force (LF; the tangential component) in a variety of grasping techniques and two LF directions. Thirteen participants exerted a continuous sinusoidal LF pattern against externally fixed handles applying both standard (i.e., using either the tips of the digits or the palms; the precision and palm grasps, respectively) and non-standard grasping techniques (using wrists and the dorsal finger areas; the wrist and fist grasp). We hypothesized (1) that the non-standard grasping techniques would provide deteriorated indices of force coordination when compared with the standard ones, and (2) that the nervous system would be able to adjust GF to the differences in friction coefficients of various skin areas used for grasping. However, most of the indices of force coordination remained similar across the tested grasping techniques, while the GF adjustments for the differences in friction coefficients (highest in the palm and the lowest in the fist and wrist grasp) provided inconclusive results. As hypothesized, GF relative to the skin friction was lowest in the precision grasp, but highest in the palm grasp. Therefore, we conclude that (1) the elaborate coordination of GF and LF consistently seen across the standard grasping techniques could be generalized to the non-standard ones, while (2) the ability to adjust GF using the same grasping technique to the differences in friction of various objects cannot be fully generalized to the GF adjustment when different grasps (i.e., hand segments) are used to manipulate the same object. Due to the importance of the studied phenomena for understanding both the functional and neural control aspects of manipulation, future studies should extend the current research to the transient and dynamic tasks, as well as to the general role of friction in our mechanical interactions with the environment.

Force-independent distribution of correlated neural inputs to hand muscles during three-digit grasping.

PubMed

Poston, Brach; Danna-Dos Santos, Alessander; Jesunathadas, Mark; Hamm, Thomas M; Santello, Marco

2010-08-01

The ability to modulate digit forces during grasping relies on the coordination of multiple hand muscles. Because many muscles innervate each digit, the CNS can potentially choose from a large number of muscle coordination patterns to generate a given digit force. Studies of single-digit force production tasks have revealed that the electromyographic (EMG) activity scales uniformly across all muscles as a function of digit force. However, the extent to which this finding applies to the coordination of forces across multiple digits is unknown. We addressed this question by asking subjects (n = 8) to exert isometric forces using a three-digit grip (thumb, index, and middle fingers) that allowed for the quantification of hand muscle coordination within and across digits as a function of grasp force (5, 20, 40, 60, and 80% maximal voluntary force). We recorded EMG from 12 muscles (6 extrinsic and 6 intrinsic) of the three digits. Hand muscle coordination patterns were quantified in the amplitude and frequency domains (EMG-EMG coherence). EMG amplitude scaled uniformly across all hand muscles as a function of grasp force (muscle x force interaction: P = 0.997; cosines of angle between muscle activation pattern vector pairs: 0.897-0.997). Similarly, EMG-EMG coherence was not significantly affected by force (P = 0.324). However, coherence was stronger across extrinsic than that across intrinsic muscle pairs (P = 0.0039). These findings indicate that the distribution of neural drive to multiple hand muscles is force independent and may reflect the anatomical properties or functional roles of hand muscle groups.

Anthropometry of Brazilian Air Force pilots.

PubMed

da Silva, Gilvan V; Halpern, Manny; Gordon, Claire C

2017-10-01

Anthropometric data are essential for the design of military equipment including sizing of aircraft cockpits and personal gear. Currently, there are no anthropometric databases specific to Brazilian military personnel. The aim of this study was to create a Brazilian anthropometric database of Air Force pilots. The methods, protocols, descriptions, definitions, landmarks, tools and measurements procedures followed the instructions outlined in Measurer's Handbook: US Army and Marine Corps Anthropometric Surveys, 2010-2011 - NATICK/TR-11/017. The participants were measured countrywide, in all five Brazilian Geographical Regions. Thirty-nine anthropometric measurements related to cockpit design were selected. The results of 2133 males and 206 females aged 16-52 years constitute a set of basic data for cockpit design, space arrangement issues and adjustments, protective gear and equipment design, as well as for digital human modelling. Another important implication is that this study can be considered a starting point for reducing gender bias in women's career as pilots. Practitioner Summary: This paper describes the first large-scale anthropometric survey of the Brazilian Air Force pilots and the development of the related database. This study provides critical data for improving aircraft cockpit design for ergonomics and comprehensive pilot accommodation, protective gear and uniform design, as well as digital human modelling.

Manufacturing Technology Support (MATES). Task Order 0021: Air Force Technology and Industrial Base Research and Analysis, Subtask Order 06: Direct Digital Manufacturing

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-01

industries and key players providing equipment include Flow and OMAX. The decision tree for waterjet machining is shown in Figure 28. Figure 28...about the melt pool. Process parameters including powder flow , laser power, and scan speed are adjusted accordingly • Multiple materials o BD...project.eu.com/home/home_page_static.jsp o Working with multiple partners; one is Cochlear . Using LMD or SLM to fabricate cochlear implants with 10

Design and Calibration of a New 6 DOF Haptic Device

PubMed Central

Qin, Huanhuan; Song, Aiguo; Liu, Yuqing; Jiang, Guohua; Zhou, Bohe

2015-01-01

For many applications such as tele-operational robots and interactions with virtual environments, it is better to have performance with force feedback than without. Haptic devices are force reflecting interfaces. They can also track human hand positions simultaneously. A new 6 DOF (degree-of-freedom) haptic device was designed and calibrated in this study. It mainly contains a double parallel linkage, a rhombus linkage, a rotating mechanical structure and a grasping interface. Benefited from the unique design, it is a hybrid structure device with a large workspace and high output capability. Therefore, it is capable of multi-finger interactions. Moreover, with an adjustable base, operators can change different postures without interrupting haptic tasks. To investigate the performance regarding position tracking accuracy and static output forces, we conducted experiments on a three-dimensional electric sliding platform and a digital force gauge, respectively. Displacement errors and force errors are calculated and analyzed. To identify the capability and potential of the device, four application examples were programmed. PMID:26690449

One Digit Interruption: The Altered Force Patterns during Functionally Cylindrical Grasping Tasks in Patients with Trigger Digits

PubMed Central

Chen, Po-Tsun; Lin, Chien-Ju; Jou, I-Ming; Chieh, Hsiao-Feng; Su, Fong-Chin; Kuo, Li-Chieh

2013-01-01

Most trigger digit (TD) patients complain that they have problems using their hand in daily or occupational tasks due to single or multiple digits being affected. Unfortunately, clinicians do not know much about how this disease affects the subtle force coordination among digits during manipulation. Thus, this study examined the differences in force patterns during cylindrical grasp between TD and healthy subjects. Forty-two TD patients with single digit involvement were included and sorted into four groups based on the involved digits, including thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Twelve healthy subjects volunteered as healthy controls. Two testing tasks, holding and drinking, were performed by natural grasping with minimal forces. The relations between the force of the thumb and each finger were examined by Pearson correlation coefficients. The force amount and contribution of each digit were compared between healthy controls and each TD group by the independent t test. The results showed all TD groups demonstrated altered correlation patterns of the thumb relative to each finger. Larger forces and higher contributions of the index finger were found during holding by patients with index finger involved, and also during drinking by patients with affected thumb and with affected middle finger. Although no triggering symptom occurred during grasping, the patients showed altered force patterns which may be related to the role of the affected digit in natural grasping function. In conclusion, even if only one digit was affected, the subtle force coordination of all the digits was altered during simple tasks among the TD patients. This study provides the information for the future studies to further comprehend the possible injuries secondary to the altered finger coordination and also to adopt suitable treatment strategies. PMID:24391799

One digit interruption: the altered force patterns during functionally cylindrical grasping tasks in patients with trigger digits.

PubMed

Chen, Po-Tsun; Lin, Chien-Ju; Jou, I-Ming; Chieh, Hsiao-Feng; Su, Fong-Chin; Kuo, Li-Chieh

2013-01-01

Most trigger digit (TD) patients complain that they have problems using their hand in daily or occupational tasks due to single or multiple digits being affected. Unfortunately, clinicians do not know much about how this disease affects the subtle force coordination among digits during manipulation. Thus, this study examined the differences in force patterns during cylindrical grasp between TD and healthy subjects. Forty-two TD patients with single digit involvement were included and sorted into four groups based on the involved digits, including thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Twelve healthy subjects volunteered as healthy controls. Two testing tasks, holding and drinking, were performed by natural grasping with minimal forces. The relations between the force of the thumb and each finger were examined by Pearson correlation coefficients. The force amount and contribution of each digit were compared between healthy controls and each TD group by the independent t test. The results showed all TD groups demonstrated altered correlation patterns of the thumb relative to each finger. Larger forces and higher contributions of the index finger were found during holding by patients with index finger involved, and also during drinking by patients with affected thumb and with affected middle finger. Although no triggering symptom occurred during grasping, the patients showed altered force patterns which may be related to the role of the affected digit in natural grasping function. In conclusion, even if only one digit was affected, the subtle force coordination of all the digits was altered during simple tasks among the TD patients. This study provides the information for the future studies to further comprehend the possible injuries secondary to the altered finger coordination and also to adopt suitable treatment strategies.

Single-beam, dual-view digital holographic interferometry for biomechanical strain measurements of biological objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pantelić, Dejan V.; Grujić, Dušan Ž.; Vasiljević, Darko M.

2014-12-01

We describe a method for dual-view biomechanical strain measurements of highly asymmetrical biological objects, like teeth or bones. By using a spherical mirror, we were able to simultaneously record a digital hologram of the object itself and the mirror image of its (otherwise invisible) rear side. A single laser beam was sufficient to illuminate both sides of the object, and to provide a reference beam. As a result, the system was mechanically very stable, enabling long exposure times (up to 2 min) without the need for vibration isolation. The setup is simple to construct and adjust, and can be used to interferometrically observe any object that is smaller than the mirror diameter. Parallel data processing on a CUDA-enabled (compute unified device architecture) graphics card was used to reconstruct digital holograms and to further correct image distortion. We used the setup to measure the deformation of a tooth due to mastication forces. The finite-element method was used to compare experimental results and theoretical predictions.

Single-beam, dual-view digital holographic interferometry for biomechanical strain measurements of biological objects.

PubMed

Pantelić, Dejan V; Grujić, Dušan Ž; Vasiljević, Darko M

2014-12-01

We describe a method for dual-view biomechanical strain measurements of highly asymmetrical biological objects, like teeth or bones. By using a spherical mirror, we were able to simultaneously record a digital hologram of the object itself and the mirror image of its (otherwise invisible) rear side. A single laser beam was sufficient to illuminate both sides of the object, and to provide a reference beam. As a result, the system was mechanically very stable, enabling long exposure times (up to 2 min) without the need for vibration isolation. The setup is simple to construct and adjust, and can be used to interferometrically observe any object that is smaller than the mirror diameter. Parallel data processing on a CUDA-enabled (compute unified device architecture) graphics card was used to reconstruct digital holograms and to further correct image distortion. We used the setup to measure the deformation of a tooth due to mastication forces. The finite-element method was used to compare experimental results and theoretical predictions.

A Cyber Security Self-Assessment Method for Nuclear Power Plants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glantz, Clifford S.; Coles, Garill A.; Bass, Robert B.

2004-11-01

A cyber security self-assessment method (the Method) has been developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The development of the Method was sponsored and directed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Members of the Nuclear Energy Institute Cyber Security Task Force also played a substantial role in developing the Method. The Method's structured approach guides nuclear power plants in scrutinizing their digital systems, assessing the potential consequences to the plant of a cyber exploitation, identifying vulnerabilities, estimating cyber security risks, and adopting cost-effective protective measures. The focus of the Method is on critical digital assets. A critical digital asset is amore » digital device or system that plays a role in the operation, maintenance, or proper functioning of a critical system (i.e., a plant system that can impact safety, security, or emergency preparedness). A critical digital asset may have a direct or indirect connection to a critical system. Direct connections include both wired and wireless communication pathways. Indirect connections include sneaker-net pathways by which software or data are manually transferred from one digital device to another. An indirect connection also may involve the use of instructions or data stored on a critical digital asset to make adjustments to a critical system. The cyber security self-assessment begins with the formation of an assessment team, and is followed by a six-stage process.« less

Differences in bite force between dolichofacial and brachyfacial individuals: Side of mastication, gender, weight and height.

PubMed

Quiudini, Paulo Roberto; Pozza, Daniel Humberto; Pinto, Ary Dos Santos; de Arruda, Mauricio Ferraz; Guimarães, Antonio Sergio

2017-07-01

Due to the bite force importance in functionality of the masticatory system, this study aimed to characterize it in dolichofacial and brachyfacial individuals. A sample comprised by 190 patients was divided into two groups: 90 severe dolichofacial, and 100 severe brachyfacial individuals classified according to the VERT index and the face height ratio (Jarabak quotient). Bite force was measured by using an adjusted digital dynamometer and proper methodology. The sample met the parametric assumptions and presented statistical significance when right and left sides of dolichofacial and brachyfacial individuals were compared. However, within the same group, no differences between the left and right sides were found. Generally, bite force was higher for male, left masticator, age between 41-50 years, weighing over 100kg and between 1.81 and 1.90m tall. Based on the results of this cross-sectional study, it was possible to conclude that the bite force in severe brachyfacial individuals was significantly higher than in severe dolichofacial individuals, being influenced by gender, weight and height. Copyright © 2016 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Is the thumb a fifth finger? A study of digit interaction during force production tasks

PubMed Central

Olafsdottir, Halla; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M.; Latash, Mark L.

2010-01-01

We studied indices of digit interaction in single- and multi-digit maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) tests when the thumb acted either in parallel or in opposition to the fingers. The peak force produced by the thumb was much higher when the thumb acted in opposition to the fingers and its share of the total force in the five-digit MVC test increased dramatically. The fingers showed relatively similar peak forces and unchanged sharing patterns in the four-finger MVC task when the thumb acted in parallel and in opposition to the fingers. Enslaving during one-digit tasks showed relatively mild differences between the two conditions, while the differences became large when enslaving was quantified for multi-digit tasks. Force deficit was pronounced when the thumb acted in parallel to the fingers; it showed a monotonic increase with the number of explicitly involved digits up to four digits and then a drop when all five digits were involved. Force deficit all but disappeared when the thumb acted in opposition to the fingers. However, for both thumb positions, indices of digit interaction were similar for groups of digits that did or did not include the thumb. These results suggest that, given a certain hand configuration, the central nervous system treats the thumb as a fifth finger. They provide strong support for the hypothesis that indices of digit interaction reflect neural factors, not the peripheral design of the hand. An earlier formal model was able to account for the data when the thumb acted in parallel to the fingers. However, it failed for the data with the thumb acting in opposition to the fingers. PMID:15322785

Mechanical properties of the human hand digits: Age-related differences

PubMed Central

Park, Jaebum; Pazin, Nemanja; Friedman, Jason; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M.; Latash, Mark L.

2014-01-01

Background Mechanical properties of human digits may have significant implications for the hand function. We quantified several mechanical characteristics of individual digits in young and older adults. Methods Digit tip friction was measured at several normal force values using a method of induced relative motion between the digit tip and the object surface. A modified quick-release paradigm was used to estimate digit apparent stiffness, damping, and inertial parameters. The subjects grasped a vertical handle instrumented with force/moment sensors using a prismatic grasp with four digits; the handle was fixed to the table. Unexpectedly, one of the sensors yielded leading to a quick displacement of the corresponding digit. A second-order, linear model was used to fit the force/displacement data. Findings Friction of the digit pads was significantly lower in older adults. The apparent stiffness coefficient values were higher while the damping coefficients were lower in older adults leading to lower damping ratio. The damping ratio was above unity for most data in young adults and below unity for older adults. Quick release of a digit led to force changes in other digits of the hand, likely due to inertial hand properties. These phenomena of “mechanical enslaving” were smaller in older adults although no significant difference was found in the inertial parameter in the two groups. Interpretations The decreased friction and damping ratio present challenges for the control of everyday prehensile tasks. They may lead to excessive digit forces and low stability of the grasped object. PMID:24355703

A Methodology for Modeling the Flow of Military Personnel Across Air Force Active and Reserve Components

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

user, the model will use surplus inventory in one category to fill shortfalls in other categories. The TFBL model also has the capability to allow...the total force. As shown in Table 2.1, we used five-character AFSCs (four digits plus the suffix) to break out pilots in the current force as...Training Unit 4th digit Suffix 4th digit Suffix 4th digit 4th digit 2 or 3 Matches a specific aircraft designation 3 Does not match a specific

Variability of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments During Gait Initiation in Individuals With Parkinson Disease.

PubMed

Lin, Cheng-Chieh; Creath, Robert A; Rogers, Mark W

2016-01-01

In people with Parkinson disease (PD), difficulties with initiating stepping may be related to impairments of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). Increased variability in step length and step time has been observed in gait initiation in individuals with PD. In this study, we investigated whether the ability to generate consistent APAs during gait initiation is compromised in these individuals. Fifteen subjects with PD and 8 healthy control subjects were instructed to take rapid forward steps after a verbal cue. The changes in vertical force and ankle marker position were recorded via force platforms and a 3-dimensional motion capture system, respectively. Means, standard deviations, and coefficients of variation of both timing and magnitude of vertical force, as well as stepping variables, were calculated. During the postural phase of gait initiation the interval was longer and the force modulation was smaller in subjects with PD. Both the variability of timing and force modulation were larger in subjects with PD. Individuals with PD also had a longer time to complete the first step, but no significant differences were found for the variability of step time, length, and speed between groups. The increased variability of APAs during gait initiation in subjects with PD could affect posture-locomotion coupling, and lead to start hesitation, and even falls. Future studies are needed to investigate the effect of rehabilitation interventions on the variability of APAs during gait initiation in individuals with PD.Video abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A119).

Using Digital Storytelling to Help First-Grade Students' Adjustment to School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fokides, Emmanuel

2016-01-01

When coming to school for the first time, children might face a number of adjustment problems. The study presents the results of a project which used digital storytelling for helping first-grade primary school students during this transitional period. It was examined whether, through the development of the digital stories, students could…

Fabrication and characterization of optical super-smooth surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitt, Dirk-Roger; Kratz, Frank; Ringel, Gabriele A.; Mangelsdorf, Juergen; Creuzet, Francois; Garratt, John D.

1995-08-01

Intercomparison roughness measurements have been carried out at supersmooth artefacts fabricated from BK7, fused silica, and Zerodur. The surface parameters were determined using a special prototype of the mechanical profiler Nanostep (Rank Taylor Hobson), the Optical Heterodyne Profiler Z5500 (Zygo), and an Atomic Force Microscope (Park Scientific) with an improved acquisition technique. The intercomparison was performed after the range of collected spatial wavelength for each instrument was adjusted using digital filtering techniques. It is demonstrated for different roughness ranges that are applied superpolishing techniques yield supersmooth artefacts which can be used for more intercomparisons.

Phase Response Design of Recursive All-Pass Digital Filters Using a Modified PSO Algorithm

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

This paper develops a new design scheme for the phase response of an all-pass recursive digital filter. A variant of particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm will be utilized for solving this kind of filter design problem. It is here called the modified PSO (MPSO) algorithm in which another adjusting factor is more introduced in the velocity updating formula of the algorithm in order to improve the searching ability. In the proposed method, all of the designed filter coefficients are firstly collected to be a parameter vector and this vector is regarded as a particle of the algorithm. The MPSO with a modified velocity formula will force all particles into moving toward the optimal or near optimal solution by minimizing some defined objective function of the optimization problem. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method, two different kinds of linear phase response design examples are illustrated and the general PSO algorithm is compared as well. The obtained results show that the MPSO is superior to the general PSO for the phase response design of digital recursive all-pass filter. PMID:26366168

Photo-editing in Orthodontics: How Much is Too Much?.

PubMed

Kapoor, Priyanka

2015-01-01

Digital photography and radiology are the mainstay of orthodontic records but current image editing software programs nave led to increase in instances of digital forgery and scientific misconduct. In the present study, digital image data of orthodontic study casts and photographs were altered using software such as [Microsoft Paint6 1, Picasa3.1, Adobe Photoshop3.6]. Based on ethical guidelines on digital image manipulations, cropping or intensity adjustments in moderation to entire image were considered permissible while cloning or color adjustments were deemed unethical.

Terrain Adaptability Mechanism of Large Ruminants' Feet on the Kinematics View

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qun; Ding, Xilun; Xu, Kun

2015-01-01

Ruminants live in various parts of land. Similar cloven hooves assist ruminants in adapting to different ground environment during locomotion. This paper analyzes the general terrain adaptability of the feet of ruminants using kinematics of the equivalent mechanism model based on screw theory. Cloven hooves could adjust attitude by changing relative positions between two digits in swing phase. This function helps to choose better landing orientation. “Grasping” or “holding” a rock or other object on the ground passively provides extra adhesion force in stance phase. Ruminants could adjust the position of the metacarpophalangeal joint or metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP or MCP) with no relative motion between the tip of feet and the ground, which ensures the adhesion and dexterity in stance phase. These functions are derived from an example from chamois' feet and several assumptions, which are believed to demonstrate the foundation of adaptation of ruminants and ensure a stable and continuous movement. PMID:27019579

Terrain Adaptability Mechanism of Large Ruminants' Feet on the Kinematics View.

PubMed

Zhang, Qun; Ding, Xilun; Xu, Kun

2015-01-01

Ruminants live in various parts of land. Similar cloven hooves assist ruminants in adapting to different ground environment during locomotion. This paper analyzes the general terrain adaptability of the feet of ruminants using kinematics of the equivalent mechanism model based on screw theory. Cloven hooves could adjust attitude by changing relative positions between two digits in swing phase. This function helps to choose better landing orientation. "Grasping" or "holding" a rock or other object on the ground passively provides extra adhesion force in stance phase. Ruminants could adjust the position of the metacarpophalangeal joint or metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP or MCP) with no relative motion between the tip of feet and the ground, which ensures the adhesion and dexterity in stance phase. These functions are derived from an example from chamois' feet and several assumptions, which are believed to demonstrate the foundation of adaptation of ruminants and ensure a stable and continuous movement.

Tolerance of image enhancement brightness and contrast in lateral cephalometric digital radiography for Steiner analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rianti, R. A.; Priaminiarti, M.; Syahraini, S. I.

2017-08-01

Image enhancement brightness and contrast can be adjusted on lateral cephalometric digital radiographs to improve image quality and anatomic landmarks for measurement by Steiner analysis. To determine the limit value for adjustments of image enhancement brightness and contrast in lateral cephalometric digital radiography for Steiner analysis. Image enhancement brightness and contrast were adjusted on 100 lateral cephalometric radiography in 10-point increments (-30, -20, -10, 0, +10, +20, +30). Steiner analysis measurements were then performed by two observers. Reliabilities were tested by the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and significance tested by ANOVA or the Kruskal Wallis test. No significant differences were detected in lateral cephalometric analysis measurements following adjustment of the image enhancement brightness and contrast. The limit value of adjustments of the image enhancement brightness and contrast associated with incremental 10-point changes (-30, -20, -10, 0, +10, +20, +30) does not affect the results of Steiner analysis.

PACS: implementation in the U.S. Department of Defense

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chacko, Anna K.; Wider, Ronald; Romlein, John R.; Cawthon, Michael A.; Richardson, Ronald R., Jr.; Lollar, H. William; Cook, Jay F.; Timboe, Harold L.; Johnson, Thomas G.; Fellows, Douglas W.

2000-05-01

The Department of Defense has been a leader in Radiology re- engineering for the past decade. Efforts have included the development of two landmark PACS specifications (MDIS and DIN- PACS), respective vendor selection and implementation programs. A Tri-Service (Army, Navy and Air Force) Radiology re-engineering program was initiated which identified transitioning to digital imaging, PACS and teleradiology as key enabling technologies in a changing business scenario. Subsequently, the systematic adjustment of procurement process for radiological imaging equipment included a focus on specifying PACS-capable-digital imaging modalities and mini- PACS as stepping stones to make the hospitals and health clinics PACS-ready. The success of the PACS and teleradiology program in the DOD is evidenced by the near filmless operation of most Army and Air Force Medical Centers, several community hospitals and several operational teleradiology constellations. Additionally, the MDIS PACSystem has become the commercial PACS product for General Electric Medical Systems. The DOD continues to forge ahead in the PACS arena by implementing advanced configurations and operational concepts such as the VRE (Virtual Radiology Environment), the negotiation of Regional Archiving and Regional PACS Maintenance Programs. Newer regulations (HIPAA, the FDA approval of digital mammography) have been promulgated impacting the culture and conduct of our business. Incorporating their requirements at the very outset will enable us to streamline the delivery of radiology. The DOD community has embraced the information age at multiple levels. The Healthcare portion of this community with these initiatives is integrating itself into DOD's future. The future holds great possibilities, promises and challenges for the DOD PACS programs.

37 CFR 251.61 - Commencement of adjustment proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... proceedings. 251.61 Section 251.61 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS... cable, ephemeral recordings, certain digital audio transmissions, phonorecords, digital phonorecord... the parties. (3) Digital audio transmissions: For preexisting digital subscription transmission...

37 CFR 251.61 - Commencement of adjustment proceedings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... proceedings. 251.61 Section 251.61 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS... cable, ephemeral recordings, certain digital audio transmissions, phonorecords, digital phonorecord... the parties. (3) Digital audio transmissions: For preexisting digital subscription transmission...

Method of improving a digital image

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jobson, Daniel J. (Inventor); Woodell, Glenn A. (Inventor); Rahman, Zia-ur (Inventor)

1999-01-01

A method of improving a digital image is provided. The image is initially represented by digital data indexed to represent positions on a display. The digital data is indicative of an intensity value I.sub.i (x,y) for each position (x,y) in each i-th spectral band. The intensity value for each position in each i-th spectral band is adjusted to generate an adjusted intensity value for each position in each i-th spectral band in accordance with ##EQU1## where S is the number of unique spectral bands included in said digital data, W.sub.n is a weighting factor and * denotes the convolution operator. Each surround function F.sub.n (x,y) is uniquely scaled to improve an aspect of the digital image, e.g., dynamic range compression, color constancy, and lightness rendition. The adjusted intensity value for each position in each i-th spectral band is filtered with a common function and then presented to a display device. For color images, a novel color restoration step is added to give the image true-to-life color that closely matches human observation.

Control of FES thumb force using slip information obtained from the cutaneous electroneurogram in quadriplegic man.

PubMed

Haugland, M; Lickel, A; Haase, J; Sinkjaer, T

1999-06-01

A tetraplegic volunteer was implanted with percutaneous intramuscular electrodes in hand and forearm muscles. Furthermore, a sensory nerve cuff electrode was implanted on the volar digital nerve to the radial side of the index finger branching off the median nerve. In laboratory experiments a stimulation system was used to produce a lateral grasp (key grip) while the neural activity was recorded with the cuff electrode. The nerve signal contained information that could be used to detect the occurrence of slips and further to increase stimulation intensity to the thumb flexor/adductor muscles to stop the slip. Thereby the system provided a grasp that could catch an object if it started to slip due to, e.g., decreasing muscle force or changes in load forces tangential to the surface of the object. This method enabled an automatic adjustment of the stimulation intensity to the lowest possible level without loosing the grip and without any prior knowledge about the strength of the muscles and the weight and surface texture of the object.

Tolerance limit value of brightness and contrast adjustment on digitized radiographs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utami, S. N.; Kiswanjaya, B.; Syahraini, S. I.; Ustriyana, P.

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to measure the tolerance limit value of brightness and contrast adjustment on digitized radiograph with apical periodontitis and early apical abscess. Brightness and contrast adjustment on 60 periapical radiograph with apical periodontitis and early apical abscess made by 2 observers. Reliabilities tested by Cohen’s Kappa Coefficient and significance tested by wilcoxon test. Tolerance limit value of brightness and contrast adjustment for apical periodontitis is -5 and +5, early apical abscess is -10 and +10, and both is -5 and +5. Brightness and contrast adjustment which not appropriate can alter the evaluation and differential diagnosis of periapical lesion.

Anticipatory adjustments to abrupt changes of opposing forces.

PubMed

Rapp, Katrin; Heuer, Herbert

2015-01-01

Anticipatory adjustments to abrupt load changes are based on task-specific predictive information. The authors asked whether anticipatory adjustments to abrupt offsets of horizontal forces are related to expectancy. In two experiments participants held a position against an opposing force or moved against it. At force offset they had to stop rapidly. Duration of the opposing force or distance moved against it varied between blocks of trials and was constant within each block, or it varied from trial to trial. These two variations resulted in opposite changes of the expectancy of force offset with the passage of time or distance. With constant force durations or distances in each block of trials, anticipatory adjustments tended to be poorest with the longest duration or distance, but with variable force durations or distances they tended to be best with the longest duration or distance. Thus anticipatory adjustments were related to expectancy rather than time or distance per se. Anticipatory adjustments resulted in shorter peak amplitudes of the involuntary movements, accompanied by longer movement times in Experiment 1 and faster movement times in Experiment 2. Thus, for different states of the limb at abrupt dynamic changes anticipatory adjustments involve different mechanisms that modulate different mechanical characteristics.

Design of a magnetorheological automotive shock absorber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindler, Jason E.; Dimock, Glen A.; Wereley, Norman M.

2000-06-01

Double adjustable shock absorbers allow for independent adjustment of the yield force and post-yield damping in the force versus velocity response. To emulate the performance of a conventional double adjustable shock absorber, a magnetorheological (MR) automotive shock absorber was designed and fabricated at the University of Maryland. Located in the piston head, an applied magnetic field between the core and flux return increases the force required for a given piston rod velocity. Between the core and flux return, two different shaped gaps meet the controllable performance requirements of a double adjustable shock. A uniform gap between the core and the flux return primarily adjusts the yield force of the shock absorber, while a non-uniform gap allows for control of the post-yield damping. Force measurements from sinusoidal displacement cycles, recorded on a mechanical damper dynamometer, validate the performance of uniform and non- uniform gaps for adjustment of the yield force and post-yield damping, respectively.

Human Grasp Assist Device With Exoskeleton

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bergelin, Bryan J (Inventor); Ihrke, Chris A. (Inventor); Davis, Donald R. (Inventor); Linn, Douglas Martin (Inventor); Bridgwater, Lyndon B. J. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A grasp assist system includes a glove, actuator assembly, and controller. The glove includes a digit, i.e., a finger or thumb, and a force sensor. The sensor measures a grasping force applied to an object by an operator wearing the glove. Phalange rings are positioned with respect to the digit. A flexible tendon is connected at one end to one of the rings and is routed through the remaining rings. An exoskeleton positioned with respect to the digit includes hinged interconnecting members each connected to a corresponding ring, and/or a single piece of slotted material. The actuator assembly is connected to another end of the tendon. The controller calculates a tensile force in response to the measured grasping force, and commands the tensile force from the actuator assembly to thereby pull on the tendon. The exoskeleton offloads some of the tensile force from the operator's finger to the glove.

37 CFR 255.6 - Royalty rate for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... digital phonorecord deliveries. 255.6 Section 255.6 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF... for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries. The royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries...

Manufacture and calibration of optical supersmooth roughness artifacts for intercomparisons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ringel, Gabriele A.; Kratz, Frank; Schmitt, Dirk-Roger; Mangelsdorf, Juergen; Creuzet, Francois; Garratt, John D.

1995-09-01

Intercomparison roughness measurements have been carried out on supersmooth artifacts fabricated from BK7, fused silica, and Zerodur. The surface parameters were determined using the optical heterodyne profiler Z5500 (Zygo), a special prototype of the mechanical profiler Nanostep (Rank Taylor Hobson), and an Atomic Force Microscope (Park Scientific Instruments) with an improved acquisition technique. The intercomparison was performed after the range of collected spatial wavelengths for each instrument was adjusted using digital filtering techniques. It is demonstrated for different roughness ranges that the applied superpolishing techniques yield supersmooth artifacts which can be used for more intercomparisons. More than 100 samples were investigated. Criteria were developed to select artifacts from the sample stock.

37 CFR 255.6 - Royalty rate for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... digital phonorecord deliveries. 255.6 Section 255.6 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... digital phonorecord deliveries. The royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction...

37 CFR 255.6 - Royalty rate for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... digital phonorecord deliveries. 255.6 Section 255.6 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... digital phonorecord deliveries. The royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction...

37 CFR 255.6 - Royalty rate for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... digital phonorecord deliveries. 255.6 Section 255.6 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... digital phonorecord deliveries. The royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction...

37 CFR 255.6 - Royalty rate for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... digital phonorecord deliveries. 255.6 Section 255.6 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... digital phonorecord deliveries. The royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction...

Interpersonal synergies: static prehension tasks performed by two actors.

PubMed

Solnik, Stanislaw; Reschechtko, Sasha; Wu, Yen-Hsun; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M; Latash, Mark L

2016-08-01

We investigated multidigit synergies stabilizing components of the resultant force vector during joint performance of a static prehension task by two persons as compared to similar tasks performed by a single person using both hands. Subjects transferred the instrumented handle from the right hand to the left hand (one-person condition) or passed that handle to another person (two-person condition) while keeping the handle's position and orientation stationary. Only three digits were involved per hand, the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger; the forces and moments produced by the digits were measured by six-component sensors. We estimated the performance-stabilizing synergies within the uncontrolled manifold framework by quantifying the intertrial variance structure of digit forces and moments. The analysis was performed at three levels: between hands, between virtual finger and virtual thumb (imagined digits producing the same mechanical variables as the corresponding actual digits combined) produced by the two hands (in both interpersonal and intrapersonal conditions), and between the thumb and virtual finger for one hand only. Additionally, we performed correlation and phase synchronization analyses of resultant tangential forces and internal normal forces. Overall, the one-person conditions were characterized by higher amount of intertrial variance that did not affect resultant normal force components, higher internal components of normal forces, and stronger synchronization of the normal forces generated by the hands. Our observations suggest that in two-person tasks, when participants try to achieve a common mechanical outcome, the performance-stabilizing synergies depend on non-visual information exchange, possibly via the haptic and proprioceptive systems. Therefore, synergies quantified in tasks using visual feedback only may not be generalizable to more natural tasks.

Three degree-of-freedom force feedback control for robotic mating of umbilical lines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fullmer, R. Rees

1988-01-01

The use of robotic manipulators for the mating and demating of umbilical fuel lines to the Space Shuttle Vehicle prior to launch is investigated. Force feedback control is necessary to minimize the contact forces which develop during mating. The objective is to develop and demonstrate a working robotic force control system. Initial experimental force control tests with an ASEA IRB-90 industrial robot using the system's Adaptive Control capabilities indicated that control stability would by a primary problem. An investigation of the ASEA system showed a 0.280 second software delay between force input commands and the output of command voltages to the servo system. This computational delay was identified as the primary cause of the instability. Tests on a second path into the ASEA's control computer using the MicroVax II supervisory computer show that time delay would be comparable, offering no stability improvement. An alternative approach was developed where the digital control system of the robot was disconnected and an analog electronic force controller was used to control the robot's servosystem directly, allowing the robot to use force feedback control while in rigid contact with a moving three-degree-of-freedom target. An alternative approach was developed where the digital control system of the robot was disconnected and an analog electronic force controller was used to control the robot's servo system directly. This method allowed the robot to use force feedback control while in rigid contact with moving three degree-of-freedom target. Tests on this approach indicated adequate force feedback control even under worst case conditions. A strategy to digitally-controlled vision system was developed. This requires switching between the digital controller when using vision control and the analog controller when using force control, depending on whether or not the mating plates are in contact.

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital... OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF... for digital phonorecord deliveries in general. (a) For every digital phonorecord delivery made on or...

Radiometric Block Adjusment and Digital Radiometric Model Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pros, A.; Colomina, I.; Navarro, J. A.; Antequera, R.; Andrinal, P.

2013-05-01

In this paper we present a radiometric block adjustment method that is related to geometric block adjustment and to the concept of a terrain Digital Radiometric Model (DRM) as a complement to the terrain digital elevation and surface models. A DRM, in our concept, is a function that for each ground point returns a reflectance value and a Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF). In a similar way to the terrain geometric reconstruction procedure, given an image block of some terrain area, we split the DRM generation in two phases: radiometric block adjustment and DRM generation. In the paper we concentrate on the radiometric block adjustment step, but we also describe a preliminary DRM generator. In the block adjustment step, after a radiometric pre-calibraton step, local atmosphere radiative transfer parameters, and ground reflectances and BRDFs at the radiometric tie points are estimated. This radiometric block adjustment is based on atmospheric radiative transfer (ART) models, pre-selected BRDF models and radiometric ground control points. The proposed concept is implemented and applied in an experimental campaign, and the obtained results are presented. The DRM and orthophoto mosaics are generated showing no radiometric differences at the seam lines.

Tolerance of brightness and contrast adjustments on chronic apical abscess and apical granuloma interpretation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purnamasari, L.; Iskandar, H. H. B.; Makes, B. N.

2017-08-01

In digitized radiography techniques, adjusting the image enhancement can improve the subjective image quality by optimizing the brightness and contrast for diagnostic needs. To determine the value range of image enhancement (brightness and contrast) on chronic apical abscess and apical granuloma interpretation. 30 periapical radiographs that diagnosed chronic apical abscess and 30 that diagnosed apical granuloma were adjusted by changing brightness and contrast values. The value range of brightness and contrast adjustment that can be tolerated in radiographic interpretations of chronic apical abscess and apical granuloma spans from -10 to +10. Brightness and contrast adjustments on digital radiographs do not affect the radiographic interpretation of chronic apical abscess and apical granuloma if conducted within the value range.

Automatic Digital Switching Specialist Career Ladder: United States Air Force Job Inventory. AFSCs 29530, 29570, and 29590.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Air Force Personnel and Training Research Center, Lackland AFB, TX.

The U. S. Air Force job inventory for the automatic digital switching specialist career ladder is divided into 12 categories, each of which is broken down into a duty-task list. Space is provided for Air Force personnel filling out the inventory to check whether each task is at present part of their duties. The 12 categories are: organizing and…

Digital Native and Digital Immigrant Use of Scholarly Network for Doctoral Learners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berman, Ronald; Hassell, Deliesha

2014-01-01

The Doctoral Community Network (DC) is a learner driven, scholarly community designed to help online doctoral learners successfully complete their dissertation and program of study. While digital natives grew up in an environment immersed in technology, digital immigrants adapted to this environment through their ability to learn and adjust to…

Validation of the force and frequency characteristics of the activator adjusting instrument: effectiveness as a mechanical impedance measurement tool.

PubMed

Keller, T S; Colloca, C J; Fuhr, A W

1999-02-01

To determine the dynamic force-time and force-frequency characteristics of the Activator Adjusting Instrument and to validate its effectiveness as a mechanical impedance measurement device; in addition, to refine or optimize the force-frequency characteristics of the Activator Adjusting Instrument to provide enhanced dynamic structural measurement reliability and accuracy. An idealized test structure consisting of a rectangular steel beam with a static stiffness similar to that of the human thoracolumbar spine was used for validation of a method to determine the dynamic mechanical response of the spine. The Activator Adjusting Instrument equipped with a load cell and accelerometer was used to measure forces and accelerations during mechanical excitation of the steel beam. Driving point and transfer mechanical impedance and resonant frequency of the beam were determined by use of a frequency spectrum analysis for different force settings, stylus masses, and stylus tips. Results were compared with beam theory and transfer impedance measurements obtained by use of a commercial electronic PCB impact hammer. The Activator Adjusting Instrument imparted a very complex dynamic impact comprising an initial high force (116 to 140 N), short duration pulse (<0.1 ms) followed by several lower force (30 to 100 N), longer duration impulses (1 to 5 ms). The force profile was highly reproducible in terms of the peak impulse forces delivered to the beam structure (<8% variance). Spectrum analysis of the Activator Adjusting Instrument impulse indicated that the Activator Adjusting Instrument has a variable force spectrum and delivers its peak energy at a frequency of 20 Hz. Added masses and different durometer stylus tips had very little influence on the Activator Adjusting Instrument force spectrum. The resonant frequency of the beam was accurately predicted by both the Activator Adjusting Instrument and electronic PCB impact hammer, but variations in the magnitude of the driving point impedance at the resonant frequency were high (67%) compared with the transfer impedance measurements obtained with the electronic PCB impact hammer, which had a more uniform force spectrum and was more repeatable (<10% variation). The addition of a preload-control frame to the Activator Adjusting Instrument improved the characteristics of the force frequency spectrum and repeatability of the driving point impedance measurements. These findings indicate that the Activator Adjusting Instrument combined with an integral load cell and accelerometer was able to obtain an accurate description of a steel beam with readily identifiable geometric and dynamic mechanical properties. These findings support the rationale for using the device to assess the dynamic mechanical behavior of the vertebral column. Such information would be useful for SMT and may ultimately be used to evaluate the [corrected] biomechanical effectiveness of various manipulative, surgical, and rehabilitative spinal procedures.

A gallium-arsenide digital phase shifter for clock and control signal distribution in high-speed digital systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fouts, Douglas J.

1992-01-01

The design, implementation, testing, and applications of a gallium-arsenide digital phase shifter and fan-out buffer are described. The integrated circuit provides a method for adjusting the phase of high-speed clock and control signals in digital systems, without the need for pruning cables, multiplexing between cables of different lengths, delay lines, or similar techniques. The phase of signals distributed with the described chip can be dynamically adjusted in eight different steps of approximately 60 ps per step. The IC also serves as a fan-out buffer and provides 12 in-phase outputs. The chip is useful for distributing high-speed clock and control signals in synchronous digital systems, especially if components are distributed over a large physical area or if there is a large number of components.

36 CFR 223.226 - Term adjustments for force majeure delay.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Term adjustments for force majeure delay. 223.226 Section 223.226 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... Conditions and Provisions § 223.226 Term adjustments for force majeure delay. Contracts or other authorizing...

Prehension Synergies in Three Dimensions

PubMed Central

Shim, Jae Kun; Latash, Mark L.; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M.

2010-01-01

The goal of this study was to investigate the conjoint changes of digit forces/moments in 3 dimensions during static prehension under external torques acting on the object in one plane. The experimental paradigm was similar to holding a book vertically in the air where the center of mass of the book is located farther from the hand than the points of digit contacts. Three force and 3 moment components from each digit were recorded during static prehension of a customized handle. Subjects produced forces and moments in all 3 directions, although the external torques were exerted on the handheld object about only the Z-axis. The 3-dimensional response to a 2-dimensional task was explained by the cause– effect chain effects prompted by the noncollinearity of the normal forces of the thumb and the 4 fingers (represented by the “virtual finger”). Because the forces are not collinear (not along the same line), they generate moments of force about X- and Y-axes that are negated by the finger forces along the Y- and X-directions. The magnitudes of forces produced by lateral fingers (index and little) with longer moment arms were larger compared with the central fingers (middle and ring). At the virtual finger (an imaginary digit whose mechanical action is equivalent to the summed action of the 4 fingers) level, the relative contribution of different fractions of the resistive moment produced by subjects did not depend on the torque magnitude. We conclude that the CNS 1) solves a planar prehension task by producing forces and moments in all 3 directions, 2) uses mechanical advantage of fingers, and 3) shares the total torque among finger forces and moments in a particular way disregarding the torque magnitude. PMID:15456799

Digital cross-mounting: A new opportunity in prosthetic dentistry.

PubMed

Venezia, Pietro; Torsello, Ferruccio; D'Amato, Salvatore; Cavalcanti, Raffaele

2017-01-01

The prosthodontic management of complex rehabilitations requires several stages of treatment including one or more provisional restorations. The design and adjustments of the provisional are made to achieve an optimal functional and esthetic outcome for the patient. However, the adjustments needed are both time and cost consuming. Therefore, once a satisfactory provisional is made, the information should not be lost during the following stages of treatment. The purpose of this clinical case is to illustrate "digital cross-mounting," a procedure used to precisely transfer information from the provisional to the final fixed rehabilitation in a digital workflow.

Evaluation of Rapid Adjustments to Radiative Forcing for Five Climate Forcing Agents in the Precipitation Driver Response Model Intercomparison Project (PDRMIP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, C. J.; Forster, P.; Richardson, T.; Myhre, G.

2016-12-01

Effective radiative forcing (ERF), rather than "traditional" radiative forcing (RF), has become an increasingly popular metric in recent years, as it more closely links the difference in the earth's top-of-atmosphere (TOA) energy budget to equilibrium near-surface temperature rise. One method to diagnose ERF is to take the difference of TOA radiative fluxes from two climate model runs (a perturbation and a control) with prescribed sea-surface temperatures and sea-ice coverage. ERF can be thought of as the sum of a direct forcing, which is the pure radiative effect of a forcing agent, plus rapid adjustments, which are changes in climate state triggered by the forcing agent that themselves affect the TOA energy budget and are unrelated to surface temperature changes.In addition to the classic experiment of doubling of CO2 (2xCO2), we analyse rapid adjustments to a tripling of methane (3xCH4), a quintupling of sulphate aerosol (5xSul), a ten times increase in black carbon (10xBC) and a 2% increase in the solar constant (2%Sol). We use CMIP-style climate model diagnostics from six participating models of the Precipitation Driver Response Model Intercomparison Project (PDRMIP).Assuming approximately linear contributions to the TOA flux differences, the rapid adjustments from changes in atmospheric temperature, surface temperature, surface albedo and water vapour can be cleanly and simply separated from the direct forcing by radiative kernels. The rapid adjustments are in turn decomposed into stratospheric and tropospheric components. We introduce kernels based on the HadGEM2 climate model and find similar results to those based on other models. Cloud adjustments are evaluated as a residual of the TOA radiative fluxes between all-sky and clear-sky runs once direct forcing and rapid adjustments have been subtracted. The cloud adjustments are also calculated online within the HadGEM2 model using the ISCCP simulator. For aerosol forcing experiments, rapid adjustments vary substantially between models. Much of the contribution to this model spread is in the cloud adjustments. We also notice a spread in the model calculations of direct forcing for greenhouse gases, which suggest differences in the radiative transfer parameterisations used by each model.

Prehension of Half-Full and Half-Empty Glasses: Time and History Effects on Multi-Digit Coordination

PubMed Central

Sun, Yao; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M.; Latash, Mark L.

2011-01-01

We explored how digit forces and indices of digit coordination depend on the history of getting to a particular set of task parameters during static prehension tasks. The participants held in the right hand an instrumented handle with a light-weight container attached on top of the handle. At the beginning of each trial, the container could be empty, filled to the half with water (0.4 l) or filled to the top (0.8 l). The water was pumped in/out of the container at a constant, slow rate over 10 s. At the end of each trial, the participants always held a half-filled container that has just been filled (Empty-Half), emptied (Full-Half), or stayed half-filled throughout the trial (Half-Only). Indices of co-variation (synergy indices) of elemental variables (forces and moments of force produced by individual digits) stabilizing such performance variables as total normal force, total tangetial force, and total moment of force were computed at two levels of an assumed control hierarchy. At the upper level, the task is shared between the thumb and virtual finger (an imagined digit with the mechanical action equal to that of the four fingers), while at the lower level, action of the virtual finger is shared among the actual four fingers. Filling or emptying the container led to a drop in the safety margin (proportion of grip force over the slipping threshold) below the values observed in the Half-Only condition. Synergy indices at both levels of the hierarchy showed changes over the Full-Half and Empty-Half condition. These changes could be monotonic (typical of moment of force and normal force) or non-monotonic (typical of tangential force). For both normal and tangential forces, higher synergy indices at the higher level of the hierarchy corresponded to lower indices at the lower level. Significant differences in synergy indices across conditions were seen at the final steady-state showing that digit coordination during steady holding an object is history dependent. The observations support an earlier hypothesis on a trade-off between synergies at the two levels of a hierarchy. They also suggest that, when a change in task parameters is expected, the neural strategy may involve producing less stable (easier to change) actions. The results suggest that synergy indices may be highly sensitive to changes in a task variable and that effects of such changes persist after the changes are over. PMID:21331525

The Research Library's Role in Digital Repository Services: Final Report of the ARL Digital Repository Issues Task Force

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Association of Research Libraries, 2009

2009-01-01

Libraries are making diverse contributions to the development of many types of digital repositories, particularly those housing locally created digital content, including new digital objects or digitized versions of locally held works. In some instances, libraries are managing a repository and its related services entirely on their own, but often…

The effect of low force chiropractic adjustments for 4 weeks on body surface electromagnetic field.

PubMed

Zhang, John; Snyder, Brian J

2005-01-01

To study the effects of 4 weeks of low-force chiropractic adjustments on body surface electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Thirty-five chiropractic students randomly assigned into control (17 subjects) and experimental groups (28 subjects). A triaxial fluxgate magnetometer was used for EMF detection. The subjects' body surface EMF was determined in the prone position before and after the chiropractic adjustment. A Toftness low-force chiropractic adjustment was applied to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral areas as determined by the practitioner. Heart rate variability analysis was recorded once a week to determine autonomic nervous system activity in both the control and experimental groups. The EMF on the subjects' body surface decreased after chiropractic adjustment at the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions in all 6 visits during the 4-week treatment period. The EMF showed a downtrend over the 4-week period after the low-force adjustment. The same changes were not observed in the control group. The chiropractic adjustment group had a slight decrease in heart rate over the 4-week treatment period, and no significant change was observed in the control group. Heart rate variability analysis did not show consistent changes before and after the low-force adjustments during the treatment period. Low-force chiropractic adjustment in the cervical and thoracic areas resulted in a consistent reduction of the body surface EMF after 4 weeks of active treatment. No statistically significant differences were found in the heart rate and heart rate variability in the 4-week study.

Measurement of the traction force of biological cells by digital holography

PubMed Central

Yu, Xiao; Cross, Michael; Liu, Changgeng; Clark, David C.; Haynie, Donald T.; Kim, Myung K.

2011-01-01

The traction force produced by biological cells has been visualized as distortions in flexible substrata. We have utilized quantitative phase microscopy by digital holography (DH-QPM) to study the wrinkling of a silicone rubber film by motile fibroblasts. Surface deformation and the cellular traction force have been measured from phase profiles in a direct and straightforward manner. DH-QPM is shown to provide highly efficient and versatile means for quantitatively analyzing cellular motility. PMID:22254175

Adjusting lidar-derived digital terrain models in coastal marshes based on estimated aboveground biomass density

DOE PAGES

Medeiros, Stephen; Hagen, Scott; Weishampel, John; ...

2015-03-25

Digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from airborne lidar are traditionally unreliable in coastal salt marshes due to the inability of the laser to penetrate the dense grasses and reach the underlying soil. To that end, we present a novel processing methodology that uses ASTER Band 2 (visible red), an interferometric SAR (IfSAR) digital surface model, and lidar-derived canopy height to classify biomass density using both a three-class scheme (high, medium and low) and a two-class scheme (high and low). Elevation adjustments associated with these classes using both median and quartile approaches were applied to adjust lidar-derived elevation values closer tomore » true bare earth elevation. The performance of the method was tested on 229 elevation points in the lower Apalachicola River Marsh. The two-class quartile-based adjusted DEM produced the best results, reducing the RMS error in elevation from 0.65 m to 0.40 m, a 38% improvement. The raw mean errors for the lidar DEM and the adjusted DEM were 0.61 ± 0.24 m and 0.32 ± 0.24 m, respectively, thereby reducing the high bias by approximately 49%.« less

Space Shuttle orbit determination using empirical force modeling of attitude maneuvers for the German MOMS-02/D2 mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vonbraun, C.; Reigber, Christoph

1994-01-01

In the spring of 1993, the MOMS-02 (modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner) camera, as part of the second German Spacelab mission aboard STS-55, successfully took digital threefold stereo images of the surface of the Earth. While the mission is experimental in nature, its primary goals are to produce high quality maps and three-dimensional digital terrain models of the Earth's surface. Considerable improvement in the quality of the terrain model can be attained if information about the position and attitude of the camera is included during the adjustment of the image data. One of the primary sources of error in the Shuttle's position is due to the significant attitude maneuvers conducted during the course of the mission. Various arcs, using actual Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRSS) Doppler data of STS-55, were processed to determine how effectively empirical force modeling could be used to solve for the radial, transverse, and normal components of the orbit perturbations caused by these routine maneuvers. Results are presented in terms of overlap-orbit differences in the three components. Comparisons of these differences, before and after the maneuvers are estimated, show that the quality of an orbit can be greatly enhanced with this technique, even if several maneuvers are present. Finally, a discussion is made of some of the difficulties encountered with this approach, and some ideas for future studies are presented.

Implementation of a Digital Signal Processing Subsystem for a Long Wavelength Array Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soriano, Melissa; Navarro, Robert; D'Addario, Larry; Sigman, Elliott; Wang, Douglas

2011-01-01

This paper describes the implementation of a Digital Signal Processing (DP) subsystem for a single Long Wavelength Array (LWA) station.12 The LWA is a radio telescope that will consist of many phased array stations. Each LWA station consists of 256 pairs of dipole-like antennas operating over the 10-88 MHz frequency range. The Digital Signal Processing subsystem digitizes up to 260 dual-polarization signals at 196 MHz from the LWA Analog Receiver, adjusts the delay and amplitude of each signal, and forms four independent beams. Coarse delay is implemented using a first-in-first-out buffer and fine delay is implemented using a finite impulse response filter. Amplitude adjustment and polarization corrections are implemented using a 2x2 matrix multiplication

Digital gate pulse generator for cycloconverter control

DOEpatents

Klein, Frederick F.; Mutone, Gioacchino A.

1989-01-01

The present invention provides a digital gate pulse generator which controls the output of a cycloconverter used for electrical power conversion applications by determining the timing and delivery of the firing pulses to the switching devices in the cycloconverter. Previous gate pulse generators have been built with largely analog or discrete digital circuitry which require many precision components and periodic adjustment. The gate pulse generator of the present invention utilizes digital techniques and a predetermined series of values to develop the necessary timing signals for firing the switching device. Each timing signal is compared with a reference signal to determine the exact firing time. The present invention is significantly more compact than previous gate pulse generators, responds quickly to changes in the output demand and requires only one precision component and no adjustments.

Free Language Selection in the Bilingual Brain: An Event-Related fMRI Study

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yong; Wang, Tao; Huang, Peiyu; Li, Dan; Qiu, Jiang; Shen, Tong; Xie, Peng

2015-01-01

Bilingual speakers may select between two languages either on demand (forced language selection) or on their own volition (free language selection). However, the neural substrates underlying free and forced language selection may differ. While the neural substrates underlying forced language selection have been well-explored with language switching paradigms, those underlying free language selection have remained unclear. Using a modified digit-naming switching paradigm, we addressed the neural substrates underlying free language selection by contrasting free language switching with forced language switching. For a digit-pair trial, Chinese-English bilinguals named each digit in Chinese or English either on demand under forced language selection condition or on their own volition under free language selection condition. The results revealed activation in the frontoparietal regions that mediate volition of language selection. Furthermore, a comparison of free and forced language switching demonstrated differences in the patterns of brain activation. Additionally, free language switching showed reduced switching costs as compared to forced language switching. These findings suggest differences between the mechanism(s) underlying free and forced language switching. As such, the current study suggests interactivity between control of volition and control of language switching in free language selection, providing insights into a model of bilingual language control. PMID:26177885

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

37 CFR 255.5 - Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 37 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Royalty rate for digital..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTING PHONORECORDS § 255.5 Royalty rate for digital...

A simple mechanism for measuring and adjusting distraction forces during maxillary advancement.

PubMed

Suzuki, Eduardo Yugo; Suzuki, Boonsiva

2009-10-01

Direct measurement of distraction forces on the craniofacial skeleton has never been reported. The present report describes the development of a method of assessing and adjusting traction forces applied through maxillary distraction osteogenesis. A simple mechanism to measure and adjust tension force during maxillary distraction osteogenesis was developed and connected bilaterally to the traction screws of a rigid external distraction device. Measurements were carried out before and after activation using a Shimpo (Nidec-Shimpo America Corporation, Itasca, IL) force gauge in 4 patients (2 with unilateral cleft lip and/or palate, 1 with bilateral cleft lip and palate, and 1 with noncleft) during the distraction process. Activation was performed twice a day at a rate of 1 mm/day. The average maximum force applied throughout the distraction period was 42.5 N (range 16.4 to 65.3 N), with increments, after activation, averaging 10.5 N (range 7.9 to 15.7 N). In patients with unilateral cleft lip and/or palate, distraction forces on the larger segment were 65.1% higher than on the lesser segment. A differential pattern of forces was also observed in the patients with asymmetric noncleft. However, the differential forces between lateral segments were not observed in the patient with bilateral cleft lip and palate. During the activation period, distraction forces progressively increased, whereas the amount of maxillary movement decreased. Pain and discomfort were reported with high forces. Through this mechanism, direct measurement and adjustment of distraction forces during maxillary advancement was possible. The unbalanced pattern of forces observed in patients with cleft suggests the necessity of individual adjustments for controlling pain and clinical symptoms. Accordingly, assessment of distraction forces during maxillary distraction osteogenesis is extremely helpful in understanding the biomechanics of the distraction process.

Analysis of adjusting effects of mounting force on frequency conversion of mounted nonlinear optics.

PubMed

Su, Ruifeng; Liu, Haitao; Liang, Yingchun; Lu, Lihua

2014-01-10

Motivated by the need to increase the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of nonlinear optics with large apertures, a novel mounting configuration with active adjusting function on the SHG efficiency is proposed and mechanically and optically studied. The adjusting effects of the mounting force on the distortion and stress are analyzed by the finite element methods (FEM), as well as the contribution of the distortion and stress to the change in phase mismatch, and the SHG efficiency are theoretically stated. Further on, the SHG efficiency is calculated as a function of the mounting force. The changing trends of the distortion, stress, and the SHG efficiency with the varying mounting force are obtained, and the optimal ones are figured out. Moreover, the mechanism of the occurrence of the optimal values is studied and the adjusting strategy is put forward. Numerical results show the robust adjustment of the mounting force, as well as the effectiveness of the mounting configuration, in increasing the SHG efficiency.

Is the Control of Applied Digital Forces During Natural Five-digit Grasping Affected by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

PubMed

Chen, Po-Tsun; Jou, I-Ming; Lin, Chien-Ju; Chieh, Hsiao-Feng; Kuo, Li-Chieh; Su, Fong-Chin

2015-07-01

The impaired sensory function of the hand induced by carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is known to disturb dexterous manipulations. However, force control during daily grasping configuration among the five digits has not been a prominent focus of study. Because grasping is so important to normal function and use of a hand, it is important to understand how sensory changes in CTS affect the digit force of natural grasp. We therefore examined the altered patterns of digit forces applied during natural five-digit grasping in patients with CTS and compared them with those seen in control subjects without CTS. We hypothesized that the patients with CTS will grasp by applying larger forces with lowered pair correlations and more force variability of the involved digits than the control subjects. Specifically, we asked: (1) Is there a difference between patients with CTS and control subjects in applied force by digits during lift-hold-lower task? (2) Is there a difference in force correlation coefficient of the digit pairs? (3) Are there force variability differences during the holding phase? We evaluated 15 female patients with CTS and 15 control subjects matched for age, gender, and hand dominance. The applied radial forces (Fr) of the five digits were recorded by respective force transducers on a cylinder simulator during the lift-hold-lower task with natural grasping. The movement phases of the task were determined by a video-based motion capture system. The applied forces of the thumb in patients with CTS (7 ± 0.8 N; 95% CI, 7.2-7.4 N) versus control subjects (5 ± 0.8 N; 95% CI, 5.1-5.3 N) and the index finger in patients with CTS (3 ± 0.3 N; 95% CI, 3.2-3.3 N) versus control subjects (2 ± 0.3 N; 95% CI, 2.2-2.3 N) observed throughout most of the task were larger in the CTS group (p ranges 0.035-0.050 for thumb and 0.016-0.050 for index finger). In addition, the applied force of the middle finger in patients with CTS (1 ± 0.1 N; 95% CI, 1.3-1.4 N) versus the control subjects (2 ± 0.2 N; 95% CI, 1.9-2.0 N) during the lowering phase was larger in CTS group (p ranges 0.039-0.050). The force correlations of the thumb-middle finger observed during the lowering phase in the patients with CTS (0.8 ± 0.2; 95% CI, 0.6-0.9) versus the control subjects (0.9 ± 0.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.0; p = 0.04) were weaker in the CTS group. The thumb-little finger during holding in the patients with CTS (0.5 ± 0.2; 95% CI, 0.3-0.7) versus the control subjects (0.8 ± 0.2; 95% CI, 0.6-0.9; p = 0.02), and the lowering phase in the patients with CTS (0.6 ± 0.2; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8) versus the control subjects (0.9 ± 0.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.0; p = 0.01) also were weaker. The force variabilities of patients with CTS were greater in the CTS group than in the control subjects: in the thumb ([0.26 ± 0.11 N, 95% CI, 0.20-0.32 N] versus [0.19 ± 0.06 N; 95% CI, 0.16-0.22 N], p = 0.03); index finger ([0.09 ± 0.07 N; 95% CI, 0.05-0.13 N] versus [0.05 ± 0.03 N; 95% CI, 0.04-0.07 N], p = 0.03); middle finger ([0.06 ± 0.04 N; 95% CI, 0.04-0.08 N] versus [0.03 ± 0.01 N; 95% CI, 0.02-0.04 N], p = 0.02), and ring finger ([0.04 ± 0.03 N; 95% CI, 0.20-0.06 N] versus [0.02 ± 0.01 N; 95% CI, 0.02-0.02 N], p = 0.01). Patients with CTS grasped with greater digit force associated with weaker correlation and higher variability on specific digits in different task demands. These altered patterns in daily grasping may lead to secondary problems, which will need to be assessed in future studies with this model to see if they are reversible in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release. The current results helped to identify altered patterns of grasping force during simulated daily function in patients with CTS and to provide the clinician with potential information that might help guide the rehabilitation of grasp in these patients.

Writing and Digital Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Waes, Luuk, Ed.; Leijten, Marielle, Ed.; Neuwirth, Chris, Ed.

2006-01-01

Digital media has become an increasingly powerful force in modern society. This volume brings together outstanding European, American and Australian research in "writing and digital media" and explores its cognitive, social and cultural implications. In addition to presenting programs of original research by internationally known…

How to optimize radiological images captured from digital cameras, using the Adobe Photoshop 6.0 program.

PubMed

Chalazonitis, A N; Koumarianos, D; Tzovara, J; Chronopoulos, P

2003-06-01

Over the past decade, the technology that permits images to be digitized and the reduction in the cost of digital equipment allows quick digital transfer of any conventional radiological film. Images then can be transferred to a personal computer, and several software programs are available that can manipulate their digital appearance. In this article, the fundamentals of digital imaging are discussed, as well as the wide variety of optional adjustments that the Adobe Photoshop 6.0 (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA) program can offer to present radiological images with satisfactory digital imaging quality.

Evaluation of force-torque displays for use with space station telerobotic activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hendrich, Robert C.; Bierschwale, John M.; Manahan, Meera K.; Stuart, Mark A.; Legendre, A. Jay

1992-01-01

Recent experiments which addressed Space Station remote manipulation tasks found that tactile force feedback (reflecting forces and torques encountered at the end-effector through the manipulator hand controller) does not improve performance significantly. Subjective response from astronaut and non-astronaut test subjects indicated that force information, provided visually, could be useful. No research exists which specifically investigates methods of presenting force-torque information visually. This experiment was designed to evaluate seven different visual force-torque displays which were found in an informal telephone survey. The displays were prototyped in the HyperCard programming environment. In a within-subjects experiment, 14 subjects nullified forces and torques presented statically, using response buttons located at the bottom of the screen. Dependent measures included questionnaire data, errors, and response time. Subjective data generally demonstrate that subjects rated variations of pseudo-perspective displays consistently better than bar graph and digital displays. Subjects commented that the bar graph and digital displays could be used, but were not compatible with using hand controllers. Quantitative data show similar trends to the subjective data, except that the bar graph and digital displays both provided good performance, perhaps do to the mapping of response buttons to display elements. Results indicate that for this set of displays, the pseudo-perspective displays generally represent a more intuitive format for presenting force-torque information.

Road Tripping Down the Digital Preservation Highway: Part III. Rolls Royce, Ford, or Dune Buggy?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colati, Jessica Branco; Colati, Gregory C.

2011-01-01

"Road Tripping Down the Digital Preservation Highway" follows the continuing adventures of Peter Palmer, erstwhile librarian at Bellaluna University and manager of the library's and University's digital content, as he journeys down the Digital Preservation Highway. In this article, Palmer is put in charge of a task force to determine…

Control of a Glove-Based Grasp Assist Device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bergelin, Bryan J (Inventor); Ihrke, Chris A. (Inventor); Davis, Donald R. (Inventor); Linn, Douglas Martin (Inventor); Sanders, Adam M (Inventor); Askew, R. Scott (Inventor); Laske, Evan (Inventor); Ensley, Kody (Inventor)

2015-01-01

A grasp assist system includes a glove and sleeve. The glove includes a digit, i.e., a finger or thumb, and a force sensor. The sensor measures a grasping force applied to an object by an operator wearing the glove. The glove contains a tendon connected at a first end to the digit. The sleeve has an actuator assembly connected to a second end of the tendon and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller includes a configuration module having selectable operating modes and a processor that calculates a tensile force to apply to the tendon for each of the selectable operating modes to assist the grasping force in a manner that differs for each of the operating modes. A method includes measuring the grasping force, selecting the mode, calculating the tensile force, and applying the tensile force to the tendon using the actuator assembly.

The New Digital Shoreline: How Web 2.0 and Millennials Are Revolutionizing Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McHaney, Roger

2011-01-01

Two seismic forces beyond our control--the advent of Web 2.0 and the inexorable influx of tech-savvy Millennials on campus--are shaping what Roger McHaney calls "The New Digital Shoreline" of higher education. Failure to chart its contours, and adapt, poses a major threat to higher education as we know it. These forces demand that we as educators…

Kuk's Model Adjusted for Protection and Efficiency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Su, Shu-Ching; Sedory, Stephen A.; Singh, Sarjinder

2015-01-01

In this article, we adjust the Kuk randomized response model for collecting information on a sensitive characteristic for increased protection and efficiency by making use of forced "yes" and forced "no" responses. We first describe Kuk's model and then the proposed adjustment to Kuk's model. Next, by means of a simulation…

Light-adjustable lens.

PubMed Central

Schwartz, Daniel M

2003-01-01

PURPOSE: First, to determine whether a silicone light-adjustable intraocular lens (IOL) can be fabricated and adjusted precisely with a light delivery device (LDD). Second, to determine the biocompatibility of an adjustable IOL and whether the lens can be adjusted precisely in vivo. METHODS: After fabrication of a light-adjustable silicone formulation, IOLs were made and tested in vitro for cytotoxicity, leaching, precision of adjustment, optical quality after adjustment, and mechanical properties. Light-adjustable IOLs were then tested in vivo for biocompatibility and precision of adjustment in a rabbit model. In collaboration with Zeiss-Meditec, a digital LDD was developed and tested to correct for higher-order aberrations in light-adjustable IOLs. RESULTS: The results establish that a biocompatible silicone IOL can be fabricated and adjusted using safe levels of light. There was no evidence of cytotoxicity or leaching. Testing of mechanical properties revealed no significant differences from commercial controls. Implantation of light-adjustable lenses in rabbits demonstrated- excellent biocompatibility after 6 months, comparable to a commercially available IOL. In vivo spherical (hyperopic and myopic) adjustment in rabbits was achieved using an analog light delivery system. The digital light delivery system was tested and achieved correction of higher-order aberrations. CONCLUSION: A silicone light-adjustable IOL and LDD have been developed to enable postoperative, noninvasive adjustment of lens power. The ability to correct higher-order aberrations in these materials has broad potential applicability for optimization of vision in patients undergoing cataract and refractive surgery. PMID:14971588

76 FR 590 - Adjustment or Determination of Compulsory License Rates for Making and Distributing Phonorecords

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-05

... LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Copyright Royalty Board [Docket No. 2011-3 CRB Phonorecords II] Adjustment or... Board, Library of Congress. ACTION: Notice announcing commencement of proceeding with request for... proceeding was captioned as ``DPRA'' (which stands for ``Digital Phonorecord Rate Adjustment''). Hereinafter...

Enterprise Implementation of Digital Pathology: Feasibility, Challenges, and Opportunities.

PubMed

Hartman, D J; Pantanowitz, L; McHugh, J S; Piccoli, A L; OLeary, M J; Lauro, G R

2017-10-01

Digital pathology is becoming technically possible to implement for routine pathology work. At our institution, we have been using digital pathology for second opinion intraoperative consultations for over 10 years. Herein, we describe our experience in converting to a digital pathology platform for primary pathology diagnosis. We implemented an incremental rollout for digital pathology on subspecialty benches, beginning with cases that contained small amounts of tissue (biopsy specimens). We successfully scanned over 40,000 slides through our digital pathology system. Several lessons (both challenges and opportunities) were learned through this implementation. A successful conversion to digital pathology requires pre-imaging adjustments, integrated software and post-imaging evaluations.

Investigation of force, contact area, and dwell time in finger-tapping tasks on membrane touch interface.

PubMed

Liu, Na; Yu, Ruifeng

2018-06-01

This study aimed to determine the touch characteristics during tapping tasks on membrane touch interface and investigate the effects of posture and gender on touch characteristics variables. One hundred participants tapped digits displayed on a membrane touch interface on sitting and standing positions using all fingers of the dominant hand. Touch characteristics measures included average force, contact area, and dwell time. Across fingers and postures, males exerted larger force and contact area than females, but similar dwell time. Across genders and postures, thumb exerted the largest force and the force of the other four fingers showed no significant difference. The contact area of the thumb was the largest, whereas that of the little finger was the smallest; the dwell time of the thumb was the longest, whereas that of the middle finger was the shortest. Relationships among finger sizes, gender, posture and touch characteristics were proposed. The findings helped direct membrane touch interface design for digital and numerical control products from hardware and software perspectives. Practitioner Summary: This study measured force, contact area, and dwell time in tapping tasks on membrane touch interface and examined effects of gender and posture on force, contact area, and dwell time. The findings will direct membrane touch interface design for digital and numerical control products from hardware and software perspectives.

Quality aspects of digital radiography in general dental practice.

PubMed

Hellén-Halme, Kristina

2007-01-01

The number of dentists who have converted from conventional film radiography to digital radiography continues to grow. A digital system has numerous advantages, but there are also many new aspects to consider. The overall aim of this thesis was to study how digital radiography was used in general dental practices. The specific aims were to study how different factors affected image quality. To determine whether there were any differences in image quality between conventional film radiographs and digital radiographs, 4863 images (540 cases) were evaluated. The cases had been sent to the Swedish Dental Insurance Office for prior treatment approval. The image quality of digital radiographs was found to be significantly lower than that of film radiographs. This result led to a questionnaire study of dentists experienced in digital radiography. In 2003, a questionnaire was sent to the 139 general practice dentists who worked with digital radiography in Skine, Sweden; the response rate was 94%. Many general practice dentists had experienced several problems (65%), and less than half of the digital systems (40%) underwent some kind of quality control. One of the weaker links in the technical chain of digital radiography appeared to be the monitor. A field study to 19 dentists at their clinics found that the brightness and contrast settings of the monitors had to be adjusted to obtain the subjectively best image quality. The ambient light in the evaluation room was also found to affect the diagnostic outcome of low-contrast patterns in radiographs. To evaluate the effects of ambient light and technical adjustments of the monitor, a study using standardised set-ups was designed. Seven observers evaluated radiographs of 100 extracted human teeth for approximal caries under five different combinations of brightness and contrast settings on two different occasions with high and low ambient light levels in the evaluation room. The ability to diagnose carious lesions was found to be significantly better in a room with lower ambient light and on a monitor with well-adjusted brightness and contrast values than in a room with bright light and on an unadjusted monitor. In conclusion, many problems with dental digital radiography were identified. Knowledge of digital techniques and how to optimise each link in the system to maintain high radiographic quality at all times must be improved.

Partially filled electrodes for digital microfluidic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pyne, D. G.; Salman, W. M.; Abdelgawad, M.; Sun, Y.

2013-07-01

As digital microfluidics technology evolves, the need for integrating additional elements (e.g., sensing/detection and heating elements) on the electrode increases. Consequently, electrode area for droplet actuation is reduced to create space for accommodating these additional elements, which undesirably affects force generation. Electrodes cannot simply be scaled larger to compensate for this loss of force, as this would also increase droplet volume and thereby compromise the advantages thought in miniaturization. Here, we present a study evaluating, numerically with preliminary experimental verification, different partially filled electrode designs and suggesting designs that combine high actuation forces with a large reduction in electrode area.

Walking, running and the evolution of short toes in humans.

PubMed

Rolian, Campbell; Lieberman, Daniel E; Hamill, Joseph; Scott, John W; Werbel, William

2009-03-01

The phalangeal portion of the forefoot is extremely short relative to body mass in humans. This derived pedal proportion is thought to have evolved in the context of committed bipedalism, but the benefits of shorter toes for walking and/or running have not been tested previously. Here, we propose a biomechanical model of toe function in bipedal locomotion that suggests that shorter pedal phalanges improve locomotor performance by decreasing digital flexor force production and mechanical work, which might ultimately reduce the metabolic cost of flexor force production during bipedal locomotion. We tested this model using kinematic, force and plantar pressure data collected from a human sample representing normal variation in toe length (N=25). The effect of toe length on peak digital flexor forces, impulses and work outputs was evaluated during barefoot walking and running using partial correlations and multiple regression analysis, controlling for the effects of body mass, whole-foot and phalangeal contact times and toe-out angle. Our results suggest that there is no significant increase in digital flexor output associated with longer toes in walking. In running, however, multiple regression analyses based on the sample suggest that increasing average relative toe length by as little as 20% doubles peak digital flexor impulses and mechanical work, probably also increasing the metabolic cost of generating these forces. The increased mechanical cost associated with long toes in running suggests that modern human forefoot proportions might have been selected for in the context of the evolution of endurance running.

Digital Literacy: Tools and Methodologies for Information Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rivoltella, Pier Cesare, Ed.

2008-01-01

Currently in a state of cultural transition, global society is moving from a literary society to digital one, adopting widespread use of advanced technologies such as the Internet and mobile devices. Digital media has an extraordinary impact on society's formative processes, forcing a pragmatic shift in their management and organization. This…

Magnetically adjustable intraocular lens.

PubMed

Matthews, Michael Wayne; Eggleston, Harry Conrad; Pekarek, Steven D; Hilmas, Greg Eugene

2003-11-01

To provide a noninvasive, magnetic adjustment mechanism to the repeatedly and reversibly adjustable, variable-focus intraocular lens (IOL). University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, and Eggleston Adjustable Lens, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Mechanically adjustable IOLs have been fabricated and tested. Samarium and cobalt rare-earth magnets have been incorporated into the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) optic of these adjustable lenses. The stability of samarium and cobalt in the PMMA matrix was examined with leaching studies. Operational force testing of the magnetic optics with emphasis on the rotational forces of adjustment was done. Prototype optics incorporating rare-earth magnetic inserts were consistently produced. After 32 days in solution, samarium and cobalt concentration reached a maximum of 5 ppm. Operational force measurements indicate that successful adjustments of this lens can be made using external magnetic fields with rotational torques in excess of 0.6 ounce inch produced. Actual lenses were remotely adjusted using magnetic fields. The magnetically adjustable version of this IOL is a viable and promising means of handling the common issues of postoperative refractive errors without the requirement of additional surgery. The repeatedly adjustable mechanism of this lens also holds promise for the developing eyes of pediatric patients and the changing needs of all patients.

Identifying traction-separation behavior of self-adhesive polymeric films from in situ digital images under T-peeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nase, Michael; Rennert, Mirko; Naumenko, Konstantin; Eremeyev, Victor A.

2016-06-01

In this paper procedures are developed to identify traction-separation curves from digital images of the deformed flexible films during peeling. T-peel tests were performed for self-adhesive polymeric films. High quality photographs of the deformed shape within and outside the zone of adhesive interaction were made in situ by the digital light microscope. The deformed line is approximated by a power series with coefficients computed by minimizing a least squares functional. Two approaches to identify the traction-separation curve for the given deformation line are proposed. The first one is based on the energy integral of the non-linear theory of rods and allows the direct evaluation of the adhesion force potential. The second one utilizes the complementary energy type variational equation and the Ritz method to compute the adhesion force. The accuracy of both approaches is analyzed with respect to different approximations for the deformed line and the force of interaction. The obtained traction vs. axial coordinate and the traction-separation curves provide several properties of the adhesive system including the maximum adhesion force, the length of the adhesive zone and the equilibrium position, where the adhesive force is zero while the separation is positive.

Sensorimotor memory of object weight distribution during multidigit grasp.

PubMed

Albert, Frederic; Santello, Marco; Gordon, Andrew M

2009-10-09

We studied the ability to transfer three-digit force sharing patterns learned through consecutive lifts of an object with an asymmetric center of mass (CM). After several object lifts, we asked subjects to rotate and translate the object to the contralateral hand and perform one additional lift. This task was performed under two weight conditions (550 and 950 g) to determine the extent to which subjects would be able to transfer weight and CM information. Learning transfer was quantified by measuring the extent to which force sharing patterns and peak object roll on the first post-translation trial resembled those measured on the pre-translation trial with the same CM. We found that the overall gain of fingertip forces was transferred following object rotation, but that the scaling of individual digit forces was specific to the learned digit-object configuration, and thus was not transferred following rotation. As a result, on the first post-translation trial there was a significantly larger object roll following object lift-off than on the pre-translation trial. This suggests that sensorimotor memories for weight, requiring scaling of fingertip force gain, may differ from memories for mass distribution.

Comparison of digital controllers used in magnetic suspension and balance systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kilgore, William A.

1990-01-01

Dynamic systems that were once controlled by analog circuits are now controlled by digital computers. Presented is a comparison of the digital controllers presently used with magnetic suspension and balance systems. The overall responses of the systems are compared using a computer simulation of the magnetic suspension and balance system and the digital controllers. The comparisons include responses to both simulated force and position inputs. A preferred digital controller is determined from the simulated responses.

Coordination of intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscle activity as a function of wrist joint angle during two-digit grasping.

PubMed

Johnston, Jamie A; Bobich, Lisa R; Santello, Marco

2010-04-26

Fingertip forces result from the activation of muscles that cross the wrist and muscles whose origins and insertions reside within the hand (extrinsic and intrinsic hand muscles, respectively). Thus, tasks that involve changes in wrist angle affect the moment arm and length, hence the force-producing capabilities, of extrinsic muscles only. If a grasping task requires the exertion of constant fingertip forces, the Central Nervous System (CNS) may respond to changes in wrist angle by modulating the neural drive to extrinsic or intrinsic muscles only or by co-activating both sets of muscles. To distinguish between these scenarios, we recorded electromyographic (EMG) activity of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the thumb and index finger as a function of wrist angle during a two-digit object hold task. We hypothesized that changes in wrist angle would elicit EMG amplitude modulation of the extrinsic and intrinsic hand muscles. In one experimental condition we asked subjects to exert the same digit forces at each wrist angle, whereas in a second condition subjects could choose digit forces for holding the object. EMG activity was significantly modulated in both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles as a function of wrist angle (both p<0.05) but only for the constant force condition. Furthermore, EMG modulation resulted from uniform scaling of EMG amplitude across all muscles. We conclude that the CNS controlled both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles as a muscle synergy. These findings are discussed within the theoretical frameworks of synergies and common neural input across motor nuclei of hand muscles. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map version 2 (WDMAM v.2) - released for research and education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

CHOI-Dyment, Y.; Lesur, V.; Dyment, J.; Hamoudi, M.; Thebault, E.; Catalan, M.

2015-12-01

The World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map is an international initiative carried out under the auspices of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) and the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW). A first version of the map has been published and distributed eight years ago (WDMAM v1; Korhonen et al., 2007). We have produced a candidate which has been accepted as the second version of this map (WDMAM v2) at the International Union of Geophysics and Geodesy in Prag, in June 2015. On land, we adopted an alternative approach avoiding any unnecessary processing on existing aeromagnetic compilations. When available, we used the original aeromagnetic data. As a result the final compilation remains an acceptable representation of the national and international data grids. Over oceanic areas the marine data have been extended. In areas of insufficient data coverage, a model has been computed based on a modified digital grid of the oceanic lithosphere age, considering plate motions in the determination of magnetization vector directions. This model has been further adjusted to the available data, resulting in a better representation of the anomalies. The final grid will be periodically upgraded. Version 2.0 has been released and is available at wdmam.org to support both research and education projects. Colleagues willing to contribute data for future releases (and become a co-author of the map) should contact any of the authors or Jerome Dyment (chair of the WDMAM Task Force) at jdy@ipgp.fr .

Mechanical analysis and force chain determination in granular materials using digital image correlation.

PubMed

Chen, Fanxiu; Zhuang, Qi; Zhang, Huixin

2016-06-20

The mechanical behaviors of granular materials are governed by the grain properties and microstructure of the materials. We conducted experiments to study the force transmission in granular materials using plane strain tests. The large amount of nearly continuous displacement data provided by the advanced noncontact experimental technique of digital image correlation (DIC) has provided a means to quantify local displacements and strains at the particle level. The average strain of each particle could be calculated based on the DIC method, and the average stress could be obtained using Hooke's law. The relationship between the stress and particle force could be obtained based on basic Newtonian mechanics and the balance of linear momentum at the particle level. This methodology is introduced and validated. In the testing procedure, the system is tested in real 2D particle cases, and the contact forces and force chain are obtained and analyzed. The system has great potential for analyzing a real granular system and measuring the contact forces and force chain.

Digital force-feedback for protein unfolding experiments using atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bippes, Christian A.; Janovjak, Harald; Kedrov, Alexej; Muller, Daniel J.

2007-01-01

Since its invention in the 1990s single-molecule force spectroscopy has been increasingly applied to study protein (un-)folding, cell adhesion, and ligand-receptor interactions. In most force spectroscopy studies, the cantilever of an atomic force microscope (AFM) is separated from a surface at a constant velocity, thus applying an increasing force to folded bio-molecules or bio-molecular bonds. Recently, Fernandez and co-workers introduced the so-called force-clamp technique. Single proteins were subjected to a defined constant force allowing their life times and life time distributions to be directly measured. Up to now, the force-clamping was performed by analogue PID controllers, which require complex additional hardware and might make it difficult to combine the force-feedback with other modes such as constant velocity. These points may be limiting the applicability and versatility of this technique. Here we present a simple, fast, and all-digital (software-based) PID controller that yields response times of a few milliseconds in combination with a commercial AFM. We demonstrate the performance of our feedback loop by force-clamp unfolding of single Ig27 domains of titin and the membrane proteins bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and the sodium/proton antiporter NhaA.

Method and Apparatus for Improving the Resolution of Digitally Sampled Analog Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liaghati, Amir L. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

A system and method is described for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. The gain and offset of an ADC is dynamically adjusted so that the N-bits of input data are assigned to a narrower channel instead of the entire input range of the ADC. This provides greater resolution in the range of interest without generating longer digital data strings.

Digital mammography: more microcalcifications, more columnar cell lesions without atypia.

PubMed

Verschuur-Maes, Anoek H J; van Gils, Carla H; van den Bosch, Maurice A A J; De Bruin, Peter C; van Diest, Paul J

2011-09-01

The incidence of columnar cell lesions in breast core needle biopsies since full-field digital mammography in comparison with screen-filmed mammography was analyzed. As tiny microcalcifications characterize columnar cell lesions at mammography, we hypothesized that more columnar cell lesions are diagnosed since full-field digital mammography due to its higher sensitivity for microcalcifications. In all, 3437 breast core needle biopsies performed in three hospitals and resulting from in total 55 159 mammographies were revised: 1424 taken in the screen-filmed mammography and 2013 in the full-field digital mammography period. Between the screen-filmed mammography and full-field digital mammography periods, we compared the proportion of mammographies that led to core needle biopsies, the mammographic indication for core needle biopsies (density, microcalcifications, or both) and the proportion of columnar cell lesions with or without atypia. The columnar cell lesions were graded according to Schnitt, and we included atypical ductal hyperplasia arising in the context of columnar cell lesions. Proportions were compared using χ(2) tests and prevalence ratios were adjusted for age and hospital. We found that more core needle biopsies per mammogram were taken in the full-field digital mammography period (7.6%) compared with the screen-filmed mammography period (5.0%, P<0.0001). Microcalcifications were more often diagnosed with full-field digital mammography than with screen-filmed mammography (adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.14, confidence interval 95%: 1.01-1.28). Core needle biopsies from the full-field digital mammography era showed more columnar cell lesions (10.8%) than those from the screen-filmed mammography era (4.9%; adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.93, confidence interval 95%: 1.48-2.51), particularly due to more columnar cell lesions without atypia (8.2% respectively 2.8%) while the proportion of columnar cell lesions with atypia remained nearly constant (2.0 vs 2.6%). In conclusion, since the implementation of full-field digital mammography, more microcalcifications are seen at mammography, more often resulting in core needle biopsies, which especially yields more columnar cell lesions without atypia.

Selective deficits of grip force control during object manipulation in patients with reduced sensibility of the grasping digits.

PubMed

Nowak, Dennis A; Hermsdörfer, Joachim

2003-09-01

Persons with impaired manual sensibility frequently report problems to use the hand in manipulative tasks, such as using tools or buttoning a shirt. At least two control processes determine grip forces during voluntary object manipulation. Anticipatory force control specifies the motor commands on the basis of predictions about physical object properties and the consequences of our own actions. Feedback sensory information from the grasping digits, representing mechanical events at the skin-object interface, automatically modifies grip force according to the actual loading requirements and updates sensorimotor memories to support anticipatory grip force control. We investigated grip force control in nine patients with moderately impaired tactile sensibility of the grasping digits and in nine sex- and age-matched healthy controls lifting and holding an instrumented object. In healthy controls grip force was adequately scaled to the weight of the object to be lifted. The grip force was programmed to smoothly change in parallel with load force over the entire lifting movement. In particular, the grip force level was regulated in an economical way to be always slightly higher than the minimum required to prevent the object slipping. The temporal coupling between the grip and load force profiles achieved a high precision with the maximum grip and load forces coinciding closely in time. For the temporal regulation of the grip force profile patients with impaired tactile sensibility maintained the close co-ordination between proximal arm muscles, responsible for the lifting movement and the fingers stabilising the grasp. Maximum grip force coincided with maximum acceleration of the lifting movement. However, patients employed greater maximum grip forces and greater grip forces to hold the object unsupported when compared with controls. Our results give further evidence to the suggestion that during manipulation of objects with known physical properties the anticipatory temporal regulation of the grip force profile is centrally processed and less under sensory feedback control. In contrast, sensory afferent information from the grasping fingers plays a dominant role for the efficient scaling of the grip force level according to actual loading requirements.

An innovative methodology for measurement of stress distribution of inflatable membrane structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Bing; Chen, Wujun; Hu, Jianhui; Chen, Jianwen; Qiu, Zhenyu; Zhou, Jinyu; Gao, Chengjun

2016-02-01

The inflatable membrane structure has been widely used in the fields of civil building, industrial building, airship, super pressure balloon and spacecraft. It is important to measure the stress distribution of the inflatable membrane structure because it influences the safety of the structural design. This paper presents an innovative methodology for the measurement and determination of the stress distribution of the inflatable membrane structure under different internal pressures, combining photogrammetry and the force-finding method. The shape of the inflatable membrane structure is maintained by the use of pressurized air, and the internal pressure is controlled and measured by means of an automatic pressure control system. The 3D coordinates of the marking points pasted on the membrane surface are acquired by three photographs captured from three cameras based on photogrammetry. After digitizing the markings on the photographs, the 3D curved surfaces are rebuilt. The continuous membrane surfaces are discretized into quadrilateral mesh and simulated by membrane links to calculate the stress distributions using the force-finding method. The internal pressure is simplified to the external node forces in the normal direction according to the contributory area of the node. Once the geometry x, the external force r and the topology C are obtained, the unknown force densities q in each link can be determined. Therefore, the stress distributions of the inflatable membrane structure can be calculated, combining the linear adjustment theory and the force density method based on the force equilibrium of inflated internal pressure and membrane internal force without considering the mechanical properties of the constitutive material. As the use of the inflatable membrane structure is attractive in the field of civil building, an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) cushion is used with the measurement model to validate the proposed methodology. The comparisons between the obtained results and numerical simulation for the inflation process of the ETFE cushion are performed, and the strong agreements demonstrate that the proposed methodology is feasible and accurate.

Quartz tuning fork-based frequency modulation atomic force spectroscopy and microscopy with all digital phase-locked loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Sangmin; Hong, Mun-heon; Kim, Jongwoo; Kwon, Soyoung; Lee, Kunyoung; Lee, Manhee; Jhe, Wonho

2012-11-01

We present a platform for the quartz tuning fork (QTF)-based, frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) system for quantitative study of the mechanical or topographical properties of nanoscale materials, such as the nano-sized water bridge formed between the quartz tip (˜100 nm curvature) and the mica substrate. A thermally stable, all digital phase-locked loop is used to detect the small frequency shift of the QTF signal resulting from the nanomaterial-mediated interactions. The proposed and demonstrated novel FM-AFM technique provides high experimental sensitivity in the measurement of the viscoelastic forces associated with the confined nano-water meniscus, short response time, and insensitivity to amplitude noise, which are essential for precision dynamic force spectroscopy and microscopy.

Quartz tuning fork-based frequency modulation atomic force spectroscopy and microscopy with all digital phase-locked loop.

PubMed

An, Sangmin; Hong, Mun-heon; Kim, Jongwoo; Kwon, Soyoung; Lee, Kunyoung; Lee, Manhee; Jhe, Wonho

2012-11-01

We present a platform for the quartz tuning fork (QTF)-based, frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) system for quantitative study of the mechanical or topographical properties of nanoscale materials, such as the nano-sized water bridge formed between the quartz tip (~100 nm curvature) and the mica substrate. A thermally stable, all digital phase-locked loop is used to detect the small frequency shift of the QTF signal resulting from the nanomaterial-mediated interactions. The proposed and demonstrated novel FM-AFM technique provides high experimental sensitivity in the measurement of the viscoelastic forces associated with the confined nano-water meniscus, short response time, and insensitivity to amplitude noise, which are essential for precision dynamic force spectroscopy and microscopy.

CMOS Bit-Stream Band-Pass Beamforming

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-31

unlimited. with direct IF sampling, most of the signal processing, including digital down-conversion ( DDC ), is carried out in the digital domain, and I/Q...level digitized signals are directly processed without decimation filtering for I/Q DDC and phase shifting. This novel BSP approach replaces bulky...positive feedback. The resonator center frequency of fs/4 (260MHz) simplifies the design of DDC . 4b tunable capacitors adjust the center frequency

A tensile machine with a novel optical load cell for soft biological tissues application.

PubMed

Faturechi, Rahim; Hashemi, Ata; Abolfathi, Nabiollah

2014-11-01

The uniaxial tensile testing machine is the most common device used to measure the mechanical properties of industrial and biological materials. The need for a low-cost uniaxial tension testing device for small research centers has always been the subject of research. To address this need, a novel uniaxial tensile testing machine was designed and fabricated to measure the mechanical properties of soft biological tissues. The device is equipped with a new low-cost load cell which works based on the linear displacement/force relationship of beams. The deflection of the beam load cell is measured optically by a digital microscope with an accuracy of 1 µm. The stiffness of the designed load cell was experimentally and theoretically determined at 100 N mm(-1). The stiffness of the load cell can be easily adjusted according to the tissue's strength. The force-time behaviour of soft tissue specimens was obtained by an in-house image processing program. To demonstrate the efficiency of the fabricated device, the mechanical properties of amnion tissue was measured and compared with available data. The obtained results indicate a strong agreement with that of previous studies.

Visually testing the dynamic character of a blazed-angle adjustable grating by digital holographic microscopy.

PubMed

Qin, Chuan; Zhao, Jianlin; Di, Jianglei; Wang, Le; Yu, Yiting; Yuan, Weizheng

2009-02-10

We employed digital holographic microscopy to visually test microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS). The sample is a blazed-angle adjustable grating. Considering the periodic structure of the sample, a local area unwrapping method based on a binary template was adopted to demodulate the fringes obtained by referring to a reference hologram. A series of holograms at different deformation states due to different drive voltages were captured to analyze the dynamic character of the MOEMS, and the uniformity of different microcantilever beams was also inspected. The results show this testing method is effective for a periodic structure.

Deficiencies in Journal Vouchers that Affected the FY 2009 Air Force General Fund Statement of Budgetary Resources

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

internal control over financial reporting to: • properly support reconciliations with specific accounting transactions and discontinue forcing...agreement of amounts to meet budgetary financial reporting requirements; • include adequate detailed evidence with journal vouchers so that audit trails...Finding A. Forced Journal Voucher Adjustments Weaken the Reliability of Financial Reporting 5 Reimbursable Activity Adjustments Need Detailed

Digital off-axis holographic interferometry with simulated wavefront.

PubMed

Belashov, A V; Petrov, N V; Semenova, I V

2014-11-17

The paper presents a novel algorithm based on digital holographic interferometry and being promising for evaluation of phase variations from highly noisy or modulated by speckle-structures digital holograms. The suggested algorithm simulates an interferogram in finite width fringes, by analogy with classical double exposure holographic interferometry. Thus obtained interferogram is then processed as a digital hologram. The advantages of the suggested approach are demonstrated in numerical experiments on calculations of differences in phase distributions of wave fronts modulated by speckle structure, as well as in a physical experiment on the analysis of laser-induced heating dynamics of an aqueous solution of a photosensitizer. It is shown that owing to the inherent capability of the approach to perform adjustable smoothing of compared wave fronts, the resulting difference undergoes noise filtering. This capability of adjustable smoothing may be used to minimize losses in spatial resolution. Since the method allows to vary an observation angle of compared wave fields, an opportunity to compensate misalignment of optical axes of these wave fronts arises. This feature can be required, for example, when using two different setups in comparative digital holography or for compensation of recording system displacements during a set of exposures in studies of dynamic processes.

Photogrammetric Processing of IceBridge DMS Imagery into High-Resolution Digital Surface Models (DEM and Visible Overlay)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arvesen, J. C.; Dotson, R. C.

2014-12-01

The DMS (Digital Mapping System) has been a sensor component of all DC-8 and P-3 IceBridge flights since 2009 and has acquired over 3 million JPEG images over Arctic and Antarctic land and sea ice. The DMS imagery is primarily used for identifying and locating open leads for LiDAR sea-ice freeboard measurements and documenting snow and ice surface conditions. The DMS is a COTS Canon SLR camera utilizing a 28mm focal length lens, resulting in a 10cm GSD and swath of ~400 meters from a nominal flight altitude of 500 meters. Exterior orientation is provided by an Applanix IMU/GPS which records a TTL pulse coincident with image acquisition. Notable for virtually all IceBridge flights is that parallel grids are not flown and thus there is no ability to photogrammetrically tie any imagery to adjacent flight lines. Approximately 800,000 Level-3 DMS Surface Model data products have been delivered to NSIDC, each consisting of a Digital Elevation Model (GeoTIFF DEM) and a co-registered Visible Overlay (GeoJPEG). Absolute elevation accuracy for each individual Elevation Model is adjusted to concurrent Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) Lidar data, resulting in higher elevation accuracy than can be achieved by photogrammetry alone. The adjustment methodology forces a zero mean difference to the corresponding ATM point cloud integrated over each DMS frame. Statistics are calculated for each DMS Elevation Model frame and show RMS differences are within +/- 10 cm with respect to the ATM point cloud. The DMS Surface Model possesses similar elevation accuracy to the ATM point cloud, but with the following advantages: · Higher and uniform spatial resolution: 40 cm GSD · 45% wider swath: 435 meters vs. 300 meters at 500 meter flight altitude · Visible RGB co-registered overlay at 10 cm GSD · Enhanced visualization through 3-dimensional virtual reality (i.e. video fly-through) Examples will be presented of the utility of these advantages and a novel use of a cell phone camera for aerial photogrammetry will also be presented.

Control of parallel manipulators using force feedback

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nanua, Prabjot

1994-01-01

Two control schemes are compared for parallel robotic mechanisms actuated by hydraulic cylinders. One scheme, the 'rate based scheme', uses the position and rate information only for feedback. The second scheme, the 'force based scheme' feeds back the force information also. The force control scheme is shown to improve the response over the rate control one. It is a simple constant gain control scheme better suited to parallel mechanisms. The force control scheme can be easily modified for the dynamic forces on the end effector. This paper presents the results of a computer simulation of both the rate and force control schemes. The gains in the force based scheme can be individually adjusted in all three directions, whereas the adjustment in just one direction of the rate based scheme directly affects the other two directions.

Impact of the Introduction of Digital Mammography in an Organized Screening Program on the Recall and Detection Rate.

PubMed

Campari, Cinzia; Giorgi Rossi, Paolo; Mori, Carlo Alberto; Ravaioli, Sara; Nitrosi, Andrea; Vacondio, Rita; Mancuso, Pamela; Cattani, Antonella; Pattacini, Pierpaolo

2016-04-01

In 2012, the Reggio Emilia Breast Cancer Screening Program introduced digital mammography in all its facilities at the same time. The aim of this work is to analyze the impact of digital mammography introduction on the recall rate, detection rate, and positive predictive value. The program actively invites women aged 45-74 years. We included women screened in 2011, all of whom underwent film-screen mammography, and all women screened in 2012, all of whom underwent digital mammography. Double reading was used for all mammograms, with arbitration in the event of disagreement. A total of 42,240 women underwent screen-film mammography and 45,196 underwent digital mammography. The recall rate increased from 3.3 to 4.4% in the first year of digital mammography (relative recall adjusted by age and round 1.46, 95% CI = 1.37-1.56); the positivity rate for each individual reading, before arbitration, rose from 3 to 5.7%. The digital mammography recall rate decreased during 2012: after 12 months, it was similar to the recall rate with screen-film mammography. The detection rate was similar: 5.9/1000 and 5.2/1000 with screen-film and digital mammography, respectively (adjusted relative detection rate 0.95, 95% CI = 0.79-1.13). The relative detection rate for ductal carcinoma in situ remained the same. The introduction of digital mammography to our organized screening program had a negative impact on specificity, thereby increasing the recall rate. The effect was limited to the first 12 months after introduction and was attenuated by the double reading with arbitration. We did not observe any relevant effects on the detection rate.

Using grey intensity adjustment strategy to enhance the measurement accuracy of digital image correlation considering the effect of intensity saturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bang-Jian; Wang, Quan-Bao; Duan, Deng-Ping; Chen, Ji-An

2018-05-01

Intensity saturation can cause decorrelation phenomenon and decrease the measurement accuracy in digital image correlation (DIC). In the paper, the grey intensity adjustment strategy is proposed to improve the measurement accuracy of DIC considering the effect of intensity saturation. First, the grey intensity adjustment strategy is described in detail, which can recover the truncated grey intensities of the saturated pixels and reduce the decorrelation phenomenon. The simulated speckle patterns are then employed to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed strategy, which indicates that the displacement accuracy can be improved by about 40% by the proposed strategy. Finally, the true experimental image is used to show the feasibility of the proposed strategy, which indicates that the displacement accuracy can be increased by about 10% by the proposed strategy.

An Objective Measure of Noseband Tightness and Its Measurement Using a Novel Digital Tightness Gauge.

PubMed

Doherty, Orla; Conway, Thomas; Conway, Richard; Murray, Gerard; Casey, Vincent

2017-01-01

Noseband tightness is difficult to assess in horses participating in equestrian sports such as dressage, show jumping and three-day-eventing. There is growing concern that nosebands are commonly tightened to such an extent as to restrict normal equine behaviour and possibly cause injury. In the absence of a clear agreed definition of noseband tightness, a simple model of the equine nose-noseband interface environment was developed in order to guide further studies in this area. The normal force component of the noseband tensile force was identified as the key contributor to sub-noseband tissue compression. The model was used to inform the design of a digital tightness gauge which could reliably measure the normal force component of the noseband tensile force. A digital tightness gauge was developed to measure this parameter under nosebands fitted to bridled horses. Results are presented for field tests using two prototype designs. Prototype version three was used in field trial 1 (n = 15, frontal nasal plane sub-noseband site). Results of this trial were used to develop an ergonomically designed prototype, version 4, which was tested in a second field trial (n = 12, frontal nasal plane and lateral sub-noseband site). Nosebands were set to three tightness settings in each trial as judged by a single rater using an International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) taper gauge. Normal forces in the range 7-95 N were recorded at the frontal nasal plane while a lower range 1-28 N was found at the lateral site for the taper gauge range used in the trials. The digital tightness gauge was found to be simple to use, reliable, and safe and its use did not agitate the animals in any discernable way. A simple six point tightness scale is suggested to aid regulation implementation and the control of noseband tightness using normal force measurement as the objective tightness discriminant.

Air Force Human Resources Laboratory Annual Report - Fiscal Year 1983.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-08-01

were performed - digital image-generation visual system and three in the Advanced Simulator for Pilot Training at associated wide-angle windows. The...inputs by the trainee. This arrangement, and survivability in high-threat environments are , with its corresponding analog-to- digital interface... digitized models of various military vehicles and aircraft for continual update/expansion. Utilization: An interactive modeling system will be user

37 CFR 386.2 - Royalty fee for secondary transmission by satellite carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY FEES FOR... a given month. (2) In the case of a station engaged in digital multicasting, the rates set forth in paragraph (b) of this section shall apply to each digital stream that a satellite carrier or distributor...

37 CFR 386.2 - Royalty fee for secondary transmission by satellite carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY FEES FOR... a given month. (2) In the case of a station engaged in digital multicasting, the rates set forth in paragraph (b) of this section shall apply to each digital stream that a satellite carrier or distributor...

37 CFR 386.2 - Royalty fee for secondary transmission by satellite carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY FEES FOR... a given month. (2) In the case of a station engaged in digital multicasting, the rates set forth in paragraph (b) of this section shall apply to each digital stream that a satellite carrier or distributor...

37 CFR 386.2 - Royalty fee for secondary transmission by satellite carriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... BOARD, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RATES AND TERMS FOR STATUTORY LICENSES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY FEES FOR... a given month. (2) In the case of a station engaged in digital multicasting, the rates set forth in paragraph (b) of this section shall apply to each digital stream that a satellite carrier or distributor...

Digital temperature and velocity control of mach 0.3 atmospheric pressure durability testing burner rigs in long time, unattended cyclic testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deadmore, D. L.

1985-01-01

Hardware and software were developed to implement the hybrid digital control of two Jet A-1 fueled Mach 0.3 burners from startup to completion of a preset number of hot corrosion flame durability cycle tests of materials at 1652 F. This was accomplished by use of a basic language programmable microcomputer and data aquisition and control unit connected together by the IEEE-488 Bus. The absolute specimen temperature was controlled to + or - 3 F by use of digital adjustment of the fuel flow using a P-I-D (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control algorithm. The specimen temperature was within + or - 2 F of the set point more than 90 percent of the time. Pressure control was achieved by digital adjustment of the combustion air flow using a proportional control algorithm. The burner pressure was controlled at 1.0 + or - 0.02 psig. Logic schemes were incorporated into the system to protect the test specimen from abnormal test conditions in the event of a hardware of software malfunction.

Radar wideband digital beamforming based on time delay and phase compensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Wei; Jiang, Defu

2018-07-01

In conventional phased array radars, analogue time delay devices and phase shifters have been used for wideband beamforming. These methods suffer from insertion losses, gain mismatches and delay variations, and they occupy a large chip area. To solve these problems, a compact architecture of digital array antennas based on subarrays was considered. In this study, the receiving beam patterns of wideband linear frequency modulation (LFM) signals were constructed by applying analogue stretch processing via mixing with delayed reference signals at the subarray level. Subsequently, narrowband digital time delaying and phase compensation of the tone signals were implemented with reduced arithmetic complexity. Due to the differences in amplitudes, phases and time delays between channels, severe performance degradation of the beam patterns occurred without corrections. To achieve good beamforming performance, array calibration was performed in each channel to adjust the amplitude, frequency and phase of the tone signal. Using a field-programmable gate array, wideband LFM signals and finite impulse response filters with continuously adjustable time delays were implemented in a polyphase structure. Simulations and experiments verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed digital beamformer.

36 CFR 223.226 - Term adjustments for force majeure delay.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Term adjustments for force majeure delay. 223.226 Section 223.226 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SALE AND DISPOSAL OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM TIMBER, SPECIAL FOREST PRODUCTS, AND FOREST BOTANICAL...

YADCLAN: yet another digitally-controlled linear artificial neuron.

PubMed

Frenger, Paul

2003-01-01

This paper updates the author's 1999 RMBS presentation on digitally controlled linear artificial neuron design. Each neuron is based on a standard operational amplifier having excitatory and inhibitory inputs, variable gain, an amplified linear analog output and an adjustable threshold comparator for digital output. This design employs a 1-wire serial network of digitally controlled potentiometers and resistors whose resistance values are set and read back under microprocessor supervision. This system embodies several unique and useful features, including: enhanced neuronal stability, dynamic reconfigurability and network extensibility. This artificial neuronal is being employed for feature extraction and pattern recognition in an advanced robotic application.

The Force of Multimedia Slide Shows

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santangelo, Darcy; Guy, Mark

2004-01-01

Many teachers look for a creative and engaging way to bring physical science topics of force and motion to life for their students. In this project, fourth-grade students weren't "forced" to investigate physical science topics--they were thrilled to! With the help of various technology tools--digital cameras, the Internet, computers, and…

Association of spinal deformity and pelvic tilt with gait asymmetry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients: Investigation of ground reaction force.

PubMed

Park, Yang Sun; Lim, Young Tae; Koh, Kyung; Kim, Jong Moon; Kwon, Hyun Joon; Yang, Ji Seung; Shim, Jae Kun

2016-07-01

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a prevalent orthopedic problem in children ages 10 to 16years. Although genetic, physiological and biomechanical factors are considered to contribute to the onset and progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between spinal deformity and inter-leg ground reaction force asymmetry during walking in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Fourteen patients (3 males and 11 females) participated in this study. Maximum Cobb's angle, adjusted Cobb's angle, and pelvic tilt were calculated from X-ray images. Asymmetry indices between legs were also calculated from ground reaction force magnitude and time variables from their preferred speed walking. Pearson coefficients of correlation were used to investigate associations of asymmetry indices with angle variables. Asymmetry indices of ground reaction force magnitudes positively correlated with adjusted Cobb's angle and maximum Cobb's angle mainly during the peak of braking phase, average of braking phase, while asymmetry indices of ground reaction force time variables showed no significant correlation with adjusted or maximum Cobb's angle. In contrast, asymmetry indices of ground reaction force time variables positively correlated with pelvic tilt during stance phase. We concluded that the spinal deformity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients estimated using the maximum and adjusted Cobb's angles is generally associated with greater asymmetry of ground reaction force magnitudes in walking, while the pelvic tilt is associated with the greater asymmetry of ground reaction force time variables. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Remotely adjustable fishing jar and method for using same

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wyatt, W.B.

1992-10-20

This patent describes a method for providing a jarring force to dislodge objects stuck in well bores, the method it comprises: connecting a jarring tool between an operating string and an object in a well bore; selecting a jarring force to be applied to the object; setting the selected reference jarring force into a mechanical memory mechanism by progressively engaging a first latch body and a second latch body; retaining the reference jarring force in the mechanical memory mechanism during diminution of tensional force applied by the operating string; and initiating an upwardly directed impact force within the jarring toolmore » by increasing tensional force on the operating string to a value greater than the tensional force corresponding with the selected jarring force. This patent also describes a remotely adjustable downhole fishing jar apparatus comprising: an operating mandrel; an impact release spring; a mechanical memory mechanism; and releasable latching means.« less

Accuracy Validation of Large-scale Block Adjustment without Control of ZY3 Images over China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bo

2016-06-01

Mapping from optical satellite images without ground control is one of the goals of photogrammetry. Using 8802 three linear array stereo images (a total of 26406 images) of ZY3 over China, we propose a large-scale and non-control block adjustment method of optical satellite images based on the RPC model, in which a single image is regarded as an adjustment unit to be organized. To overcome the block distortion caused by unstable adjustment without ground control and the excessive accumulation of errors, we use virtual control points created by the initial RPC model of the images as the weighted observations and add them into the adjustment model to refine the adjustment. We use 8000 uniformly distributed high precision check points to evaluate the geometric accuracy of the DOM (Digital Ortho Model) and DSM (Digital Surface Model) production, for which the standard deviations of plane and elevation are 3.6 m and 4.2 m respectively. The geometric accuracy is consistent across the whole block and the mosaic accuracy of neighboring DOM is within a pixel, thus, the seamless mosaic could take place. This method achieves the goal of an accuracy of mapping without ground control better than 5 m for the whole China from ZY3 satellite images.

Precise color images a high-speed color video camera system with three intensified sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oki, Sachio; Yamakawa, Masafumi; Gohda, Susumu; Etoh, Takeharu G.

1999-06-01

High speed imaging systems have been used in a large field of science and engineering. Although the high speed camera systems have been improved to high performance, most of their applications are only to get high speed motion pictures. However, in some fields of science and technology, it is useful to get some other information, such as temperature of combustion flame, thermal plasma and molten materials. Recent digital high speed video imaging technology should be able to get such information from those objects. For this purpose, we have already developed a high speed video camera system with three-intensified-sensors and cubic prism image splitter. The maximum frame rate is 40,500 pps (picture per second) at 64 X 64 pixels and 4,500 pps at 256 X 256 pixels with 256 (8 bit) intensity resolution for each pixel. The camera system can store more than 1,000 pictures continuously in solid state memory. In order to get the precise color images from this camera system, we need to develop a digital technique, which consists of a computer program and ancillary instruments, to adjust displacement of images taken from two or three image sensors and to calibrate relationship between incident light intensity and corresponding digital output signals. In this paper, the digital technique for pixel-based displacement adjustment are proposed. Although the displacement of the corresponding circle was more than 8 pixels in original image, the displacement was adjusted within 0.2 pixels at most by this method.

Multidigit force control during unconstrained grasping in response to object perturbations

PubMed Central

Haschke, Robert; Ritter, Helge; Santello, Marco; Ernst, Marc O.

2017-01-01

Because of the complex anatomy of the human hand, in the absence of external constraints, a large number of postures and force combinations can be used to attain a stable grasp. Motor synergies provide a viable strategy to solve this problem of motor redundancy. In this study, we exploited the technical advantages of an innovative sensorized object to study unconstrained hand grasping within the theoretical framework of motor synergies. Participants were required to grasp, lift, and hold the sensorized object. During the holding phase, we repetitively applied external disturbance forces and torques and recorded the spatiotemporal distribution of grip forces produced by each digit. We found that the time to reach the maximum grip force during each perturbation was roughly equal across fingers, consistent with a synchronous, synergistic stiffening across digits. We further evaluated this hypothesis by comparing the force distribution of human grasping vs. robotic grasping, where the control strategy was set by the experimenter. We controlled the global hand stiffness of the robotic hand and found that this control algorithm produced a force pattern qualitatively similar to human grasping performance. Our results suggest that the nervous system uses a default whole hand synergistic control to maintain a stable grasp regardless of the number of digits involved in the task, their position on the objects, and the type and frequency of external perturbations. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We studied hand grasping using a sensorized object allowing unconstrained finger placement. During object perturbation, the time to reach the peak force was roughly equal across fingers, consistently with a synergistic stiffening across fingers. Force distribution of a robotic grasping hand, where the control algorithm is based on global hand stiffness, was qualitatively similar to human grasping. This suggests that the central nervous system uses a default whole hand synergistic control to maintain a stable grasp. PMID:28228582

Meeting the Challenges of Regional Security

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-02-01

targets over time, assessing strike damage, and, of course, developing up-to- date maps of crucial urban and industrial areas. Coupled with modem digital ...of huge diverse data bases is key to dissecting criminal infrastructures, and identifying relevant regional and global linkages. New digital processing...cities). They can aid in reaction force planning and training. One 10-inch optical disc can easily store 25 (and display at any scale with 4- digit

Fast, Low-Power, Hysteretic Level-Detector Circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arditti, Mordechai

1993-01-01

Circuit for detection of preset levels of voltage or current intended to replace standard fast voltage comparator. Hysteretic analog/digital level detector operates at unusually low power with little sacrifice of speed. Comprises low-power analog circuit and complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) digital circuit connected in overall closed feedback loop to decrease rise and fall times, provide hysteresis, and trip-level control. Contains multiple subloops combining linear and digital feedback. Levels of sensed signals and hysteresis level easily adjusted by selection of components to suit specific application.

Visual and digital comparative tooth colour assessment methods and atomic force microscopy surface roughness.

PubMed

Grundlingh, A A; Grossman, E S; Shrivastava, S; Witcomb, M J

2013-10-01

This study compared digital and visual colour tooth colour assessment methods in a sample of 99 teeth consisting of incisors, canines and pre-molars. The teeth were equally divided between Control, Ozicure Oxygen Activator bleach and Opalescence Quick bleach and subjected to three treatments. Colour readings were recorded at nine intervals by two assessment methods, VITA Easyshade and VITAPAN 3D MASTER TOOTH GUIDE, giving a total of 1782 colour readings. Descriptive and statistical analysis was undertaken using a GLM test for Analysis of Variance for a Fractional Design set at a significance of P < 0.05. Atomic force micros copy was used to examine treated ename surfaces and establish surface roughness. Visual tooth colour assessment showed significance for the independent variables of treatment, number of treatments, tooth type and the combination tooth type and treatment. Digital colour assessment indicated treatment and tooth type to be of significance in tooth colour change. Poor agreement was found between visual and digital colour assessment methods for Control and Ozicure Oxygen Activator treatments. Surface roughness values increased two-fold for Opalescence Quick specimens over the two other treatments, implying that increased light scattering improved digital colour reading. Both digital and visual colour matching methods should be used in tooth bleaching studies to complement each other and to compensate for deficiencies.

Mechanical scriber for semiconductor devices

DOEpatents

Lin, Peter T.

1985-01-01

A mechanical scriber using a scribing tip, such as a diamond, provides controlled scriber forces with a spring-loaded compound lever arrangement. The scribing force and range of scribing depth are adjusted by a pair of adjustable micrometer heads. A semiconductor device, such as a multilayer solar cell, can be formed into scribed strips at each layer.

Comparative effectiveness of combined digital mammography and tomosynthesis screening for women with dense breasts.

PubMed

Lee, Christoph I; Cevik, Mucahit; Alagoz, Oguzhan; Sprague, Brian L; Tosteson, Anna N A; Miglioretti, Diana L; Kerlikowske, Karla; Stout, Natasha K; Jarvik, Jeffrey G; Ramsey, Scott D; Lehman, Constance D

2015-03-01

To evaluate the effectiveness of combined biennial digital mammography and tomosynthesis screening, compared with biennial digital mammography screening alone, among women with dense breasts. An established, discrete-event breast cancer simulation model was used to estimate the comparative clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of biennial screening with both digital mammography and tomosynthesis versus digital mammography alone among U.S. women aged 50-74 years with dense breasts from a federal payer perspective and a lifetime horizon. Input values were estimated for test performance, costs, and health state utilities from the National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, Medicare reimbursement rates, and medical literature. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the implications of varying key model parameters, including combined screening sensitivity and specificity, transient utility decrement of diagnostic work-up, and additional cost of tomosynthesis. For the base-case analysis, the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year gained by adding tomosynthesis to digital mammography screening was $53 893. An additional 0.5 deaths were averted and 405 false-positive findings avoided per 1000 women after 12 rounds of screening. Combined screening remained cost-effective (less than $100 000 per quality-adjusted life year gained) over a wide range of incremental improvements in test performance. Overall, cost-effectiveness was most sensitive to the additional cost of tomosynthesis. Biennial combined digital mammography and tomosynthesis screening for U.S. women aged 50-74 years with dense breasts is likely to be cost-effective if priced appropriately (up to $226 for combined examinations vs $139 for digital mammography alone) and if reported interpretive performance metrics of improved specificity with tomosynthesis are met in routine practice.

Evaluating the Benefits of Displaying Word Prediction Lists on a Personal Digital Assistant at the Keyboard Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tam, Cynthia; Wells, David

2009-01-01

Visual-cognitive loads influence the effectiveness of word prediction technology. Adjusting parameters of word prediction programs can lessen visual-cognitive loads. This study evaluated the benefits of WordQ word prediction software for users' performance when the prediction window was moved to a personal digital assistant (PDA) device placed at…

Digital slip frequency generator and method for determining the desired slip frequency

DOEpatents

Klein, Frederick F.

1989-01-01

The output frequency of an electric power generator is kept constant with variable rotor speed by automatic adjustment of the excitation slip frequency. The invention features a digital slip frequency generator which provides sine and cosine waveforms from a look-up table, which are combined with real and reactive power output of the power generator.

Microprocessor controlled force actuator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zimmerman, D. C.; Inman, D. J.; Horner, G. C.

1986-01-01

The mechanical and electrical design of a prototype force actuator for vibration control of large space structures (LSS) is described. The force actuator is an electromagnetic system that produces a force by reacting against a proof-mass. The actuator has two colocated sensors, a digital microcontroller, and a power amplifier. The total weight of actuator is .998 kg. The actuator has a steady state force output of approximately 2.75 N from approximately 2 Hz to well beyond 1000 Hz.

Experiences with semiautomatic aerotriangulation on digital photogrammetric stations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kersten, Thomas P.; Stallmann, Dirk

1995-12-01

With the development of higher-resolution scanners, faster image-handling capabilities, and higher-resolution screens, digital photogrammetric workstations promise to rival conventional analytical plotters in functionality, i.e. in the degree of automation in data capture and processing, and in accuracy. The availability of high quality digital image data and inexpensive high capacity fast mass storage offers the capability to perform accurate semi- automatic or automatic triangulation of digital aerial photo blocks on digital photogrammetric workstations instead of analytical plotters. In this paper, we present our investigations and results on two photogrammetric triangulation blocks, the OEEPE (European Organisation for Experimental Photogrammetric Research) test block (scale 1;4'000) and a Swiss test block (scale 1:12'000) using digitized images. Twenty-eight images of the OEEPE test block were scanned on the Zeiss/Intergraph PS1 and the digital images were delivered with a resolution of 15 micrometer and 30 micrometer, while 20 images of the Swiss test block were scanned on the Desktop Publishing Scanner Agfa Horizon with a resolution of 42 micrometer and on the PS1 with 15 micrometer. Measurements in the digital images were performed on the commercial Digital photogrammetric Station Leica/Helava DPW770 and with basic hard- and software components of the Digital Photogrammetric Station DIPS II, an experimental system of the Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, ETH Zurich. As a reference, the analog images of both photogrammetric test blocks were measured at analytical plotters. On DIPS II measurements of fiducial marks, signalized and natural tie points were performed by least squares template and image matching, while on DPW770 all points were measured by the cross correlation technique. The observations were adjusted in a self-calibrating bundle adjustment. The comparisons between these results and the experiences with the functionality of the commercial and the experimental system are presented.

Motor control goes beyond physics: differential effects of gravity and inertia on finger forces during manipulation of hand-held objects.

PubMed

Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M; Gao, Fan; Latash, Mark L

2005-04-01

According to basic physics, the local effects induced by gravity and acceleration are identical and cannot be separated by any physical experiment. In contrast-as this study shows-people adjust the grip forces associated with gravitational and inertial forces differently. In the experiment, subjects oscillated a vertically-oriented handle loaded with five different weights (from 3.8 N to 13.8 N) at three different frequencies in the vertical plane: 1 Hz, 1.5 Hz and 2.0 Hz. Three contributions to the grip force-static, dynamic, and stato-dynamic fractions-were quantified. The static fraction reflects grip force related to holding a load statically. The stato-dynamic fraction reflects a steady change in the grip force when the same load is moved cyclically. The dynamic fraction is due to acceleration-related adjustments of the grip force during oscillation cycles. The slope of the relation between the grip force and the load force was steeper for the static fraction than for the dynamic fraction. The stato-dynamic fraction increased with the frequency and load. The slope of the dynamic grip force-load force relation decreased with frequency, and as a rule, increased with the load. Hence, when adjusting grip force to task requirements, the central controller takes into account not only the expected magnitude of the load force but also such factors as whether the force is gravitational or inertial and the contributions of the object mass and acceleration to the inertial force. As an auxiliary finding, a complex finger coordination pattern aimed at preserving the rotational equilibrium of the object during shaking movements was reported.

Time variation of effective climate sensitivity in GCMs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, K. D.; Ingram, W. J.; Gregory, J. M.

2009-04-01

Effective climate sensitivity is often assumed to be constant (if uncertain), but some previous studies of General Circulation Model (GCM) simulations have found it varying as the simulation progresses. This complicates the fitting of simple models to such simulations, as well as having implications for the estimation of climate sensitivity from observations. This study examines the evolution of the feedbacks determining the climate sensitivity in GCMs submitted to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. Apparent centennial-timescale variations of effective climate sensitivity during stabilisation to a forcing can be considered an artefact of using conventional forcings which only allow for instantaneous effects and stratospheric adjustment. If the forcing is adjusted for processes occurring on timescales which are short compared to the climate stabilisation timescale then there is little centennial timescale evolution of effective climate sensitivity in any of the GCMs. We suggest that much of the apparent variation in effective climate sensitivity identified in previous studies is actually due to the comparatively fast forcing adjustment. Persistent differences are found in the strength of the feedbacks between the coupled atmosphere - ocean (AO) versions and their atmosphere - mixed-layer ocean (AML) counterparts, (the latter are often assumed to give the equilibrium climate sensitivity of the AOGCM). The AML model can typically only estimate the equilibrium climate sensitivity of the parallel AO version to within about 0.5K. The adjustment to the forcing to account for comparatively fast processes varies in magnitude and sign between GCMs, as well as differing between AO and AML versions of the same model. There is evidence from one AOGCM that the forcing adjustment may take a couple of decades, with implications for observationally based estimates of equilibrium climate sensitivity. We suggest that at least some of the spread in 21st century global temperature predictions between GCMs is due to differing adjustment processes, hence work to understand these differences should be a priority.

Comparison of Two Methods of Obtaining Digital Orthodontic Models: Direct vs. Indirect

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-17

companies whose materials are discussed in this article. DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE POST GRADUATE DENTAL SCHOOL ORTHODONTIC FLIGHT 2133...Orthodontic Residency Program Air Force Post Graduate Dental School Date: 06/06/13 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Manuscript...Science in Oral Biology 3. School/Department/Center: Air Force Postgraduate Dental School (AFPDS), Tri- Service Orthodontic Dental School 4. Phone: (210

Feedforward and Feedback Motor Control Abnormalities Implicate Cerebellar Dysfunctions in Autism Spectrum Disorder

PubMed Central

Mohanty, Suman; Greene, Rachel K.; Cook, Edwin H.; Vaillancourt, David E.; Sweeney, John A.

2015-01-01

Sensorimotor abnormalities are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and among the earliest manifestations of the disorder. They have been studied far less than the social-communication and cognitive deficits that define ASD, but a mechanistic understanding of sensorimotor abnormalities in ASD may provide key insights into the neural underpinnings of the disorder. In this human study, we examined rapid, precision grip force contractions to determine whether feedforward mechanisms supporting initial motor output before sensory feedback can be processed are disrupted in ASD. Sustained force contractions also were examined to determine whether reactive adjustments to ongoing motor behavior based on visual feedback are altered. Sustained force was studied across multiple force levels and visual gains to assess motor and visuomotor mechanisms, respectively. Primary force contractions of individuals with ASD showed greater peak rate of force increases and large transient overshoots. Individuals with ASD also showed increased sustained force variability that scaled with force level and was more severe when visual gain was highly amplified or highly degraded. When sustaining a constant force level, their reactive adjustments were more periodic than controls, and they showed increased reliance on slower feedback mechanisms. Feedforward and feedback mechanism alterations each were associated with more severe social-communication impairments in ASD. These findings implicate anterior cerebellar circuits involved in feedforward motor control and posterior cerebellar circuits involved in transforming visual feedback into precise motor adjustments in ASD. PMID:25653359

Strength training improves the tri-digit finger-pinch force control of older adults.

PubMed

Keogh, Justin W; Morrison, Steve; Barrett, Rod

2007-08-01

To investigate the effect of unilateral upper-limb strength training on the finger-pinch force control of older men. Pretest and post-test 6-week intervention study. Exercise science research laboratory. Eleven neurologically fit older men (age range, 70-80y). The strength training group (n=7) trained twice a week for 6 weeks, performing dumbbell bicep curls, wrist flexions, and wrists extensions, while the control group subjects (n=4) maintained their normal activities. Changes in force variability, targeting error, peak power frequency, proportional power, sample entropy, digit force sharing, and coupling relations were assessed during a series of finger-pinch tasks. These tasks involved maintaining a constant or sinusoidal force output at 20% and 40% of each subject's maximum voluntary contraction. All participants performed the finger-pinch tasks with both the preferred and nonpreferred limbs. Analysis of covariance for between-group change scores indicated that the strength training group (trained limb) experienced significantly greater reductions in finger-pinch force variability and targeting error, as well as significantly greater increases in finger-pinch force, sample entropy, bicep curl, and wrist flexion strength than did the control group. A nonspecific upper-limb strength-training program may improve the finger-pinch force control of older men.

Maximum Bite Force Analysis in Different Age Groups

PubMed Central

Takaki, Patricia; Vieira, Marilena; Bommarito, Silvana

2014-01-01

Introduction Maximum bite force (MBF) is the maximum force performed by the subject on the fragmentation of food, directly related with the mastication and determined by many factors. Objective Analyze the MBF of subjects according to age groups. Methods One hundred individuals from the city of São Paulo were equally divided according to age groups and gender. Each individual submitted to a myotherapy evaluation composed of anthropometric measurements of height and weight to obtain body mass index (BMI), using a tape and a digital scale (Magna, G-life, São Paulo), and a dental condition and maximum bite force evaluation, using a digital dynamometer model DDK/M (Kratos, São Paulo, Brazil), on Newton scale. The dental and bite force evaluations were monitored by a professional from the area. Analysis of variance was used with MBF as a dependent variable, age group and gender as random factors, and BMI as a control variable. Results Till the end of adolescence, it was possible to observe a decrease in MBF in both sexes, with the male force greater than the female force. In young adults, the female force became greater the males, then decreased in adulthood. There was no correlation between MBF and BMI. Conclusion There are MBF variations that characterizes the human development stages, according to age groups. PMID:25992105

Families of returned defence force personnel: a changing landscape of challenges.

PubMed

Berle, David; Steel, Zachary

2015-08-01

This paper aims to identify the key challenges experienced by the families of defence force personnel following deployment. We undertook a selective review of four post-deployment challenges to the families of defence force personnel: (1) changes to relationships; (2) changes to family member roles and responsibilities; (3) adjustment of children and parenting challenges; and (4) anger, family conflict and violence. Emerging issues in the area of post-deployment adjustment are also discussed. Empirical studies of post-deployment family adjustment are lacking. Each of the reviewed challenges can contribute to psychological difficulties and precipitate contact with mental health services. The challenges faced by defence force personnel when returning from deployment arise within a family context. Clinicians should thoroughly assess these factors in families following deployment, but also recognise family strengths and resilience to these challenges. © The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.

75 FR 53198 - Rate Adjustment for the Satellite Carrier Compulsory License

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-31

... LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Copyright Royalty Board 37 CFR Part 386 [Docket No. 2010-4 CRB Satellite Rate] Rate Adjustment for the Satellite Carrier Compulsory License AGENCY: Copyright Royalty Board, Library... last day of a given month. (2) In the case of a station engaged in digital multicasting, the rates set...

76 FR 77766 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-14

... regarding the consumer's mortgage loan; With respect to disclosures concerning interest rate adjustments for hybrid adjustable rate mortgages, informing consumers of pending interest rate adjustments, enabling a... (Reset of Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages), 1420 (Periodic Mortgage Loan Statements) and 1463 (Force...

Clinical and Economic Impact of a Digital, Remotely-Delivered Intensive Behavioral Counseling Program on Medicare Beneficiaries at Risk for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease.

PubMed

Chen, Fang; Su, Wenqing; Becker, Shawn H; Payne, Mike; Castro Sweet, Cynthia M; Peters, Anne L; Dall, Timothy M

2016-01-01

Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease impose substantial clinical and economic burdens for seniors (age 65 and above) and the Medicare program. Intensive Behavioral Counseling (IBC) interventions like the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing excess body weight and lowering or delaying morbidity onset. This paper estimated the potential health implications and medical savings of a digital version of IBC modeled after the NDPP. Participants in this digital IBC intervention, the Omada program, include 1,121 overweight or obese seniors with additional risk factors for diabetes or heart disease. Weight changes were objectively measured via participant use of a networked weight scale. Participants averaged 6.8% reduction in body weight within 26 weeks, and 89% of participants completed 9 or more of the 16 core phase lessons. We used a Markov-based microsimulation model to simulate the impact of weight loss on future health states and medical expenditures over 10 years. Cumulative per capita medical expenditure savings over 3, 5 and 10 years ranged from $1,720 to 1,770 (3 years), $3,840 to $4,240 (5 years) and $11,550 to $14,200 (10 years). The range reflects assumptions of weight re-gain similar to that seen in the DPP clinical trial (lower bound) or minimal weight re-gain aligned with age-adjusted national averages (upper bound). The estimated net economic benefit after IBC costs is $10,250 to $12,840 cumulative over 10 years. Simulation outcomes suggest reduced incidence of diabetes by 27-41% for participants with prediabetes, and stroke by approximately 15% over 5 years. A digital, remotely-delivered IBC program can help seniors at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease achieve significant weight loss, reduces risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and achieve meaningful medical cost savings. These findings affirm recommendations for IBC coverage by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Children's Media Culture in the New Millennium: Mapping the Digital Landscape.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Montgomery, Kathryn C.

2000-01-01

Describes technological, demographic, and market forces shaping the new digital media culture and the various Web sites being created for children and teens, explaining how heavily-promoted commercial sites overshadow educational sites. Discusses efforts to create safe Internet zones for children. Recommends actions to promote development of a…

The Digital Workforce: Update, August 2000 [and] The Digital Work Force: State Data & Rankings, September 2000.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sargent, John

The Office of Technology Policy analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics' growth projections for the core occupational classifications of IT (information technology) workers to assess future demand in the United States. Classifications studied were computer engineers, systems analysts, computer programmers, database administrators, computer support…

All-digital GPS receiver mechanization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ould, P. C.; van Wechel, R. J.

The paper describes the all-digital baseband correlation processing of GPS signals, which is characterized by (1) a potential for improved antijamming performance, (2) fast acquisition by a digital matched filter, (3) reduction of adjustment, (4) increased system reliability, and (5) provision of a basis for the realization of a high degree of VLSI potential for the development of small economical GPS sets. The basic technical approach consists of a broadband fix-tuned RF converter followed by a digitizer; digital-matched-filter acquisition section; phase- and delay-lock tracking via baseband digital correlation; software acquisition logic and loop filter implementation; and all-digital implementation of the feedback numerical controlled oscillators and code generator. Broadband in-phase and quadrature tracking is performed by an arctangent angle detector followed by a phase-unwrapping algorithm that eliminates false locks induced by sampling and data bit transitions, and yields a wide pull-in frequency range approaching one-fourth of the loop iteration frequency.

Digitalization and the global technology trends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ignat, V.

2017-08-01

Digitalization, connected products and services, and shortening innovation cycles are widely discussed topics in management practice and theory and demand for new concepts. We analysed how companies innovated their business models and how are the new the technology trends. We found out, that have a positive approach to digitalization but the technology strategy still runs its original business model. Digitalization forces to new solution orientation. For companies it is necessary to master the digital transformation, new innovations have to be developed. Furthermore, digitalization / Industry 4.0 linking the real-life factory with virtual reality, will play an increasingly important role in global manufacturing. Companies have to obtain new digital capabilities, in order to make their company sustainable for the future. A long term growth and welfare in Europe could be guaranteed only by new technology innovation.

Photocopy of drawing (original drawing of Armament & Instrument Inspection ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Photocopy of drawing (original drawing of Armament & Instrument Inspection and Adjustment Bldg. in possession of MacDill Air Force Base, Civil Engineering, Tampa, Florida; 1941 architectural drawings by Construction Division, Office of the Quartermaster General) ELEVATIONS AND DETAILS - MacDill Air Force Base, Armament & Instrument Inspection & Adjustment Building, 7807 Hanger Loop Drive, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

Photocopy of drawing (original drawing of Armament & Instrument Inspection ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Photocopy of drawing (original drawing of Armament & Instrument Inspection and Adjustment Bldg. in possession of MacDill Air Force Base, Civil Engineering, Tampa, Florida; 1941 architectural drawings by Construction Division, Office of the Quartermaster General) ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS - MacDill Air Force Base, Armament & Instrument Inspection & Adjustment Building, 7807 Hanger Loop Drive, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

Mechanical scriber for semiconductor devices

DOEpatents

Lin, P.T.

1985-03-05

A mechanical scriber using a scribing tip, such as a diamond, provides controlled scriber forces with a spring-loaded compound lever arrangement. The scribing force and range of scribing depth are adjusted by a pair of adjustable micrometer heads. A semiconductor device, such as a multilayer solar cell, can be formed into scribed strips at each layer. 5 figs.

Adaptive force regulation of muscle strengthening rehabilitation device with magnetorheological fluids.

PubMed

Dong, Shufang; Lu, Ke-Qian; Sun, Jian Qiao; Rudolph, Katherine

2006-03-01

In rehabilitation from neuromuscular trauma or injury, strengthening exercises are often prescribed by physical therapists to recover as much function as possible. Strengthening equipment used in clinical settings range from low-cost devices, such as sandbag weights or elastic bands to large and expensive isotonic and isokinetic devices. The low-cost devices are incapable of measuring strength gains and apply resistance based on the lowest level of torque that is produced by a muscle group. Resistance that varies with joint angle can be achieved with isokinetic devices in which angular velocity is held constant and variable torque is generated when the patient attempts to move faster than the device but are ineffective if a patient cannot generate torque rapidly. In this paper, we report the development of a versatile rehabilitation device that can be used to strengthen different muscle groups based on the torque generating capability of the muscle that changes with joint angle. The device is low cost, is smaller than other commercially available machines, and can be programmed to apply resistance that is unique to a particular patient and that will optimize strengthening. The core of the device, a damper with smart magnetorheological fluids, provides passive exercise force. A digital adaptive control is capable of regulating exercise force precisely following the muscle strengthening profile prescribed by a physical therapist. The device could be programmed with artificial intelligence to dynamically adjust the target force profile to optimize rehabilitation effects. The device provides both isometric and isokinetic strength training and can be developed into a small, low-cost device that may be capable of providing optimal strengthening in the home.

Secrets of the Crystal Ball

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Croucher, John S.

2007-01-01

This article describes how a crystal ball known as "The Flash Mind Reader" is played. "The Flash Mind Reader" is a mathematics game in which the player is invited to select any-two digit number and then subtract the sum of these two digits from the original number. A chart is provided in which the (adjusted) number they obtained will have a symbol…

[Spanish normative studies in a young adult population (NEURONORMA young adults Project): norms for the verbal span, visuospatial span, Letter-Number Sequencing, Trail Making Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test].

PubMed

Tamayo, F; Casals-Coll, M; Sánchez-Benavides, G; Quintana, M; Manero, R M; Rognoni, T; Calvo, L; Palomo, R; Aranciva, F; Peña-Casanova, J

2012-01-01

Verbal and visuospatial span, Letter-Number Sequencing, Trail Making Test, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test are frequently used in clinical practice to assess attention, executive functions and memory. In the present study, as part of the Spanish normative studies of NEURONORMA young adults Project, normative data adjusted by age and education are provided for digits, Corsi Block-Tapping Task, Letter-Number Sequencing, Trail Making Test, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test. The sample consisted of 179 participants from 18 to 49 years old, who were cognitively normal. Tables to convert raw scores to scaled scores are provided. Age and education adjusted scores are provided by applying linear regressions. Education affected scores in most of the attention tests; age was found to be related to the visuospatial span and to speed of visuomotor tracking, and there was no relationship as regards sex. The data obtained will be useful in the clinical evaluation of young Spanish adults. Copyright © 2011 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

A Digital Computer Approach to the Unsymmetric Rigid Body Problem.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-03-01

FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE , OHIO 45433 A 82 04 19 027 NOTICE When Government drawings, specifications, or other data are...Laboratory (AFWAL/AAA) March 1982 Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories (AFSC) 13. NUMBER OF PAGES Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , Ohio 45433 67 14...reverse aide it necessary and Identify by block number ) The use of a computer approximation technique based on trial functions is investigated for the

Supercomplexity in Higher Education Kinesiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Block, Betty A.; Estes, Steve

2011-01-01

This article employs Barnett's (2004) specifications of the aspects that describe the times of "supercomplexity." This term characterizes the challenges universities are facing regarding the expanding and competing forces that are affecting higher education, particularly in the West. Outside forces related to globalization, digital technologies,…

Communication system analysis for manned space flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schilling, D. L.

1978-01-01

The development of adaptive delta modulators capable of digitizing a video signal is summarized. The delta modulator encoder accepts a 4 MHz black and white composite video signal or a color video signal and encodes it into a stream of binary digits at a rate which can be adjusted from 8 Mb/s to 24 Mb/s. The output bit rate is determined by the user and alters the quality of the video picture. The digital signal is decoded using the adaptive delta modulator decoder to reconstruct the picture.

Investigation of feet functions of large ruminants with a decoupled model of equivalent mechanism

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qun; Ding, Xilun

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Cloven hooves of ruminants adapt to diverse terrain, provide propulsive force and support the whole body during movement in natural environments. To reveal how the feet ensure terrain adaptability by choosing the proper configurations and terrain conditions, we model the feet of ruminants as an equivalent mechanism with flexion-extension and lateral movement decoupled. The upper part of the equivalent mechanism can flex and extend, while the lower part performs the lateral movement. Combination of the two parts can adapt to longitudinal slope (anterior-posterior) and transverse slope (medial-lateral), respectively. When one of two digits closes laterally, the workspace of the other decreases. The distal interdigital ligament between two digits limits their motion by elastic force and stores energy during movement. Differences in elastic energy variation of the ligament on different transverse slopes are characterized based on the configurations of two digits and the elastic energy between them. If the upper one of two symmetric digits is fixed, the foot landing on the grade surface (2°) shows greater capacity for absorbing energy; otherwise, level ground is the best choice for ruminants. As for the asymmetric digits, longer lateral digits enhance the optimal adaptive lateral angle. The asymmetry predisposes the feet to damage on the hard ground, which indicates soft ground is more suitable. PMID:28412713

Multi-Finger Interaction and Synergies in Finger Flexion and Extension Force Production

PubMed Central

Park, Jaebum; Xu, Dayuan

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to discover finger interaction indices during single-finger ramp tasks and multi-finger coordination during a steady state force production in two directions, flexion, and extension. Furthermore, the indices of anticipatory adjustment of elemental variables (i.e., finger forces) prior to a quick pulse force production were quantified. It is currently unknown whether the organization and anticipatory modulation of stability properties are affected by force directions and strengths of in multi-finger actions. We expected to observe a smaller finger independency and larger indices of multi-finger coordination during extension than during flexion due to both neural and peripheral differences between the finger flexion and extension actions. We also examined the indices of the anticipatory adjustment between different force direction conditions. The anticipatory adjustment could be a neural process, which may be affected by the properties of the muscles and by the direction of the motions. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force was larger for flexion than for extension, which confirmed the fact that the strength of finger flexor muscles (e.g., flexor digitorum profundus) was larger than that of finger extensor (e.g., extensor digitorum). The analysis within the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis was used to quantify the motor synergy of elemental variables by decomposing two sources of variances across repetitive trials, which identifies the variances in the uncontrolled manifold (VUCM) and that are orthogonal to the UCM (VORT). The presence of motor synergy and its strength were quantified by the relative amount of VUCM and VORT. The strength of motor synergies at the steady state was larger in the extension condition, which suggests that the stability property (i.e., multi-finger synergies) may be a direction specific quantity. However, the results for the existence of anticipatory adjustment; however, no difference between the directional conditions suggests that feed-forward synergy adjustment (changes in the stability property) may be at least independent of the magnitude of the task-specific apparent performance variables and its direction (e.g., flexion and extension forces). PMID:28674489

Photocopy of drawing (original drawing of Armament & Instrument Inspection ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Photocopy of drawing (original drawing of Armament & Instrument Inspection and Adjustment Bldg. in possession of MacDill Air Force Base, Civil Engineering, Tampa, Florida; 1941 architectural drawings by Construction Division, Office of the Quartermaster General) FIRST FLOOR PLAN, SECTIONS, AND DETAILS - MacDill Air Force Base, Armament & Instrument Inspection & Adjustment Building, 7807 Hanger Loop Drive, Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL

Work Force Adjustments in Private Industry. Their Implications for Manpower Policy. Manpower Automation Research Monograph No. 7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manpower Administration (DOL), Washington, DC.

The first part of this monograph represents the proceedings of a 1-day conference of manpower analysts on the processes by which private industry meets changing manpower requirements and the implications of these work force adjustments for manpower policy. The second part consists of the report on which the conference discussion was based. The…

The brain adjusts grip forces differently according to gravity and inertia: a parabolic flight experiment

PubMed Central

White, Olivier

2015-01-01

In everyday life, one of the most frequent activities involves accelerating and decelerating an object held in precision grip. In many contexts, humans scale and synchronize their grip force (GF), normal to the finger/object contact, in anticipation of the expected tangential load force (LF), resulting from the combination of the gravitational and the inertial forces. In many contexts, GF and LF are linearly coupled. A few studies have examined how we adjust the parameters–gain and offset–of this linear relationship. However, the question remains open as to how the brain adjusts GF regardless of whether LF is generated by different combinations of weight and inertia. Here, we designed conditions to generate equivalent magnitudes of LF by independently varying mass and movement frequency. In a control experiment, we directly manipulated gravity in parabolic flights, while other factors remained constant. We show with a simple computational approach that, to adjust GF, the brain is sensitive to how LFs are produced at the fingertips. This provides clear evidence that the analysis of the origin of LF is performed centrally, and not only at the periphery. PMID:25717293

Feedforward and feedback motor control abnormalities implicate cerebellar dysfunctions in autism spectrum disorder.

PubMed

Mosconi, Matthew W; Mohanty, Suman; Greene, Rachel K; Cook, Edwin H; Vaillancourt, David E; Sweeney, John A

2015-02-04

Sensorimotor abnormalities are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and among the earliest manifestations of the disorder. They have been studied far less than the social-communication and cognitive deficits that define ASD, but a mechanistic understanding of sensorimotor abnormalities in ASD may provide key insights into the neural underpinnings of the disorder. In this human study, we examined rapid, precision grip force contractions to determine whether feedforward mechanisms supporting initial motor output before sensory feedback can be processed are disrupted in ASD. Sustained force contractions also were examined to determine whether reactive adjustments to ongoing motor behavior based on visual feedback are altered. Sustained force was studied across multiple force levels and visual gains to assess motor and visuomotor mechanisms, respectively. Primary force contractions of individuals with ASD showed greater peak rate of force increases and large transient overshoots. Individuals with ASD also showed increased sustained force variability that scaled with force level and was more severe when visual gain was highly amplified or highly degraded. When sustaining a constant force level, their reactive adjustments were more periodic than controls, and they showed increased reliance on slower feedback mechanisms. Feedforward and feedback mechanism alterations each were associated with more severe social-communication impairments in ASD. These findings implicate anterior cerebellar circuits involved in feedforward motor control and posterior cerebellar circuits involved in transforming visual feedback into precise motor adjustments in ASD. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/352015-11$15.00/0.

Emerging Trilingual Literacies in Rural India: Linguistic, Marketing, and Developmental Aspects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bhatia, Tej K.; Ritchie, William C.

2016-01-01

This paper examines emerging forms of multilingualism and multiliteracy in rural India (where the term "literacy" is used broadly here to include digital media literacy and marketing literacy as well as literacy in the traditional sense of the knowledge of a writing system). Here forces of globalization and digital communication have…

In vitro rapid intraoral adjustment of porcelain prostheses using a high-speed dental handpiece.

PubMed

Song, Xiao-Fei; Yin, Ling; Han, Yi-Gang; Wang, Hui

2008-03-01

In vitro rapid intraoral adjustment of porcelain prostheses was conducted using a high-speed dental handpiece and diamond bur. The adjustment process was characterized by measurement of removal forces and energy, with scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation of porcelain debris, surfaces and subsurface damage produced as a function of operational feed rate. Finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to evaluate subsurface stress distributions and degrees of subsurface damage. The results show that an increase in feed rate resulted in increases in both tangential and normal forces (analysis of variance (ANOVA), P<0.01). When the feed rate approached the highest rate of 60mm min(-1) at a fixed depth of cut of 100microm, the tangential force was nearly seven times that at the lowest feed rate of 15mm min(-1). Consequently, the specific removal energy increased significantly (ANOVA, P<0.01), and the maximum depth of subsurface damage obtained was approximately 110 and 120microm at the highest feed rate of 60mm min(-1) using SEM and FEA, respectively. The topographies of both the adjusted porcelain surfaces and the debris demonstrate microscopically that porcelain was removed via brittle fracture and plastic deformation. Clinicians must be cautious when pursuing rapid dental adjustments, because high operational energy, larger forces and severe surface and subsurface damage can be induced.

Radiative forcing and rapid adjustment of absorbing aerosols in the Pearl River Delta Region of China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Z.; Yim, S. H. L.; Lau, G.

2016-12-01

Part of organic carbon defined as brown carbon (BrC) has been found to absorb solar radiation, especially in near-ultraviolet and blue bands, but their radiation impact is far less understood than black carbon (BC). Rapid adjustment thought to occur within a few weeks, induced by aerosol radiative effect and thereby alter cloud cover or other climate components. These effects are particularly pronounced for absorbing aerosols. The data gathered is from an online coupled model, WRF-Chem. A two-simulation test is conducted from July 8 to July 15. The baseline simulation doesn't account for aerosol-radiation interactions, whereas the sensitivity run includes it. The differences between these two simulations represent total effects of the aerosol instantaneous radiative forcing and subsequent rapid adjustment. In Figure 1, without cloud effect (clear sky), at the top of atmosphere (TOA), the SW radiation changes are negative in the PRD region, representing an overall cooling effect of aerosols. However, in the atmosphere (ATM), aerosols heat the atmosphere by absorbing incoming solar radiation with an average of 2.4 W/m2 (Table 1). After including rapid adjustment (all sky), the radiation change pattern becomes significantly different, especially at TOA and surface (SFC). This may be caused by cloud cover change due to rapid adjustment. The magnitude of SW radiation changes for all sky at all levels is smaller than that for clear sky. This result suggests the rapid adjustment counteracts the instantaneous radiative forcing of aerosols. At TOA, the cooling effect of the aerosol is 74% lower for all sky compared with clear sky, highlighting an overall warming effect of rapid adjustment in the PRD region. Aerosol-induced changes (W/m2) TOA ATM SFC Clear Sky -9.2 2.4 -11.6 All Sky -2.4 1.9 -4.3 Table 1. Aerosol-induced averaged changes in shortwave radiation due to aerosol-radiation interactions in the Pearl River Delta. The test shows the rapid adjustment of aerosols offsets part of the aerosol instantaneous negative radiation forcing, especially at TOA and SFC. The only absorbing aerosol species included in the test is BC. If absorption effects of dust and BrC are considered, the contribution of instantaneous radiative forcing and rapid adjustment may change.

Technical Facilities and Capabilities Assessment Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-06-01

ARMAMENT LABORATORY Air Force Systems Command I United States Air Force I Eglin Air Force Base , Florida Best Available Copy 90 0 8 20 026 NOTICE When...The Air Force Armament Laboratory (AFATL) provides the technology base for future armament systems and supports the other elements of the deputy...color and filter digital images once an image is on the system . The IPL and the RSPL are accessible over the base Ethernet. This allows users to logon to

Exercise tricycle for paraplegics.

PubMed

Gföhler, M; Loicht, M; Lugner, P

1998-01-01

The work describes a tricycle that can be used by paraplegics without assistance. Paraplegics can get on and off the tricycle independently, using hydraulic adjustment of the saddle height. The two rear wheels can be swivelled with adjustable hydraulic damping, which avoids the stability problems of a standard tricycle when riding around bends. The principal driving power is assumed to be provided by functional electrical stimulation of the femoral muscles. A hub motor is integrated in the front wheel to increase the radius of action, as additional drive for cycling up gradients and in case muscle force is not sufficient. The desired drive power is adjusted by a throttle grip on the handlebar. The percentage of motor power can also be adjusted. The force applied to the pedal, the absolute angular position of the crank, and the angular velocity of the front wheel are continuously measured by a force measurement pedal and a goniometer. Based on this information, the motor and the functional electrical stimulation of the legs are controlled.

A technique for processing of planetary images with heterogeneous characteristics for estimating geodetic parameters of celestial bodies with the example of Ganymede

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zubarev, A. E.; Nadezhdina, I. E.; Brusnikin, E. S.; Karachevtseva, I. P.; Oberst, J.

2016-09-01

The new technique for generation of coordinate control point networks based on photogrammetric processing of heterogeneous planetary images (obtained at different time, scale, with different illumination or oblique view) is developed. The technique is verified with the example for processing the heterogeneous information obtained by remote sensing of Ganymede by the spacecraft Voyager-1, -2 and Galileo. Using this technique the first 3D control point network for Ganymede is formed: the error of the altitude coordinates obtained as a result of adjustment is less than 5 km. The new control point network makes it possible to obtain basic geodesic parameters of the body (axes size) and to estimate forced librations. On the basis of the control point network, digital terrain models (DTMs) with different resolutions are generated and used for mapping the surface of Ganymede with different levels of detail (Zubarev et al., 2015b).

California desert resource inventory using multispectral classification of digitally mosaicked Landsat frames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bryant, N. A.; Mcleod, R. G.; Zobrist, A. L.; Johnson, H. B.

1979-01-01

Procedures for adjustment of brightness values between frames and the digital mosaicking of Landsat frames to standard map projections are developed for providing a continuous data base for multispectral thematic classification. A combination of local terrain variations in the Californian deserts and a global sampling strategy based on transects provided the framework for accurate classification throughout the entire geographic region.

Overview of machine vision methods in x-ray imaging and microtomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buzmakov, Alexey; Zolotov, Denis; Chukalina, Marina; Nikolaev, Dmitry; Gladkov, Andrey; Ingacheva, Anastasia; Yakimchuk, Ivan; Asadchikov, Victor

2018-04-01

Digital X-ray imaging became widely used in science, medicine, non-destructive testing. This allows using modern digital images analysis for automatic information extraction and interpretation. We give short review of scientific applications of machine vision in scientific X-ray imaging and microtomography, including image processing, feature detection and extraction, images compression to increase camera throughput, microtomography reconstruction, visualization and setup adjustment.

Active flutter suppression using optical output feedback digital controllers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

A method for synthesizing digital active flutter suppression controllers using the concept of optimal output feedback is presented. A convergent algorithm is employed to determine constrained control law parameters that minimize an infinite time discrete quadratic performance index. Low order compensator dynamics are included in the control law and the compensator parameters are computed along with the output feedback gain as part of the optimization process. An input noise adjustment procedure is used to improve the stability margins of the digital active flutter controller. Sample rate variation, prefilter pole variation, control structure variation and gain scheduling are discussed. A digital control law which accommodates computation delay can stabilize the wing with reasonable rms performance and adequate stability margins.

A soft-contact model for computing safety margins in human prehension.

PubMed

Singh, Tarkeshwar; Ambike, Satyajit

2017-10-01

The soft human digit tip forms contact with grasped objects over a finite area and applies a moment about an axis normal to the area. These moments are important for ensuring stability during precision grasping. However, the contribution of these moments to grasp stability is rarely investigated in prehension studies. The more popular hard-contact model assumes that the digits exert a force vector but no free moment on the grasped object. Many sensorimotor studies use this model and show that humans estimate friction coefficients to scale the normal force to grasp objects stably, i.e. the smoother the surface, the tighter the grasp. The difference between the applied normal force and the minimal normal force needed to prevent slipping is called safety margin and this index is widely used as a measure of grasp planning. Here, we define and quantify safety margin using a more realistic contact model that allows digits to apply both forces and moments. Specifically, we adapt a soft-contact model from robotics and demonstrate that the safety margin thus computed is a more accurate and robust index of grasp planning than its hard-contact variant. Previously, we have used the soft-contact model to propose two indices of grasp planning that show how humans account for the shape and inertial properties of an object. A soft-contact based safety margin offers complementary insights by quantifying how humans may account for surface properties of the object and skin tissue during grasp planning and execution. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Final Environmental Assessment: Proposed Composite Aircraft Inspection Facilities, Hill Air Force Base, Utah

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-02

radiography . Two large inspection bays would each accommodate one F-22 aircraft and robotic x-ray inspection equipment. Six smaller bays would accommodate...large aircraft components (two ultrasonic inspection bays, two laser shearography inspection bays, and two digital radiography inspection bays...Hill Air Force Base, Utah Final Environmental Assessment: Proposed Composite Aircraft Inspection Facilities, Hill Air Force Base, Utah

Air Force Tech Order Management System (AFTOMS). Automation Plan-Final Report. Version 1.0

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-02-01

Computer aided Acquisition and Logistics Support (CALS) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program designed to improve weapon systems support through digital automation. In June 1985, the joint industry/DoD Task Force on CALS issued a five volume repor...

Self-adjusting magnetic bearing systems

DOEpatents

Post, Richard F.

1998-01-01

A self-adjusting magnetic bearing automatically adjusts the parameters of an axially unstable magnetic bearing such that its force balance is maintained near the point of metastable equilibrium. Complete stabilization can be obtained with the application of weak restoring forces either from a mechanical bearing (running at near-zero load, thus with reduced wear) or from the action of residual eddy currents in a snubber bearing. In one embodiment, a torque is generated by the approach of a slotted pole to a conducting plate. The torque actuates an assembly which varies the position of a magnetic shunt to change the force exerted by the bearing. Another embodiment achieves axial stabilization by sensing vertical displacements in a suspended bearing element, and using this information in an electrical servo system. In a third embodiment, as a rotating eddy current exciter approaches a stationary bearing, it heats a thermostat which actuates an assembly to weaken the attractive force between the two bearing elements. An improved version of an electromechanical battery utilizing the designs of the various embodiments is described.

Self-adjusting magnetic bearing systems

DOEpatents

Post, R.F.

1998-07-21

A self-adjusting magnetic bearing automatically adjusts the parameters of an axially unstable magnetic bearing such that its force balance is maintained near the point of metastable equilibrium. Complete stabilization can be obtained with the application of weak restoring forces either from a mechanical bearing (running at near-zero load, thus with reduced wear) or from the action of residual eddy currents in a snubber bearing. In one embodiment, a torque is generated by the approach of a slotted pole to a conducting plate. The torque actuates an assembly which varies the position of a magnetic shunt to change the force exerted by the bearing. Another embodiment achieves axial stabilization by sensing vertical displacements in a suspended bearing element, and using this information in an electrical servo system. In a third embodiment, as a rotating eddy current exciter approaches a stationary bearing, it heats a thermostat which actuates an assembly to weaken the attractive force between the two bearing elements. An improved version of an electromechanical battery utilizing the designs of the various embodiments is described. 7 figs.

Dynamically adjustable foot-ground contact model to estimate ground reaction force during walking and running.

PubMed

Jung, Yihwan; Jung, Moonki; Ryu, Jiseon; Yoon, Sukhoon; Park, Sang-Kyoon; Koo, Seungbum

2016-03-01

Human dynamic models have been used to estimate joint kinetics during various activities. Kinetics estimation is in demand in sports and clinical applications where data on external forces, such as the ground reaction force (GRF), are not available. The purpose of this study was to estimate the GRF during gait by utilizing distance- and velocity-dependent force models between the foot and ground in an inverse-dynamics-based optimization. Ten males were tested as they walked at four different speeds on a force plate-embedded treadmill system. The full-GRF model whose foot-ground reaction elements were dynamically adjusted according to vertical displacement and anterior-posterior speed between the foot and ground was implemented in a full-body skeletal model. The model estimated the vertical and shear forces of the GRF from body kinematics. The shear-GRF model with dynamically adjustable shear reaction elements according to the input vertical force was also implemented in the foot of a full-body skeletal model. Shear forces of the GRF were estimated from body kinematics, vertical GRF, and center of pressure. The estimated full GRF had the lowest root mean square (RMS) errors at the slow walking speed (1.0m/s) with 4.2, 1.3, and 5.7% BW for anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and vertical forces, respectively. The estimated shear forces were not significantly different between the full-GRF and shear-GRF models, but the RMS errors of the estimated knee joint kinetics were significantly lower for the shear-GRF model. Providing COP and vertical GRF with sensors, such as an insole-type pressure mat, can help estimate shear forces of the GRF and increase accuracy for estimation of joint kinetics. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DESDynI Quad First Stage Processor - A Four Channel Digitizer and Digital Beam Forming Processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chuang, Chung-Lun; Shaffer, Scott; Smythe, Robert; Niamsuwan, Noppasin; Li, Samuel; Liao, Eric; Lim, Chester; Morfopolous, Arin; Veilleux, Louise

2013-01-01

The proposed Deformation, Eco-Systems, and Dynamics of Ice Radar (DESDynI-R) L-band SAR instrument employs multiple digital channels to optimize resolution while keeping a large swath on a single pass. High-speed digitization with very fine synchronization and digital beam forming are necessary in order to facilitate this new technique. The Quad First Stage Processor (qFSP) was developed to achieve both the processing performance as well as the digitizing fidelity in order to accomplish this sweeping SAR technique. The qFSP utilizes high precision and high-speed analog to digital converters (ADCs), each with a finely adjustable clock distribution network to digitize the channels at the fidelity necessary to allow for digital beam forming. The Xilinx produced FX130T Virtex 5 part handles the processing to digitally calibrate each channel as well as filter and beam form the receive signals. Demonstrating the digital processing required for digital beam forming and digital calibration is instrumental to the viability of the proposed DESDynI instrument. The qFSP development brings this implementation to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. This paper will detail the design and development of the prototype qFSP as well as the preliminary results from hardware tests.

Methods for estimating the labour force insured by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board: 1990-2000.

PubMed

Smith, Peter M; Mustard, Cameron A; Payne, Jennifer I

2004-01-01

This paper presents a methodology for estimating the size and composition of the Ontario labour force eligible for coverage under the Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Act (WSIA). Using customized tabulations from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey (LFS), we made adjustments for self-employment, unemployment, part-time employment and employment in specific industrial sectors excluded from insurance coverage under the WSIA. Each adjustment to the LFS reduced the estimates of the insured labour force relative to the total Ontario labour force. These estimates were then developed for major occupational and industrial groups stratified by gender. Additional estimates created to test assumptions used in the methodology produced similar results. The methods described in this paper advance those previously used to estimate the insured labour force, providing researchers with a useful tool to describe trends in the rate of injury across differing occupational, industrial and gender groups in Ontario.

Evaluation of peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument with an adapter for use in animals.

PubMed

Duarte, Felipe Coutinho Kullmann; Kolberg, Carolina; Barros, Rodrigo R; Silva, Vivian G A; Gehlen, Günter; Vassoler, Jakson M; Partata, Wania A

2014-05-01

This study was designed to assess the peak force of a manually operated chiropractic adjusting instrument, the Activator Adjusting Instrument 4 (AAI 4), with an adapter for use in animals, which has a 3- to 4-fold smaller contact surface area than the original rubber tip. Peak force was determined by thrusting the AAI 4 with the adapter or the original rubber tip onto a load cell. First, the AAI 4 was applied perpendicularly by a doctor of chiropractic onto the load cell. Then, the AAI 4 was fixed in a rigid framework and applied to the load cell. This procedure was done to prevent any load on the load cell before the thrust impulse. In 2 situations, trials were performed with the AAI 4 at all force settings (settings I, II, III, and IV, minimum to maximum, respectively). A total of 50000 samples per second over a period of 3 seconds were collected. In 2 experimental protocols, the use of the adapter in the AAI 4 increased the peak force only with setting I. The new value was around 80% of the maximum value found for the AAI 4. Nevertheless, the peak force values of the AAI 4 with the adapter and with the original rubber tip in setting IV were similar. The adapter effectively determines the maximum peak force value at force setting I of AAI 4. Copyright © 2014 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapid Processing of Letters, Digits and Symbols: What Purely Visual-Attentional Deficit in Developmental Dyslexia?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ziegler, Johannes C.; Pech-Georgel, Catherine; Dufau, Stephane; Grainger, Jonathan

2010-01-01

Visual-attentional theories of dyslexia predict deficits for dyslexic children not only for the perception of letter strings but also for non-alphanumeric symbol strings. This prediction was tested in a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm with letters, digits, and symbols. Children with dyslexia showed significant deficits for letter and digit…

Digital Avionics Information System (DAIS): Mid-1980's Maintenance Task Analysis. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Czuchry, Andrew J.; And Others

The fundamental objective of the Digital Avionics Information System (DAIS) Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Study is to provide the Air Force with an enhanced in-house capability to incorporate LCC considerations during all stages of the system acquisition process. The purpose of this report is to describe the technical approach, results, and conclusions…

Human and Machine Entanglement in the Digital Archive: Academic Libraries and Socio-Technical Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manoff, Marlene

2015-01-01

This essay urges a broadening of the discourse of library and information science (LIS) to address the convergence of forces shaping the information environment. It proposes adopting a model from the field of science studies that acknowledges the interdependence and coevolution of social, cultural, and material phenomena. Digital archives and…

Meaningful Dialogue in Digitally Mediated Learning for In-Service Teacher Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cramp, Andy

2015-01-01

This paper considers the role and development of meaningful dialogue in digitally mediated learning (DML) in UK higher education for teachers. It argues that more research is vital in the field of meaningful dialogue if we are to avoid the risk that pedagogic values in DML become increasingly driven by market forces toward "data vending"…

VENI, video, VICI: The merging of computer and video technologies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horowitz, Jay G.

1993-01-01

The topics covered include the following: High Definition Television (HDTV) milestones; visual information bandwidth; television frequency allocation and bandwidth; horizontal scanning; workstation RGB color domain; NTSC color domain; American HDTV time-table; HDTV image size; digital HDTV hierarchy; task force on digital image architecture; open architecture model; future displays; and the ULTIMATE imaging system.

Shortwave radiative forcing, rapid adjustment, and feedback to the surface by sulfate geoengineering: analysis of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project G4 scenario

DOE PAGES

Kashimura, Hiroki; Abe, Manabu; Watanabe, Shingo; ...

2017-03-08

This paper evaluates the forcing, rapid adjustment, and feedback of net shortwave radiation at the surface in the G4 experiment of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project by analysing outputs from six participating models. G4 involves injection of 5 Tg yr -1 of SO 2, a sulfate aerosol precursor, into the lower stratosphere from year 2020 to 2069 against a background scenario of RCP4.5. A single-layer atmospheric model for shortwave radiative transfer is used to estimate the direct forcing of solar radiation management (SRM), and rapid adjustment and feedbacks from changes in the water vapour amount, cloud amount, and surface albedo (compared with RCP4.5). The analysismore » shows that the globally and temporally averaged SRM forcing ranges from -3.6 to -1.6 W m -2, depending on the model. The sum of the rapid adjustments and feedback effects due to changes in the water vapour and cloud amounts increase the downwelling shortwave radiation at the surface by approximately 0.4 to 1.5 W m -2 and hence weaken the effect of SRM by around 50 %. The surface albedo changes decrease the net shortwave radiation at the surface; it is locally strong (~-4 W m -2) in snow and sea ice melting regions, but minor for the global average. The analyses show that the results of the G4 experiment, which simulates sulfate geoengineering, include large inter-model variability both in the direct SRM forcing and the shortwave rapid adjustment from change in the cloud amount, and imply a high uncertainty in modelled processes of sulfate aerosols and clouds.« less

Risk of Digital Vascular Events in Scleroderma Patients Who Have Both Anticentromere and Anti-Interferon-Inducible Protein 16 Antibodies.

PubMed

McMahan, Zsuzsanna H; Wigley, Frederick M; Casciola-Rosen, Livia

2017-06-01

To evaluate whether scleroderma patients who are double-positive for anti-interferon-inducible protein 16 (anti-IFI-16) antibodies and anticentromere (anti-CENP) antibodies are at increased risk for significant digital vascular events relative to patients positive for anti-CENP antibodies alone. Sera from 165 scleroderma patients who tested positive for anti-CENP antibodies upon clinical evaluation were reassayed for both anti-CENP and anti-IFI-16 antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing. Patients who were positive for anti-CENP antibodies alone were then compared to patients who were double-positive for both anti-IFI-16 and anti-CENP antibodies. The association between a history of significant digital vascular events (digital pits, ischemic digital ulcers, and/or gangrene) and double-positive antibody status was examined using chi-square tests. After completion of univariate analysis, multivariable analyses were done to adjust for clinically relevant covariates. Of the 165 anti-CENP antibody positive patients, 21 (12.7%) also had anti-IFI-16 antibodies. Patients who were double-positive for anti-CENP and anti-IFI-16 antibodies were more likely to have had digital pits, ischemic digital ulcers, and/or gangrene (P = 0.03). After adjustment for clinically relevant covariates (age, cutaneous subtype, disease duration, and smoking), double-positive patients remained at significantly higher odds of having severe Raynaud's phenomenon (odds ratio 3.5 [95% confidence interval 1.1-11.1]; P = 0.03). Scleroderma patients who are double-positive for antibodies recognizing CENP and IFI-16 are significantly more likely to have significant digital vascular events during the course of their disease. This study provides further evidence that anti-CENP and anti-IFI-16 antibodies are disease biomarkers that may be used for risk stratification of vascular events in scleroderma. © 2016, American College of Rheumatology.

Variability of Grip Kinetics during Adult Signature Writing

PubMed Central

Ghali, Bassma; Thalanki Anantha, Nayanashri; Chan, Jennifer; Chau, Tom

2013-01-01

Grip kinetics and their variation are emerging as important considerations in the clinical assessment of handwriting pathologies, fine motor rehabilitation, biometrics, forensics and ergonomic pen design. This study evaluated the intra- and inter-participant variability of grip shape kinetics in adults during signature writing. Twenty (20) adult participants wrote on a digitizing tablet using an instrumented pen that measured the forces exerted on its barrel. Signature samples were collected over 10 days, 3 times a day, to capture temporal variations in grip shape kinetics. A kinetic topography (i.e., grip shape image) was derived per signature by time-averaging the measured force at each of 32 locations around the pen barrel. The normalized cross correlations (NCC) of grip shape images were calculated within- and between-participants. Several classification algorithms were implemented to gauge the error rate of participant discrimination based on grip shape kinetics. Four different grip shapes emerged and several participants made grip adjustments (change in grip shape or grip height) or rotated the pen during writing. Nonetheless, intra-participant variation in grip kinetics was generally much smaller than inter-participant force variations. Using the entire grip shape images as a 32-dimensional input feature vector, a K-nearest neighbor classifier achieved an error rate of % in discriminating among participants. These results indicate that writers had unique grip shape kinetics that were repeatable over time but distinct from those of other participants. The topographic analysis of grip kinetics may inform the development of personalized interventions or customizable grips in clinical and industrial applications, respectively. PMID:23658812

Variability of grip kinetics during adult signature writing.

PubMed

Ghali, Bassma; Thalanki Anantha, Nayanashri; Chan, Jennifer; Chau, Tom

2013-01-01

Grip kinetics and their variation are emerging as important considerations in the clinical assessment of handwriting pathologies, fine motor rehabilitation, biometrics, forensics and ergonomic pen design. This study evaluated the intra- and inter-participant variability of grip shape kinetics in adults during signature writing. Twenty (20) adult participants wrote on a digitizing tablet using an instrumented pen that measured the forces exerted on its barrel. Signature samples were collected over 10 days, 3 times a day, to capture temporal variations in grip shape kinetics. A kinetic topography (i.e., grip shape image) was derived per signature by time-averaging the measured force at each of 32 locations around the pen barrel. The normalized cross correlations (NCC) of grip shape images were calculated within- and between-participants. Several classification algorithms were implemented to gauge the error rate of participant discrimination based on grip shape kinetics. Four different grip shapes emerged and several participants made grip adjustments (change in grip shape or grip height) or rotated the pen during writing. Nonetheless, intra-participant variation in grip kinetics was generally much smaller than inter-participant force variations. Using the entire grip shape images as a 32-dimensional input feature vector, a K-nearest neighbor classifier achieved an error rate of 1.2±0.4% in discriminating among participants. These results indicate that writers had unique grip shape kinetics that were repeatable over time but distinct from those of other participants. The topographic analysis of grip kinetics may inform the development of personalized interventions or customizable grips in clinical and industrial applications, respectively.

Force and Directional Force Modulation Effects on Accuracy and Variability in Low-Level Pinch Force Tracking.

PubMed

Park, Sangsoo; Spirduso, Waneen; Eakin, Tim; Abraham, Lawrence

2018-01-01

The authors investigated how varying the required low-level forces and the direction of force change affect accuracy and variability of force production in a cyclic isometric pinch force tracking task. Eighteen healthy right-handed adult volunteers performed the tracking task over 3 different force ranges. Root mean square error and coefficient of variation were higher at lower force levels and during minimum reversals compared with maximum reversals. Overall, the thumb showed greater root mean square error and coefficient of variation scores than did the index finger during maximum reversals, but not during minimum reversals. The observed impaired performance during minimum reversals might originate from history-dependent mechanisms of force production and highly coupled 2-digit performance.

Pixel Color Clustering of Multi-Temporally Acquired Digital Photographs of a Rice Canopy by Luminosity-Normalization and Pseudo-Red-Green-Blue Color Imaging

PubMed Central

Doi, Ryoichi; Arif, Chusnul

2014-01-01

Red-green-blue (RGB) channels of RGB digital photographs were loaded with luminosity-adjusted R, G, and completely white grayscale images, respectively (RGwhtB method), or R, G, and R + G (RGB yellow) grayscale images, respectively (RGrgbyB method), to adjust the brightness of the entire area of multi-temporally acquired color digital photographs of a rice canopy. From the RGwhtB or RGrgbyB pseudocolor image, cyan, magenta, CMYK yellow, black, L*, a*, and b* grayscale images were prepared. Using these grayscale images and R, G, and RGB yellow grayscale images, the luminosity-adjusted pixels of the canopy photographs were statistically clustered. With the RGrgbyB and the RGwhtB methods, seven and five major color clusters were given, respectively. The RGrgbyB method showed clear differences among three rice growth stages, and the vegetative stage was further divided into two substages. The RGwhtB method could not clearly discriminate between the second vegetative and midseason stages. The relative advantages of the RGrgbyB method were attributed to the R, G, B, magenta, yellow, L*, and a* grayscale images that contained richer information to show the colorimetrical differences among objects than those of the RGwhtB method. The comparison of rice canopy colors at different time points was enabled by the pseudocolor imaging method. PMID:25302325

Development and pilot testing of HEXORR: Hand EXOskeleton Rehabilitation Robot

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Following acute therapeutic interventions, the majority of stroke survivors are left with a poorly functioning hemiparetic hand. Rehabilitation robotics has shown promise in providing patients with intensive therapy leading to functional gains. Because of the hand's crucial role in performing activities of daily living, attention to hand therapy has recently increased. Methods This paper introduces a newly developed Hand Exoskeleton Rehabilitation Robot (HEXORR). This device has been designed to provide full range of motion (ROM) for all of the hand's digits. The thumb actuator allows for variable thumb plane of motion to incorporate different degrees of extension/flexion and abduction/adduction. Compensation algorithms have been developed to improve the exoskeleton's backdrivability by counteracting gravity, stiction and kinetic friction. We have also designed a force assistance mode that provides extension assistance based on each individual's needs. A pilot study was conducted on 9 unimpaired and 5 chronic stroke subjects to investigate the device's ability to allow physiologically accurate hand movements throughout the full ROM. The study also tested the efficacy of the force assistance mode with the goal of increasing stroke subjects' active ROM while still requiring active extension torque on the part of the subject. Results For 12 of the hand digits'15 joints in neurologically normal subjects, there were no significant ROM differences (P > 0.05) between active movements performed inside and outside of HEXORR. Interjoint coordination was examined in the 1st and 3rd digits, and no differences were found between inside and outside of the device (P > 0.05). Stroke subjects were capable of performing free hand movements inside of the exoskeleton and the force assistance mode was successful in increasing active ROM by 43 ± 5% (P < 0.001) and 24 ± 6% (P = 0.041) for the fingers and thumb, respectively. Conclusions Our pilot study shows that this device is capable of moving the hand's digits through nearly the entire ROM with physiologically accurate trajectories. Stroke subjects received the device intervention well and device impedance was minimized so that subjects could freely extend and flex their digits inside of HEXORR. Our active force-assisted condition was successful in increasing the subjects' ROM while promoting active participation. PMID:20667083

The computer-aided parallel external fixator for complex lower limb deformity correction.

PubMed

Wei, Mengting; Chen, Jianwen; Guo, Yue; Sun, Hao

2017-12-01

Since parameters of the parallel external fixator are difficult to measure and calculate in real applications, this study developed computer software that can help the doctor measure parameters using digital technology and generate an electronic prescription for deformity correction. According to Paley's deformity measurement method, we provided digital measurement techniques. In addition, we proposed an deformity correction algorithm to calculate the elongations of the six struts and developed a electronic prescription software. At the same time, a three-dimensional simulation of the parallel external fixator and deformed fragment was made using virtual reality modeling language technology. From 2013 to 2015, fifteen patients with complex lower limb deformity were treated with parallel external fixators and the self-developed computer software. All of the cases had unilateral limb deformity. The deformities were caused by old osteomyelitis in nine cases and traumatic sequelae in six cases. A doctor measured the related angulation, displacement and rotation on postoperative radiographs using the digital measurement techniques. Measurement data were input into the electronic prescription software to calculate the daily adjustment elongations of the struts. Daily strut adjustments were conducted according to the data calculated. The frame was removed when expected results were achieved. Patients lived independently during the adjustment. The mean follow-up was 15 months (range 10-22 months). The duration of frame fixation from the time of application to the time of removal averaged 8.4 months (range 2.5-13.1 months). All patients were satisfied with the corrected limb alignment. No cases of wound infections or complications occurred. Using the computer-aided parallel external fixator for the correction of lower limb deformities can achieve satisfactory outcomes. The correction process can be simplified and is precise and digitized, which will greatly improve the treatment in a clinical application.

Mathematical Model of HIF-1 alpha Pathway, Oxygen Transport and Hypoxia

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-09-01

interpret experimental data in terms of underlying mechanisms. Such experiments, if quantitative , can also be used to calibrate and further parameterize...Wing Air Force Research Laboratory Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-5707 STINFO COPY Work Unit Manager MATTIE.DAV ID.R.123010 1880 Digitally signed by...MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Air Force Materiel Command* Air Force Research Laboratory 711th Human Performance Wing Human Effectiveness

Nonlinear elastic behavior of sub-critically damaged body armor panel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Jason T.; Chimenti, D. E.

2012-05-01

A simple go/no-go test for body armor panels using pressure-sensitive, dye-indicator film (PSF) has been shown to be statistically effective in revealing subcritical damage to body armor panels. Previous measurements have shown that static indicator levels are accurately reproduced in dynamic loading events. Further impact tests on armor worn by a human resuscitation dummy using instrumented masses with an attached accelerometer and embedded force transducer have been performed and analyzed. New impact tests have shown a reliable correlation between PSF indication (as digitized images) and impact force for a wide range of impactor energies and masses. Numerical evaluation of digital PSF images is presented and correlated with impact parameters. Relationships between impactor mass and energy, and corresponding measured force are shown. We will also report on comparisons between ballistic testing performed on panels damaged under various impact conditions and tests performed on undamaged panels.

7 CFR 718.3 - State committee responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... AGRICULTURE FARM MARKETING QUOTAS, ACREAGE ALLOTMENTS, AND PRODUCTION ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO... digital images. (b) The State committee shall submit to the Deputy Administrator requests to deviate from...

7 CFR 718.3 - State committee responsibilities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... AGRICULTURE FARM MARKETING QUOTAS, ACREAGE ALLOTMENTS, AND PRODUCTION ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO... digital images. (b) The State committee shall submit to the Deputy Administrator requests to deviate from...

[The motive force of evolution based on the principle of organismal adjustment evolution.].

PubMed

Cao, Jia-Shu

2010-08-01

From the analysis of the existing problems of the prevalent theories of evolution, this paper discussed the motive force of evolution based on the knowledge of the principle of organismal adjustment evolution to get a new understanding of the evolution mechanism. In the guide of Schrodinger's theory - "life feeds on negative entropy", the author proposed that "negative entropy flow" actually includes material flow, energy flow and information flow, and the "negative entropy flow" is the motive force for living and development. By modifying my own theory of principle of organismal adjustment evolution (not adaptation evolution), a new theory of "regulation system of organismal adjustment evolution involved in DNA, RNA and protein interacting with environment" is proposed. According to the view that phylogenetic development is the "integral" of individual development, the difference of negative entropy flow between organisms and environment is considered to be a motive force for evolution, which is a new understanding of the mechanism of evolution. Based on such understanding, evolution is regarded as "a changing process that one subsystem passes all or part of its genetic information to the next generation in a larger system, and during the adaptation process produces some new elements, stops some old ones, and thereby lasts in the larger system". Some other controversial questions related to evolution are also discussed.

A new atomic force microscope force ramp technique using digital force feedback control reveals mechanically weak protein unfolding events.

PubMed

Kawakami, M; Smith, D A

2008-12-10

We have developed a new force ramp modification of the atomic force microscope (AFM) which can control multiple unfolding events of a multi-modular protein using software-based digital force feedback control. With this feedback the force loading rate can be kept constant regardless the length of soft elastic linkage or number of unfolded polypeptide domains. An unfolding event is detected as a sudden drop in force, immediately after which the feedback control reduces the applied force to a low value of a few pN by lowering the force set point. Hence the remaining folded domains can relax and the subsequent force ramp is applied to relaxed protein domains identically in each case. We have applied this technique to determine the kinetic parameters x(u), which is the distance between the native state and transition state, and α(0), which is the unfolding rate constant at zero force, for the mechanical unfolding of a pentamer of I27 domains of titin. In each force ramp the unfolding probability depends on the number of folded domains remaining in the system and we had to take account of this effect in the analysis of unfolding force data. We obtained values of x(u) and α(0) to be 0.28 nm and 1.02 × 10(-3) s(-1), which are in good agreement with those obtained from conventional constant velocity experiments. This method reveals unfolding data at low forces that are not seen in constant velocity experiments and corrects for the change in stiffness that occurs with most mechanical systems throughout the unfolding process to allow constant force ramp experiments to be carried out. In addition, a mechanically weak structure was detected, which formed from the fully extended polypeptide chain during a force quench. This indicates that the new technique will allow studies of the folding kinetics of previously hidden, mechanically weak species.

A Closed-Loop Proportional-Integral (PI) Control Software for Fully Mechanically Controlled Automated Electron Microscopic Tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

REN, GANG; LIU, JINXIN; LI, HONGCHANG

A closed-loop proportional-integral (PI) control software is provided for fully mechanically controlled automated electron microscopic tomography. The software is developed based on Gatan DigitalMicrograph, and is compatible with Zeiss LIBRA 120 transmission electron microscope. However, it can be expanded to other TEM instrument with modification. The software consists of a graphical user interface, a digital PI controller, an image analyzing unit, and other drive units (i.e.: image acquire unit and goniometer drive unit). During a tomography data collection process, the image analyzing unit analyzes both the accumulated shift and defocus value of the latest acquired image, and provides the resultsmore » to the digital PI controller. The digital PI control compares the results with the preset values and determines the optimum adjustments of the goniometer. The goniometer drive unit adjusts the spatial position of the specimen according to the instructions given by the digital PI controller for the next tilt angle and image acquisition. The goniometer drive unit achieves high precision positioning by using a backlash elimination method. The major benefits of the software are: 1) the goniometer drive unit keeps pre-aligned/optimized beam conditions unchanged and achieves position tracking solely through mechanical control; 2) the image analyzing unit relies on only historical data and therefore does not require additional images/exposures; 3) the PI controller enables the system to dynamically track the imaging target with extremely low system error.« less

Wideband digital frequency detector with subtraction-based phase comparator for frequency modulation atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Mitani, Yuji; Kubo, Mamoru; Muramoto, Ken-ichiro; Fukuma, Takeshi

2009-08-01

We have developed a wideband digital frequency detector for high-speed frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). We used a subtraction-based phase comparator (PC) in a phase-locked loop circuit instead of a commonly used multiplication-based PC, which has enhanced the detection bandwidth to 100 kHz. The quantitative analysis of the noise performance revealed that the internal noise from the developed detector is small enough to provide the theoretically limited noise performance in FM-AFM experiments in liquid. FM-AFM imaging of mica in liquid was performed with the developed detector, showing its stability and applicability to true atomic-resolution imaging in liquid.

Phantom bite: a real or a phantom diagnosis? A case report.

PubMed

Sutter, Ben A

2017-01-01

This case report describes computer-guided occlusal therapy in a patient who met the unified diagnostic criteria for phantom bite. After a review of the patient's medical history, along with a diagnostic work-up that included cone beam computed tomography, temporomandibular joint vibration analysis, and digital occlusal analysis, problematic dental components were discovered (including prolonged disclusion time and imbalanced bite force). A digital occlusal analyzer evaluated the patient's occlusion and systematically guided the necessary changes. After reduction of the disclusion time and correction of the occlusal force imbalance, the patient reported significant improvement in comfort. The results suggest that phantom bite could be an abnormal occlusal condition and not a psychological or neurologic somatoform disorder.

Changing Profile of Teachers in the Digital Age

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malik, Kamna

2009-01-01

Teacher has a new role in the digital age. Call him facilitator or mentor. He is expected to help learners learn at their own pace rather than push concepts and rules onto them. Though such roles have been around for years, e-learning is forcing them in letter and spirit and changing many a rules for the teacher and the taught. Profile and…

A Match in the Making: How Emergent Changes in the Marketing Discipline Present Opportunities for Information Systems Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carley, Maureen; Babb, Jeffry

2015-01-01

The digital revolution is upon us, bringing with it disruptive forces in every aspect of business and personal interactions. The business marketing function has become so technologically driven it is sometimes hard to tell where the boundaries between the Marketing and Information Systems disciplines lie. The new world of digital marketing has…

Optimization of digital image processing to determine quantum dots' height and density from atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Ruiz, J E; Paciornik, S; Pinto, L D; Ptak, F; Pires, M P; Souza, P L

2018-01-01

An optimized method of digital image processing to interpret quantum dots' height measurements obtained by atomic force microscopy is presented. The method was developed by combining well-known digital image processing techniques and particle recognition algorithms. The properties of quantum dot structures strongly depend on dots' height, among other features. Determination of their height is sensitive to small variations in their digital image processing parameters, which can generate misleading results. Comparing the results obtained with two image processing techniques - a conventional method and the new method proposed herein - with the data obtained by determining the height of quantum dots one by one within a fixed area, showed that the optimized method leads to more accurate results. Moreover, the log-normal distribution, which is often used to represent natural processes, shows a better fit to the quantum dots' height histogram obtained with the proposed method. Finally, the quantum dots' height obtained were used to calculate the predicted photoluminescence peak energies which were compared with the experimental data. Again, a better match was observed when using the proposed method to evaluate the quantum dots' height. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A simple approach to adjust tidal forcing in fjord models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hjelmervik, Karina; Kristensen, Nils Melsom; Staalstrøm, André; Røed, Lars Petter

2017-07-01

To model currents in a fjord accurate tidal forcing is of extreme importance. Due to complex topography with narrow and shallow straits, the tides in the innermost parts of a fjord are both shifted in phase and altered in amplitude compared to the tides in the open water outside the fjord. Commonly, coastal tide information extracted from global or regional models is used on the boundary of the fjord model. Since tides vary over short distances in shallower waters close to the coast, the global and regional tidal forcings are usually too coarse to achieve sufficiently accurate tides in fjords. We present a straightforward method to remedy this problem by simply adjusting the tides to fit the observed tides at the entrance of the fjord. To evaluate the method, we present results from the Oslofjord, Norway. A model for the fjord is first run using raw tidal forcing on its open boundary. By comparing modelled and observed time series of water level at a tidal gauge station close to the open boundary of the model, a factor for the amplitude and a shift in phase are computed. The amplitude factor and the phase shift are then applied to produce adjusted tidal forcing at the open boundary. Next, we rerun the fjord model using the adjusted tidal forcing. The results from the two runs are then compared to independent observations inside the fjord in terms of amplitude and phases of the various tidal components, the total tidal water level, and the depth integrated tidal currents. The results show improvements in the modelled tides in both the outer, and more importantly, the inner parts of the fjord.

Does Digital Video Advertising Increase Population-Level Reach of Multimedia Campaigns? Evidence From the 2013 Tips From Former Smokers Campaign

PubMed Central

Shafer, Paul R; Rodes, Robert; Kim, Annice; Hansen, Heather; Patel, Deesha; Coln, Caryn; Beistle, Diane

2016-01-01

Background Federal and state public health agencies in the United States are increasingly using digital advertising and social media to promote messages from broader multimedia campaigns. However, little evidence exists on population-level campaign awareness and relative cost efficiencies of digital advertising in the context of a comprehensive public health education campaign. Objective Our objective was to compare the impact of increased doses of digital video and television advertising from the 2013 Tips From Former Smokers (Tips) campaign on overall campaign awareness at the population level. We also compared the relative cost efficiencies across these media platforms. Methods We used data from a large national online survey of approximately 15,000 US smokers conducted in 2013 immediately after the conclusion of the 2013 Tips campaign. These data were used to compare the effects of variation in media dose of digital video and television advertising on population-level awareness of the Tips campaign. We implemented higher doses of digital video among selected media markets and randomly selected other markets to receive similar higher doses of television ads. Multivariate logistic regressions estimated the odds of overall campaign awareness via digital or television format as a function of higher-dose media in each market area. All statistical tests used the .05 threshold for statistical significance and the .10 level for marginal nonsignificance. We used adjusted advertising costs for the additional doses of digital and television advertising to compare the cost efficiencies of digital and television advertising on the basis of costs per percentage point of population awareness generated. Results Higher-dose digital video advertising was associated with 94% increased odds of awareness of any ad online relative to standard-dose markets (P<.001). Higher-dose digital advertising was associated with a marginally nonsignificant increase (46%) in overall campaign awareness regardless of media format (P=.09). Higher-dose television advertising was associated with 81% increased odds of overall ad awareness regardless of media format (P<.001). Increased doses of television advertising were also associated with significantly higher odds of awareness of any ad on television (P<.001) and online (P=.04). The adjusted cost of each additional percentage point of population-level reach generated by higher doses of advertising was approximately US $440,000 for digital advertising and US $1 million for television advertising. Conclusions Television advertising generated relatively higher levels of overall campaign awareness. However, digital video was relatively more cost efficient for generating awareness. These results suggest that digital video may be used as a cost-efficient complement to traditional advertising modes (eg, television), but digital video should not replace television given the relatively smaller audience size of digital video viewers. PMID:27627853

Does Digital Video Advertising Increase Population-Level Reach of Multimedia Campaigns? Evidence From the 2013 Tips From Former Smokers Campaign.

PubMed

Davis, Kevin C; Shafer, Paul R; Rodes, Robert; Kim, Annice; Hansen, Heather; Patel, Deesha; Coln, Caryn; Beistle, Diane

2016-09-14

Federal and state public health agencies in the United States are increasingly using digital advertising and social media to promote messages from broader multimedia campaigns. However, little evidence exists on population-level campaign awareness and relative cost efficiencies of digital advertising in the context of a comprehensive public health education campaign. Our objective was to compare the impact of increased doses of digital video and television advertising from the 2013 Tips From Former Smokers (Tips) campaign on overall campaign awareness at the population level. We also compared the relative cost efficiencies across these media platforms. We used data from a large national online survey of approximately 15,000 US smokers conducted in 2013 immediately after the conclusion of the 2013 Tips campaign. These data were used to compare the effects of variation in media dose of digital video and television advertising on population-level awareness of the Tips campaign. We implemented higher doses of digital video among selected media markets and randomly selected other markets to receive similar higher doses of television ads. Multivariate logistic regressions estimated the odds of overall campaign awareness via digital or television format as a function of higher-dose media in each market area. All statistical tests used the .05 threshold for statistical significance and the .10 level for marginal nonsignificance. We used adjusted advertising costs for the additional doses of digital and television advertising to compare the cost efficiencies of digital and television advertising on the basis of costs per percentage point of population awareness generated. Higher-dose digital video advertising was associated with 94% increased odds of awareness of any ad online relative to standard-dose markets (P<.001). Higher-dose digital advertising was associated with a marginally nonsignificant increase (46%) in overall campaign awareness regardless of media format (P=.09). Higher-dose television advertising was associated with 81% increased odds of overall ad awareness regardless of media format (P<.001). Increased doses of television advertising were also associated with significantly higher odds of awareness of any ad on television (P<.001) and online (P=.04). The adjusted cost of each additional percentage point of population-level reach generated by higher doses of advertising was approximately US $440,000 for digital advertising and US $1 million for television advertising. Television advertising generated relatively higher levels of overall campaign awareness. However, digital video was relatively more cost efficient for generating awareness. These results suggest that digital video may be used as a cost-efficient complement to traditional advertising modes (eg, television), but digital video should not replace television given the relatively smaller audience size of digital video viewers.

Effects of the Recent Recession on the Labor Force Participation of Nonmetropolitan Women.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Leary, Jeanne M.

Expanding work opportunities, changing family structure, double digit inflation, and relaxed attitudes toward the appropriateness of women's work outside the home have contributed to increased labor force participation of women in recent years. Recent studies indicate that despite traditional attitudes ascribed to rural areas, trends in increasing…

The calculation of transport phenomena in electromagnetically levitated metal droplets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

El-Kaddah, N.; Szekely, J.

1982-01-01

A mathematical representation has been developed for the electromagnetic force field, fluid flow field, and solute concentration field of levitation-melted metal specimens. The governing equations consist of the conventional transport equations combined with the appropriate expressions for the electromagnetic force field. The predictions obtained by solving the governing equations numerically on a digital computer are in good agreement with lifting force and average temperature measurements reported in the literature.

Multidirectional flexible force sensors based on confined, self-adjusting carbon nanotube arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.-I.; Pyo, Soonjae; Kim, Min-Ook; Kim, Jongbaeg

2018-02-01

We demonstrate a highly sensitive force sensor based on self-adjusting carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays. Aligned CNT arrays are directly synthesized on silicon microstructures by a space-confined growth technique which enables a facile self-adjusting contact. To afford flexibility and softness, the patterned microstructures with the integrated CNTs are embedded in polydimethylsiloxane structures. The sensing mechanism is based on variations in the contact resistance between the facing CNT arrays under the applied force. By finite element analysis, proper dimensions and positions for each component are determined. Further, high sensitivities up to 15.05%/mN of the proposed sensors were confirmed experimentally. Multidirectional sensing capability could also be achieved by designing multiple sets of sensing elements in a single sensor. The sensors show long-term operational stability, owing to the unique properties of the constituent CNTs, such as outstanding mechanical durability and elasticity.

Inertial torque during reaching directly impacts grip-force adaptation to weightless objects.

PubMed

Giard, T; Crevecoeur, F; McIntyre, J; Thonnard, J-L; Lefèvre, P

2015-11-01

A hallmark of movement control expressed by healthy humans is the ability to gradually improve motor performance through learning. In the context of object manipulation, previous work has shown that the presence of a torque load has a direct impact on grip-force control, characterized by a significantly slower grip-force adjustment across lifting movements. The origin of this slower adaptation rate remains unclear. On the one hand, information about tangential constraints during stationary holding may be difficult to extract in the presence of a torque. On the other hand, inertial torque experienced during movement may also potentially disrupt the grip-force adjustments, as the dynamical constraints clearly differ from the situation when no torque load is present. To address the influence of inertial torque loads, we instructed healthy adults to perform visually guided reaching movements in weightlessness while holding an unbalanced object relative to the grip axis. Weightlessness offered the possibility to remove gravitational constraints and isolate the effect of movement-related feedback on grip force adjustments. Grip-force adaptation rates were compared with a control group who manipulated a balanced object without any torque load and also in weightlessness. Our results clearly show that grip-force adaptation in the presence of a torque load is significantly slower, which suggests that the presence of torque loads experienced during movement may alter our internal estimates of how much force is required to hold an unbalanced object stable. This observation may explain why grasping objects around the expected location of the center of mass is such an important component of planning and control of manipulation tasks.

Aircraft digital flight control technical review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davenport, Otha B.; Leggett, David B.

1993-01-01

The Aircraft Digital Flight Control Technical Review was initiated by two pilot induced oscillation (PIO) incidents in the spring and summer of 1992. Maj. Gen. Franklin (PEO) wondered why the Air Force development process for digital flight control systems was not preventing PIO problems. Consequently, a technical review team was formed to examine the development process and determine why PIO problems continued to occur. The team was also to identify the 'best practices' used in the various programs. The charter of the team was to focus on the PIO problem, assess the current development process, and document the 'best practices.' The team reviewed all major USAF aircraft programs with digital flight controls, specifically, the F-15E, F-16C/D, F-22, F-111, C-17, and B-2. The team interviewed contractor, System Program Office (SPO), and Combined Test Force (CTF) personnel on these programs. The team also went to NAS Patuxent River to interview USN personnel about the F/A-18 program. The team also reviewed experimental USAF and NASA systems with digital flight control systems: X-29, X-31, F-15 STOL and Maneuver Technology Demonstrator (SMTD), and the Variable In-Flight Stability Test Aircraft (VISTA). The team also discussed the problem with other experts in the field including Ralph Smith and personnel from Calspan. The major conclusions and recommendations from the review are presented.

Digitization and its discontents: future shock in predictive oncology.

PubMed

Epstein, Richard J

2010-02-01

Clinical cancer care is being transformed by a high-technology informatics revolution fought out between the forces of personalized (biomarker-guided) and depersonalized (bureaucracy-controlled) medicine. Factors triggering this conflict include the online proliferation of treatment algorithms, rising prices of biological drug therapies, increasing sophistication of genomic-based predictive tools, and the growing entrepreneurialism of offshore treatment facilities. The resulting Napster-like forces unleashed within the oncology marketplace will deliver incremental improvements in cost-efficacy to global healthcare consumers. There will also be a price to pay, however, as the rising wave of digitization encourages third-party payers to make more use of biomarkers for tightening reimbursement criteria. Hence, as in other digitally transformed industries, a new paradigm of professional service delivery-less centered on doctor-patient relationships than in the past, and more dependent on pricing and marketing for standardized biomarker-defined indications-seems set to emerge as the unpredicted deliverable from this brave new world of predictive oncology. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Digital technology and the conservation of nature.

PubMed

Arts, Koen; van der Wal, René; Adams, William M

2015-11-01

Digital technology is changing nature conservation in increasingly profound ways. We describe this impact and its significance through the concept of 'digital conservation', which we found to comprise five pivotal dimensions: data on nature, data on people, data integration and analysis, communication and experience, and participatory governance. Examining digital innovation in nature conservation and addressing how its development, implementation and diffusion may be steered, we warn against hypes, techno-fix thinking, good news narratives and unverified assumptions. We identify a need for rigorous evaluation, more comprehensive consideration of social exclusion, frameworks for regulation and increased multi-sector as well as multi-discipline awareness and cooperation. Along the way, digital technology may best be reconceptualised by conservationists from something that is either good or bad, to a dual-faced force in need of guidance.

Associations between cerebral amyloid and changes in cognitive function and falls risk in subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment.

PubMed

Dao, Elizabeth; Best, John R; Hsiung, Ging-Yuek Robin; Sossi, Vesna; Jacova, Claudia; Tam, Roger; Liu-Ambrose, Teresa

2017-06-28

To determine the association between amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque deposition and changes in global cognition, executive functions, information processing speed, and falls risk over a 12-month period in older adults with a primary clinical diagnosis of subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI). This is a secondary analysis of data acquired from a subset of participants (N = 22) who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of aerobic exercise (NCT01027858). The subset of individuals completed an 11 C Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) scan. Cognitive function and falls risk were assessed at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months. Global cognition, executive functions, and information processing speed were measured using: 1) ADAS-Cog; 2) Trail Making Test; 3) Digit Span Test; 4) Stroop Test, and 5) Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Falls risk was measured using the Physiological Profile Assessment. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses determined the unique contribution of Aβ on changes in cognitive function and falls risk at 12-months after controlling for experimental group (i.e. aerobic exercise training or usual care control) and baseline performance. To correct for multiple comparisons, we applied the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure to obtain a false discovery rate corrected threshold using alpha = 0.05. Higher PIB retention was significantly associated with greater decrements in set shifting (Trail Making Test, adjusted R 2  = 35.3%, p = 0.002), attention and conflict resolution (Stroop Test, adjusted R 2  = 33.4%, p = 0.01), and information processing speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test, adjusted R 2  = 24.4%, p = 0.001) over a 12-month period. Additionally, higher PIB retention was significantly associated with increased falls risk (Physiological Profile Assessment, adjusted R 2  = 49.1%, p = 0.04). PIB retention was not significantly associated with change in ADAS-Cog and Verbal Digit Span Test (p > 0.05). Symptoms associated with SIVCI may be amplified by secondary Aβ pathology. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01027858 , December 7, 2009.

Trajectory Adjustments Underlying Task-Specific Intermittent Force Behaviors and Muscular Rhythms

PubMed Central

Chen, Yi-Ching; Lin, Yen-Ting; Huang, Chien-Ting; Shih, Chia-Li; Yang, Zong-Ru; Hwang, Ing-Shiou

2013-01-01

Force intermittency is one of the major causes of motor variability. Focusing on the dynamics of force intermittency, this study was undertaken to investigate how force trajectory is fine-tuned for static and dynamic force-tracking of a comparable physical load. Twenty-two healthy adults performed two unilateral resistance protocols (static force-tracking at 75% maximal effort and dynamic force-tracking in the range of 50%–100% maximal effort) using the left hand. The electromyographic activity and force profile of the designated hand were monitored. Gripping force was off-line decomposed into a primary movement spectrally identical to the target motion and a force intermittency profile containing numerous force pulses. The results showed that dynamic force-tracking exhibited greater intermittency amplitude and force pulse but a smaller amplitude ratio of primary movement to force intermittency than static force-tracking. Multi-scale entropy analysis revealed that force intermittency during dynamic force-tracking was more complex on a low time scale but more regular on a high time scale than that of static force-tracking. Together with task-dependent force intermittency properties, dynamic force-tracking exhibited a smaller 8–12 Hz muscular oscillation but a more potentiated muscular oscillation at 35–50 Hz than static force-tracking. In conclusion, force intermittency reflects differing trajectory controls for static and dynamic force-tracking. The target goal of dynamic tracking is achieved through trajectory adjustments that are more intricate and more frequent than those of static tracking, pertaining to differing organizations and functioning of muscular oscillations in the alpha and gamma bands. PMID:24098640

Algorithm design of liquid lens inspection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsieh, Lu-Lin; Wang, Chun-Chieh

2008-08-01

In mobile lens domain, the glass lens is often to be applied in high-resolution requirement situation; but the glass zoom lens needs to be collocated with movable machinery and voice-coil motor, which usually arises some space limits in minimum design. In high level molding component technology development, the appearance of liquid lens has become the focus of mobile phone and digital camera companies. The liquid lens sets with solid optical lens and driving circuit has replaced the original components. As a result, the volume requirement is decreased to merely 50% of the original design. Besides, with the high focus adjusting speed, low energy requirement, high durability, and low-cost manufacturing process, the liquid lens shows advantages in the competitive market. In the past, authors only need to inspect the scrape defect made by external force for the glass lens. As to the liquid lens, authors need to inspect the state of four different structural layers due to the different design and structure. In this paper, authors apply machine vision and digital image processing technology to administer inspections in the particular layer according to the needs of users. According to our experiment results, the algorithm proposed can automatically delete non-focus background, extract the region of interest, find out and analyze the defects efficiently in the particular layer. In the future, authors will combine the algorithm of the system with automatic-focus technology to implement the inside inspection based on the product inspective demands.

A Method for Implementing Force-Limited Vibration Control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worth, Daniel B.

1997-01-01

NASA/GSFC has implemented force-limited vibration control on a controller which can only accept one profile. The method uses a personal computer based digital signal processing board to convert force and/or moment signals into what appears to he an acceleration signal to the controller. This technique allows test centers with older controllers to use the latest force-limited control techniques for random vibration testing. The paper describes the method, hardware, and test procedures used. An example from a test performed at NASA/GSFC is used as a guide.

Accuracy concerns in digital speckle photography combined with Fresnel digital holographic interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yuchen; Zemmamouche, Redouane; Vandenrijt, Jean-François; Georges, Marc P.

2018-05-01

A combination of digital holographic interferometry (DHI) and digital speckle photography (DSP) allows in-plane and out-of-plane displacement measurement between two states of an object. The former can be determined by correlating the two speckle patterns whereas the latter is given by the phase difference obtained from DHI. We show that the amplitude of numerically reconstructed object wavefront obtained from Fresnel in-line digital holography (DH), in combination with phase shifting techniques, can be used as speckle patterns in DSP. The accuracy of in-plane measurement is improved after correcting the phase errors induced by reference wave during reconstruction process. Furthermore, unlike conventional imaging system, Fresnel DH offers the possibility to resize the pixel size of speckle patterns situated on the reconstruction plane under the same optical configuration simply by zero-padding the hologram. The flexibility of speckle size adjustment in Fresnel DH ensures the accuracy of estimation result using DSP.

Drivers of precipitation change: An energetic understanding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richardson, T.; Forster, P.; Andrews, T.

2016-12-01

Future precipitation changes are highly uncertain. Different drivers of anthropogenic climate change can cause very different hydrological responses, which could have significant societal implications. Changes in precipitation are tightly linked to the atmospheric energy budget due to the latent heat released through condensation. Through analysis of the atmospheric energy budget we make significant steps forward in understanding and predicting the precipitation response to different forcings. Here we analyse the response to five targeted forcing scenarios (perturbed CO2, CH4, black carbon, sulphate and solar insolation) across eight climate models participating in the Precipitation Driver and Response Model Intercomparison Project (PDRMIP). The resulting changes are split into a rapid adjustment component, due to the near-instantaneous changes in the atmospheric energy budget, and a feedback component which scales with surface temperature change. Globally, CO2 and black carbon produce large negative adjustments in precipitation due to the increase in atmospheric absorption. However, over land it is sulphate and solar forcing which produce the largest precipitation adjustments due to changes in horizontal energy transport associated with rapid circulation changes. Globally, the precipitation feedback response is very consistent between forcing scenarios, driven mainly by increased longwave cooling. The feedback response differs significantly over land and sea, with a larger feedback over the oceans. We use the PDRMIP results to construct a simple model for precipitation change over land and sea based on surface temperature change and top of the atmosphere forcing. The simple model matches well with CMIP5 ensemble mean precipitation change for RCP8.5. Simulated changes in land mean precipitation can be estimated well using the rapid adjustment and feedback framework, and understood through simple energy budget arguments. Up until present day the effects of temperature change on land mean precipitation have been entirely masked by sulphate forcing. However, as projected sulphate forcing decreases, and warming continues, the temperature driven increase in land mean precipitation soon dominates.

On the Effects of Wives' Employment on Marital Adjustment and Companionship.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Locksley, Anne

1980-01-01

No evidence was found for any effect of wives' employment or degree of interest in their work activity on marital adjustment and companionship. The extensive controversy over wives' increasing labor-force participation has resulted from unwarranted assumptions about the impact of wives' working on marital adjustment. (Author)

Evaluation of SLAR and thematic mapper MSS data for forest cover mapping using computer-aided analysis techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoffer, R. M. (Principal Investigator)

1981-01-01

Training and test data sets for CAM1S from NS-001 MSS data for two dates (geometrically adjusted to 30 meter resolution) were used to evaluate wavelength band. Two sets of tapes containing digitized HH and HV polarization data were obtained. Because the SAR data on the 9 track tapes contained no meaningful data, the 7 track tapes were copied onto 9 track tapes at LARS. The LARSYS programs were modified and a program was written to reformat the digitized SAR data into a LARSYS format. The radar imagery is being qualitatively interpreted. Results are to be used to identify possible cover types, to produce a classification map to aid in the numerical evaluation classification of radar data, and to develop an interpretation key for radar imagery. The four spatial resolution data sets were analyzed. A program was developed to reduce the spatial distortions resulting from variable viewing distance, and geometrically adjusted data sets were generated. A flowchart of steps taken to geometrically adjust a data set from the NS-001 scanner is presented.

Intentional Implementation: A Self-Study Examining and Evaluating Instructional Implementation of Digital Tools to Foster Academic Writing in the English Secondary Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alcoser, Michelle Elaine

2017-01-01

This self-study examines the planning, practices, policies, and procedures present in a blended learning classroom environment to develop academic writing with tenth and eleventh grade public high school students. Digital technology is a prevalent and powerful force intertwined with most aspects of the human experience in the twenty-first century.…

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap, 2005-2030

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

directly addresses the dangerous mission of attacking or degrading integrated air defense systems. The attributes that make the use of unmanned...meter of reinforced concrete covered by one meter of soil . The Air Force hopes to deploy it by 2007 on the F-15E, followed by deployment on several... degradation from repeated analog-digital-analog conversions. For this reason, multispectral versions of digital focal arrays are critical. Additionally

Next-Generation NATO Reference Mobility Model (NG-NRMM)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-11

facilitate comparisons between vehicle design candidates and to assess the mobility of existing vehicles under specific scenarios. Although NRMM has...of different deployed platforms in different areas of operation and routes  Improved flexibility as a design and procurement support tool through...Element Method DEM Digital Elevation Model DIL Driver in the Loop DP Drawbar Pull Force DOE Design of Experiments DTED Digital Terrain Elevation Data

The Process of Digitizing of Old Globe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrožová, K.; Havrlanta, J.; Talich, M.; Böhm, O.

2016-06-01

This paper describes the process of digitalization of old globes that brings with it the possibility to use globes in their digital form. Created digital models are available to the general public through modern technology in the Internet network. This gives an opportunity to study old globes located in various historical collections, and prevent damage of the originals. Another benefit of digitization is also a possibility of comparing different models both among themselves and with current map data by increasing the transparency of individual layers. Digitization is carried out using special device that allows digitizing globes with a diameter ranging from 5 cm to 120 cm. This device can be easily disassembled, and it is fully mobile therefore the globes can be digitized in the place of its storage. Image data of globe surface are acquired by digital camera firmly fastened to the device. Acquired image data are then georeferenced by using a method of complex adjustment. The last step of digitization is publication of the final models that is realized by two ways. The first option is in the form of 3D model through JavaScript library Cesium or Google Earth plug-in in the Web browser. The second option is as a georeferenced map using Tile Map Service.

Adjustment of Measurements with Multiplicative Errors: Error Analysis, Estimates of the Variance of Unit Weight, and Effect on Volume Estimation from LiDAR-Type Digital Elevation Models

PubMed Central

Shi, Yun; Xu, Peiliang; Peng, Junhuan; Shi, Chuang; Liu, Jingnan

2014-01-01

Modern observation technology has verified that measurement errors can be proportional to the true values of measurements such as GPS, VLBI baselines and LiDAR. Observational models of this type are called multiplicative error models. This paper is to extend the work of Xu and Shimada published in 2000 on multiplicative error models to analytical error analysis of quantities of practical interest and estimates of the variance of unit weight. We analytically derive the variance-covariance matrices of the three least squares (LS) adjustments, the adjusted measurements and the corrections of measurements in multiplicative error models. For quality evaluation, we construct five estimators for the variance of unit weight in association of the three LS adjustment methods. Although LiDAR measurements are contaminated with multiplicative random errors, LiDAR-based digital elevation models (DEM) have been constructed as if they were of additive random errors. We will simulate a model landslide, which is assumed to be surveyed with LiDAR, and investigate the effect of LiDAR-type multiplicative error measurements on DEM construction and its effect on the estimate of landslide mass volume from the constructed DEM. PMID:24434880

Using Monte Carlo Simulation To Improve Cargo Mass Estimates For International Space Station Commercial Resupply Flights

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

laboratory. The transition of this function to the commercial sector under Firm Fixed-Price contracting has forced both NASA and commercial providers to...adjust to make this effort successful. Improving bag-level cargo launch manifests delivered from NASA to the provider more than a year in advance is...contracting has forced both NASA and commercial providers to adjust to make this effort successful. Improving bag-level cargo launch manifests delivered from

Towards the use of HYCOM in Coupled ENSO Prediction: Assessment of ENSO Skill in Forced Global HYCOM

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-10

CICE spun-up state forced with climatological surface atmospheric fluxes. This run was initialized from Generalized Digital Environmental Model4...GDEM4) climatological temperature and salinity. It was configured with 41layers. 2. Global 0.72° HYCOM/CICE forced with NOGAPS for 2003-2012. The same...surface temperature, sea-ice concentration, and precipitation products. It was initialized from Levitus-PHC2 climatology . It was configured with 32 layers

Precise time technology for selected Air Force systems: Present status and future requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yannoni, N. F.

1981-01-01

Precise time and time interval (PTTI) technology is becoming increasingly significant to Air Force operations as digital techniques find expanded utility in military missions. Timing has a key role in the function as well as in navigation. A survey of the PTTI needs of several Air Force systems is presented. Current technology supporting these needs was reviewed and new requirements are emphasized for systems as they transfer from initial development to final operational deployment.

High-Force Dielectric Electroactive Polymer (DEAP) membrane actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hau, Steffen; York, Alexander; Seelecke, Stefan

2016-04-01

Energy efficiency, lightweight and scalability are key features for actuators in applications such as valves, pumps or any portable system. Dielectric electroactive Polymer (DEAP) technology is able to fulfill these requirements1 better than commonly used technology e.g. solenoids, but has limitations concerning force and stroke. However, the circular DEAP membrane actuator shows a potential increase in stroke in the mm range, when combined with an appropriate biasing mechanism2. Although, thus far, their force range is limited to the single-digit Newton range, or less3,4. This work describes how this force limit of DEAP membrane actuators can be pushed to the high double-digit Newton range and beyond. The concept for such an actuator consists of a stack of double-layered DEAPs membrane actuator combined with a biasing mechanism. These two components are combined in a novel way, which allows a compact design by integrating the biasing mechanism into the DEAP membrane actuator stack. Subsequently, the single components are manufactured, tested, and their force-displacement characteristic is documented. Utilizing this data allows assembling them into actuator systems for different applications. Two different actuators are assembled and tested (dimensions: 85x85x30mm3 (LxWxH)). The first one is able to lift 7.5kg. The second one can generate a force of 66N while acting against a spring load.

37 CFR 255.8 - Public performances of sound recordings and musical works.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... sound recording or the musical work embodied therein, including by means of a digital transmission...

37 CFR 255.8 - Public performances of sound recordings and musical works.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... sound recording or the musical work embodied therein, including by means of a digital transmission...

37 CFR 255.8 - Public performances of sound recordings and musical works.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... sound recording or the musical work embodied therein, including by means of a digital transmission...

37 CFR 255.8 - Public performances of sound recordings and musical works.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... sound recording or the musical work embodied therein, including by means of a digital transmission...

37 CFR 255.8 - Public performances of sound recordings and musical works.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES AND PROCEDURES ADJUSTMENT OF ROYALTY PAYABLE... sound recording or the musical work embodied therein, including by means of a digital transmission...

Comparison of 10 digital SLR cameras for orthodontic photography.

PubMed

Bister, D; Mordarai, F; Aveling, R M

2006-09-01

Digital photography is now widely used to document orthodontic patients. High quality intra-oral photography depends on a satisfactory 'depth of field' focus and good illumination. Automatic 'through the lens' (TTL) metering is ideal to achieve both the above aims. Ten current digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras were tested for use in intra- and extra-oral photography as used in orthodontics. The manufacturers' recommended macro-lens and macro-flash were used with each camera. Handling characteristics, colour-reproducibility, quality of the viewfinder and flash recharge time were investigated. No camera took acceptable images in factory default setting or 'automatic' mode: this mode was not present for some cameras (Nikon, Fujifilm); led to overexposure (Olympus) or poor depth of field (Canon, Konica-Minolta, Pentax), particularly for intra-oral views. Once adjusted, only Olympus cameras were able to take intra- and extra-oral photographs without the need to change settings, and were therefore the easiest to use. All other cameras needed adjustments of aperture (Canon, Konica-Minolta, Pentax), or aperture and flash (Fujifilm, Nikon), making the latter the most complex to use. However, all cameras produced high quality intra- and extra-oral images, once appropriately adjusted. The resolution of the images is more than satisfactory for all cameras. There were significant differences relating to the quality of colour reproduction, size and brightness of the viewfinders. The Nikon D100 and Fujifilm S 3 Pro consistently scored best for colour fidelity. Pentax and Konica-Minolta had the largest and brightest viewfinders.

A Computer Code for Dynamic Stress Analysis of Media-Structure Problems with Nonlinearities (SAMSON). Volume III. User’s Manual.

DTIC Science & Technology

NONLINEAR SYSTEMS, LINEAR SYSTEMS, SUBROUTINES , SOIL MECHANICS, INTERFACES, DYNAMICS, LOADS(FORCES), FORCE(MECHANICS), DAMPING, ACCELERATION, ELASTIC...PROPERTIES, PLASTIC PROPERTIES, CRACKS , REINFORCING MATERIALS , COMPOSITE MATERIALS , FAILURE(MECHANICS), MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, INSTRUCTION MANUALS, DIGITAL COMPUTERS...STRESSES, *COMPUTER PROGRAMS), (*STRUCTURES, STRESSES), (*DATA PROCESSING, STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES), SOILS , STRAIN(MECHANICS), MATHEMATICAL MODELS

A Survey of Telecommunications Technology. Part II. President's Task Force on Communications Policy. Staff Paper One, Part II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rostow, Eugene V.

The document contains the final four appendices to a staff paper submitted to the President's Task Force on Communications Policy. "The Digital Loop" describes changes in urban telecommunications which are predicted for 1970-80, considering three possible systems: paired wires with single analog signals (present telephones), coaxial…

CT-scout based, semi-automated vertebral morphometry after digital image enhancement.

PubMed

Glinkowski, Wojciech M; Narloch, Jerzy

2017-09-01

Radiographic diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fracture is necessary to reduce its substantial associated morbidity. Computed tomography (CT) scout has recently been demonstrated as a reliable technique for vertebral fracture diagnosis. Software assistance may help to overcome some limitations of that diagnostics. We aimed to evaluate whether digital image enhancement improved the capacity of one of the existing software to detect fractures semi-automatically. CT scanograms of patients suffering from osteoporosis, with or without vertebral fractures were analyzed. The original set of CT scanograms were triplicated and digitally modified to improve edge detection using three different techniques: SHARPENING, UNSHARP MASKING, and CONVOLUTION. The manual morphometric analysis identified 1485 vertebrae, 200 of which were classified as fractured. Unadjusted morphometry (AUTOMATED with no digital enhancement) found 63 fractures, 33 of which were true positive (i.e., it correctly identified 52% of the fractures); SHARPENING detected 57 fractures (30 true positives, 53%); UNSHARP MASKING yielded 30 (13 true positives, 43%); and CONVOLUTION found 24 fractures (9 true positives, 38%). The intra-reader reliability for height ratios did not significantly improve with image enhancement (kappa ranged 0.22-0.41 for adjusted measurements and 0.16-0.38 for unadjusted). Similarly, the inter-reader agreement for prevalent fractures did not significantly improve with image enhancement (kappa 0.29-0.56 and -0.01 to 0.23 for adjusted and unadjusted measurements, respectively). Our results suggest that digital image enhancement does not improve software-assisted vertebral fracture detection by CT scout. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A PWM Buck Converter With Load-Adaptive Power Transistor Scaling Scheme Using Analog-Digital Hybrid Control for High Energy Efficiency in Implantable Biomedical Systems.

PubMed

Park, Sung-Yun; Cho, Jihyun; Lee, Kyuseok; Yoon, Euisik

2015-12-01

We report a pulse width modulation (PWM) buck converter that is able to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of > 80% in light loads 100 μA) for implantable biomedical systems. In order to achieve a high PCE for the given light loads, the buck converter adaptively reconfigures the size of power PMOS and NMOS transistors and their gate drivers in accordance with load currents, while operating at a fixed frequency of 1 MHz. The buck converter employs the analog-digital hybrid control scheme for coarse/fine adjustment of power transistors. The coarse digital control generates an approximate duty cycle necessary for driving a given load and selects an appropriate width of power transistors to minimize redundant power dissipation. The fine analog control provides the final tuning of the duty cycle to compensate for the error from the coarse digital control. The mode switching between the analog and digital controls is accomplished by a mode arbiter which estimates the average of duty cycles for the given load condition from limit cycle oscillations (LCO) induced by coarse adjustment. The fabricated buck converter achieved a peak efficiency of 86.3% at 1.4 mA and > 80% efficiency for a wide range of load conditions from 45 μA to 4.1 mA, while generating 1 V output from 2.5-3.3 V supply. The converter occupies 0.375 mm(2) in 0.18 μm CMOS processes and requires two external components: 1.2 μF capacitor and 6.8 μH inductor.

DIGITAL Q METER

DOEpatents

Briscoe, W.L.

1962-02-13

A digital Q meter is described for measuring the Q of mechanical or electrical devices. The meter comprises in combination a transducer coupled to an input amplifier, and an upper and lower level discriminator coupled to the amplifier and having their outputs coupled to an anticoincidence gate. The output of the gate is connected to a scaler. The lower level discriminator is adjusted to a threshold level of 36.8 percent of the operating threshold level of the upper level discriminator. (AEC)

Thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knowles, Gareth (Inventor); Hughes, Eli (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knowles, Gareth (Inventor); Hughes, Eli (Inventor)

2007-01-01

A thin, nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Thin nearly wireless adaptive optical device

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knowles, Gareth J. (Inventor); Hughes, Eli (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A thin nearly wireless adaptive optical device capable of dynamically modulating the shape of a mirror in real time to compensate for atmospheric distortions and/or variations along an optical material is provided. The device includes an optical layer, a substrate, at least one electronic circuit layer with nearly wireless architecture, an array of actuators, power electronic switches, a reactive force element, and a digital controller. Actuators are aligned so that each axis of expansion and contraction intersects both substrate and reactive force element. Electronics layer with nearly wireless architecture, power electronic switches, and digital controller are provided within a thin-film substrate. The size and weight of the adaptive optical device is solely dominated by the size of the actuator elements rather than by the power distribution system.

Limited independent flexion of the thumb and fingers in human subjects.

PubMed Central

Kilbreath, S L; Gandevia, S C

1994-01-01

1. We investigated whether human subjects can activate selectively flexor pollicis longus (FPL) and digital portions of flexor digitorum profundus (FDP). These muscles were selected because they are the only flexors of the distal phalanges. 2. Electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded with intramuscular electrodes from one digital component of the deep flexors ('test') while subjects lifted weights by flexing the distal interphalangeal joint of the other digits in turn ('lifting' digits). Only recording sites at which single motor units were recruited selectively at low forces were used. The weights lifted represented 2.5-50% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). We measured the lowest weight lifted which produced phasic and tonic coactivation in the 'test' muscle. 3. The extent of coactivation varied with the 'distance' between the test and lifting digits although no significant difference occurred in the pattern of coactivation thresholds among the digital flexors. The extent of coactivation increased when angular displacement or velocity at the distal interphalangeal joint of the lifting digit increased but was not critically dependent on restraint of the hand. 4. Because mechanical 'connections' could interfere with the ability to move a distal phalanx independently, the arms of nine cadavers were studied. The separation of tendons between the thumb (FPL) and the index portion of FDP, and between the index and middle portions of FDP, usually extended more proximally in the forearm than separation between the tendons to the middle and ring fingers and between the ring and little fingers. Direct intertendinous links were also noted. 5. It is not possible to direct a sufficiently focal motor command to flex selectively the distal joint of the fingers and thumb when forces exceeding 2.5% MVC are generated. For the middle, ring and little fingers in particular, movement of adjacent digits may also involve 'in-series' mechanical links between adjacent components of FDP. Images Figure 6 PMID:7837104

Feeling the force: how pollen tubes deal with obstacles.

PubMed

Burri, Jan T; Vogler, Hannes; Läubli, Nino F; Hu, Chengzhi; Grossniklaus, Ueli; Nelson, Bradley J

2018-06-15

Physical forces are involved in the regulation of plant development and morphogenesis by translating mechanical stress into the modification of physiological processes, which, in turn, can affect cellular growth. Pollen tubes respond rapidly to external stimuli and provide an ideal system to study the effect of mechanical cues at the single-cell level. Here, pollen tubes were exposed to mechanical stress while monitoring the reconfiguration of their growth and recording the generated forces in real-time. We combined a lab-on-a-chip device with a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based capacitive force sensor to mimic and quantify the forces that are involved in pollen tube navigation upon confronting mechanical obstacles. Several stages of obstacle avoidance were identified, including force perception, growth adjustment and penetration. We have experimentally determined the perceptive force threshold, which is the force threshold at which the pollen tube reacts to an obstacle, for Lilium longiflorum and Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, the method we developed provides a way to calculate turgor pressure based on force and optical data. Pollen tubes sense physical barriers and actively adjust their growth behavior to overcome them. Furthermore, our system offers an ideal platform to investigate intracellular activity during force perception and growth adaption in tip growing cells. © 2018 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2018 New Phytologist Trust.

Functional sensibility assessment. Part II: Effects of sensory improvement on precise pinch force modulation after transverse carpal tunnel release.

PubMed

Hsu, Hsiu-Yun; Kuo, Li-Chieh; Chiu, Haw-Yen; Jou, I-Ming; Su, Fong-Chin

2009-11-01

Patients with median nerve compression at the carpal tunnel often have poor sensory afferents. Without adequate sensory modulation control, these patients frequently exhibit clumsy performance and excessive force output in the affected hand. We analyzed precision grip function after the sensory recovery of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who underwent carpal tunnel release (CTR). Thirteen CTS patients were evaluated using a custom-designed pinch device and conventional sensory tools before and after CTR to measure sensibility, maximum pinch strength, and anticipated pinch force adjustments to movement-induced load fluctuations in a pinch-holding-up activity. Based on these tests, five force-related parameters and sensory measurements were used to determine improvements in pinch performance after sensory recovery. The force ratio between the exerted pinch force and maximum load force of the lifting object was used to determine pinch force coordination and to prove that CTR enabled precision motor output. The magnitude of peak pinch force indicated an economic force output during manipulations following CTR. The peak pinch force, force ratio, and percentage of maximum pinch force also demonstrated a moderate correlation with the Semmes-Weinstein test. Analysis of these tests revealed that improved sensory function helped restore patients' performance in precise pinch force control evaluations. These results suggest that sensory information plays an important role in adjusting balanced force output in dexterous manipulation. (c) 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Generation of mechanical oscillation applicable to vibratory rate gyroscopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lemkin, Mark A. (Inventor); Juneau, Thor N. (Inventor); Clark, William A. (Inventor); Roessig, Allen W. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

To achieve a drive-axis oscillation with improved frequency and amplitude stability, additional feedback loops are used to adjust force-feedback loop parameters. An amplitude-control loop measures oscillation amplitude, compares this value to the desired level, and adjusts damping of the mechanical sense-element to grow or shrink oscillation amplitude as appropriate. A frequency-tuning loop measures the oscillation frequency, compares this value with a highly stable reference, and adjusts the gain in the force-feedback loop to keep the drive-axis oscillation frequency at the reference value. The combined topology simultaneously controls both amplitude and frequency. Advantages of the combined topology include improved stability, fast oscillation start-up, low power consumption, and excellent shock rejection.

48 CFR 915.404-4-71-5 - Fee schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... until such Force account work exceeds, in the aggregate, 20 percent of the base. Excessive use of Force..., appropriate fee reductions for such excessive Force account labor shall be computed as follows: (1) Determine... following adjustments shall be made to the Schedule fee amounts for complexity levels, excessive...

48 CFR 915.404-4-71-5 - Fee schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... until such Force account work exceeds, in the aggregate, 20 percent of the base. Excessive use of Force..., appropriate fee reductions for such excessive Force account labor shall be computed as follows: (1) Determine... following adjustments shall be made to the Schedule fee amounts for complexity levels, excessive...

48 CFR 915.404-4-71-5 - Fee schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... until such Force account work exceeds, in the aggregate, 20 percent of the base. Excessive use of Force..., appropriate fee reductions for such excessive Force account labor shall be computed as follows: (1) Determine... following adjustments shall be made to the Schedule fee amounts for complexity levels, excessive...

48 CFR 915.404-4-71-5 - Fee schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... until such Force account work exceeds, in the aggregate, 20 percent of the base. Excessive use of Force..., appropriate fee reductions for such excessive Force account labor shall be computed as follows: (1) Determine... following adjustments shall be made to the Schedule fee amounts for complexity levels, excessive...

48 CFR 915.404-4-71-5 - Fee schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... until such Force account work exceeds, in the aggregate, 20 percent of the base. Excessive use of Force..., appropriate fee reductions for such excessive Force account labor shall be computed as follows: (1) Determine... following adjustments shall be made to the Schedule fee amounts for complexity levels, excessive...

The effect of force feedback delay on stiffness perception and grip force modulation during tool-mediated interaction with elastic force fields

PubMed Central

Karniel, Amir; Nisky, Ilana

2015-01-01

During interaction with objects, we form an internal representation of their mechanical properties. This representation is used for perception and for guiding actions, such as in precision grip, where grip force is modulated with the predicted load forces. In this study, we explored the relationship between grip force adjustment and perception of stiffness during interaction with linear elastic force fields. In a forced-choice paradigm, participants probed pairs of virtual force fields while grasping a force sensor that was attached to a haptic device. For each pair, they were asked which field had higher level of stiffness. In half of the pairs, the force feedback of one of the fields was delayed. Participants underestimated the stiffness of the delayed field relatively to the nondelayed, but their grip force characteristics were similar in both conditions. We analyzed the magnitude of the grip force and the lag between the grip force and the load force in the exploratory probing movements within each trial. Right before answering which force field had higher level of stiffness, both magnitude and lag were similar between delayed and nondelayed force fields. These results suggest that an accurate internal representation of environment stiffness and time delay was used for adjusting the grip force. However, this representation did not help in eliminating the bias in stiffness perception. We argue that during performance of a perceptual task that is based on proprioceptive feedback, separate neural mechanisms are responsible for perception and action-related computations in the brain. PMID:25717155

The effect of force feedback delay on stiffness perception and grip force modulation during tool-mediated interaction with elastic force fields.

PubMed

Leib, Raz; Karniel, Amir; Nisky, Ilana

2015-05-01

During interaction with objects, we form an internal representation of their mechanical properties. This representation is used for perception and for guiding actions, such as in precision grip, where grip force is modulated with the predicted load forces. In this study, we explored the relationship between grip force adjustment and perception of stiffness during interaction with linear elastic force fields. In a forced-choice paradigm, participants probed pairs of virtual force fields while grasping a force sensor that was attached to a haptic device. For each pair, they were asked which field had higher level of stiffness. In half of the pairs, the force feedback of one of the fields was delayed. Participants underestimated the stiffness of the delayed field relatively to the nondelayed, but their grip force characteristics were similar in both conditions. We analyzed the magnitude of the grip force and the lag between the grip force and the load force in the exploratory probing movements within each trial. Right before answering which force field had higher level of stiffness, both magnitude and lag were similar between delayed and nondelayed force fields. These results suggest that an accurate internal representation of environment stiffness and time delay was used for adjusting the grip force. However, this representation did not help in eliminating the bias in stiffness perception. We argue that during performance of a perceptual task that is based on proprioceptive feedback, separate neural mechanisms are responsible for perception and action-related computations in the brain. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

5 CFR 530.307 - OPM review and adjustment of special rate schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

.... 5305(d), special rate schedule adjustments made by OPM have the force and effect of statute. (d)(1) For... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false OPM review and adjustment of special rate... REGULATIONS PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS (GENERAL) Special Rate Schedules for Recruitment and Retention General...

Digital Microfluidics for Manipulation and Analysis of a Single Cell.

PubMed

He, Jie-Long; Chen, An-Te; Lee, Jyong-Huei; Fan, Shih-Kang

2015-09-15

The basic structural and functional unit of a living organism is a single cell. To understand the variability and to improve the biomedical requirement of a single cell, its analysis has become a key technique in biological and biomedical research. With a physical boundary of microchannels and microstructures, single cells are efficiently captured and analyzed, whereas electric forces sort and position single cells. Various microfluidic techniques have been exploited to manipulate single cells through hydrodynamic and electric forces. Digital microfluidics (DMF), the manipulation of individual droplets holding minute reagents and cells of interest by electric forces, has received more attention recently. Because of ease of fabrication, compactness and prospective automation, DMF has become a powerful approach for biological application. We review recent developments of various microfluidic chips for analysis of a single cell and for efficient genetic screening. In addition, perspectives to develop analysis of single cells based on DMF and emerging functionality with high throughput are discussed.

Digital Microfluidics for Manipulation and Analysis of a Single Cell

PubMed Central

He, Jie-Long; Chen, An-Te; Lee, Jyong-Huei; Fan, Shih-Kang

2015-01-01

The basic structural and functional unit of a living organism is a single cell. To understand the variability and to improve the biomedical requirement of a single cell, its analysis has become a key technique in biological and biomedical research. With a physical boundary of microchannels and microstructures, single cells are efficiently captured and analyzed, whereas electric forces sort and position single cells. Various microfluidic techniques have been exploited to manipulate single cells through hydrodynamic and electric forces. Digital microfluidics (DMF), the manipulation of individual droplets holding minute reagents and cells of interest by electric forces, has received more attention recently. Because of ease of fabrication, compactness and prospective automation, DMF has become a powerful approach for biological application. We review recent developments of various microfluidic chips for analysis of a single cell and for efficient genetic screening. In addition, perspectives to develop analysis of single cells based on DMF and emerging functionality with high throughput are discussed. PMID:26389890

Digital holographic microscopy long-term and real-time monitoring of cell division and changes under simulated zero gravity.

PubMed

Pan, Feng; Liu, Shuo; Wang, Zhe; Shang, Peng; Xiao, Wen

2012-05-07

The long-term and real-time monitoring the cell division and changes of osteoblasts under simulated zero gravity condition were succeed by combing a digital holographic microscopy (DHM) with a superconducting magnet (SM). The SM could generate different magnetic force fields in a cylindrical cavity, where the gravitational force of biological samples could be canceled at a special gravity position by a high magnetic force. Therefore the specimens were levitated and in a simulated zero gravity environment. The DHM was modified to fit with SM by using single mode optical fibers and a vertically-configured jig designed to hold specimens and integrate optical device in the magnet's bore. The results presented the first-phase images of living cells undergoing dynamic divisions and changes under simulated zero gravity environment for a period of 10 hours. The experiments demonstrated that the SM-compatible DHM setup could provide a highly efficient and versatile method for research on the effects of microgravity on biological samples.

Clinical Decision Support Model to Predict Occlusal Force in Bruxism Patients.

PubMed

Thanathornwong, Bhornsawan; Suebnukarn, Siriwan

2017-10-01

The aim of this study was to develop a decision support model for the prediction of occlusal force from the size and color of articulating paper markings in bruxism patients. We used the information from the datasets of 30 bruxism patients in which digital measurements of the size and color of articulating paper markings (12-µm Hanel; Coltene/Whaledent GmbH, Langenau, Germany) on canine protected hard stabilization splints were measured in pixels (P) and in red (R), green (G), and blue (B) values using Adobe Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA). The occlusal force (F) was measured using T-Scan III (Tekscan Inc., South Boston, MA, USA). The multiple regression equation was applied to predict F from the P and RGB. Model evaluation was performed using the datasets from 10 new patients. The patient's occlusal force measured by T-Scan III was used as a 'gold standard' to compare with the occlusal force predicted by the multiple regression model. The results demonstrate that the correlation between the occlusal force and the pixels and RGB of the articulating paper markings was positive (F = 1.62×P + 0.07×R -0.08×G + 0.08×B + 4.74; R 2 = 0.34). There was a high degree of agreement between the occlusal force of the patient measured using T-Scan III and the occlusal force predicted by the model (kappa value = 0.82). The results obtained demonstrate that the multiple regression model can predict the occlusal force using the digital values for the size and color of the articulating paper markings in bruxism patients.

Clinical Decision Support Model to Predict Occlusal Force in Bruxism Patients

PubMed Central

Thanathornwong, Bhornsawan

2017-01-01

Objectives The aim of this study was to develop a decision support model for the prediction of occlusal force from the size and color of articulating paper markings in bruxism patients. Methods We used the information from the datasets of 30 bruxism patients in which digital measurements of the size and color of articulating paper markings (12-µm Hanel; Coltene/Whaledent GmbH, Langenau, Germany) on canine protected hard stabilization splints were measured in pixels (P) and in red (R), green (G), and blue (B) values using Adobe Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA). The occlusal force (F) was measured using T-Scan III (Tekscan Inc., South Boston, MA, USA). The multiple regression equation was applied to predict F from the P and RGB. Model evaluation was performed using the datasets from 10 new patients. The patient's occlusal force measured by T-Scan III was used as a ‘gold standard’ to compare with the occlusal force predicted by the multiple regression model. Results The results demonstrate that the correlation between the occlusal force and the pixels and RGB of the articulating paper markings was positive (F = 1.62×P + 0.07×R –0.08×G + 0.08×B + 4.74; R2 = 0.34). There was a high degree of agreement between the occlusal force of the patient measured using T-Scan III and the occlusal force predicted by the model (kappa value = 0.82). Conclusions The results obtained demonstrate that the multiple regression model can predict the occlusal force using the digital values for the size and color of the articulating paper markings in bruxism patients. PMID:29181234

78 FR 76987 - Adjustment of Determination of Compulsory License Rates for Mechanical and Digital Phonorecords

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-20

... service bundles, music bundles, paid locker services, and purchased content locker services. The technical... downloads, limited offerings, mixed service bundles, music bundles, paid locker services, and purchased...

Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography.

PubMed

Friedewald, Sarah M; Rafferty, Elizabeth A; Rose, Stephen L; Durand, Melissa A; Plecha, Donna M; Greenberg, Julianne S; Hayes, Mary K; Copit, Debra S; Carlson, Kara L; Cink, Thomas M; Barke, Lora D; Greer, Linda N; Miller, Dave P; Conant, Emily F

2014-06-25

Mammography plays a key role in early breast cancer detection. Single-institution studies have shown that adding tomosynthesis to mammography increases cancer detection and reduces false-positive results. To determine if mammography combined with tomosynthesis is associated with better performance of breast screening programs in the United States. Retrospective analysis of screening performance metrics from 13 academic and nonacademic breast centers using mixed models adjusting for site as a random effect. Period 1: digital mammography screening examinations 1 year before tomosynthesis implementation (start dates ranged from March 2010 to October 2011 through the date of tomosynthesis implementation); period 2: digital mammography plus tomosynthesis examinations from initiation of tomosynthesis screening (March 2011 to October 2012) through December 31, 2012. Recall rate for additional imaging, cancer detection rate, and positive predictive values for recall and for biopsy. A total of 454,850 examinations (n=281,187 digital mammography; n=173,663 digital mammography + tomosynthesis) were evaluated. With digital mammography, 29,726 patients were recalled and 5056 biopsies resulted in cancer diagnosis in 1207 patients (n=815 invasive; n=392 in situ). With digital mammography + tomosynthesis, 15,541 patients were recalled and 3285 biopsies resulted in cancer diagnosis in 950 patients (n=707 invasive; n=243 in situ). Model-adjusted rates per 1000 screens were as follows: for recall rate, 107 (95% CI, 89-124) with digital mammography vs 91 (95% CI, 73-108) with digital mammography + tomosynthesis; difference, -16 (95% CI, -18 to -14; P < .001); for biopsies, 18.1 (95% CI, 15.4-20.8) with digital mammography vs 19.3 (95% CI, 16.6-22.1) with digital mammography + tomosynthesis; difference, 1.3 (95% CI, 0.4-2.1; P = .004); for cancer detection, 4.2 (95% CI, 3.8-4.7) with digital mammography vs 5.4 (95% CI, 4.9-6.0) with digital mammography + tomosynthesis; difference, 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.6; P < .001); and for invasive cancer detection, 2.9 (95% CI, 2.5-3.2) with digital mammography vs 4.1 (95% CI, 3.7-4.5) with digital mammography + tomosynthesis; difference, 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.6; P < .001). The in situ cancer detection rate was 1.4 (95% CI, 1.2-1.6) per 1000 screens with both methods. Adding tomosynthesis was associated with an increase in the positive predictive value for recall from 4.3% to 6.4% (difference, 2.1%; 95% CI, 1.7%-2.5%; P < .001) and for biopsy from 24.2% to 29.2% (difference, 5.0%; 95% CI, 3.0%-7.0%; P < .001). Addition of tomosynthesis to digital mammography was associated with a decrease in recall rate and an increase in cancer detection rate. Further studies are needed to assess the relationship to clinical outcomes.

Clustering of cycloidal wave energy converters

DOEpatents

Siegel, Stefan G.

2016-03-29

A wave energy conversion system uses a pair of wave energy converters (WECs) on respective active mountings on a floating platform, so that the separation of the WECs from each other or from a central WEC can be actively adjusted according to the wavelength of incident waves. The adjustable separation facilitates operation of the system to cancel reactive forces, which may be generated during wave energy conversion. Modules on which such pairs of WECs are mounted can be assembled with one or more central WECs to form large clusters in which reactive forces and torques can be made to cancel. WECs of different sizes can be employed to facilitate cancelation of reactive forces and torques.

98. View of IBM digital computer model 7090 magnet core ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

98. View of IBM digital computer model 7090 magnet core installation. ITT Artic Services, Inc., Official photograph BMEWS Site II, Clear, AK, by unknown photographer, 17 September 1965. BMEWS, clear as negative no. A-6606. - Clear Air Force Station, Ballistic Missile Early Warning System Site II, One mile west of mile marker 293.5 on Parks Highway, 5 miles southwest of Anderson, Anderson, Denali Borough, AK

The U.S. Combat and Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Fleets: Issues and Suggestions for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

nonlinear, irregular distribution of brigade and battalion formations means that there is no longer a relatively more secure rear area, an...enhancement package, according to civilian sources, included depleted- uranium armor, digital command- and-control architecture, digital color terrain maps...system robustness and flexibility, and (3) more often than not, the preparation of the analysis (e.g., terrain formatting , laydown of forces, timing of

Cost and cost-effectiveness of digital mammography compared with film-screen mammography in Australia.

PubMed

Wang, Shuhong; Merlin, Tracy; Kreisz, Florian; Craft, Paul; Hiller, Janet E

2009-10-01

A systematic review assessed the relative safety and effectiveness of digital mammography compared with film-screen mammography. This study utilised the evidence from the review to examine the economic value of digital compared with film-screen mammography in Australia. A cost-comparison analysis between the two technologies was conducted for the overall population for the purposes of breast cancer screening and diagnosis. In addition, a cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted for the screening subgroups where digital mammography was considered to be more accurate than film-screen mammography. Digital mammography in a screening setting is $11 more per examination than film-screen mammography, and $36 or $33 more per examination in a diagnostic setting when either digital radiography or computed radiography is used. In both the screening and diagnostic settings, the throughput of the mammography system had the most significant impact on decreasing the incremental cost/examination/year of digital mammography. Digital mammography is more expensive than film-screen mammography. Whether digital mammography represents good value for money depends on the eventual life-years and quality-adjusted life-years gained from the early cancer diagnosis. The evidence generated from this study has informed the allocation of public resources for the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer in Australia.

Learned Manipulation at Unconstrained Contacts Does Not Transfer across Hands

PubMed Central

Fu, Qiushi; Choi, Jason Y.; Gordon, Andrew M.; Jesunathadas, Mark; Santello, Marco

2014-01-01

Recent studies about sensorimotor control of the human hand have focused on how dexterous manipulation is learned and generalized. Here we address this question by testing the extent to which learned manipulation can be transferred when the contralateral hand is used and/or object orientation is reversed. We asked subjects to use a precision grip to lift a grip device with an asymmetrical mass distribution while minimizing object roll during lifting by generating a compensatory torque. Subjects were allowed to grasp anywhere on the object’s vertical surfaces, and were therefore able to modulate both digit positions and forces. After every block of eight trials performed in one manipulation context (i.e., using the right hand and at a given object orientation), subjects had to lift the same object in the second context for one trial (transfer trial). Context changes were made by asking subjects to switch the hand used to lift the object and/or rotate the object 180° about a vertical axis. Therefore, three transfer conditions, hand switch (HS), object rotation (OR), and both hand switch and object rotation (HS+OR), were tested and compared with hand matched control groups who did not experience context changes. We found that subjects in all transfer conditions adapted digit positions across multiple transfer trials similar to the learning of control groups, regardless of different changes of contexts. Moreover, subjects in both HS and HS+OR group also adapted digit forces similar to the control group, suggesting independent learning of the left hand. In contrast, the OR group showed significant negative transfer of the compensatory torque due to an inability to adapt digit forces. Our results indicate that internal representations of dexterous manipulation tasks may be primarily built through the hand used for learning and cannot be transferred across hands. PMID:25233091

Defense Acquisition Research Journal. Volume 20, Number 2, Issue 66, July 2013

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-01

Wirthlin Air Force Institute of Technology Dr. Roy Wood Defense Acquisition University The Defense Acquisition Research Journal, formerly the Defense...of an Economic Price Adjustment Clause to the Government Scot Arnold, Bruce Harmon, Susan Rose, and John Whitley An Economic Price Adjustment (EPA...Adjustment (EPA) Clauses, Risk, Target Fee Valuing the Cost of an Economic Price Adjustment Clause to the Government Scot Arnold, Bruce Harmon, Susan

Flies compensate for unilateral wing damage through modular adjustments of wing and body kinematics

PubMed Central

Iwasaki, Nicole A.; Elzinga, Michael J.; Melis, Johan M.; Dickinson, Michael H.

2017-01-01

Using high-speed videography, we investigated how fruit flies compensate for unilateral wing damage, in which loss of area on one wing compromises both weight support and roll torque equilibrium. Our results show that flies control for unilateral damage by rolling their body towards the damaged wing and by adjusting the kinematics of both the intact and damaged wings. To compensate for the reduction in vertical lift force due to damage, flies elevate wingbeat frequency. Because this rise in frequency increases the flapping velocity of both wings, it has the undesired consequence of further increasing roll torque. To compensate for this effect, flies increase the stroke amplitude and advance the timing of pronation and supination of the damaged wing, while making the opposite adjustments on the intact wing. The resulting increase in force on the damaged wing and decrease in force on the intact wing function to maintain zero net roll torque. However, the bilaterally asymmetrical pattern of wing motion generates a finite lateral force, which flies balance by maintaining a constant body roll angle. Based on these results and additional experiments using a dynamically scaled robotic fly, we propose a simple bioinspired control algorithm for asymmetric wing damage. PMID:28163885

Flies compensate for unilateral wing damage through modular adjustments of wing and body kinematics.

PubMed

Muijres, Florian T; Iwasaki, Nicole A; Elzinga, Michael J; Melis, Johan M; Dickinson, Michael H

2017-02-06

Using high-speed videography, we investigated how fruit flies compensate for unilateral wing damage, in which loss of area on one wing compromises both weight support and roll torque equilibrium. Our results show that flies control for unilateral damage by rolling their body towards the damaged wing and by adjusting the kinematics of both the intact and damaged wings. To compensate for the reduction in vertical lift force due to damage, flies elevate wingbeat frequency. Because this rise in frequency increases the flapping velocity of both wings, it has the undesired consequence of further increasing roll torque. To compensate for this effect, flies increase the stroke amplitude and advance the timing of pronation and supination of the damaged wing, while making the opposite adjustments on the intact wing. The resulting increase in force on the damaged wing and decrease in force on the intact wing function to maintain zero net roll torque. However, the bilaterally asymmetrical pattern of wing motion generates a finite lateral force, which flies balance by maintaining a constant body roll angle. Based on these results and additional experiments using a dynamically scaled robotic fly, we propose a simple bioinspired control algorithm for asymmetric wing damage.

Implement an adjustable delay time digital trigger for an NI data acquisition card in a high-speed demodulation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongtao; Fan, Lingling; Wang, Pengfei; Park, Seong-Wook

2012-06-01

A National Instruments (NI) DAQ card PCI 5105 is installed in a high-speed demodulation system based on Fiber Fabry-Pérot Tunable Filter. The instability of the spectra of Fiber Bragg Grating sensors caused by intrinsic drifts of FFP-TF needs an appropriate, flexible trigger. However, the driver of the DAQ card in the current development environment does not provide the functions of analog trigger but digital trigger type. Moreover, the high level of the trigger signal from the tuning voltage of FFP-TF is larger than the maximum input overload voltage of PCI 5105 card. To resolve this incompatibility, a novel converter to change an analog trigger signal into a digital trigger signal has been reported previously. However, the obvious delay time between input and output signals limits the function of demodulation system. Accordingly, we report an improved low-cost, small-size converter with an adjustable delay time. This new scheme can decline the delay time to or close to zero when the frequency of trigger signal is less than 3,000 Hz. This method might be employed to resolve similar problems or to be applied in semiconductor integrated circuits.

Fuzzy Logic Module of Convolutional Neural Network for Handwritten Digits Recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popko, E. A.; Weinstein, I. A.

2016-08-01

Optical character recognition is one of the important issues in the field of pattern recognition. This paper presents a method for recognizing handwritten digits based on the modeling of convolutional neural network. The integrated fuzzy logic module based on a structural approach was developed. Used system architecture adjusted the output of the neural network to improve quality of symbol identification. It was shown that proposed algorithm was flexible and high recognition rate of 99.23% was achieved.

Iterative design of one- and two-dimensional FIR digital filters. [Finite duration Impulse Response

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suk, M.; Choi, K.; Algazi, V. R.

1976-01-01

The paper describes a new iterative technique for designing FIR (finite duration impulse response) digital filters using a frequency weighted least squares approximation. The technique is as easy to implement (via FFT) and as effective in two dimensions as in one dimension, and there are virtually no limitations on the class of filter frequency spectra approximated. An adaptive adjustment of the frequency weight to achieve other types of design approximation such as Chebyshev type design is discussed.

Using the Force: "Star Wars" in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chartier, Timothy P.

2007-01-01

When the character Yoda first appeared on the silver screen, his movements were due to the efforts of famed muppeteer Frank Oz. In "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones," Yoda returned to the movies but this time the character was not a puppet but a digital image within a computer. This paper discusses the role, or, more aptly, the force, of…

Manual Loading Distribution During Carrying Behaviors: Implications for the Evolution of the Hominin Hand

PubMed Central

Key, Alastair J. M.

2016-01-01

The human hand is unparalleled amongst primates in its ability to manipulate objects forcefully and dexterously. Previous research has predominantly sought to explain the evolution of these capabilities through an adaptive relationship between more modern human-like anatomical features in the upper limb and increased stone tool production and use proficiency. To date, however, we know little about the influence that other manipulatively demanding behaviors may have had upon the evolution of the human hand. The present study addresses one aspect of this deficiency by examining the recruitment of the distal phalanges during a range of manual transportation (i.e., carrying) events related to hominin behavioral repertoires during the Plio-Pleistocene. Specifically, forces on the volar pad of each digit are recorded during the transportation of stones and wooden branches that vary in weight and size. Results indicate that in most instances, the index and middle fingers are recruited to a significantly greater extent than the other three digits during carrying events. Relative force differences between digits were, however, dependent upon the size and weight of the object transported. Carrying behaviors therefore appear unlikely to have contributed to the evolution of the robust thumb anatomy observed in the human hand. Rather, results suggest that the manual transportation of objects may plausibly have influenced the evolution of the human gripping capabilities and the 3rd metacarpal styloid process. PMID:27695044

Biomechanics and dynamics of red blood cells probed by optical tweezers and digital holographic microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardenas, Nelson; Thomas, Pattrick; Yu, Lingfeng; Mohanty, Samarendra

2011-03-01

Red blood cells (RBC), with their unique viscoelastic properties, can undergo large deformations during interaction with fluid flow and migration through narrow capillaries. Both local and overall viscoelastic property is important for cellular function and change in these properties indicate diseased condition. Though biomechanics of the cells have been studied using variety of physical techniques (AFM, optically-trapped anchoring beads and microcapilary aspiration) in force regime 10pN, little is studied at low force regime <1pN. Such perturbations are not only hard to exercise on the cell membrane, but quantification of such deformations becomes extremely difficult. By application of low power optical tweezers directly on cell membrane, we could locally perturb discotic RBC along the axial direction, which was monitored dynamically by digital holographic microscopy-a real time, wide-field imaging method having nm axial resolution. The viscoelastic property of the RBC at low force regime was found to be significantly different from that of high-force regime. The results were found to be in good agreement with the simulation results obtained using finite element model of the axially-stretched RBC. The simulations and results of viscoelestic measurements will be presented.

Applications of asymmetric nanotextured parylene surface using its wetting and transport properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekeroglu, Koray

In this thesis, basic digital fluidics devices were introduced using polymeric nanorods (nano-PPX) inspired from nature. Natural inspiration ignited this research by observing butterfly wings, water strider legs, rye grass leaves, and their asymmetric functions. Nano-PPX rods, manufactured by an oblique angle polymerization (OAP) method, are asymmetrically aligned structures that have unidirectional wetting properties. Nano-PPX demonstrates similar functions to the directional textured surfaces of animals and plants in terms of wetting, adhesion, and transport. The water pin-release mechanism on the asymmetric nano-PPX surface with adhesion function provides a great transport property. How the asymmetry causes transport is discussed in terms of hysteresis and interface contact of water droplets. In this study, the transport property of nano-PPX rods is used to guide droplets as well as transporting cargo such as microgels. With the addition of tracks on the nano-PPX rods, the surfaces were transformed into basic digital fluidics devices. The track-assisted nano-PPX has been employed to applications (i.e. sorting, mixing, and carrying cargo particles). Thus, digital fluidics devices fabricated on nano-PPX surface is a promising pathway to assemble microgels in the field of bioengineering. The characterization of the nano textured surface was completed using methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Contact Angle Goniometry, and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy. These methods helped to understand the physical and chemical properties of nano-PPX. Parameters such as advancing and receding contact angles, nanorod tilt angle, and critical drop volumes were utilized to investigate the anisotropic wetting properties of nano-PPX surface. This investigation explained the directional wetting behavior of the surface as well as approaching new design parameters for adjusting surface properties. The nanorod tilt angle was a key parameter, thus changing the angle provided the surface with essential wetting properties. This adjustment on the nano-PPX surface exhibited excellent control on water droplet transport as well as guided the droplets from desired points to targets. The results demonstrated that it is possible to create railroad-like paths to manipulate the droplet movements by deforming the nano-PPX surface. Controlling physical properties of the surface granted the inspiration for fabricating basic fluidic devices to sort and mix droplets. These devices are promising for assembly purposes in terms of using microgels in engineering applications (i.e. building blocks for bioengineering). The surface has potential for further development to achieve the directed assembly of microgels into close proximity.

Machinability of lithium disilicate glass ceramic in in vitro dental diamond bur adjusting process.

PubMed

Song, Xiao-Fei; Ren, Hai-Tao; Yin, Ling

2016-01-01

Esthetic high-strength lithium disilicate glass ceramics (LDGC) are used for monolithic crowns and bridges produced in dental CAD/CAM and oral adjusting processes, which machinability affects the restorative quality. A machinability study has been made in the simulated oral clinical machining of LDGC with a dental handpiece and diamond burs, regarding the diamond tool wear and chip control, machining forces and energy, surface finish and integrity. Machining forces, speeds and energy in in vitro dental adjusting of LDGC were measured by a high-speed data acquisition and force sensor system. Machined LDGC surfaces were assessed using three-dimensional non-contact chromatic confocal optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Diamond bur morphology and LDGC chip shapes were also examined using SEM. Minimum tool wear but significant LDGC chip accumulations were found. Machining forces and energy significantly depended on machining conditions (p<0.05) and were significantly higher than other glass ceramics (p<0.05). Machining speeds dropped more rapidly with increased removal rates than other glass ceramics (p<0.05). Two material machinability indices associated with the hardness, Young's modulus and fracture toughness were derived based on the normal force-removal rate relations, which ranked LDGC the most difficult to machine among glass ceramics. Surface roughness for machined LDGC was comparable for other glass ceramics. The removal mechanisms of LDGC were dominated by penetration-induced brittle fracture and shear-induced plastic deformation. Unlike most other glass ceramics, distinct intergranular and transgranular fractures of lithium disilicate crystals were found in LDGC. This research provides the fundamental data for dental clinicians on the machinability of LDGC in intraoral adjustments. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complex myograph allows the examination of complex muscle contractions for the assessment of muscle force, shortening, velocity, and work in vivo

PubMed Central

Rahe-Meyer, Niels; Pawlak, Matthias; Weilbach, Christian; Osthaus, Wilhelm Alexander; Ruhschulte, Hainer; Solomon, Cristina; Piepenbrock, Siegfried; Winterhalter, Michael

2008-01-01

Background The devices used for in vivo examination of muscle contractions assess only pure force contractions and the so-called isokinetic contractions. In isokinetic experiments, the extremity and its muscle are artificially moved with constant velocity by the measuring device, while a tetanic contraction is induced in the muscle, either by electrical stimulation or by maximal voluntary activation. With these systems, experiments cannot be performed at pre-defined, constant muscle length, single contractions cannot be evaluated individually and the separate examination of the isometric and the isotonic components of single contractions is not possible. Methods The myograph presented in our study has two newly developed technical units, i.e. a). a counterforce unit which can load the muscle with an adjustable, but constant force and b). a length-adjusting unit which allows for both the stretching and the contraction length to be infinitely adjustable independently of one another. The two units support the examination of complex types of contraction and store the counterforce and length-adjusting settings, so that these conditions may be accurately reapplied in later sessions. Results The measurement examples presented show that the muscle can be brought to every possible pre-stretching length and that single isotonic or complex isometric-isotonic contractions may be performed at every length. The applied forces act during different phases of contraction, resulting into different pre- and after-loads that can be kept constant – uninfluenced by the contraction. Maximal values for force, shortening, velocity and work may be obtained for individual muscles. This offers the possibility to obtain information on the muscle status and to monitor its changes under non-invasive measurement conditions. Conclusion With the Complex Myograph, the whole spectrum of a muscle's mechanical characteristics may be assessed. PMID:18616815

Confocal retinal imaging using a digital light projector with a near infrared VCSEL source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, Matthew S.; Elsner, Ann E.

2018-02-01

A custom near infrared VCSEL source has been implemented in a confocal non-mydriatic retinal camera, the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO). The use of near infrared light improves patient comfort, avoids pupil constriction, penetrates the deeper retina, and does not mask visual stimuli. The DLO performs confocal imaging by synchronizing a sequence of lines displayed with a digital micromirror device to the rolling shutter exposure of a 2D CMOS camera. Real-time software adjustments enable multiply scattered light imaging, which rapidly and cost-effectively emphasizes drusen and other scattering disruptions in the deeper retina. A separate 5.1" LCD display provides customizable visible stimuli for vision experiments with simultaneous near infrared imaging.

Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Bulletin; Vol. 8, Special Edition: Vocational Evaluation Project Final Report Part 2.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Association, Washington, DC.

Part 2 of the three-part Vocational Evaluation Project final report contains brief summaries of the seven task force report which comprise the final report and two such task force reports. The report of task force 5, Standards for Vocational Evaluation, describes the task force's effort to study the standards for accreditation presently used by…

Analysis of Nonlinear Dynamics in Linear Compressors Driven by Linear Motors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Liangyuan

2018-03-01

The analysis of dynamic characteristics of the mechatronics system is of great significance for the linear motor design and control. Steady-state nonlinear response characteristics of a linear compressor are investigated theoretically based on the linearized and nonlinear models. First, the influence factors considering the nonlinear gas force load were analyzed. Then, a simple linearized model was set up to analyze the influence on the stroke and resonance frequency. Finally, the nonlinear model was set up to analyze the effects of piston mass, spring stiffness, driving force as an example of design parameter variation. The simulating results show that the stroke can be obtained by adjusting the excitation amplitude, frequency and other adjustments, the equilibrium position can be adjusted by adjusting the DC input, and to make the more efficient operation, the operating frequency must always equal to the resonance frequency.

System for adjusting frequency of electrical output pulses derived from an oscillator

DOEpatents

Bartholomew, David B.

2006-11-14

A system for setting and adjusting a frequency of electrical output pulses derived from an oscillator in a network is disclosed. The system comprises an accumulator module configured to receive pulses from an oscillator and to output an accumulated value. An adjustor module is configured to store an adjustor value used to correct local oscillator drift. A digital adder adds values from the accumulator module to values stored in the adjustor module and outputs their sums to the accumulator module, where they are stored. The digital adder also outputs an electrical pulse to a logic module. The logic module is in electrical communication with the adjustor module and the network. The logic module may change the value stored in the adjustor module to compensate for local oscillator drift or change the frequency of output pulses. The logic module may also keep time and calculate drift.

Problems of Manpower in Agriculture. OECD Documentation in Food and Agriculture.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France).

Problems related to rapid reduction of the agricultural labor force were examined in the 21 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The size and changes of the agricultural labor force, economic forces tending towards change, technical requirements for labor in agriculture, and obstacles hindering economic adjustment of…

Second harmonic generation efficiency affected by radiation force of a high-energy laser beam through stress within a mounted potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Ruifeng; Zhu, Mingzhi; Huang, Zhan; Wang, Baoxu; Wu, Wenkai

2018-01-01

Influence of radiation force of a high-energy laser beam on the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency through stress within a mounted potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal is studied, as well as an active method of improving the SHG efficiency by controlling the stress is proposed. At first, the model for studying the influence of the radiation force on the SHG efficiency is established, where the radiation force is theoretically analyzed, the stress caused by the radiation force is theoretically analyzed and numerically calculated using the finite-element method, and the influence of the stress on the SHG efficiency is theoretically analyzed. Then, a method of improving the SHG efficiency by controlling the stress through adjusting the structural parameters of the mounting set of the KDP crystal is examined. It demonstrates that the radiation force causes stress within the KDP crystal and further militates against the SHG efficiency; however, the SHG efficiency could be improved by controlling the stress through adjusting the structural parameters of the mounting set of the KDP crystal.

Stance-phase force on the opposite limb dictates swing-phase afferent presynaptic inhibition during locomotion

PubMed Central

Hayes, Heather Brant; Chang, Young-Hui

2012-01-01

Presynaptic inhibition is a powerful mechanism for selectively and dynamically gating sensory inputs entering the spinal cord. We investigated how hindlimb mechanics influence presynaptic inhibition during locomotion using pioneering approaches in an in vitro spinal cord–hindlimb preparation. We recorded lumbar dorsal root potentials to measure primary afferent depolarization-mediated presynaptic inhibition and compared their dependence on hindlimb endpoint forces, motor output, and joint kinematics. We found that stance-phase force on the opposite limb, particularly at toe contact, strongly influenced the magnitude and timing of afferent presynaptic inhibition in the swinging limb. Presynaptic inhibition increased in proportion to opposite limb force, as well as locomotor frequency. This form of presynaptic inhibition binds the sensorimotor states of the two limbs, adjusting sensory inflow to the swing limb based on forces generated by the stance limb. Functionally, it may serve to adjust swing-phase sensory transmission based on locomotor task, speed, and step-to-step environmental perturbations. PMID:22442562

Electrostatically frequency tunable micro-beam-based piezoelectric fluid flow energy harvester

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezaee, Mousa; Sharafkhani, Naser

2017-07-01

This research investigates the dynamic behavior of a sandwich micro-beam based piezoelectric energy harvester with electrostatically adjustable resonance frequency. The system consists of a cantilever micro-beam immersed in a fluid domain and is subjected to the simultaneous action of cross fluid flow and nonlinear electrostatic force. Two parallel piezoelectric laminates are extended along the length of the micro-beam and connected to an external electric circuit which generates an output power as a result of the micro-beam oscillations. The fluid-coupled structure is modeled using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and the equivalent force terms for the fluid flow. Fluid induced forces comprise the added inertia force which is evaluated using equivalent added mass and the drag and lift forces which are evaluated using relative velocity and Van der Pol equation. In addition to flow velocity and fluid density, the influence of several design parameters such as external electrical resistance, piezo layer position, and dc voltage on the generated power are investigated by using Galerkin and step by step linearization method. It is shown that for given flowing fluid parameters, i.e., density and velocity, one can adjust the applied dc voltage to tune resonance frequency so that the lock-in phenomenon with steady large amplitude oscillations happens, also by adjusting the harvester parameters including the mechanical and electrical ones, the maximal output power of the harvester becomes possible.

Development of an attention-touch control for manual cervical distraction: a pilot randomized clinical trial for patients with neck pain.

PubMed

Gudavalli, M Ram; Salsbury, Stacie A; Vining, Robert D; Long, Cynthia R; Corber, Lance; Patwardhan, Avinash G; Goertz, Christine M

2015-06-05

Manual cervical distraction (MCD) is a traction-based therapy performed with a manual contact over the cervical region producing repeating cycles while patients lie prone. This study evaluated a traction force-based minimal intervention for use as an attention-touch control in clinical trials of MCD for patients with chronic neck pain. We conducted a mixed-methods, pilot randomized clinical trial in adults with chronic neck pain. Participants were allocated to three traction force ranges of MCD: low force/minimal intervention (0-20 N), medium force (21-50 N), or high force (51-100 N). Clinicians delivered five treatments over two weeks consisting of three sets of five cycles of MCD at the C5 vertebra and occiput. Traction forces were measured at each treatment. Patient-reported outcomes included a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), and adverse effects. A qualitative interview evaluated treatment group allocation perceptions. We randomized 48 participants, allocating an average of five each month. Forty-five participants completed the trial with three participants lost to follow-up. Most participants were women (65%) and white (92%) with a mean (SD) age of 46.8 (12.5) years. Mean traction force values were within the prescribed force ranges for each group at the C5 and occiput levels. Neck pain VAS demonstrated a benefit for high traction force MCD compared to the low force group [adjusted mean difference 15.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6 to 29.7]. Participants in the medium traction force group demonstrated improvements in NDI compared to the low force group (adjusted mean difference 3.0; 95% CI 0.1 to 5.9), as did participants in the high traction force group (adjusted mean difference 2.7; 95% CI -0.1 to 5.6). CEQ favored the high force group. Most low force participants correctly identified their treatment allocation in the qualitative interview. No serious adverse events were documented. This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of a clinical trial protocol and the utility of a traction-based, minimal intervention as an attention-touch control for future efficacy trials of MCD for patients with neck pain. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01765751 (Registration Date 30 May 2012).

Effects of exercise on biomechanical properties of the superficial digital flexor tendon in foals.

PubMed

Cherdchutham, W; Meershoek, L S; van Weeren, P R; Barneveld, A

2001-12-01

To determine the effects of exercise on biomechanical properties of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in foals. 43 Dutch Warmblood foals. From 1 week until 5 months of age, 14 foals were housed in stalls and not exercised, 14 foals were housed in stalls and exercised daily, and 15 foals were maintained at pasture. Eight foals in each group were euthanatized at 5 months, and remaining foals were housed together in a stall and paddock until euthanatized at 11 months. After euthanasia, SDFT were isolated and fit in a material testing system. Mean cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured and traction forces recorded. Normalized force at rupture (force(rup)), normalized force at 4% strain, strain at rupture, stress at 4% strain (stress(4%stain)), and stress at rupture were compared among and within groups. At 5 months, mean CSA and normalized force(rup) were significantly greater and stress(4%strain) significantly less in the pastured group, compared with the other groups. At 11 months, CSA and normalized force(rup) were not significantly different among groups, because force(rup) increased significantly from 5 to 11 months in the nonexercised group and decreased significantly in the pastured group. Exercise significantly affected the biomechanical properties of the SDFT in foals. Evenly distributed moderate- and low-intensity exercise at a young age may be more effective for development of strong, flexible tendons in horses than single episodes of high-intensity exercise superimposed on stall rest. This effect may impact later susceptibility to SDFT injury.

Artillery Engagement Simulation

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

coordinate* of the burst point to 10 meter accuracy (4 digit number). 7. Press R/S. Calculator will run for approximately one second and display the...northing coordinate* of the burst point to 10 meter accuracy (4 digit number). 8. If it is not desired to send azimuth and distance instructions to the...Now Delhi 1 USA Agey for Aviation Safety, Ft Rucker. ATTN: Educ Advisor I Pars Rsch Ofc, Libary , AKA. Israel Defense Forces I USA Aviation Sch. Ft

97. View of International Business Machine (IBM) digital computer model ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

97. View of International Business Machine (IBM) digital computer model 7090 magnetic core installation, international telephone and telegraph (ITT) Artic Services Inc., Official photograph BMEWS site II, Clear, AK, by unknown photographer, 17 September 1965, BMEWS, clear as negative no. A-6604. - Clear Air Force Station, Ballistic Missile Early Warning System Site II, One mile west of mile marker 293.5 on Parks Highway, 5 miles southwest of Anderson, Anderson, Denali Borough, AK

FITPix COMBO—Timepix detector with integrated analog signal spectrometric readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holik, M.; Kraus, V.; Georgiev, V.; Granja, C.

2016-02-01

The hybrid semiconductor pixel detector Timepix has proven a powerful tool in radiation detection and imaging. Energy loss and directional sensitivity as well as particle type resolving power are possible by high resolution particle tracking and per-pixel energy and quantum-counting capability. The spectrometric resolving power of the detector can be further enhanced by analyzing the analog signal of the detector common sensor electrode (also called back-side pulse). In this work we present a new compact readout interface, based on the FITPix readout architecture, extended with integrated analog electronics for the detector's common sensor signal. Integrating simultaneous operation of the digital per-pixel information with the common sensor (called also back-side electrode) analog pulse processing circuitry into one device enhances the detector capabilities and opens new applications. Thanks to noise suppression and built-in electromagnetic interference shielding the common hardware platform enables parallel analog signal spectroscopy on the back side pulse signal with full operation and read-out of the pixelated digital part, the noise level is 600 keV and spectrometric resolution around 100 keV for 5.5 MeV alpha particles. Self-triggering is implemented with delay of few tens of ns making use of adjustable low-energy threshold of the particle analog signal amplitude. The digital pixelated full frame can be thus triggered and recorded together with the common sensor analog signal. The waveform, which is sampled with frequency 100 MHz, can be recorded in adjustable time window including time prior to the trigger level. An integrated software tool provides control, on-line display and read-out of both analog and digital channels. Both the pixelated digital record and the analog waveform are synchronized and written out by common time stamp.

Computer-Assisted Visual Search/Decision Aids as a Training Tool for Mammography

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-07-01

display of a digital mammogram that compensates for the display brightness, the ambient light and the useful range of pixel intensities in the image...described here extends the work of Liu and Nodine (7) to include adjusting the gray-scale transform for ambient illumination and adjusting the mammogram...visible" disk in each band. The observer’s responses are affected by the display contrast and the ambient room lighting. The contrast of each indicated

Battlefield awareness computers: the engine of battlefield digitization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ho, Jackson; Chamseddine, Ahmad

1997-06-01

To modernize the army for the 21st century, the U.S. Army Digitization Office (ADO) initiated in 1995 the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) Applique program which became a centerpiece in the U.S. Army's master plan to win future information wars. The Applique team led by TRW fielded a 'tactical Internet' for Brigade and below command to demonstrate the advantages of 'shared situation awareness' and battlefield digitization in advanced war-fighting experiments (AWE) to be conducted in March 1997 at the Army's National Training Center in California. Computing Devices is designated the primary hardware developer for the militarized version of the battlefield awareness computers. The first generation of militarized battlefield awareness computer, designated as the V3 computer, was an integration of off-the-shelf components developed to meet the agressive delivery requirements of the Task Force XXI AWE. The design efficiency and cost effectiveness of the computer hardware were secondary in importance to delivery deadlines imposed by the March 1997 AWE. However, declining defense budgets will impose cost constraints on the Force XXI production hardware that can only be met by rigorous value engineering to further improve design optimization for battlefield awareness without compromising the level of reliability the military has come to expect in modern military hardened vetronics. To answer the Army's needs for a more cost effective computing solution, Computing Devices developed a second generation 'combat ready' battlefield awareness computer, designated the V3+, which is designed specifically to meet the upcoming demands of Force XXI (FBCB2) and beyond. The primary design objective is to achieve a technologically superior design, value engineered to strike an optimal balance between reliability, life cycle cost, and procurement cost. Recognizing that the diverse digitization demands of Force XXI cannot be adequately met by any one computer hardware solution, Computing Devices is planning to develop a notebook sized military computer designed for space limited vehicle-mounted applications, as well as a high-performance portable workstation equipped with a 19', full color, ultra-high resolution and high brightness active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) targeting the command posts and tactical operations centers (TOC) applications. Together with the wearable computers Computing Devices developed at the Minneapolis facility for dismounted soldiers, Computing Devices will have a complete suite of interoperable battlefield awareness computers spanning the entire spectrum of battle digitization operating environments. Although this paper's primary focus is on a second generation 'combat ready' battlefield awareness computer or the V3+, this paper also briefly discusses the extension of the V3+ architecture to address the needs of the embedded and command post applications.3080

Wide-field computational imaging of pathology slides using lens-free on-chip microscopy.

PubMed

Greenbaum, Alon; Zhang, Yibo; Feizi, Alborz; Chung, Ping-Luen; Luo, Wei; Kandukuri, Shivani R; Ozcan, Aydogan

2014-12-17

Optical examination of microscale features in pathology slides is one of the gold standards to diagnose disease. However, the use of conventional light microscopes is partially limited owing to their relatively high cost, bulkiness of lens-based optics, small field of view (FOV), and requirements for lateral scanning and three-dimensional (3D) focus adjustment. We illustrate the performance of a computational lens-free, holographic on-chip microscope that uses the transport-of-intensity equation, multi-height iterative phase retrieval, and rotational field transformations to perform wide-FOV imaging of pathology samples with comparable image quality to a traditional transmission lens-based microscope. The holographically reconstructed image can be digitally focused at any depth within the object FOV (after image capture) without the need for mechanical focus adjustment and is also digitally corrected for artifacts arising from uncontrolled tilting and height variations between the sample and sensor planes. Using this lens-free on-chip microscope, we successfully imaged invasive carcinoma cells within human breast sections, Papanicolaou smears revealing a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and sickle cell anemia blood smears over a FOV of 20.5 mm(2). The resulting wide-field lens-free images had sufficient image resolution and contrast for clinical evaluation, as demonstrated by a pathologist's blinded diagnosis of breast cancer tissue samples, achieving an overall accuracy of ~99%. By providing high-resolution images of large-area pathology samples with 3D digital focus adjustment, lens-free on-chip microscopy can be useful in resource-limited and point-of-care settings. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Spot-Welding Gun With Adjustable Pneumatic Spring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burley, Richard K.

1990-01-01

Proposed spot-welding gun equipped with pneumatic spring, which could be bellows or piston and cylinder, exerts force independent of position along stroke. Applies accurate controlled force to joint welded, without precise positioning at critical position within stroke.

Health status of Air Force veterans occupationally exposed to herbicides in Vietnam: II. Mortality

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Michalek, J.E.; Wolfe, W.H.; Miner, J.C.

1990-10-10

The Air Force Health Study is a 20-year comprehensive assessment of the current health of Air Force veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, the unit responsible for aerial spraying of herbicides in Vietnam. This report compares the noncombat mortality of 1261 Ranch Hand veterans to that of a comparison population of 19,101 other Air Force veterans primarily involved in cargo missions in Southeast Asia but who were not exposed to herbicides. The indirectly standardized all-cause death rate among Ranch Hands is 2.5 deaths per 1,000 person-years, the same as that among comparison subjects. After adjustment for age, rank, and occupation, themore » all-cause standardized mortality ratio was 1.0. In adjusted cause-specific analyses, the authors found no significant group differences regarding accidental, malignant neoplasm, and circulatory deaths. These data are not supportive to a hypothesis of increases mortality among Ranch Hands.« less

Transducer-actuator systems and methods for performing on-machine measurements and automatic part alignment

DOEpatents

Barkman, William E.; Dow, Thomas A.; Garrard, Kenneth P.; Marston, Zachary

2016-07-12

Systems and methods for performing on-machine measurements and automatic part alignment, including: a measurement component operable for determining the position of a part on a machine; and an actuation component operable for adjusting the position of the part by contacting the part with a predetermined force responsive to the determined position of the part. The measurement component consists of a transducer. The actuation component consists of a linear actuator. Optionally, the measurement component and the actuation component consist of a single linear actuator operable for contacting the part with a first lighter force for determining the position of the part and with a second harder force for adjusting the position of the part. The actuation component is utilized in a substantially horizontal configuration and the effects of gravitational drop of the part are accounted for in the force applied and the timing of the contact.

Adjustment of gripping force by optical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jalba, C. K.; Barz, C.

2018-01-01

With increasing automation, robotics also requires ever more intelligent solutions in the handling of various tasks. In this context, many grippers must also be re-designed. For this, they must always be adapted for different requirements. The equipment of the gripper systems with sensors should help to make the gripping process more intelligent. In order to achieve such objectives, optical systems can also be used. This work analyzes how the gripping force can be adjusted by means of an optical recognition. The result of this work is the creation of a connection between optical recognition, tolerances, gripping force and real-time control. In this way, algorithms can be created, with the aid of which robot grippers as well as other gripping systems become more intelligent.

Patient-based radiographic exposure factor selection: a systematic review

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ching, William; Robinson, John; McEntee, Mark, E-mail: mark.mcentee@sydney.edu.au

Digital technology has wider exposure latitude and post-processing algorithms which can mask the evidence of underexposure and overexposure. Underexposure produces noisy, grainy images which can impede diagnosis and overexposure results in a greater radiation dose to the patient. These exposure errors can result from inaccurate adjustment of exposure factors in response to changes in patient thickness. This study aims to identify all published radiographic exposure adaptation systems which have been, or are being, used in general radiography and discuss their applicability to digital systems. Studies in EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and SCOPUS were systematically reviewed. Some of the search terms usedmore » were exposure adaptation, exposure selection, exposure technique, 25% rule, 15% rule, DuPont™ Bit System and radiography. A manual journal-specific search was also conducted in The Radiographer and Radiologic Technology. Studies were included if they demonstrated a system of altering exposure factors to compensate for variations in patients for general radiography. Studies were excluded if they focused on finding optimal exposures for an ‘average’ patient or focused on the relationship between exposure factors and dose. The database search uncovered 11 articles and the journal-specific search uncovered 13 articles discussing systems of exposure adaptation. They can be categorised as simple one-step guidelines, comprehensive charts and computer programs. Only two papers assessed the efficacy of exposure adjustment systems. No literature compares the efficacy of exposure adaptations system for film/screen radiography with digital radiography technology nor is there literature on a digital specific exposure adaptation system.« less

Morphology and function of the forelimb in arboreal frogs: specializations for grasping ability?

PubMed Central

Manzano, Adriana S; Abdala, Virginia; Herrel, Anthony

2008-01-01

Frogs are characterized by a unique morphology associated with their saltatory lifestyle. Although variation in the form and function of the pelvic girdle and associated appendicular system related to specialized locomotor modes such as swimming or burrowing has been documented, the forelimbs have typically been viewed as relatively unspecialized. Yet, previous authors have noted versatility in forelimb function among arboreal frogs associated with feeding. Here we study the morphology and function of the forelimb and hand during locomotion in two species of arboreal frogs (Litoria caerulea and Phyllomedusa bicolor). Our data show a complex arrangement of the distal forelimb and hand musculature with some notable differences between species. Analyses of high-speed video and video fluoroscopy recordings show that forelimbs are used in alternating fashion in a diagonal sequence footfall pattern and that the position of the hand is adjusted when walking on substrates of different diameters. Electromyographic recordings show that the flexors of the hand are active during substrate contact, suggesting the use of gripping to generate a stabilizing torque. Measurements of grasping forces in vivo and during stimulation experiments show that both species, are capable of executing a so-called power grip but also indicates marked differences between species, in the magnitude of forces generated. Stimulation experiments showed an increased control of digit flexion in the more specialized of the two species, allowing it to execute a precision grip paralleled only by that seen in primates. PMID:18565111

Morphology and function of the forelimb in arboreal frogs: specializations for grasping ability?

PubMed

Manzano, Adriana S; Abdala, Virginia; Herrel, Anthony

2008-09-01

Frogs are characterized by a unique morphology associated with their saltatory lifestyle. Although variation in the form and function of the pelvic girdle and associated appendicular system related to specialized locomotor modes such as swimming or burrowing has been documented, the forelimbs have typically been viewed as relatively unspecialized. Yet, previous authors have noted versatility in forelimb function among arboreal frogs associated with feeding. Here we study the morphology and function of the forelimb and hand during locomotion in two species of arboreal frogs (Litoria caerulea and Phyllomedusa bicolor). Our data show a complex arrangement of the distal forelimb and hand musculature with some notable differences between species. Analyses of high-speed video and video fluoroscopy recordings show that forelimbs are used in alternating fashion in a diagonal sequence footfall pattern and that the position of the hand is adjusted when walking on substrates of different diameters. Electromyographic recordings show that the flexors of the hand are active during substrate contact, suggesting the use of gripping to generate a stabilizing torque. Measurements of grasping forces in vivo and during stimulation experiments show that both species, are capable of executing a so-called power grip but also indicates marked differences between species, in the magnitude of forces generated. Stimulation experiments showed an increased control of digit flexion in the more specialized of the two species, allowing it to execute a precision grip paralleled only by that seen in primates.

78 FR 48469 - Notice of Determinations Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-08

... & Associates. MN. 82,784 The Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing/ Shawnee, KS June 5, 2012. KC, LLC, Call Center... Pawtucket, RI......... June 7, 2012. Division, Aquent, Atterro, dba Digital People, etc. 82,800 Osram...

Research of optical coherence tomography microscope based on CCD detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hua; Xu, Zhongbao; Zhang, Shuomo

2008-12-01

The reference wave phase was modulated with a sinusoidal vibrating mirror attached to a Piezoelectric Transducer (PZT), the integration was performed by a CCD, and the charge storage period of the CCD image sensor was one-quarter period of the sinusoidal phase modulation. With the frequency- synchronous detection technique, four images (four frames of interference pattern) were recorded during one period of the phase modulation. In order to obtain the optimum modulation parameter, the values of amplitude and phase of the sinusoidal phase modulation were determined by considering the measurement error caused by the additive noise contained in the detected values. The PZT oscillation was controlled by a closed loop control system based on PID controller. An ideal discrete digital sine function at 50Hz with adjustable amplitude was used to adjust the vibrating of PZT, and a digital phase shift techniques was used to adjust vibrating phase of PZT so that the phase of the modulation could reach their optimum values. The CCD detector was triggered with software at 200Hz. Based on work above a small coherent signal masked by the preponderant incoherent background with a CCD detector was obtained.

Similarities and Differences in Women's Sexual Assault Experiences Based on Tactics Used by the Perpetrator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abbey, Antonia; BeShears, Renee; Clinton-Sherrod, A. Monique; McAuslan, Pam

2004-01-01

Only a few studies have examined the characteristics of sexual assault based on the tactics used by the perpetrator. In this study we compared the experiences of women who were forced to engage in vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse due to verbal coercion, physical force, or intoxication. Random-digit dialing was used to obtain a sample of 272…

A computer-based servo system for controlling isotonic contractions of muscle.

PubMed

Smith, J P; Barsotti, R J

1993-11-01

We have developed a computer-based servo system for controlling isotonic releases in muscle. This system is a composite of commercially available devices: an IBM personal computer, an analog-to-digital (A/D) board, an Akers AE801 force transducer, and a Cambridge Technology motor. The servo loop controlling the force clamp is generated by computer via the A/D board, using a program written in QuickBASIC 4.5. Results are shown that illustrate the ability of the system to clamp the force generated by either skinned cardiac trabeculae or single rabbit psoas fibers down to the resolution of the force transducer within 4 ms. This rate is independent of the level of activation of the tissue and the size of the load imposed during the release. The key to the effectiveness of the system consists of two algorithms that are described in detail. The first is used to calculate the error signal to hold force to the desired level. The second algorithm is used to calculate the appropriate gain of the servo for a particular fiber and the size of the desired load to be imposed. The results show that the described computer-based method for controlling isotonic releases in muscle represents a good compromise between simplicity and performance and is an alternative to the custom-built digital/analog servo devices currently being used in studies of muscle mechanics.

Digital control system for space structure dampers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haviland, J. K.

1985-01-01

A digital controller was developed using an SKD-51 System Design Kit, which incorporates an 8031 microcontroller. The necessary interfaces were installed in the wire wrap area of the SKD-51 and a pulse width modulator was developed to drive the coil of the actuator. Also, control equations were developed, using floating-point arithmetic. The design of the digital control system is emphasized, and it is shown that, provided certain rules are followed, an adequate design can be achieved. It is recommended that the so-called w-plane design method be used, and that the time elapsed before output of the up-dated coil-force signal be kept as small as possible. However, the cycle time for the controller should be watched carefully, because very small values for this time can lead to digital noise.

In-line digital holography with phase-shifting Greek-ladder sieves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Jing; Zhang, Junyong; Zhang, Yanli; Zhou, Shenlei; Zhu, Jianqiang

2018-04-01

Phase shifting is the key technique in in-line digital holography, but traditional phase shifters have their own limitations in short wavelength regions. Here, phase-shifting Greek-ladder sieves with amplitude-only modulation are introduced into in-line digital holography, which are essentially a kind of diffraction lens with three-dimensional array diffraction-limited foci. In the in-line digital holographic experiment, we design two kinds of sieves by lithography and verify the validity of their phase-shifting function by measuring a 1951 U.S. Air Force resolution test target and three-dimensional array foci. With advantages of high resolving power, low cost, and no limitations at shorter wavelengths, phase-shifting Greek-ladder sieves have great potential in X-ray holography or biochemical microscopy for the next generation of synchrotron light sources.

Building a Digital Library from the Ground Up: an Examination of Emergent Information Resources in the Machine Learning Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cunningham, Sally Jo

The current crop of digital libraries for the computing community are strongly grounded in the conventional library paradigm: they provide indexes to support searching of collections of research papers. As such, these digital libraries are relatively impoverished; the present computing digital libraries omit many of the documents and resources that are currently available to computing researchers, and offer few browsing structures. These computing digital libraries were built 'top down': the resources and collection contents are forced to fit an existing digital library architecture. A 'bottom up' approach to digital library development would begin with an investigation of a community's information needs and available documents, and then design a library to organize those documents in such a way as to fulfill the community's needs. The 'home grown', informal information resources developed by and for the machine learning community are examined as a case study, to determine the types of information and document organizations 'native' to this group of researchers. The insights gained in this type of case study can be used to inform construction of a digital library tailored to this community.

P wave analysis indices in young healthy men: data from the digital electrocardiographic study in Hellenic Air Force Servicemen (DEHAS).

PubMed

Gialafos, Elias J; Dilaveris, Polychronis E; Synetos, Andreas G; Tsolakidis, George F; Papaioannou, Theodoros G; Andrikopoulos, George K; Richter, Dimitris J; Triposkiadis, Filippos; Gialafos, John E

2003-01-01

P wave analysis from the 12-lead ECG is a recent contribution of noninvasive electrocardiology. P wave analysis indices (maximum and minimum P wave duration, P wave dispersion [Pdis = Pmax-Pmin], adjusted P wave dispersion [APdis = Pdis/square root of measured leads], summated P wave duration [Psum], standard deviation of P wave duration [Psd], mean P wave duration [Pmean]) can predict atrial arrhythmias. However, the definitions of all these indices are based on few studies. The aim of this analysis was to define normal values of these indices and the examine possible associations between P wave indices and clinical variables. The study included 1,353 healthy men, 24 +/- 3 years of age, who answered a questionnaire and underwent a detailed physical examination and a digitized 12-lead surface ECG. All P wave indices were analyzed by two independent investigators. Mean values of the ECG indices were: Pmax: 96 +/- 11 ms, Pmin: 57 +/- 9 ms, Pdis: 38 +/- 10 ms, Psum: 924 +/- 96 ms, Psd: 12 +/- 3, APdis: 11 +/- 3 ms, and Pmean: 77 +/- 8 ms. Age was significantly related with Pmax (r = 0.277, P < 0.01), Pmin (r = 0.255, P < 0.001), Psum (r = 0.074, P < 0.01), and Pmean (r = 0.074, P < 0.01). All ECG indices were significantly associated with the R-R interval, and among each other. This study defined normal indices of wave duration and correlations among them. These markers may play an important predictive role in patients with atrial conduction abnormalities.

Digital Camera with Apparatus for Authentication of Images Produced from an Image File

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Friedman, Gary L. (Inventor)

1996-01-01

A digital camera equipped with a processor for authentication of images produced from an image file taken by the digital camera is provided. The digital camera processor has embedded therein a private key unique to it, and the camera housing has a public key that is so uniquely related to the private key that digital data encrypted with the private key may be decrypted using the public key. The digital camera processor comprises means for calculating a hash of the image file using a predetermined algorithm, and second means for encrypting the image hash with the private key, thereby producing a digital signature. The image file and the digital signature are stored in suitable recording means so they will be available together. Apparatus for authenticating the image file as being free of any alteration uses the public key for decrypting the digital signature, thereby deriving a secure image hash identical to the image hash produced by the digital camera and used to produce the digital signature. The authenticating apparatus calculates from the image file an image hash using the same algorithm as before. By comparing this last image hash with the secure image hash, authenticity of the image file is determined if they match. Other techniques to address time-honored methods of deception, such as attaching false captions or inducing forced perspectives, are included.

Cost Analysis of a Digital Health Care Model in Sweden.

PubMed

Ekman, Björn

2017-09-22

Digital technologies in health care are expected to increase in scope and to affect ever more parts of the health care system. It is important to enhance the knowledge of whether new digital methods and innovations provide value for money compared with traditional models of care. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether a digital health care model for primary care is a less costly alternative compared with traditional in-office primary care in Sweden. Cost data for the two care models were collected and analyzed to obtain a measure in local currency per care contact. The comparison showed that the total economic cost of a digital consultation is 1960 Swedish krona (SEK) (SEK100 = US$11.29; February 2017) compared with SEK3348 for a traditional consultation at a health care clinic. Cost differences arose on both the provider side and on the user side. The digital health care model may be a less costly alternative to the traditional health care model. Depending on the rate of digital substitution, gross economic cost savings of between SEK1 billion and SEK10 billion per year could be realized if more digital consultations were made. Further studies are needed to validate the findings, assess the types of care most suitable for digital care, and also to obtain various quality-adjusted outcome measures.

Does shortwave absorption by methane influence its effectiveness?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Modak, Angshuman; Bala, Govindasamy; Caldeira, Ken; Cao, Long

2018-01-01

In this study, using idealized step-forcing simulations, we examine the effective radiative forcing of CH4 relative to that of CO2 and compare the effects of CH4 and CO2 forcing on the climate system. A tenfold increase in CH4 concentration in the NCAR CAM5 climate model produces similar long term global mean surface warming ( 1.7 K) as a one-third increase in CO2 concentration. However, the radiative forcing estimated for CO2 using the prescribed-SST method is 81% that of CH4, indicating that the efficacy of CH4 forcing is 0.81. This estimate is nearly unchanged when the CO2 physiological effect is included in our simulations. Further, for the same long-term global mean surface warming, we simulate a smaller precipitation increase in the CH4 case compared to the CO2 case. This is because of the fast adjustment processes—precipitation reduction in the CH4 case is larger than that of the CO2 case. This is associated with a relatively more stable atmosphere and larger atmospheric radiative forcing in the CH4 case which occurs because of near-infrared absorption by CH4 in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Within a month after an increase in CH4, this shortwave heating results in a temperature increase of 0.8 K in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. In contrast, within a month after a CO2 increase, longwave cooling results in a temperature decrease of 3 K in the stratosphere and a small change in the upper troposphere. These fast adjustments in the lower stratospheric and upper tropospheric temperature, along with the adjustments in clouds in the troposphere, influence the effective radiative forcing and the fast precipitation response. These differences in fast climate adjustments also produce differences in the climate states from which the slow response begins to evolve and hence they are likely associated with differing feedbacks. We also find that the tropics and subtropics are relatively warmer in the CH4 case for the same global mean surface warming because of a larger longwave clear-sky and shortwave cloud forcing over these regions in the CH4 case. Further investigation using a multi-model intercomparison framework would permit an assessment of the robustness of our results.

Digital EPR with an arbitrary waveform generator and direct detection at the carrier frequency

PubMed Central

Tseitlin, Mark; Quine, Richard W.; Rinard, George A.; Eaton, Sandra S.; Eaton, Gareth R.

2011-01-01

A digital EPR spectrometer was constructed by replacing the traditional bridge with an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) to produce excitation patterns and a high-speed digitizer for direct detection of the spin system response at the carrier frequency. Digital down-conversion produced baseband signals in quadrature with very precise orthogonality. Real-time resonator tuning was performed by monitoring the Fourier transforms of signals reflected from the resonator during frequency sweeps generated by the AWG. The capabilities of the system were demonstrated by rapid magnetic field scans at 256 MHz carrier frequency, and FID and spin echo experiments at 1 and 10 GHz carrier frequencies. For the rapid scan experiments the leakage through a cross-loop resonator was compensated by adjusting the amplitude and phase of a sinusoid at the carrier frequency that was generated with another AWG channel. PMID:21968420

A 45 ps time digitizer with a two-phase clock and dual-edge two-stage interpolation in a field programmable gate array device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szplet, R.; Kalisz, J.; Jachna, Z.

2009-02-01

We present a time digitizer having 45 ps resolution, integrated in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device. The time interval measurement is based on the two-stage interpolation method. A dual-edge two-phase interpolator is driven by the on-chip synthesized 250 MHz clock with precise phase adjustment. An improved dual-edge double synchronizer was developed to control the main counter. The nonlinearity of the digitizer's transfer characteristic is identified and utilized by the dedicated hardware code processor for the on-the-fly correction of the output data. Application of presented ideas has resulted in the measurement uncertainty of the digitizer below 70 ps RMS over the time interval ranging from 0 to 1 s. The use of the two-stage interpolation and a fast FIFO memory has allowed us to obtain the maximum measurement rate of five million measurements per second.

Word recognition materials for native speakers of Taiwan Mandarin.

PubMed

Nissen, Shawn L; Harris, Richard W; Dukes, Alycia

2008-06-01

To select, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate word recognition materials that can be used to measure the speech perception abilities of native speakers of Taiwan Mandarin in quiet. Frequently used bisyllabic words produced by male and female talkers of Taiwan Mandarin were digitally recorded and subsequently evaluated using 20 native listeners with normal hearing at 10 intensity levels (-5 to 40 dB HL) in increments of 5 dB. Using logistic regression, 200 words with the steepest psychometric slopes were divided into 4 lists and 8 half-lists that were relatively equivalent in psychometric function slope. To increase auditory homogeneity of the lists, the intensity of words in each list was digitally adjusted so that the threshold of each list was equal to the midpoint between the mean thresholds of the male and female half-lists. Digital recordings of the word recognition lists and the associated clinical instructions are available on CD upon request.

The inertial power and inertial force of robotic and natural bat wing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Dongfu; Zhang, Zhisheng

2016-03-01

Based on the acquired length and angle data of bat skeletons, a four-degree freedom robotic bat wing and an identical computational model with flap, sweep, elbow and wrist motions were presented. By considering the digits motions, a biomimetic bat skeleton model with seven-degree freedom was established as well. The effects of frequency, amplitude and downstroke ratio, as well as the components of inertial power and force on different directions, were studied. The experimental and computational results indicated that the inertial power and force accounted for the largest part on flap direction, the wing fold during upstroke could reduce the inertial power and force.

Assessment of simulated aerosol effective radiative forcings in the terrestrial spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heyn, Irene; Block, Karoline; Mülmenstädt, Johannes; Gryspeerdt, Edward; Kühne, Philipp; Salzmann, Marc; Quaas, Johannes

2017-01-01

In its fifth assessment report (AR5), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides a best estimate of the effective radiative forcing (ERF) due to anthropogenic aerosol at -0.9 W m-2. This value is considerably weaker than the estimate of -1.2 W m-2 in AR4. A part of the difference can be explained by an offset of +0.2 W m-2 which AR5 added to all published estimates that only considered the solar spectrum, in order to account for adjustments in the terrestrial spectrum. We find that, in the CMIP5 multimodel median, the ERF in the terrestrial spectrum is small, unless microphysical effects on ice- and mixed-phase clouds are parameterized. In the latter case it is large but accompanied by a very strong ERF in the solar spectrum. The total adjustments can be separated into microphysical adjustments (aerosol "effects") and thermodynamic adjustments. Using a kernel technique, we quantify the latter and find that the rapid thermodynamic adjustments of water vapor and temperature profiles are small. Observation-based constraints on these model results are urgently needed.

Adaptive frequency-domain equalization in digital coherent optical receivers.

PubMed

Faruk, Md Saifuddin; Kikuchi, Kazuro

2011-06-20

We propose a novel frequency-domain adaptive equalizer in digital coherent optical receivers, which can reduce computational complexity of the conventional time-domain adaptive equalizer based on finite-impulse-response (FIR) filters. The proposed equalizer can operate on the input sequence sampled by free-running analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) at the rate of two samples per symbol; therefore, the arbitrary initial sampling phase of ADCs can be adjusted so that the best symbol-spaced sequence is produced. The equalizer can also be configured in the butterfly structure, which enables demultiplexing of polarization tributaries apart from equalization of linear transmission impairments. The performance of the proposed equalization scheme is verified by 40-Gbits/s dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) transmission experiments.

Confocal Retinal Imaging Using a Digital Light Projector with a Near Infrared VCSEL Source

PubMed Central

Muller, Matthew S.; Elsner, Ann E.

2018-01-01

A custom near infrared VCSEL source has been implemented in a confocal non-mydriatic retinal camera, the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO). The use of near infrared light improves patient comfort, avoids pupil constriction, penetrates the deeper retina, and does not mask visual stimuli. The DLO performs confocal imaging by synchronizing a sequence of lines displayed with a digital micromirror device to the rolling shutter exposure of a 2D CMOS camera. Real-time software adjustments enable multiply scattered light imaging, which rapidly and cost-effectively emphasizes drusen and other scattering disruptions in the deeper retina. A separate 5.1″ LCD display provides customizable visible stimuli for vision experiments with simultaneous near infrared imaging. PMID:29899586

76 FR 10400 - Investigations Regarding Certifications of Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-24

.../03/11 (Workers). 75168 Hearth & Home Technologies Colville, WA 02/02/11 01/28/11 (Workers). 75169... Digital Networking, LLC Denver, CO 02/04/11 02/03/11 (Company). 75178 Simpson Door Company (State...

Digital frequency-offset detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bogart, R. W.; Juengst, M. J.

1977-01-01

Simple, low-cost device with designer-selectable tolerances provides accurate frequency comparison with minimal circuitry and ease of adjustment. Warning alerts if frequencies being compared fall outside selected tolerance. Device can be applied to any electronic system where accurate timing or frequency control is important.

Feasibility of using a personal digital assistant to self-monitor diet and fluid intake: a pilot study.

PubMed

Welch, Janet; Dowell, Shannon; Johnson, Cynthia S

2007-01-01

The feasibility of using an electronic device to self-monitor diet and fluid intake was assessed using the treatment implementation model. The three patients on hemodialysis who participated in this pilot study were asked to self-monitor diet and fluid intake for 12 weeks with a personal digital assistant. The intervention was delivered as intended; however, participants reported problems with usability, and compliance to self-monitoring was lower than desirable. Further adjustments to the intervention will be made before testing efficacy.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Jinyuan

A digitization scheme of sub-microampere current using a commercial comparator with adjustable hysteresis and FPGA-based Wave Union TDC has been tested. The comparator plus a few passive components forms a current controlled oscillator and the input current is sent into the hysteresis control pin. The input current is converted into the transition times of the oscillations, which are digitized with a Wave Union TDC in FPGA and the variation of the transition times reflects the variation of the input current. Preliminary tests show that input charges < 25 fC can be measured at > 50 M samples/s without a preamplifier.

The Digital Twin Paradigm for Future NASA and U.S. Air Force Vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glaessgen, Edward H.; Stargel, D. S.

2012-01-01

Future generations of NASA and U.S. Air Force vehicles will require lighter mass while being subjected to higher loads and more extreme service conditions over longer time periods than the present generation. Current approaches for certification, fleet management and sustainment are largely based on statistical distributions of material properties, heuristic design philosophies, physical testing and assumed similitude between testing and operational conditions and will likely be unable to address these extreme requirements. To address the shortcomings of conventional approaches, a fundamental paradigm shift is needed. This paradigm shift, the Digital Twin, integrates ultra-high fidelity simulation with the vehicle s on-board integrated vehicle health management system, maintenance history and all available historical and fleet data to mirror the life of its flying twin and enable unprecedented levels of safety and reliability.

The brightness of lights on Earth at night, digitally recorded by DMSP satellite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Croft, Thomas A.

1979-01-01

The U.S. Air Force has operated its Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) for nearly a decade, and film images from the system have been openly available since 1973. Films are well suited for the study of weather, and users of such films have derived much useful data. For many potential remote sensing applications, however, a quantitative measurement of the brightness of the imaged light patterns is needed, and it cannot be extracted with adequte accuracy from the films. Such information is contained in the telemetry from the spacecraft and is retained on digital tapes, which store the images for a few days while they await filming. For practical reasons, it has not heretofore been feasible for the Air Force to provide a remote-sensing user with these digital data, and the quantitative brightness information has been lost with the erasure of tapes for re-use. For the purpose of evaluation of tapes as a means for remote sensing, the Air Force recently did provide to the author six examples containing records of nighttime DMSP imagery similar to that which has previously 1 been evaluated by SRI International in a film format. The digital data create many new applications for these images, owing to a combination of several factors, the most important of which are the preservation of photometric information and of full spatial resolution. In this evaluation, stress has been placed upon determination of the broad potential value of the data rather than the full exploitation of any one aspect of it. The effort was guided by an objective to develop handling methods for the vast body of numbers--methods which will be practical for use in a research or engineering environment where budgets are limited, and specialized capabilities and image reproduction equipment has not already been developed. We report the degree of success obtained in this effort, pointing out the relative strengths and the relative limitations, as compared to the sophisticated, weather-oriented data processing which is well suited for the Air Force requirements. Both geometric and photometric calibration methods are evaluated. An image can be considered as a 3-dimensional array, X, Y, Z, in which X and Y are the coordinates of a picture element (pixel) and Z is the brightness at that location. A method of approach to handling these parameters, particularly Y and Z, is developed in a form quite different from that which serves the operational applications. The user of digital data will need the film images which are generated by the Air Force from the same data as is provided on digital tape. In the first stages of analysis, the films provide both a convenient index and a guide to identification of large patterns in the data. Additionally, the infrared (8 to 13 0 film provides a valuable indicator of cloud cover. Two general conclusions are drawn from this study. Firstly, the digital DMSP data have great potential value but their cost, in terms of the interruption of the present operational routine, is quite high. Therefore, if a program is undertaken to provide for the open availability of an archive of digital records, great care must be exercised in selecting only those records which have unusually high value in order that the effort will be cost-effective. Secondly, it is concluded that several aspects of the program, well designed for Air Force operational purposes, are not adapted to earth-sensing needs. This is probably inevitable, since the two applications are largely different and in some ways incompatible. For example, the nighttime visual sensor saturates in the center of major cities and in moderately large fires (such as gas flares). This saturation prevents the analyst from integrating photometric parameters. For weather observation, this inability is unimportant, and acceptance of such saturation makes feasible a decrease in the data rate. Such limitations in the data will probably be overcome only through modifying the existing system or the implementation of a similar system designed specifically to serve earth-sensing needs.

Influence of central set on anticipatory and triggered grip-force adjustments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winstein, C. J.; Horak, F. B.; Fisher, B. E.; Peterson, B. W. (Principal Investigator)

2000-01-01

The effects of predictability of load magnitude on anticipatory and triggered grip-force adjustments were studied as nine normal subjects used a precision grip to lift, hold, and replace an instrumented test object. Experience with a predictable stimulus has been shown to enhance magnitude scaling of triggered postural responses to different amplitudes of perturbations. However, this phenomenon, known as a central-set effect, has not been tested systematically for grip-force responses in the hand. In our study, predictability was manipulated by applying load perturbations of different magnitudes to the test object under conditions in which the upcoming load magnitude was presented repeatedly or under conditions in which the load magnitudes were presented randomly, each with two different pre-load grip conditions (unconstrained and constrained). In constrained conditions, initial grip forces were maintained near the minimum level necessary to prevent pre-loaded object slippage, while in unconstrained conditions, no initial grip force restrictions were imposed. The effect of predictable (blocked) and unpredictable (random) load presentations on scaling of anticipatory and triggered grip responses was tested by comparing the slopes of linear regressions between the imposed load and grip response magnitude. Anticipatory and triggered grip force responses were scaled to load magnitude in all conditions. However, regardless of pre-load grip force constraint, the gains (slopes) of grip responses relative to load magnitudes were greater when the magnitude of the upcoming load was predictable than when the load increase was unpredictable. In addition, a central-set effect was evidenced by the fewer number of drop trials in the predictable relative to unpredictable load conditions. Pre-load grip forces showed the greatest set effects. However, grip responses showed larger set effects, based on prediction, when pre-load grip force was constrained to lower levels. These results suggest that anticipatory processes pertaining to load magnitude permit the response gain of both voluntary and triggered rapid grip force adjustments to be set, at least partially, prior to perturbation onset. Comparison of anticipatory set effects for reactive torque and lower extremity EMG postural responses triggered by surface translation perturbations suggests a more general rule governing anticipatory processes.

Magnetic levitation-based Martian and Lunar gravity simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Valles, J. M. Jr; Maris, H. J.; Seidel, G. M.; Tang, J.; Yao, W.

2005-01-01

Missions to Mars will subject living specimens to a range of low gravity environments. Deleterious biological effects of prolonged exposure to Martian gravity (0.38 g), Lunar gravity (0.17 g), and microgravity are expected, but the mechanisms involved and potential for remedies are unknown. We are proposing the development of a facility that provides a simulated Martian and Lunar gravity environment for experiments on biological systems in a well controlled laboratory setting. The magnetic adjustable gravity simulator will employ intense, inhomogeneous magnetic fields to exert magnetic body forces on a specimen that oppose the body force of gravity. By adjusting the magnetic field, it is possible to continuously adjust the total body force acting on a specimen. The simulator system considered consists of a superconducting solenoid with a room temperature bore sufficiently large to accommodate small whole organisms, cell cultures, and gravity sensitive bio-molecular solutions. It will have good optical access so that the organisms can be viewed in situ. This facility will be valuable for experimental observations and public demonstrations of systems in simulated reduced gravity. c2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.

Magnetic levitation-based Martian and Lunar gravity simulator.

PubMed

Valles, J M; Maris, H J; Seidel, G M; Tang, J; Yao, W

2005-01-01

Missions to Mars will subject living specimens to a range of low gravity environments. Deleterious biological effects of prolonged exposure to Martian gravity (0.38 g), Lunar gravity (0.17 g), and microgravity are expected, but the mechanisms involved and potential for remedies are unknown. We are proposing the development of a facility that provides a simulated Martian and Lunar gravity environment for experiments on biological systems in a well controlled laboratory setting. The magnetic adjustable gravity simulator will employ intense, inhomogeneous magnetic fields to exert magnetic body forces on a specimen that oppose the body force of gravity. By adjusting the magnetic field, it is possible to continuously adjust the total body force acting on a specimen. The simulator system considered consists of a superconducting solenoid with a room temperature bore sufficiently large to accommodate small whole organisms, cell cultures, and gravity sensitive bio-molecular solutions. It will have good optical access so that the organisms can be viewed in situ. This facility will be valuable for experimental observations and public demonstrations of systems in simulated reduced gravity. c2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of COSPAR.

Design and Calibration of an RF Actuator for Low-Level RF Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Zheqiao; Hong, Bo

2016-02-01

X-ray free electron laser (FEL) machines like the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at SLAC require high-quality electron beams to generate X-ray lasers for various experiments. Digital low-level RF (LLRF) systems are widely used to control the high-power RF klystrons to provide a highly stable RF field in accelerator structures for beam acceleration. Feedback and feedforward controllers are implemented in LLRF systems to stabilize or adjust the phase and amplitude of the RF field. To achieve the RF stability and the accuracy of the phase and amplitude adjustment, low-noise and highly linear RF actuators are required. Aiming for the upgrade of the S-band Linac at SLAC, an RF actuator is designed with an I/Qmodulator driven by two digital-to-analog converters (DAC) for the digital LLRF systems. A direct upconversion scheme is selected for RF actuation, and an on-line calibration algorithm is developed to compensate the RF reference leakage and the imbalance errors in the I/Q modulator, which may cause significant phase and amplitude actuation errors. This paper presents the requirements on the RF actuator, the design of the hardware, the calibration algorithm, and the implementation in firmware and software and the test results at LCLS.

Color reproduction software for a digital still camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Bong S.; Park, Du-Sik; Nam, Byung D.

1998-04-01

We have developed a color reproduction software for a digital still camera. The image taken by the camera was colorimetrically reproduced on the monitor after characterizing the camera and the monitor, and color matching between two devices. The reproduction was performed at three levels; level processing, gamma correction, and color transformation. The image contrast was increased after the level processing adjusting the level of dark and bright portions of the image. The relationship between the level processed digital values and the measured luminance values of test gray samples was calculated, and the gamma of the camera was obtained. The method for getting the unknown monitor gamma was proposed. As a result, the level processed values were adjusted by the look-up table created by the camera and the monitor gamma correction. For a color transformation matrix for the camera, 3 by 3 or 3 by 4 matrix was used, which was calculated by the regression between the gamma corrected values and the measured tristimulus values of each test color samples the various reproduced images were displayed on the dialogue box implemented in our software, which were generated according to four illuminations for the camera and three color temperatures for the monitor. An user can easily choose he best reproduced image comparing each others.

Force Control Characteristics for Generation and Relaxation in the Lower Limb.

PubMed

Ohtaka, Chiaki; Fujiwara, Motoko

2018-05-29

We investigated the characteristics for force generation and relaxation using graded isometric contractions of the knee extensors. Participants performed the following tasks as quickly and accurately as possible. For the force generation task, force was increased from 0% to 20%, 40% and 60% of the maximal voluntary force (MVF). For the force relaxation task, force was decreased from 60% to 40%, 20% and 0%. The following parameters of the recorded force were calculated: error, time, and rate of force development. The error was consistently greater for force relaxation than generation. Reaction and adjustment times were independent of the tasks. The control strategy was markedly different for force relaxation and generation, this tendency was particularly evident for the lower limb compared to the upper limb.

An automated two-dimensional optical force clamp for single molecule studies.

PubMed Central

Lang, Matthew J; Asbury, Charles L; Shaevitz, Joshua W; Block, Steven M

2002-01-01

We constructed a next-generation optical trapping instrument to study the motility of single motor proteins, such as kinesin moving along a microtubule. The instrument can be operated as a two-dimensional force clamp, applying loads of fixed magnitude and direction to motor-coated microscopic beads moving in vitro. Flexibility and automation in experimental design are achieved by computer control of both the trap position, via acousto-optic deflectors, and the sample position, using a three-dimensional piezo stage. Each measurement is preceded by an initialization sequence, which includes adjustment of bead height relative to the coverslip using a variant of optical force microscopy (to +/-4 nm), a two-dimensional raster scan to calibrate position detector response, and adjustment of bead lateral position relative to the microtubule substrate (to +/-3 nm). During motor-driven movement, both the trap and stage are moved dynamically to apply constant force while keeping the trapped bead within the calibrated range of the detector. We present details of force clamp operation and preliminary data showing kinesin motor movement subject to diagonal and forward loads. PMID:12080136

Kriging modeling and SPSA adjusting PID with KPWF compensator control of IPMC gripper for mm-sized objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yang; Hao, Lina; Yang, Hui; Gao, Jinhai

2017-12-01

Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) as a new smart material has been widely concerned in the micromanipulation field. In this paper, a novel two-finger gripper which contains an IPMC actuator and an ultrasensitive force sensor is proposed and fabricated. The IPMC as one finger of the gripper for mm-sized objects can achieve gripping and releasing motion, and the other finger works not only as a support finger but also as a force sensor. Because of the feedback signal of the force sensor, this integrated actuating and sensing gripper can complete gripping miniature objects in millimeter scale. The Kriging model is used to describe nonlinear characteristics of the IPMC for the first time, and then the control scheme called simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation adjusting a proportion integration differentiation parameter controller with a Kriging predictor wavelet filter compensator is applied to track the gripping force of the gripper. The high precision force tracking in the foam ball manipulation process is obtained on a semi-physical experimental platform, which demonstrates that this gripper for mm-sized objects can work well in manipulation applications.

Clinically-evident tophi are associated with reduced muscle force in the foot and ankle in people with gout: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Stewart, Sarah; Dalbeth, Nicola; Otter, Simon; Gow, Peter; Kumar, Sunil; Rome, Keith

2017-01-01

The foot and ankle represent a common site for tophi in people with gout, yet it is unclear whether the presence of tophi is related to impaired muscle function. This study aimed to determine the association between foot and ankle tophi and muscle force in people with gout. Participants with gout were stratified into two groups based on the presence of clinically-evident tophi affecting the foot or ankle on physical examination. Isometric muscle force for plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion was measured using static dynamometry. Mixed-models regression was used to determine the difference in muscle force between the two groups while adjusting for age, disease duration and foot pain. This model was also used to determine the difference in muscle force between presence and absence of tophi at specific locations within the foot and ankle. In addition, Pearson's correlations were used to determine the association between total foot tophus count and muscle force. Fifty-seven participants were included (22 with foot or ankle tophi and 35 without foot or ankle tophi). Foot and ankle tophi were most often seen at the Achilles tendon. After adjusting for age, disease duration and foot pain, participants with tophi had significantly reduced muscle force during plantarflexion ( P  < 0.001), dorsiflexion ( P  = 0.003), inversion ( P  = 0.003) and eversion ( P  = 0.001) when compared to participants without tophi. Those with Achilles tophi had significantly reduced force during plantarflexion ( P  < 0.001), inversion ( P  = 0.008) and eversion ( P  = 0.001). No significant differences in muscle force were observed between the presence and absence of tophi at other foot or ankle locations. There were also no significant correlations between total foot tophus count and muscle force (all P  > 0.05). In people with gout, clinically-evident foot or ankle tophi are associated with muscle force deficits during foot plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion, which persist despite adjusting for age, disease duration and foot pain. Tophi at the Achilles tendon, which associate with force deficits, may contribute to reduced muscular activation and consequent disuse muscle atrophy.

Digital Earth for Earth Sciences and Public Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foresman, T. W.

2006-12-01

Buckminster Fuller was an early advocate for better comprehension of the planet and its resources related to human affairs. A comprehensive vision was articulated by a US Vice President and quickly adopted by the world's oldest country China.. Digital Earth brings fresh perspective on the current state of affairs and connects citizens with scientists through the applications of 3D visualization, spinning globes, virtual Earths, and the current collaboration with Virtual Globes. The prowess of Digital Earth technology has been so successful in both understanding and communicating the more challenging topics for global change and climate change phenomena that China has assigned it priority status with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. New Zealand has recently begun to adjust its national strategies for sustainability with the technologies of Digital Earth. A comprehensive coverage of the results compiled over the past seven years is presented to place a foundation for the science and engineering community to prepare to align with this compelling science enterprise as a fundamental new paradigm for the registration, storage, and access of science data and information through the emerging Digital Earth Exchange under protocols developed for the Digital Earth Reference Model.

Digital adaptive optics line-scanning confocal imaging system.

PubMed

Liu, Changgeng; Kim, Myung K

2015-01-01

A digital adaptive optics line-scanning confocal imaging (DAOLCI) system is proposed by applying digital holographic adaptive optics to a digital form of line-scanning confocal imaging system. In DAOLCI, each line scan is recorded by a digital hologram, which allows access to the complex optical field from one slice of the sample through digital holography. This complex optical field contains both the information of one slice of the sample and the optical aberration of the system, thus allowing us to compensate for the effect of the optical aberration, which can be sensed by a complex guide star hologram. After numerical aberration compensation, the corrected optical fields of a sequence of line scans are stitched into the final corrected confocal image. In DAOLCI, a numerical slit is applied to realize the confocality at the sensor end. The width of this slit can be adjusted to control the image contrast and speckle noise for scattering samples. DAOLCI dispenses with the hardware pieces, such as Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor and deformable mirror, and the closed-loop feedbacks adopted in the conventional adaptive optics confocal imaging system, thus reducing the optomechanical complexity and cost. Numerical simulations and proof-of-principle experiments are presented that demonstrate the feasibility of this idea.

Beyond Moore's Law: Harnessing spatial-digital disruptive technologies for Digital Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foresman, Timothy W.

2016-11-01

Moore's law will reach its plateau by 2020. Big data, however, will continue to increase as the Internet of Things and social media converge into the new era of ‘huge data’. Disruptive technologies, including big data and cloud computing are forces impacting business and government communities. The truth of our collective future is suggested to align with the Digital Earth (DE) vision. Benefits of technological advances will be manifested from business performance improvements based on capitalizing the locational attributes of corporate and government assets - the foundation of big data. Better governance and better business represents a key foundation for sustainability and therefore should be explicit DE guiding principles.

[Ten years retrospective review of the application of digital medical technology in general surgery in China].

PubMed

Fang, C H; Lau, Y Y; Zhou, W P; Cai, W

2017-12-01

Digital medical technology is a powerful tool which has forcefully promoted the development of general surgery in China. In this article, we reviews the application status of three-dimensional visualization and three-dimensional printing technology in general surgery, introduces the development situation of surgical navigation guided by optical and electromagnetic technology and preliminary attempt to combined with mixed reality applied to complicated hepatectomy, looks ahead the development direction of digital medicine in the era of artificial intelligence and big data on behalf of surgical robot and radiomics. Surgeons should proactively master these advanced techniques and accelerate the innovative development of general surgery in China.

[Utility of digital thoracotomy in chest trauma].

PubMed

Vélez, Sebastián E; Sarquis, Guillermo

2006-01-01

toracostomy in thoracic trauma is a good opportunity for the digital exploration of pleural cavity. To evaluate the utility of digital exploration during chest tube insertion in thoracic trauma. Hospital de Urgencias. Córdoba. patients with blunt and penetrating chest trauma by stab wound, who need chest tube insertion and treated by only one surgeon, were evaluated from July 10 to December 31st 2000. Previously to the thoracostomy with 24 french tube in 5th intercostal space, at the affected side, a digital exploration of pleural cavity was done, attempting to find intrathoracic injuries. in a six months period, 36 thoracostomy tubes were placed, due thoracic trauma (11 blunt trauma and 25 penetrating, by stab wound). Three patients had positive findings in the digital exploration, which forced to do another diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. digital thoracotomy is not considered a formal procedure, but as a part of a technique, in which, the previous exploration with the finger before chest tube insertion, allows to reach a diagnosis of the pleural space situation, to confirm suspicions, to modify a conduct, and to avoid greater morbidity to patients.

Serial position effects in the identification of letters, digits, and symbols.

PubMed

Tydgat, Ilse; Grainger, Jonathan

2009-04-01

In 6 experiments, the authors investigated the form of serial position functions for identification of letters, digits, and symbols presented in strings. The results replicated findings obtained with the target search paradigm, showing an interaction between the effects of serial position and type of stimulus, with symbols generating a distinct serial position function compared with letters and digits. When the task was 2-alternative forced choice, this interaction was driven almost exclusively by performance at the first position in the string, with letters and digits showing much higher levels of accuracy than symbols at this position. A final-position advantage was reinstated in Experiment 6 by placing the two alternative responses below the target string. The end-position (first and last positions) advantage for letters and digits compared with symbol stimuli was further confirmed with the bar-probe technique (postcued partial report) in Experiments 5 and 6. Overall, the results further support the existence of a specialized mechanism designed to optimize processing of strings of letters and digits by modifying the size and shape of retinotopic character detectors' receptive fields. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Design and implementation of a compliant robot with force feedback and strategy planning software

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Premack, T.; Strempek, F. M.; Solis, L. A.; Brodd, S. S.; Cutler, E. P.; Purves, L. R.

1984-01-01

Force-feedback robotics techniques are being developed for automated precision assembly and servicing of NASA space flight equipment. Design and implementation of a prototype robot which provides compliance and monitors forces is in progress. Computer software to specify assembly steps and makes force feedback adjustments during assembly are coded and tested for three generically different precision mating problems. A model program demonstrates that a suitably autonomous robot can plan its own strategy.

The calculation of average error probability in a digital fibre optical communication system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rugemalira, R. A. M.

1980-03-01

This paper deals with the problem of determining the average error probability in a digital fibre optical communication system, in the presence of message dependent inhomogeneous non-stationary shot noise, additive Gaussian noise and intersymbol interference. A zero-forcing equalization receiver filter is considered. Three techniques for error rate evaluation are compared. The Chernoff bound and the Gram-Charlier series expansion methods are compared to the characteristic function technique. The latter predicts a higher receiver sensitivity

29. VIEW OF 1959 KOLLMORGEN BUNKER PERISCOPE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

29. VIEW OF 1959 KOLLMORGEN BUNKER PERISCOPE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST CORNER OF SLC-3W CONTROL ROOM. NOTE SCHRADER VALVE ABOVE HANDLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF PERISCOPE. MONITOR LABELED '1-FLAMEBUCKET' IN BACKGROUND TO LEFT OF PERISCOPE. DIGITAL COUNTDOWN AND HOLD CLOCKS IMMEDIATELY ABOVE MONITOR. ANOTHER DIGITAL COUNTDOWN CLOCK AND THE MILITARY TIME CLOCK ON NORTH WALL BENEATH THE MONITOR. - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Operations Building, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

Digital pressure transducer for use at high temperatures

DOEpatents

Karplus, Henry H. B.

1981-01-01

A digital pressure sensor for measuring fluid pressures at relatively high temperatures includes an electrically conducting fiber coupled to the fluid by a force disc that causes tension in the fiber to be a function of fluid pressure. The tension causes changes in the mechanical resonant frequency of the fiber, which is caused to vibrate in a magnetic field to produce an electrical signal from a positive-feedback amplifier at the resonant frequency. A count of this frequency provides a measure of the fluid pressure.

Digital pressure transducer for use at high temperatures

DOEpatents

Karplus, H.H.B.

A digital pressure sensor for measuring fluid pressures at relatively high temperatures includes an electrically conducting fiber coupled to the fluid by a force disc that causes tension in the fiber to be a function of fluid pressure. The tension causes changes in the mechanical resonant frequency of the fiber, which is caused to vibrate in a magnetic field to produce an electrical signal from a positive-feedback amplifier at the resonant frequency. A count of this frequency provides a measure of the fluid pressure.

The Motor and the Brake of the Trailing Leg in Human Walking: Leg Force Control Through Ankle Modulation and Knee Covariance

PubMed Central

Toney, Megan E.; Chang, Young-Hui

2016-01-01

Human walking is a complex task, and we lack a complete understanding of how the neuromuscular system organizes its numerous muscles and joints to achieve consistent and efficient walking mechanics. Focused control of select influential task-level variables may simplify the higher-level control of steady state walking and reduce demand on the neuromuscular system. As trailing leg power generation and force application can affect the mechanical efficiency of step-to-step transitions, we investigated how joint torques are organized to control leg force and leg power during human walking. We tested whether timing of trailing leg force control corresponded with timing of peak leg power generation. We also applied a modified uncontrolled manifold analysis to test whether individual or coordinated joint torque strategies most contributed to leg force control. We found that leg force magnitude was adjusted from step-to-step to maintain consistent leg power generation. Leg force modulation was primarily determined by adjustments in the timing of peak ankle plantar-flexion torque, while knee torque was simultaneously covaried to dampen the effect of ankle torque on leg force. We propose a coordinated joint torque control strategy in which the trailing leg ankle acts as a motor to drive leg power production while trailing leg knee torque acts as a brake to refine leg power production. PMID:27334888

Serum Methylarginines and Spirometry-Measured Lung Function in Older Adults

PubMed Central

McEvoy, Mark A.; Schofield, Peter W.; Smith, Wayne T.; Agho, Kingsley; Mangoni, Arduino A.; Soiza, Roy L.; Peel, Roseanne; Hancock, Stephen J.; Carru, Ciriaco; Zinellu, Angelo; Attia, John R.

2013-01-01

Rationale Methylarginines are endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors that have been implicated in animal models of lung disease but have not previously been examined for their association with spirometric measures of lung function in humans. Objectives This study measured serum concentrations of asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine in a representative sample of older community-dwelling adults and determined their association with spirometric lung function measures. Methods Data on clinical, lifestyle, and demographic characteristics, methylated arginines, and L-arginine (measured using LC-MS/MS) were collected from a population-based sample of older Australian adults from the Hunter Community Study. The five key lung function measures included as outcomes were Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second, Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second to Forced Vital Capacity ratio, Percent Predicted Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second, and Percent Predicted Forced Vital Capacity. Measurements and Main Results In adjusted analyses there were statistically significant independent associations between a) higher asymmetric dimethylarginine, lower Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second and lower Forced Vital Capacity; and b) lower L-arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio, lower Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second, lower Percent Predicted Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second and lower Percent Predicted Forced Vital Capacity. By contrast, no significant associations were observed between symmetric dimethylarginine and lung function. Conclusions After adjusting for clinical, demographic, biochemical, and pharmacological confounders, higher serum asymmetric dimethylarginine was independently associated with a reduction in key measures of lung function. Further research is needed to determine if methylarginines predict the decline in lung function. PMID:23690915

Advanced illumination control algorithm for medical endoscopy applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sousa, Ricardo M.; Wäny, Martin; Santos, Pedro; Morgado-Dias, F.

2015-05-01

CMOS image sensor manufacturer, AWAIBA, is providing the world's smallest digital camera modules to the world market for minimally invasive surgery and one time use endoscopic equipment. Based on the world's smallest digital camera head and the evaluation board provided to it, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate an advanced fast response dynamic control algorithm of the illumination LED source coupled to the camera head, over the LED drivers embedded on the evaluation board. Cost efficient and small size endoscopic camera modules nowadays embed minimal size image sensors capable of not only adjusting gain and exposure time but also LED illumination with adjustable illumination power. The LED illumination power has to be dynamically adjusted while navigating the endoscope over changing illumination conditions of several orders of magnitude within fractions of the second to guarantee a smooth viewing experience. The algorithm is centered on the pixel analysis of selected ROIs enabling it to dynamically adjust the illumination intensity based on the measured pixel saturation level. The control core was developed in VHDL and tested in a laboratory environment over changing light conditions. The obtained results show that it is capable of achieving correction speeds under 1 s while maintaining a static error below 3% relative to the total number of pixels on the image. The result of this work will allow the integration of millimeter sized high brightness LED sources on minimal form factor cameras enabling its use in endoscopic surgical robotic or micro invasive surgery.

Stopping power: Effect of the projectile deceleration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kompaneets, Roman, E-mail: kompaneets@mpe.mpg.de; Ivlev, Alexei V.; Morfill, Gregor E.

2014-11-15

The stopping force is the force exerted on the projectile by its wake. Since the wake does not instantly adjust to the projectile velocity, the stopping force should be affected by the projectile deceleration caused by the stopping force itself. We address this effect by deriving the corresponding correction to the stopping force in the cold plasma approximation. By using the derived expression, we estimate that if the projectile is an ion passing through an electron-proton plasma, the correction is small when the stopping force is due to the plasma electrons, but can be significant when the stopping force ismore » due to the protons.« less

Atomic force microscopy of red-light photoreceptors using peakforce quantitative nanomechanical property mapping.

PubMed

Kroeger, Marie E; Sorenson, Blaire A; Thomas, J Santoro; Stojković, Emina A; Tsonchev, Stefan; Nicholson, Kenneth T

2014-10-24

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) uses a pyramidal tip attached to a cantilever to probe the force response of a surface. The deflections of the tip can be measured to ~10 pN by a laser and sectored detector, which can be converted to image topography. Amplitude modulation or "tapping mode" AFM involves the probe making intermittent contact with the surface while oscillating at its resonant frequency to produce an image. Used in conjunction with a fluid cell, tapping-mode AFM enables the imaging of biological macromolecules such as proteins in physiologically relevant conditions. Tapping-mode AFM requires manual tuning of the probe and frequent adjustments of a multitude of scanning parameters which can be challenging for inexperienced users. To obtain high-quality images, these adjustments are the most time consuming. PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping (PF-QNM) produces an image by measuring a force response curve for every point of contact with the sample. With ScanAsyst software, PF-QNM can be automated. This software adjusts the set-point, drive frequency, scan rate, gains, and other important scanning parameters automatically for a given sample. Not only does this process protect both fragile probes and samples, it significantly reduces the time required to obtain high resolution images. PF-QNM is compatible for AFM imaging in fluid; therefore, it has extensive application for imaging biologically relevant materials. The method presented in this paper describes the application of PF-QNM to obtain images of a bacterial red-light photoreceptor, RpBphP3 (P3), from photosynthetic R. palustris in its light-adapted state. Using this method, individual protein dimers of P3 and aggregates of dimers have been observed on a mica surface in the presence of an imaging buffer. With appropriate adjustments to surface and/or solution concentration, this method may be generally applied to other biologically relevant macromolecules and soft materials.

Adjusting Inequality: Education and Structural Adjustment Policies in Tanzania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vavrus, Frances

2005-01-01

International economic forces increasingly affect policy at multiple levels and in multiple domains. The interplay of three levels--international, national, and local--are underresearched in the social and educational policy fields, which includes educational policy studies. In this article, Frances Vavrus employs ethnography to investigate how…

Comparison of superficial digital flexor tendon loading on asphalt and sand in horses at the walk and trot.

PubMed

Crevier-Denoix, N; Ravary-Plumioën, B; Vergari, C; Camus, M; Holden-Douilly, L; Falala, S; Jerbi, H; Desquilbet, L; Chateau, H; Denoix, J-M; Pourcelot, P

2013-12-01

The incidence of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries is one of the highest of all equine musculoskeletal conditions. Horses with SDFT injuries commonly show no improvement of lameness on soft ground, unlike those suffering from distal bone or joint lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the SDFT loading in five horses at the walk and trot on asphalt and sand using a non-invasive ultrasonic tendon force measurement device. Three horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device, whereas the other two horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device and a dynamometric horseshoe (DHS); the DHS was used to calibrate the measured values of tendon speed of sound (SOS) converted to tendon force, while a previously established ground reaction force pattern was used to calibrate SOS measurements for the other three horses. Although the horses tended to be slower on S, maximal tendon force was higher on sand than on asphalt at the trot (+6%); there was no significant difference between the two surfaces at the walk. The duration of tendon loading was longer on S (+5%) and the area under the tendon force-time curve was larger on S (+10%) at both walk and trot. SDFT loading is significantly affected by the ground surface and the observed increase in SDFT loading on sand compared with asphalt is consistent with clinical observations in horses with SDFT injuries. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Scanning digital lithography providing high speed large area patterning with diffraction limited sub-micron resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Sy-Bor; Bhaskar, Arun; Zhang, Hongjie

2018-07-01

A scanning digital lithography system using computer controlled digital spatial light modulator, spatial filter, infinity correct optical microscope and high precision translation stage is proposed and examined. Through utilizing the spatial filter to limit orders of diffraction modes for light delivered from the spatial light modulator, we are able to achieve diffraction limited deep submicron spatial resolution with the scanning digital lithography system by using standard one inch level optical components with reasonable prices. Raster scanning of this scanning digital lithography system using a high speed high precision x-y translation stage and piezo mount to real time adjust the focal position of objective lens allows us to achieve large area sub-micron resolved patterning with high speed (compared with e-beam lithography). It is determined in this study that to achieve high quality stitching of lithography patterns with raster scanning, a high-resolution rotation stage will be required to ensure the x and y directions of the projected pattern are in the same x and y translation directions of the nanometer precision x-y translation stage.

23 CFR 645.115 - Construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Construction. 645.115 Section 645.115 Highways FEDERAL... Relocations, Adjustments, and Reimbursement § 645.115 Construction. (a) Part 635, subpart B, of this title, Force Account Construction (justification required for force account work), states that it is cost...

23 CFR 645.115 - Construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Construction. 645.115 Section 645.115 Highways FEDERAL... Relocations, Adjustments, and Reimbursement § 645.115 Construction. (a) Part 635, subpart B, of this title, Force Account Construction (justification required for force account work), states that it is cost...

23 CFR 645.115 - Construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Construction. 645.115 Section 645.115 Highways FEDERAL... Relocations, Adjustments, and Reimbursement § 645.115 Construction. (a) Part 635, subpart B, of this title, Force Account Construction (justification required for force account work), states that it is cost...

23 CFR 645.115 - Construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Construction. 645.115 Section 645.115 Highways FEDERAL... Relocations, Adjustments, and Reimbursement § 645.115 Construction. (a) Part 635, subpart B, of this title, Force Account Construction (justification required for force account work), states that it is cost...

23 CFR 645.115 - Construction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 23 Highways 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Construction. 645.115 Section 645.115 Highways FEDERAL... Relocations, Adjustments, and Reimbursement § 645.115 Construction. (a) Part 635, subpart B, of this title, Force Account Construction (justification required for force account work), states that it is cost...

State-Dependence of the Climate Sensitivity in Earth System Models of Intermediate Complexity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pfister, Patrik L.; Stocker, Thomas F.

2017-10-01

Growing evidence from general circulation models (GCMs) indicates that the equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) depends on the magnitude of forcing, which is commonly referred to as state-dependence. We present a comprehensive assessment of ECS state-dependence in Earth system models of intermediate complexity (EMICs) by analyzing millennial simulations with sustained 2×CO2 and 4×CO2 forcings. We compare different extrapolation methods and show that ECS is smaller in the higher-forcing scenario in 12 out of 15 EMICs, in contrast to the opposite behavior reported from GCMs. In one such EMIC, the Bern3D-LPX model, this state-dependence is mainly due to the weakening sea ice-albedo feedback in the Southern Ocean, which depends on model configuration. Due to ocean-mixing adjustments, state-dependence is only detected hundreds of years after the abrupt forcing, highlighting the need for long model integrations. Adjustments to feedback parametrizations of EMICs may be necessary if GCM intercomparisons confirm an opposite state-dependence.

Acute pulmonary function change associated with work on large dairies in California.

PubMed

Eastman, Chelsea; Schenker, Marc B; Mitchell, Diane C; Tancredi, Daniel J; Bennett, Deborah H; Mitloehner, Frank M

2013-01-01

To study whether dairy workers in California have lower baseline and greater cross-shift decrements in lung function than control employees. A cross-sectional study of 210 dairy and 47 control workers who completed questionnaires and spirometry before and after the work shift. Dairy work was associated with mean baseline differences of -0.132 L (P = 0.07) and -0.131 L (P = 0.13) in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity, respectively, compared with control employees, adjusting for age, height, smoking status, and days back at work since last day off. Dairy work was associated with a mean cross-shift difference of -65.2 mL (P = 0.02) and -103.1 mL (P < 0.01) in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity, respectively, adjusting for smoking status and work-shift time. Dairy work in California was associated with mild acute airway obstruction. The unclear long-term effect of dairy work in California merits further investigation.

Criterion and Construct Validity of an Isometric Midthigh-Pull Dynamometer for Assessing Whole-Body Strength in Professional Rugby League Players.

PubMed

Dobbin, Nick; Hunwicks, Richard; Jones, Ben; Till, Kevin; Highton, Jamie; Twist, Craig

2018-02-01

To examine the criterion and construct validity of an isometric midthigh-pull dynamometer to assess whole-body strength in professional rugby league players. Fifty-six male rugby league players (33 senior and 23 youth players) performed 4 isometric midthigh-pull efforts (ie, 2 on the dynamometer and 2 on the force platform) in a randomized and counterbalanced order. Isometric peak force was underestimated (P < .05) using the dynamometer compared with the force platform (95% LoA: -213.5 ± 342.6 N). Linear regression showed that peak force derived from the dynamometer explained 85% (adjusted R 2  = .85, SEE = 173 N) of the variance in the dependent variable, with the following prediction equation derived: predicted peak force = [1.046 × dynamometer peak force] + 117.594. Cross-validation revealed a nonsignificant bias (P > .05) between the predicted and peak force from the force platform and an adjusted R 2 (79.6%) that represented shrinkage of 0.4% relative to the cross-validation model (80%). Peak force was greater for the senior than the youth professionals using the dynamometer (2261.2 ± 222 cf 1725.1 ± 298.0 N, respectively; P < .05). The isometric midthigh pull assessed using a dynamometer underestimates criterion peak force but is capable of distinguishing muscle-function characteristics between professional rugby league players of different standards.

F-8C adaptive flight control laws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartmann, G. L.; Harvey, C. A.; Stein, G.; Carlson, D. N.; Hendrick, R. C.

1977-01-01

Three candidate digital adaptive control laws were designed for NASA's F-8C digital flyby wire aircraft. Each design used the same control laws but adjusted the gains with a different adaptative algorithm. The three adaptive concepts were: high-gain limit cycle, Liapunov-stable model tracking, and maximum likelihood estimation. Sensors were restricted to conventional inertial instruments (rate gyros and accelerometers) without use of air-data measurements. Performance, growth potential, and computer requirements were used as criteria for selecting the most promising of these candidates for further refinement. The maximum likelihood concept was selected primarily because it offers the greatest potential for identifying several aircraft parameters and hence for improved control performance in future aircraft application. In terms of identification and gain adjustment accuracy, the MLE design is slightly superior to the other two, but this has no significant effects on the control performance achievable with the F-8C aircraft. The maximum likelihood design is recommended for flight test, and several refinements to that design are proposed.

Defense Science Board Task Force on Military Satellite Communication and Tactical Networking. Executive Summary

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

Communications SMC Space and Missile Systems Center SEV Space Enterprise Vision SHF Super High Frequency SINCGARS Single Channel Ground-Air Radio...Appendix D:Acronyms A2/AD Anti-Access/Area Denial ADNS Automated Digital Network System AEHF Advanced Extremely High Frequency AFSPC Air Force Space ...medium-rate modes of defense extremely high frequency (EHF) SATCOM. This reality should be considered a crisis to be dealt with immediately. In

Multi-Disciplinary Techniques for Understanding Time-Varying Space-Based Imagery.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-05-10

problem, and I V WY" 3 discuss the impgrtage of this work to Air Force technology and to related Air Force programs. Section 1.5 provides a summary of...development of new algorithms and their realization in a hybrid optical/digital architecture. However, devices and architectures being developed in related ...and relate these representntions to object and surface contour properties of the scene. The techniques studied included Probabilistic Graph Matching

Results from Five Task Forces Appointed by the American Council of Learned Societies and the Council on Library and Information Resources. Scholarship, Instruction, and Libraries at the Turn of the Century.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Council on Library and Information Resources, Washington, DC.

The American Council of Learned Societies and the Council on Library and Information Resources appointed 36 scholars, librarians, and leaders of various academic enterprises to five task forces "to consider changes in the process of scholarship and instruction that will result from the use of digital technology and to make recommendations to…

Characterizing Cyclostationary Features of Digital Modulated Signals with Empirical Measurements using Spectral Correlation Function

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

USING SPECTRAL CORRELATION FUNCTION THESIS Mujun Song, Captain, ROKA AFIT/GCE/ENG/11-09 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE AIR UNIVERSITY AIR...Management Air Force Institute of Technology Air University Air Education and Training Command In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the...generator, Agilent E4438C, ESG Vector Signal Generator. Universal Software Radio Peripheral 2 (USRP2), which is a Software Defined Radio (SDR), is used

Brief Report: Preliminary Proposal of a Conceptual Model of a Digital Environment for Developing Mathematical Reasoning in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

PubMed

Santos, Maria Isabel; Breda, Ana; Almeida, Ana Margarida

2015-08-01

There is clear evidence that in typically developing children reasoning and sense-making are essential in all mathematical learning and understanding processes. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however, these become much more significant, considering their importance to successful independent living. This paper presents a preliminary proposal of a digital environment, specifically targeted to promote the development of mathematical reasoning in students with ASD. Given the diversity of ASD, the prototyping of this environment requires the study of dynamic adaptation processes and the development of activities adjusted to each user's profile. We present the results obtained during the first phase of this ongoing research, describing a conceptual model of the proposed digital environment. Guidelines for future research are also discussed.

Digital Droplet PCR: CNV Analysis and Other Applications.

PubMed

Mazaika, Erica; Homsy, Jason

2014-07-14

Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is an assay that combines state-of-the-art microfluidics technology with TaqMan-based PCR to achieve precise target DNA quantification at high levels of sensitivity and specificity. Because quantification is achieved without the need for standard assays in an easy to interpret, unambiguous digital readout, ddPCR is far simpler, faster, and less error prone than real-time qPCR. The basic protocol can be modified with minor adjustments to suit a wide range of applications, such as CNV analysis, rare variant detection, SNP genotyping, and transcript quantification. This unit describes the ddPCR workflow in detail for the Bio-Rad QX100 system, but the theory and data interpretation are generalizable to any ddPCR system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Improvements in speech understanding with wireless binaural broadband digital hearing instruments in adults with sensorineural hearing loss.

PubMed

Kreisman, Brian M; Mazevski, Annette G; Schum, Donald J; Sockalingam, Ravichandran

2010-03-01

This investigation examined whether speech intelligibility in noise can be improved using a new, binaural broadband hearing instrument system. Participants were 36 adults with symmetrical, sensorineural hearing loss (18 experienced hearing instrument users and 18 without prior experience). Participants were fit binaurally in a planned comparison, randomized crossover design study with binaural broadband hearing instruments and advanced digital hearing instruments. Following an adjustment period with each device, participants underwent two speech-in-noise tests: the QuickSIN and the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT). Results suggested significantly better performance on the QuickSIN and the HINT measures with the binaural broadband hearing instruments, when compared with the advanced digital hearing instruments and unaided, across and within all noise conditions.

Drainage basin and topographic analysis of a tropical landscape: Insights into surface and tectonic processes in northern Borneo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathew, Manoj Joseph; Menier, David; Siddiqui, Numair; Ramkumar, Mu.; Santosh, M.; Kumar, Shashi; Hassaan, Muhammad

2016-07-01

We investigated the recent landscape development of Borneo through geomorphic analysis of two large drainage basins (Rajang and Baram basins). The extraction of morphometric parameters utilizing digital terrain data in a GIS environment, focusing on hydrography (stream length-gradient index, ratio of valley floor width to valley height, and transverse topographic symmetry factor) and topography (local relief and relief anomaly), was carried out in order to elucidate processes governing drainage and landscape evolution. Anomalously high and low values of stream length-gradient indices of main tributary streams associated with faults and multiple knick-points along the channel profiles are linked to deformation events. The development of deeply incised V-shaped valleys show enhanced incision capability of streams in response to steepening of hillslope gradients following tectonic inputs. Deflection of streams and probable dynamic reorganization of the drainage system through stream capture processes as feedbacks to tectonic uplift and orographic effect are observed. Local relief and relief anomaly maps highlight the presence of preserved elevation-accordant relict portions of landscapes characterized by low amplitude relief, nested between ridgelines in regions of complex folding. Our results reveal dynamic geomorphic adjustment of the landscape due to perturbations in tectonic and climatic boundary conditions. The implication is that the landscape of north Borneo experienced a tectonic phase of rapid uplift after 5 Ma and undergoes active folding of the Rajang Group thrust belts in the present-day. Active shortening combined with high rates of denudation in Sarawak, demonstrates transience emphasized by the drainage system attempting to adjust to tectonic and climatic forcing.

Prehension synergies and control with referent hand configurations.

PubMed

Latash, Mark L; Friedman, Jason; Kim, Sun Wook; Feldman, Anatol G; Zatsiorsky, Vladimir M

2010-04-01

We used the framework of the equilibrium-point hypothesis (in its updated form based on the notion of referent configuration) to investigate the multi-digit synergies at two levels of a hypothetical hierarchy involved in prehensile actions. Synergies were analyzed at the thumb-virtual finger (VF) level (VF is an imaginary digit with the mechanical action equivalent to that of the four actual fingers) and at the individual finger level. The subjects performed very quick vertical movements of a handle into a target. A load could be attached off-center to provide a pronation or supination torque. In a few trials, the handle was unexpectedly fixed to the table and the digits slipped off the sensors. In such trials, the hand stopped at a higher vertical position and rotated into pronation or supination depending on the expected torque. The aperture showed non-monotonic changes with a large, fast decrease and further increase, ending up with a smaller distance between the thumb and the fingers as compared to unperturbed trials. Multi-digit synergies were quantified using indices of co-variation between digit forces and moments of force across unperturbed trials. Prior to the lifting action, high synergy indices were observed at the individual finger level while modest indices were observed at the thumb-VF level. During the lifting action, the synergies at the individual finger level disappeared while the synergy indices became higher at the thumb-VF level. The results support the basic premise that, within a given task, setting a referent configuration may be described with a few referent values of variables that influence the equilibrium state, to which the system is attracted. Moreover, the referent configuration hypothesis can help interpret the data related to the trade-off between synergies at different hierarchical levels.

Screening Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Utilization Updates.

PubMed

Boroumand, Gilda; Teberian, Ida; Parker, Laurence; Rao, Vijay M; Levin, David C

2018-05-01

There have been many recent developments in breast imaging, including the 2009 revision of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's breast cancer screening guidelines and the approval of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for clinical use in 2011. The objective of this study is to evaluate screening mammography utilization trends among the Medicare population from 2005 to 2015 and examine the volume of DBT studies performed in 2015, the first year for which procedural billing codes for DBT are available. We reviewed national Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary master files from 2005 to 2015, to determine the annual utilization rate of screening mammography on the basis of procedure codes used for film-screen and digital screening mammography. We also used the Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary master files to determine the volume of screening and diagnostic DBT studies performed in 2015. The utilization rate of screening mammography per 1000 women in the Medicare fee-for-service population increased gradually every year, from 311.5 examinations in 2005 to a peak of 322.9 examinations in 2009, representing a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%. In 2010, the utilization rate abruptly decreased by 4.3% to 309.2 examinations, and it has not since recovered to pre-2010 levels. In 2015, 18.9% of screening and 16.2% of diagnostic digital mammography examinations included DBT as an add-on procedure. In contrast to the annual increase in screening mammography utilization from 2005 to 2009, an abrupt sustained decline in screening occurred beginning in 2010, coinciding with the release of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. DBT utilization was somewhat limited in 2015, occurring in conjunction with less than 20% of digital mammography examinations.

Application of the concept of dynamic trim control to automatic landing of carrier aircraft. [utilizing digital feedforeward control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, G. A.; Meyer, G.

1980-01-01

The results of a simulation study of an alternative design concept for an automatic landing control system are presented. The alternative design concept for an automatic landing control system is described. The design concept is the total aircraft flight control system (TAFCOS). TAFCOS is an open loop, feed forward system that commands the proper instantaneous thrust, angle of attack, and roll angle to achieve the forces required to follow the desired trajector. These dynamic trim conditions are determined by an inversion of the aircraft nonlinear force characteristics. The concept was applied to an A-7E aircraft approaching an aircraft carrier. The implementation details with an airborne digital computer are discussed. The automatic carrier landing situation is described. The simulation results are presented for a carrier approach with atmospheric disturbances, an approach with no disturbances, and for tailwind and headwind gusts.

Fatigue Crack Closure Analysis Using Digital Image Correlation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leser, William P.; Newman, John A.; Johnston, William M.

2010-01-01

Fatigue crack closure during crack growth testing is analyzed in order to evaluate the critieria of ASTM Standard E647 for measurement of fatigue crack growth rates. Of specific concern is remote closure, which occurs away from the crack tip and is a product of the load history during crack-driving-force-reduction fatigue crack growth testing. Crack closure behavior is characterized using relative displacements determined from a series of high-magnification digital images acquired as the crack is loaded. Changes in the relative displacements of features on opposite sides of the crack are used to generate crack closure data as a function of crack wake position. For the results presented in this paper, remote closure did not affect fatigue crack growth rate measurements when ASTM Standard E647 was strictly followed and only became a problem when testing parameters (e.g., load shed rate, initial crack driving force, etc.) greatly exceeded the guidelines of the accepted standard.

36 CFR 223.226 - Term adjustments for force majeure delay.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... AGRICULTURE SALE AND DISPOSAL OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM TIMBER, SPECIAL FOREST PRODUCTS, AND FOREST BOTANICAL... for force majeure delay. Contracts or other authorizing instruments for the sale of special forest... beyond the person's reasonable control delay performance. In determining whether such an extension is...

Child Abuse Experiences and Perceived Need for Care and Mental Health Service Use among Members of the Canadian Armed Forces

PubMed Central

Turner, Sarah; Taillieu, Tamara; Cheung, Kristene; Zamorski, Mark; Boulos, David; Sareen, Jitender

2017-01-01

Objective: Child abuse is associated with poor mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, little is known about how a history of child abuse may be related to perceived need for care (PNC) and mental health service use (MHSU) among Canadian military personnel. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the relationship between child abuse history and PNC and 2) the relationship between child abuse history and MHSU in the Canadian military. Method: Data were drawn from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey (n = 6692 Regular Force personnel between the ages of 18 and 60 years). Logistic regression was used to examine the relationships between individual child abuse types and PNC and MHSU while adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the presence of mental disorders, deployment-related variables, and other types of child abuse. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated to estimate the proportion of PNC and MHSU that may be attributable to child abuse. Results: Each individual child abuse type was associated with increased odds of PNC and MHSU after adjusting for all covariates (adjusted odds ratio ranging from 1.26 to 1.80). PAFs showed that if any child abuse did not occur, PNC and MHSU among Regular Force personnel may be reduced by approximately 14.3% and 11.3%, respectively. Conclusions: This study highlights that preenlistment factors, such as a history of child abuse, have an independent association with PNC and MHSU and hence need to be considered when assessing the mental health service needs of the Canadian Regular Force personnel. PMID:28562093

Child Abuse Experiences and Perceived Need for Care and Mental Health Service Use among Members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

PubMed

Turner, Sarah; Taillieu, Tamara; Cheung, Kristene; Zamorski, Mark; Boulos, David; Sareen, Jitender; Afifi, Tracie O

2017-06-01

Child abuse is associated with poor mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, little is known about how a history of child abuse may be related to perceived need for care (PNC) and mental health service use (MHSU) among Canadian military personnel. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the relationship between child abuse history and PNC and 2) the relationship between child abuse history and MHSU in the Canadian military. Data were drawn from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey ( n = 6692 Regular Force personnel between the ages of 18 and 60 years). Logistic regression was used to examine the relationships between individual child abuse types and PNC and MHSU while adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the presence of mental disorders, deployment-related variables, and other types of child abuse. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated to estimate the proportion of PNC and MHSU that may be attributable to child abuse. Each individual child abuse type was associated with increased odds of PNC and MHSU after adjusting for all covariates (adjusted odds ratio ranging from 1.26 to 1.80). PAFs showed that if any child abuse did not occur, PNC and MHSU among Regular Force personnel may be reduced by approximately 14.3% and 11.3%, respectively. This study highlights that preenlistment factors, such as a history of child abuse, have an independent association with PNC and MHSU and hence need to be considered when assessing the mental health service needs of the Canadian Regular Force personnel.

[Attrition and poor performance in general practice training: age, competence and knowledge play a role].

PubMed

Vermeulen, Margit I; Kuyvenhoven, Marijke M; Zuithoff, N P A Peter; van der Graaf, Yolanda; Pieters, H M Ron

2011-01-01

To investigate which determinants are related to poor performance and forced attrition in the first year residency in general practice (GP). Observational retrospective cohort study. We collected data relating to personal characteristics such as age, sex and clinical experience from residents who started the GP training in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in the period March 2005-August 2007. We also collected competence scores from the domains 'medical expertise', 'doctor-patient communication' and 'professionalism', as well as scores on a national GP knowledge test. The outcome measures were 'poor performance' and 'forced attrition'. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse correlations between personal characteristics, competence scores on the 3 domains and knowledge scores in the first trimester on the one hand and poor performance or forced attrition on the other. 215 residents started the GP training. In the first trimester a quarter of the residents had an insufficient score in 1 or more of the domains. Competence scores were mutually correlated, but did not correlate with the knowledge score. 18 residents showed poor performance and 3 were forced to stop their training. Poor performance and forced attrition were correlated with age (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.3), insufficient knowledge (adjusted OR: 8.9; 3.0-26.3) and medical expertise (adjusted OR: 2.1; 1.1-4.0) at the beginning of the training. Age, insufficient knowledge of general practice, and insufficient competence in the domain of 'medical expertise' at the beginning of the training are risk factors for poor performance by residents and attrition from their GP training.

Using applet-servlet communication for optimizing window, level and crop for DICOM to JPEG conversion.

PubMed

Kamauu, Aaron W C; DuVall, Scott L; Wiggins, Richard H; Avrin, David E

2008-09-01

In the creation of interesting radiological cases in a digital teaching file, it is necessary to adjust the window and level settings of an image to effectively display the educational focus. The web-based applet described in this paper presents an effective solution for real-time window and level adjustments without leaving the picture archiving and communications system workstation. Optimized images are created, as user-defined parameters are passed between the applet and a servlet on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant teaching file server.

Using Remote Sensing and High-Resolution Digital Elevation Models to Identify Potential Erosional Hotspots Along River Channels During High Discharge Storm Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orland, E. D.; Amidon, W. H.

2017-12-01

As global warming intensifies, large precipitation events and associated floods are becoming increasingly common. Channel adjustments during floods can occur by both erosion and deposition of sediment, often damaging infrastructure in the process. There is thus a need for predictive models that can help managers identify river reaches that are most prone to adjustment during storms. Because rivers in post-glacial landscapes often flow over a mixture of bedrock and alluvial substrates, the identification of bedrock vs. alluvial channel reaches is an important first step in predicting vulnerability to channel adjustment during flood events, especially because bedrock channels are unlikely to adjust significantly, even during floods. This study develops a semi-automated approach to predicting channel substrate using a high-resolution LiDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM). The study area is the Middlebury River in Middlebury, VT-a well-studied watershed with a wide variety of channel substrates, including reaches with documented channel adjustments during recent flooding events. Multiple metrics were considered for reference—such as channel width and drainage area—but the study utilized channel slope as a key parameter for identifying morphological variations within the Middlebury River. Using data extracted from the DEM, a power law was fit to selected slope and drainage area values for each branch in order to model idealized slope-drainage area relationships, which were then compared with measured slope-drainage area relationships. Differences in measured slope minus predicted slope (called delta-slope) are shown to help predict river channel substrate. Compared with field observations, higher delta-slope values correlate with more stable, boulder rich channels or bedrock gorges; conversely the lowest delta-slope values correlate with flat, sediment rich alluvial channels. The delta-slope metric thus serves as a reliable first-order predictor of channel substrate in the Middlebury River, which in turn can be used to help identify local reaches that are most vulnerable to channel adjustment during large flood events.

Culbertson dons his communication headset before the third EVA of Expedition Three

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-11-12

ISS003-E-8020 (12 November 2001) --- Astronaut Frank L. Culbertson, Jr., Expedition Three mission commander, wearing thermal undergarment, adjusts his communication headgear in the Zvezda Service Module on the International Space Station (ISS). This image was taken with a digital still camera.

77 FR 29259 - Adjustment of Determination of Compulsory License Rates for Mechanical and Digital Phonorecords

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-17

..., music bundles, paid locker services and purchased content locker services. DATES: Comments and... Association of Independent Music (``A2IM''); Music Reports, Inc. (``Music Reports''); the National Music... and Church Music Publishers Association, jointly (collectively, ``Copyright Owners''); EMI Music...

37 CFR 251.33 - Ex parte communications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

....33 Section 251.33 Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COPYRIGHT... person outside the Library of Congress shall engage in ex parte communication with the Librarian of..., relating to the distribution of royalty fees, the adjustment of royalty rates or the status of digital...

Digitized Educational Technology: A Learning Tool Using Remotely Sensed Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Love, Gloria Carter

1999-01-01

Digitized Educational software for different levels of instruction were developed and placed on the web (geocities). Students attending the Pre-Engineering Summer 1998 Camp at Dillard University explored the use of the software which included presentations, applications, and special exercises. Student comments were received and considered for adjustments. The second outreach program included students from Colton Junior High School and Natural Science Majors at Dillard University. The Natural Majors completed a second survey concerning reasons why students selected majors in the Sciences and Mathematics. Two student research assistants (DU) and faculty members/parents of Colton Junior High assisted.

Digital-computer model of ground-water flow in Tooele Valley, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Razem, Allan C.; Bartholoma, Scott D.

1980-01-01

A two-dimensional, finite-difference digital-computer model was used to simulate the ground-water flow in the principal artesian aquifer in Tooele Valley, Utah. The parameters used in the model were obtained through field measurements and tests, from historical records, and by trial-and-error adjustments. The model was calibrated against observed water-level changes that occurred during 1941-50, 1951-60, 1961-66, 1967-73, and 1974-78. The reliability of the predictions is good in most parts of the valley, as is shown by the ability of the model to match historical water-level changes.

Harmonic arbitrary waveform generator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roberts, Brock Franklin

2017-11-28

High frequency arbitrary waveforms have applications in radar, communications, medical imaging, therapy, electronic warfare, and charged particle acceleration and control. State of the art arbitrary waveform generators are limited in the frequency they can operate by the speed of the Digital to Analog converters that directly create their arbitrary waveforms. The architecture of the Harmonic Arbitrary Waveform Generator allows the phase and amplitude of the high frequency content of waveforms to be controlled without taxing the Digital to Analog converters that control them. The Harmonic Arbitrary Waveform Generator converts a high frequency input, into a precision, adjustable, high frequency arbitrarymore » waveform.« less

Hierarchical nucleus segmentation in digital pathology images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yi; Ratner, Vadim; Zhu, Liangjia; Diprima, Tammy; Kurc, Tahsin; Tannenbaum, Allen; Saltz, Joel

2016-03-01

Extracting nuclei is one of the most actively studied topic in the digital pathology researches. Most of the studies directly search the nuclei (or seeds for the nuclei) from the finest resolution available. While the richest information has been utilized by such approaches, it is sometimes difficult to address the heterogeneity of nuclei in different tissues. In this work, we propose a hierarchical approach which starts from the lower resolution level and adaptively adjusts the parameters while progressing into finer and finer resolution. The algorithm is tested on brain and lung cancers images from The Cancer Genome Atlas data set.

Development of a low-frequency physiotherapeutic device for diabetes manipulated by microcontroller.

PubMed

Guo, Jin-Song; Gong, Jian

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To develop a physiotherapeutic device for diabetes that generates special low-frequency waveform manipulated by a microcontroller. METHODS: A microcontoller and a digital-to-analog converter were utilized along with a keyboard and LED display circuit, to generate desired low-frequecy waveform with the assistance of a software. RESULTS: The complex waveform generated by this device met the demands for diabetes physiotherapy, and the frequency and amplitude could be freely adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of a digital-to-analog converter controlled by a microcontroller can very well serve the purpose of a low-frequency physiotherapy for diabetes.

Demountable direct injection high efficiency nebulizer for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

DOEpatents

Montaser, Akbar; Westphal, Craig S.; Kahen, Kaveh; Rutkowski, William F.; Acon, Billy W.

2006-12-05

A nebulizer adapted for adjusting a position of a capillary tube contained within the nebulizer is provided. The nebulizer includes an elongated tubular shell having a gas input port and a gas output port, a capillary adjustment adapter for displacing the capillary tube in a lateral direction via a rotational force, and a connector for connecting the elongated tubular shell, the capillary adjustment adapter and the capillary tube.

Applying shot boundary detection for automated crystal growth analysis during in situ transmission electron microscope experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moeglein, W. A.; Griswold, R.; Mehdi, B. L.

In-situ (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) is being developed for numerous applications in the study of nucleation and growth under electrochemical driving forces. For this type of experiment, one of the key parameters is to identify when nucleation initiates. Typically the process of identifying the moment that crystals begin to form is a manual process requiring the user to perform an observation and respond accordingly (adjust focus, magnification, translate the stage etc.). However, as the speed of the cameras being used to perform these observations increases, the ability of a user to “catch” the important initial stage of nucleation decreasesmore » (there is more information that is available in the first few milliseconds of the process). Here we show that video shot boundary detection (SBD) can automatically detect frames where a change in the image occurs. We show that this method can be applied to quickly and accurately identify points of change during crystal growth. This technique allows for automated segmentation of a digital stream for further analysis and the assignment of arbitrary time stamps for the initiation of processes that are independent of the user’s ability to observe and react.« less

[Medical and dental digital photography. Choosing a cheap and user-friendly camera].

PubMed

Chossegros, C; Guyot, L; Mantout, B; Cheynet, F; Olivi, P; Blanc, J-L

2010-04-01

Digital photography is more and more important in our everyday medical practice. Patient data, medico-legal proof, remote diagnosis, forums, and medical publications are some of the applications of digital photography in medical and dental fields. A lot of small, light, and cheap cameras are on the market. The main issue is to obtain good, reproducible, cheap, and easy-to-shoot pictures. Every medical situation, portrait in esthetic surgery, skin photography in dermatology, X-ray pictures or intra-oral pictures, for example, has its own requirements. For these reasons, we have tried to find an "ideal" compact digital camera. The Sony DSC-T90 (and its T900 counterpart with a wider screen) seems a good choice. Its small size makes it usable in every situation and its price is low. An external light source and a free photo software (XnView((R))) can be useful complementary tools. The main adjustments and expected results are discussed.

Inverse heat transfer problem in digital temperature control in plate fin and tube heat exchangers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taler, Dawid; Sury, Adam

2011-12-01

The aim of the paper is a steady-state inverse heat transfer problem for plate-fin and tube heat exchangers. The objective of the process control is to adjust the number of fan revolutions per minute so that the water temperature at the heat exchanger outlet is equal to a preset value. Two control techniques were developed. The first is based on the presented mathematical model of the heat exchanger while the second is a digital proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. The first procedure is very stable. The digital PID controller becomes unstable if the water volumetric flow rate changes significantly. The developed techniques were implemented in digital control system of the water exit temperature in a plate fin and tube heat exchanger. The measured exit temperature of the water was very close to the set value of the temperature if the first method was used. The experiments showed that the PID controller works also well but becomes frequently unstable.

Forcings and feedbacks in the GeoMIP ensemble for a reduction in solar irradiance and increase in CO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huneeus, Nicolas; Boucher, Olivier; Alterskjær, Kari; Cole, Jason N. S.; Curry, Charles L.; Ji, Duoying; Jones, Andy; Kravitz, Ben; Kristjánsson, Jón Egill; Moore, John C.; Muri, Helene; Niemeier, Ulrike; Rasch, Phil; Robock, Alan; Singh, Balwinder; Schmidt, Hauke; Schulz, Michael; Tilmes, Simone; Watanabe, Shingo; Yoon, Jin-Ho

2014-05-01

The effective radiative forcings (including rapid adjustments) and feedbacks associated with an instantaneous quadrupling of the preindustrial CO2 concentration and a counterbalancing reduction of the solar constant are investigated in the context of the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP). The forcing and feedback parameters of the net energy flux, as well as its different components at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and surface, were examined in 10 Earth System Models to better understand the impact of solar radiation management on the energy budget. In spite of their very different nature, the feedback parameter and its components at the TOA and surface are almost identical for the two forcing mechanisms, not only in the global mean but also in their geographical distributions. This conclusion holds for each of the individual models despite intermodel differences in how feedbacks affect the energy budget. This indicates that the climate sensitivity parameter is independent of the forcing (when measured as an effective radiative forcing). We also show the existence of a large contribution of the cloudy-sky component to the shortwave effective radiative forcing at the TOA suggesting rapid cloud adjustments to a change in solar irradiance. In addition, the models present significant diversity in the spatial distribution of the shortwave feedback parameter in cloudy regions, indicating persistent uncertainties in cloud feedback mechanisms.

Assessment of low-contrast detectability for compressed digital chest images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cook, Larry T.; Insana, Michael F.; McFadden, Michael A.; Hall, Timothy J.; Cox, Glendon G.

1994-04-01

The ability of human observers to detect low-contrast targets in screen-film (SF) images, computed radiographic (CR) images, and compressed CR images was measured using contrast detail (CD) analysis. The results of these studies were used to design a two- alternative forced-choice (2AFC) experiment to investigate the detectability of nodules in adult chest radiographs. CD curves for a common screen-film system were compared with CR images compressed up to 125:1. Data from clinical chest exams were used to define a CD region of clinical interest that sufficiently challenged the observer. From that data, simulated lesions were introduced into 100 normal CR chest films, and forced-choice observer performance studies were performed. CR images were compressed using a full-frame discrete cosine transform (FDCT) technique, where the 2D Fourier space was divided into four areas of different quantization depending on the cumulative power spectrum (energy) of each image. The characteristic curve of the CR images was adjusted so that optical densities matched those of the SF system. The CD curves for SF and uncompressed CR systems were statistically equivalent. The slope of the CD curve for each was - 1.0 as predicted by the Rose model. There was a significant degradation in detection found for CR images compressed to 125:1. Furthermore, contrast-detail analysis demonstrated that many pulmonary nodules encountered in clinical practice are significantly above the average observer threshold for detection. We designed a 2AFC observer study using simulated 1-cm lesions introduced into normal CR chest radiographs. Detectability was reduced for all compressed CR radiographs.

Comparative analysis of numerical and experimental data of orthodontic mini-implants.

PubMed

Chatzigianni, Athina; Keilig, Ludger; Duschner, Heinz; Götz, Hermann; Eliades, Theodore; Bourauel, Christoph

2011-10-01

The purpose of this study was to compare numerical simulation data derived from finite element analysis (FEA) to experimental data on mini-implant loading. Nine finite element (FE) models of mini-implants and surrounding bone were derived from corresponding experimental specimens. The animal bone in the experiment consisted of bovine rib. The experimental groups were based on implant type, length, diameter, and angle of insertion. One experimental specimen was randomly selected from each group and was digitized in a microCT scanner. The FE models consisted of bone pieces containing Aarhus mini-implants with dimensions 1.5 × 7 mm and 1.5 × 9 mm or LOMAS mini-implants (dimensions 1.5 × 7 mm, 1.5 × 9 mm, and 2 × 7 mm). Mini-implants were inserted in two different ways, perpendicular to the bone surface or at 45 degrees to the direction of the applied load. Loading and boundary conditions in the FE models were adjusted to match the experimental situation, with the force applied on the neck of the mini-implants, along the mesio-distal direction up to a maximum of 0.5 N. Displacement and rotation of mini-implants after force application calculated by FEA were compared to previously recorded experimental deflections of the same mini-implants. Analysis of data with the Altman-Bland test and the Youden plot demonstrated good agreement between numerical and experimental findings (P = not significant) for the models selected. This study provides further evidence of the appropriateness of the FEA as an investigational tool in relevant research.

Far Away from the Revolution: Understanding the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Mission Changes

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

municipalities), Plan for Entrepreneurial Redesign, CIMEX (import/export, free-trade zones, tourism, transportation, digital communications equipment, car...rentals and audiovisual publicity), CUBANA-CAN (similar to CIMEX ), Citrus (agricultural and industrial processing), State Commission for

Accessible Geoscience - Digital Fieldwork

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meara, Rhian

2017-04-01

Accessible Geoscience is a developing field of pedagogic research aimed at widening participation in Geography, Earth and Environmental Science (GEES) subjects. These subjects are often less commonly associated with disabilities, ethnic minorities, low income socio-economic groups and females. While advancements and improvements have been made in the inclusivity of these subject areas in recent years, access and participation of disabled students remains low. While universities are legally obligated to provide reasonable adjustments to ensure accessibility, the assumed incompatibility of GEES subjects and disability often deters students from applying to study these courses at a university level. Instead of making reasonable adjustments if and when they are needed, universities should be aiming to develop teaching materials, spaces and opportunities which are accessible to all, which in turn will allow all groups to participate in the GEES subjects. With this in mind, the Swansea Geography Department wish to enhance the accessibility of our undergraduate degree by developing digital field work opportunities. In the first instance, we intend to digitise three afternoon excursions which are run as part of a 1st year undergraduate module. Each of the field trips will be digitized into English- and Welsh-medium formats. In addition, each field trip will be digitized into British Sign Language (BSL) to allow for accessibility for D/deaf and hard of hearing students. Subtitles will also be made available in each version. While the main focus of this work is to provide accessible fieldwork opportunities for students with disabilities, this work also has additional benefits. Students within the Geography Department will be able to revisit the field trips, to revise and complete associated coursework. The use of digitized field work should not replace opportunities for real field work, but its use by the full cohort of students will begin to "normalize" accessible field work and inclusivity within the GEES subject areas.

Exploring patterns of recurrent melanoma in Northeast Scotland to inform the introduction a digital self-examination intervention

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Melanoma incidence is growing and more people require follow-up to detect recurrent melanoma quickly. Those detecting their own recurrent melanoma appear to have the best prognosis, so total skin self examination (TSSE) is advocated, but practice is suboptimal. A digital intervention to support TSSE has potential but it is not clear which patient groups could benefit most. The aim of this study was to explore cutaneous melanoma recurrence patterns between 1991 and 2012 in Northeast Scotland. The objectives were to: determine how recurrent melanomas were detected during the period; explore factors potentially predictive of mode of recurrence detection; identify groups least likely to detect their own recurrent melanoma and with most potential to benefit from digital TSSE support. Methods Pathology records were used to identify those with a potential recurrent melanoma of any type (local, regional and distant). Following screening of potential cases available secondary care-held records were subsequently scrutinised. Data was collected on demographics and clinical characteristics of the initial and recurrent melanoma. Data were handled in Microsoft Excel and transported into SPSS 20.0 for statistical analysis. Factors predicting detection at interval or scheduled follow-up were explored using univariate techniques, with potentially influential factors combined in a multivariate binary logistic model to adjust for confounding. Results 149 potential recurrences were identified from the pathology database held at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Reliable data could be obtained on 94 cases of recurrent melanoma of all types. 30 recurrences (31.9%) were found by doctors at follow-up, and 64 (68.1%) in the interval between visits, usually by the patient themselves. Melanoma recurrences of all types occurring within one-year were significantly more likely to be found at follow-up visits, and this remained so following adjustment for other factors that could be used to target digital TSSE support. Conclusions A digital intervention should be offered to all newly diagnosed patients. This group could benefit most from optimal TSSE practice. PMID:24612627

Measuring Erosion and Deposition During the World's Largest Dam Removal in Near-Real-Time: An Example of 4-Dimensional SfM from the Elwha River, Washington, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritchie, A.; Bountry, J.; Randle, T. J.; Warrick, J. A.

2016-12-01

The stepwise removal of two dams on the Elwha River beginning in September 2011 exposed 21 million cubic meters of sediment to fluvial erosion and created an unprecedented opportunity to monitor reservoir sediment erosion and river evolution during base level adjustment and a pulsed sediment release. We conduct repeat aerial surveys with a Cessna 172 using a simple custom wing-mount for consumer grade cameras and SfM photogrammetry to produce orthoimagery and digital elevation models in near-real-time at sub-weekly to monthly time intervals, depending on hydrology. Multiple lidar flights and ground survey campaigns provide estimates of both systematic and random error for this uniquely dense dataset. Co-registration of multiple SfM surveys during processing reduces systematic error and allows boot-strapping of ephemeral ground control points to earlier or later flights. Measurements of reservoir erosion volumes, delta growth, channel braiding, and bank erosion illustrate the reservoir and river channel responses to dam removal at resolutions comparable to hydrologic forcing events, allowing us to quantify reservoir sediment budgets on a per-storm basis. This allows for the analysis of sediment transported relative to rates of reservoir drawdown and river stream power for dozens of time intervals. Temporal decoupling of peak sediment flux and bank erosion rates is noted from these analyses. This dataset illustrates both challenges and opportunities emerging with the advent of big data in remote sensing of earth surface processes. Digital AbstractErosion and deposition by year in former Lake Mills reservoir measured using SfM-derived photogrammetry and LiDAR for WY2011 through 2016 (partial). Approximately 70% of available sediment has been eroded.

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and the Challenges of Implementing an Emerging Breast Cancer Screening Technology Into Clinical Practice.

PubMed

Lee, Christoph I; Lehman, Constance D

2016-11-01

Emerging imaging technologies, including digital breast tomosynthesis, have the potential to transform breast cancer screening. However, the rapid adoption of these new technologies outpaces the evidence of their clinical and cost-effectiveness. The authors describe the forces driving the rapid diffusion of tomosynthesis into clinical practice, comparing it with the rapid diffusion of digital mammography shortly after its introduction. They outline the potential positive and negative effects that adoption can have on imaging workflow and describe the practice management challenges when incorporating tomosynthesis. The authors also provide recommendations for collecting evidence supporting the development of policies and best practices. Copyright © 2013 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

33. VIEW OF FOUR OF SEVEN MONITORS SUSPENDED FROM CEILING ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

33. VIEW OF FOUR OF SEVEN MONITORS SUSPENDED FROM CEILING OF SLC-3W CONTROL ROOM NEAR NORTH WALL. LEFT TO RIGHT ABOVE THE MONITORS: DIGITAL GREENWICH MEAN TIME CLOCK, COMPLEX SAFETY WARNING LIGHTS FOR SLC-3W (PAD-2) AND LOB (THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE BOTTOM OF EACH STACK IS ILLUMINATED), AND DIGITAL COUNTDOWN AND HOLD CLOCKS. LEFT TO RIGHT BELOW THE MONITORS: INDICATOR LIGHTS SHOWING WHICH PAD OR VEHICLE FACILITIES ARE RECEIVING POWER FROM POWER PLANT 4 ON SOUTH VAFB, LIGHTS TO INDICATE IF POWER PLANT 4 IS ON OR OFF LINE, DIGITAL COUNTDOWN CLOCK, AND MILITARY-TIME CLOCK. - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Operations Building, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) in the L2 Classroom: The Impact of the UN's Off-the-Shelf Videogame, Food Force, on Learner Affect and Vocabulary Retention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hitosugi, Claire Ikumi; Schmidt, Matthew; Hayashi, Kentaro

2014-01-01

This mixed-method study explored the impact of "Food Force (FF)", a UN-sponsored off-the-shelf videogame, on learner affect and vocabulary learning and retention in a Japanese as a second/foreign language classroom. The videogame was integrated into an existing curriculum and two studies were performed. In Study 1 (n = 9), new vocabulary…

Magnetic force study for the helical afterburner for the European XFEL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Peng; Wei, Tao; Li, Yuhui; Pflueger, Joachim

2017-05-01

At present the SASE3 undulator line at the European XFEL is using a planar undulator producing linear polarized soft Xray radiation only. In order to satisfy the demand for circular polarized radiation a helical undulator system, the so-called afterburner is in construction. It will be operated as a radiator using the pre-bunched beam of the SASE3 undulator system. Among several options for the magnetic structure the Apple-X geometry was chosen. This is a pure permanent magnet undulator using NdFeB material. Four magnet arrays are arranged symmetrically the beam axis. Polarization can be changed by adjusting the phase shift (PS) between the two orthogonal structures. The field strength can be adjusted either by gap adjustment or alternatively by the amplitude shift (AS) scheme. For an engineering design the maximum values of forces and torques on each of the components under worst case operational conditions are important. The superposition principle is used to reduce calculation time. It is found that the maximum forces Fx, Fy and Fz for a 2m long Apple-X undulator are 1.8*104N, 2.4*104N and 2.3*104N, respectively. More results are presented in this paper.

Stretching of red blood cells by optical tweezers quantified by digital holographic microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardenas, Nelson; Yu, Lingfeng; Mohanty, Samarendra K.

2011-03-01

Red blood cells (RBC) possess unique viscoelastic characteristics which allow them to pass through capillaries narrower than their size. Measurement of viscoelastic property of cells (e.g. RBC) in low-force regime is of high significance as it represents conditions of membrane fluctuation in response to physiological conditions. Estimation of visco-elastic properties of RBC requires measurement of extent of deformation in RBC subjected to known force. Optical tweezers, being gentle and absolutely sterile, are emerging as the tool of choice for application of localized force on cells. However, stretching of RBC in very low force regime has not been quantified. Further, though deformations in transverse directions have been measured, vertical deformations due to stretching of cells cannot be quantified by classical microscopic images. Here, we report realization of offaxis digital holographic microscopy (DHM) for highly sensitive axial changes in RBC shape due to stretching by optical tweezers without attaching microscopic beads. The RBC was stretched in axial direction with nanometer precision by change of divergence of the trapping beam. The obtained deformation patterns were compared with the axial position of the tweezers focus. Since the pathophysiology of progression of diseases like malaria and cancer is reflected in the biophysical (both mechanical and material) properties of the cells, it is possible to identify the changes by simultaneous measurement of refractive index and elasticity using this approach.

Experiments with Coler magnetic current apparatus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ludwig, T.

Experiments with a replica of the famous Coler "Magnetstromapparat" (magnetic current apparatus) were conducted. The replica was built at the same institute at the Technical University of Berlin where the original was tested by Prof. Kloss in 1925. The details of the setup will be presented in this paper. The investigation of the Coler device was done with modern methods. The output was measured with a digital multi meter (DMM) and a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO). The results of the measurements will be presented. Did Coler convert vacuum fluctuations via magnetic, electric and acoustic resonance into electricity? There is a strong connection between magnetism and quantum field radiation energy. The magnetic moment of the electron is in part an energy exchange with the radiation field. The energy output of the Coler apparatus is measured. Furthermore the dynamics of the ferromagnetic magnets that Coler reported as the working principle of his device was investigated with magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and the spectroscopy mode of an atomic force microscope (AFM). The magnetic and acoustic resonance was investigated with magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The connection between ZPE and magnetism will be discussed as well as the perspective of using magnetic systems as a means to convert vacuum fluctuations into usable electricity.

Hazardous waste: Siting of storage facility at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1987-01-01

This report provides information on whether the hazardous waste storage facility at Kelly Air Force Base meets Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, state, and Air Force siting requirements; on whether the Air Force or the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office selected the best site available to protect the public and to preserve good public relations with the community; on whether the Air Force, Kelly Air Force Base, or the Defense Logistics Agency adjusted siting standards as a result of the adverse publicity the hazardous waste facility has generated; and on whether Kelly Air Force Base is revising its hazardous wastemore » management organization so that it is similar to the organizations at Tinker and McClellan Air Force Bases.« less

Force production in the rugby union scrum.

PubMed

Quarrie, K L; Wilson, B D

2000-04-01

In this study, we examined the relationship between anthropometric, strength and power characteristics of rugby forwards, their body position when scrummaging, and their ability to apply force when scrummaging. Force applied to an instrumented scrum machine was measured for 56 players, both individually and as scrum packs. Measurements of body position for individuals were made by digitizing videotape records of the trials. Forty players subsequently had their anthropometry assessed and completed several strength and power tests. Body mass, each component of somatotype, maximal anaerobic power developed on a cycle ergometer, and isokinetic knee extension strength correlated significantly with individual scrummaging force. A regression model (P < 0.001) including body mass, mesomorphy, maximal anaerobic power and hip angle while in the scrummaging position accounted for 45% of the variance in individual scrummaging force. The packs that produced the largest scrummaging forces were, in general, characterized by a greater pack force to sum of individual force ratio than the packs producing lower forces. Our results emphasize the need for a scrum pack to develop technique and coordination as a unit to maximize scrummaging force.

Empowering Students with Games-for-Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ensmann, Suzanne Y.

2017-01-01

Systemic sustainable change does not happen overnight but begins with the diffusion of knowledge and changing of attitudes (Rogers, 2010). Additionally, games can educate while adjusting attitudes (Gee, 2008; Jones, 2008). For these reasons, this project designed a Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) prototype to teach about the basic human rights…

40 CFR 86.001-28 - Compliance with emission standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...)(iii) of this section rounded to two significant figures in accordance with the Rounding-Off Method specified in ASTM E29-90, Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine... adjusted emission value of paragraph (b)(8)(iii) of this section rounded to two significant figures in...

40 CFR 86.001-28 - Compliance with emission standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...)(iii) of this section rounded to two significant figures in accordance with the Rounding-Off Method specified in ASTM E29-90, Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine... adjusted emission value of paragraph (b)(8)(iii) of this section rounded to two significant figures in...

40 CFR 86.001-28 - Compliance with emission standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...)(iii) of this section rounded to two significant figures in accordance with the Rounding-Off Method specified in ASTM E29-90, Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine... adjusted emission value of paragraph (b)(8)(iii) of this section rounded to two significant figures in...

Miniplate with a bendable C-tube head allows the clinician to alter biomechanical advantage without physically moving the skeletal anchorage device.

PubMed

Seo, Kyung-Won; Ahn, Hyo-Won; Kim, Seong-Hun; Chung, Kyu-Rhim; Nelson, Gerald

2014-01-01

This article introduces a binary function of a miniplate with a bendable C-tube head used in corticotomy-assisted segment intrusion. The advantage of the device is that the point of force application can be altered without having to move the miniplate or place an additional anchorage device. Cases for this study were selected from patients who received perisegmental corticotomy with compression osteogenesis (Speedy Surgical Orthodontics) for segmental intrusion. For the skeletal anchorage on patients who received Speedy Surgical Orthodontics for posterior segment intrusion to improve on severe open bite correction, the C-tube was placed on the buccal wall of the maxilla for traction of orthopedic force as a temporary skeletal anchorage. The C-tube head portion is made with titanium grade II, which makes bending easy with a Weingart plier. This adjustment regains distance and range needed to continue intrusion of posterior segment. As an alternative to orthognathic surgery to correct a severe open bite, perisegmental corticotomy combined with orthopedic force application from a temporary skeletal anchorage device can be used. The corticotomy-assisted segment intrusion is a 2-stage procedure: first, the corticotomy is performed in the palate and 2 weeks later in the buccal alveolus. A C-plate was placed in the midpalatal area, and a C-tube was placed apical to the buccal corticotomy site. Elastics were used with orthopedic forces to induce compression osteogenesis. As the intrusion took place, the elastic stretched, and resultant force and range in the buccal segment decreased. The C-tube head was adjusted by bending to gain more distance, reviving the elastic force on the posterior segment until desired intrusion was accomplished. The miniplate with a bendable C-tube head serves for temporary skeletal anchorage of orthopedic traction force to achieve segmental intrusion and has the advantage that the bendable head can be adjusted to improve the force application for intrusion without having to move or place another temporary skeletal anchorage device.

Data-Acquisition System With Remotely Adjustable Amplifiers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nurge, Mark A.; Larson, William E.; Hallberg, Carl G.; Thayer, Steven W.; Ake, Jeffrey C.; Gleman, Stuart M.; Thompson, David L.; Medelius, Pedro J.; Crawford, Wayne A.; Vangilder, Richard M.;

Applications Of Digital Image Acquisition In Anthropometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woolford, Barbara; Lewis, James L.

1981-10-01

Anthropometric data on reach and mobility have traditionally been collected by time consuming and relatively inaccurate manual methods. Three dimensional digital image acquisition promises to radically increase the speed and ease of data collection and analysis. A three-camera video anthropometric system for collecting position, velocity, and force data in real time is under development for the Anthropometric Measurement Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The use of a prototype of this system for collecting data on reach capabilities and on lateral stability is described. Two extensions of this system are planned.

Spectral colors capture and reproduction based on digital camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Defen; Huang, Qingmei; Li, Wei; Lu, Yang

2018-01-01

The purpose of this work is to develop a method for the accurate reproduction of the spectral colors captured by digital camera. The spectral colors being the purest color in any hue, are difficult to reproduce without distortion on digital devices. In this paper, we attempt to achieve accurate hue reproduction of the spectral colors by focusing on two steps of color correction: the capture of the spectral colors and the color characterization of digital camera. Hence it determines the relationship among the spectral color wavelength, the RGB color space of the digital camera device and the CIEXYZ color space. This study also provides a basis for further studies related to the color spectral reproduction on digital devices. In this paper, methods such as wavelength calibration of the spectral colors and digital camera characterization were utilized. The spectrum was obtained through the grating spectroscopy system. A photo of a clear and reliable primary spectrum was taken by adjusting the relative parameters of the digital camera, from which the RGB values of color spectrum was extracted in 1040 equally-divided locations. Calculated using grating equation and measured by the spectrophotometer, two wavelength values were obtained from each location. The polynomial fitting method for the camera characterization was used to achieve color correction. After wavelength calibration, the maximum error between the two sets of wavelengths is 4.38nm. According to the polynomial fitting method, the average color difference of test samples is 3.76. This has satisfied the application needs of the spectral colors in digital devices such as display and transmission.

Use of Standardized, Quantitative Digital Photography in a Multicenter Web-based Study

PubMed Central

Molnar, Joseph A.; Lew, Wesley K.; Rapp, Derek A.; Gordon, E. Stanley; Voignier, Denise; Rushing, Scott; Willner, William

2009-01-01

Objective: We developed a Web-based, blinded, prospective, randomized, multicenter trial, using standardized digital photography to clinically evaluate hand burn depth and accurately determine wound area with digital planimetry. Methods: Photos in each center were taken with identical digital cameras with standardized settings on a custom backdrop developed at Wake Forest University containing a gray, white, black, and centimeter scale. The images were downloaded, transferred via the Web, and stored on servers at the principal investigator's home institution. Color adjustments to each photo were made using Adobe Photoshop 6.0 (Adobe, San Jose, Calif). In an initial pilot study, model hands marked with circles of known areas were used to determine the accuracy of the planimetry technique. Two-dimensional digital planimetry using SigmaScan Pro 5.0 (SPSS Science, Chicago, Ill) was used to calculate wound area from the digital images. Results: Digital photography is a simple and cost-effective method for quantifying wound size when used in conjunction with digital planimetry (SigmaScan) and photo enhancement (Adobe Photoshop) programs. The accuracy of the SigmaScan program in calculating predetermined areas was within 4.7% (95% CI, 3.4%–5.9%). Dorsal hand burns of the initial 20 patients in a national study involving several centers were evaluated with this technique. Images obtained by individuals denying experience in photography proved reliable and useful for clinical evaluation and quantification of wound area. Conclusion: Standardized digital photography may be used quantitatively in a Web-based, multicenter trial of burn care. This technique could be modified for other medical studies with visual endpoints. PMID:19212431

Use of standardized, quantitative digital photography in a multicenter Web-based study.

PubMed

Molnar, Joseph A; Lew, Wesley K; Rapp, Derek A; Gordon, E Stanley; Voignier, Denise; Rushing, Scott; Willner, William

2009-01-01

We developed a Web-based, blinded, prospective, randomized, multicenter trial, using standardized digital photography to clinically evaluate hand burn depth and accurately determine wound area with digital planimetry. Photos in each center were taken with identical digital cameras with standardized settings on a custom backdrop developed at Wake Forest University containing a gray, white, black, and centimeter scale. The images were downloaded, transferred via the Web, and stored on servers at the principal investigator's home institution. Color adjustments to each photo were made using Adobe Photoshop 6.0 (Adobe, San Jose, Calif). In an initial pilot study, model hands marked with circles of known areas were used to determine the accuracy of the planimetry technique. Two-dimensional digital planimetry using SigmaScan Pro 5.0 (SPSS Science, Chicago, Ill) was used to calculate wound area from the digital images. Digital photography is a simple and cost-effective method for quantifying wound size when used in conjunction with digital planimetry (SigmaScan) and photo enhancement (Adobe Photoshop) programs. The accuracy of the SigmaScan program in calculating predetermined areas was within 4.7% (95% CI, 3.4%-5.9%). Dorsal hand burns of the initial 20 patients in a national study involving several centers were evaluated with this technique. Images obtained by individuals denying experience in photography proved reliable and useful for clinical evaluation and quantification of wound area. Standardized digital photography may be used quantitatively in a Web-based, multicenter trial of burn care. This technique could be modified for other medical studies with visual endpoints.

Age-related differences in postural adjustments in connection with different tasks involving weight transfer while standing.

PubMed

Jonsson, Erika; Henriksson, Marketta; Hirschfeld, Helga

2007-10-01

Weight transfer designed to change the area of the supportive base during the performance of three different motor tasks (one-leg stance, tandem stance and gait initiation) was examined both in healthy, physically active elderly people and younger adults. The former two tasks are balance tests used clinically. Our hypothesis was that the elderly subjects would demonstrate age-related changes in their postural adjustments that could be detected by analysis of the ground reaction forces. While 24 healthy elderly adults (65-77 years of age) and 26 younger adults (24-40 years of age) performed these three tasks, the ground reaction forces were recorded from two force plates. Prior to the onset of all three tasks, the elderly placed significantly more weight on the leg that was to provide support (the stance leg), than did the younger individuals. The analyses revealed two distinct phases of weight transfer, i.e., an initial thrust and a subsequent unloading phase. The elderly individuals exhibited a significantly longer unloading phase, as well as a higher frequency of peaks of vertical and lateral forces during this phase. Moreover, the maximal force rate during this phase was achieved at an earlier time point by the elderly. However, both groups generated forces of similar magnitudes and force rates. In conclusion, our findings indicate the presence of age-related differences in the temporal phasing of the ground reaction forces in all three of these tasks involving weight transfer, whereas the magnitude and rates of change of these forces are independent of age.

Geometrical modeling of complete dental shapes by using panoramic X-ray, digital mouth data and anatomical templates.

PubMed

Barone, Sandro; Paoli, Alessandro; Razionale, Armando Viviano

2015-07-01

In the field of orthodontic planning, the creation of a complete digital dental model to simulate and predict treatments is of utmost importance. Nowadays, orthodontists use panoramic radiographs (PAN) and dental crown representations obtained by optical scanning. However, these data do not contain any 3D information regarding tooth root geometries. A reliable orthodontic treatment should instead take into account entire geometrical models of dental shapes in order to better predict tooth movements. This paper presents a methodology to create complete 3D patient dental anatomies by combining digital mouth models and panoramic radiographs. The modeling process is based on using crown surfaces, reconstructed by optical scanning, and root geometries, obtained by adapting anatomical CAD templates over patient specific information extracted from radiographic data. The radiographic process is virtually replicated on crown digital geometries through the Discrete Radon Transform (DRT). The resulting virtual PAN image is used to integrate the actual radiographic data and the digital mouth model. This procedure provides the root references on the 3D digital crown models, which guide a shape adjustment of the dental CAD templates. The entire geometrical models are finally created by merging dental crowns, captured by optical scanning, and root geometries, obtained from the CAD templates. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Securing Digital Audio using Complex Quadratic Map

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryadi, MT; Satria Gunawan, Tjandra; Satria, Yudi

2018-03-01

In This digital era, exchanging data are common and easy to do, therefore it is vulnerable to be attacked and manipulated from unauthorized parties. One data type that is vulnerable to attack is digital audio. So, we need data securing method that is not vulnerable and fast. One of the methods that match all of those criteria is securing the data using chaos function. Chaos function that is used in this research is complex quadratic map (CQM). There are some parameter value that causing the key stream that is generated by CQM function to pass all 15 NIST test, this means that the key stream that is generated using this CQM is proven to be random. In addition, samples of encrypted digital sound when tested using goodness of fit test are proven to be uniform, so securing digital audio using this method is not vulnerable to frequency analysis attack. The key space is very huge about 8.1×l031 possible keys and the key sensitivity is very small about 10-10, therefore this method is also not vulnerable against brute-force attack. And finally, the processing speed for both encryption and decryption process on average about 450 times faster that its digital audio duration.

Seismic Monitoring of Stability of Unique Historical Buildings in the Czech Republic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broz, M.; Strunc, J.; Buben, J.

2008-05-01

The persistence of unique Historical Buildings is restricted due to weathering of construction material enhanced by meteorological processes such as storms, driving rain and temperature variations beneath the freezing point. Dynamic forces endangering the mechanical stability of exposed elements of building structures could be caused also by impacts of seismic waves. The long-time decrease of earthquake resistance is monitored using empirical functions of seismic response. This method is based on evaluation the co-spectra of exciting and forced vibrations of foundations and the structure elements in question. This poster notifies three examples of utilization of this method as follows: 1) In the course of renovating the St. Barbora temple in the Kutná Hora village, the vibrations caused by meteorological processes, supersonic aircraft transit and blasting in quarries have been evaluated. After completing the renovation of endangered spire elements, the local maximum of co-spectral function at 4Hz was shifted to 7Hz and the function approached more likely a wide-band course. 2) In the course of installation of the third bell in the bell tower of the of the Sázava monastery, the co-spectra of forced vibrations of tower walls were monitored and a more convenient time-function of bell clang was adjusted. 3) In connection with the construction of a highway tunnel in the 1,4 km distance from the St. Vit cathedral in the Praha-Hradèany castle, the long-term schedule of motoring seismic vibrations was started. In the course of driving the tunnels, the mili-sec blasting of charges up to 5 kg is used. Seismic vibrations are recorded by pickups situated on the subsoil and on the voussoir arch. The digital multichannel seismic recording apparatus (256 samples per sec) is equipped for continuous telemetric data transfer and automated evaluation. (Grant Foundation of the Czech Republic, 103/07/1522).

Analysis of Physical Collisions in Elite National Rugby League Match Play.

PubMed

Cummins, Cloe; Orr, Rhonda

2015-09-01

To investigate the impact forces of collision events during both attack and defense in elite rugby league match play and to compare the collision profiles between playing positions. 26 elite rugby league players. Player collisions were recorded using an integrated accelerometer in global positioning system units (SPI-Pro X, GPSports). Impact forces of collisions in attack (hit-ups) and defense (tackles) were analyzed from 359 files from outside backs (n = 78), adjustables (n = 97), wide-running forwards (n = 136), and hit-up forwards (n = 48) over 1 National Rugby League season. Hit-up forwards were involved in 0.8 collisions/min, significantly more than all other positional groups (wide-running forwards P = .050, adjustables P = .042, and outside backs P = .000). Outside backs experienced 25% fewer collisions per minute than hit-up forwards. Hit-up forwards experienced a collision within the 2 highest classifications of force (≥ 10 g) every 2.5 min of match play compared with 1 every 5 and 9 min for adjustables and outside backs, respectively. Hit-up forwards performed 0.5 tackles per minute of match play, 5 times that of outside backs (ES = 1.90; 95% CI [0.26,3.16]), and 0.2 hit-ups per minute of match play, twice as many as adjustables. During a rugby league match, players are exposed to a significant number of collision events. Positional differences exist, with hit-up and wide-running forwards experiencing greater collision events than adjustables and outside backs. Although these results may be unique to the individual team's defensive- and attacking-play strategies, they are indicative of the significant collision profiles in professional rugby league.

A digital beacon receiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ransome, Peter D.

1988-01-01

A digital satellite beacon receiver is described which provides measurement information down to a carrier/noise density ratio approximately 15 dB below that required by a conventional (phase locked loop) design. When the beacon signal fades, accuracy degrades gracefully, and is restored immediately (without hysteresis) on signal recovery, even if the signal has faded into the noise. Benefits of the digital processing approach used include the minimization of operator adjustments, stability of the phase measuring circuits with time, repeatability between units, and compatibility with equipment not specifically designed for propagation measuring. The receiver has been developed for the European Olympus satellite which has continuous wave (CW) beacons at 12.5 and 29.7 GHz, and a switched polarization beacon at 19.8 GHz approximately, but the system can be reconfigured for CW and polarization-switched beacons at other frequencies.

Behavioral assessment of adaptive feedback equalization in a digital hearing aid.

PubMed

French-St George, M; Wood, D J; Engebretson, A M

1993-01-01

An evaluation was made of the efficacy of a digital feedback equalization algorithm employed by the Central Institute for the Deaf Wearable Adaptive Digital Hearing Aid. Three questions were addressed: 1) Does acoustic feedback limit gain adjustments made by hearing aid users? 2) Does feedback equalization permit users with hearing-impairment to select more gain without feedback? and, 3) If more gain is used when feedback equalization is active, does word identification performance improve? Nine subjects with hearing impairment participated in the study. Results suggest that listeners with hearing impairment are indeed limited by acoustic feedback when listening to soft speech (55 dB A) in quiet. The average listener used an additional 4 dB gain when feedback equalization was active. This additional gain resulted in an average 10 rationalized arcsine units (RAU) improvement in word identification score.

The Need and Keys for a New Generation Network Adjustment Software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colomina, I.; Blázquez, M.; Navarro, J. A.; Sastre, J.

2012-07-01

Orientation and calibration of photogrammetric and remote sensing instruments is a fundamental capacity of current mapping systems and a fundamental research topic. Neither digital remote sensing acquisition systems nor direct orientation gear, like INS and GNSS technologies, made block adjustment obsolete. On the contrary, the continuous flow of new primary data acquisition systems has challenged the capacity of the legacy block adjustment systems - in general network adjustment systems - in many aspects: extensibility, genericity, portability, large data sets capacity, metadata support and many others. In this article, we concentrate on the extensibility and genericity challenges that current and future network systems shall face. For this purpose we propose a number of software design strategies with emphasis on rigorous abstract modeling that help in achieving simplicity, genericity and extensibility together with the protection of intellectual proper rights in a flexible manner. We illustrate our suggestions with the general design approach of GENA, the generic extensible network adjustment system of GeoNumerics.

Anticipatory postural adjustments and focal performance during bilateral forward-reach task under different stance conditions.

PubMed

Yiou, Eric; Mezaour, Malha; Le Bozec, Serge

2009-04-01

This study investigated how young healthy subjects control their equilibrium in situations of instability specifically elicited by a reduced capacity of force production in the postural muscle system. Ten subjects displaced a bar forward with both hands at maximal velocity toward a target while standing on the dominant leg (UNID), on the nondominant leg (UNIND), or on both legs. In each stance condition, anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) were elicited. Along the anteroposterior axis, APAs were two-times longer in UNID and UNIND than in bipedal stance, while the anticipatory inertia forces remained equivalent. The focal performance was maintained without any additive postural perturbation. A small effect of leg dominance could be detected on APAs along the mediolateral axis (i.e., anticipatory inertia forces were higher in UNIND than in UNID). These results stress the adaptability of the central nervous system to the instability specifically elicited by reduced postural muscle system efficiency.

Gravitational Force and the Cardiovascular System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pendergast, D. R.; Olszowka, A. J.; Rokitka, M. A.; Farhi, L. E.

1991-01-01

Cardiovascular responses to changes in gravitational force are considered. Man is ideally suited to his 1-g environment. Although cardiovascular adjustments are required to accommodate to postural changes and exercise, these are fully accomplished for short periods (min). More challenging stresses are those of short-term microgravity (h) and long-term microgravity (days) and of gravitational forces greater than that of Earth. The latter can be simulated in the laboratory and quantitative studies can be conducted.

Grip Force Adjustments Reflect Prediction of Dynamic Consequences in Varying Gravitoinertial Fields

PubMed Central

White, Olivier; Thonnard, Jean-Louis; Lefèvre, Philippe; Hermsdörfer, Joachim

2018-01-01

Humans have a remarkable ability to adjust the way they manipulate tools through a genuine regulation of grip force according to the task. However, rapid changes in the dynamical context may challenge this skill, as shown in many experimental approaches. Most experiments adopt perturbation paradigms that affect only one sensory modality. We hypothesize that very fast adaptation can occur if coherent information from multiple sensory modalities is provided to the central nervous system. Here, we test whether participants can switch between different and never experienced dynamical environments induced by centrifugation of the body. Seven participants lifted an object four times in a row successively in 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 2, 1.5, and 1 g. We continuously measured grip force, load force and the gravitoinertial acceleration that was aligned with body axis (perceived gravity). Participants adopted stereotyped grasping movements immediately upon entry in a new environment and needed only one trial to adapt grip forces to a stable performance in each new gravity environment. This result was underlined by good correlations between grip and load forces in the first trial. Participants predictively applied larger grip forces when they expected increasing gravity steps. They also decreased grip force when they expected decreasing gravity steps, but not as much as they could, indicating imperfect anticipation in that condition. The participants' performance could rather be explained by a combination of successful scaling of grip force according to gravity changes and a separate safety factor. The data suggest that in highly unfamiliar dynamic environments, grip force regulation is characterized by a combination of a successful anticipation of the experienced environmental condition, a safety factor reflecting strategic response to uncertainties about the environment and rapid feedback mechanisms to optimize performance under constant conditions. PMID:29527176

Multi-finger synergies and the muscular apparatus of the hand.

PubMed

Cuadra, Cristian; Bartsch, Angelo; Tiemann, Paula; Reschechtko, Sasha; Latash, Mark L

2018-05-01

We explored whether the synergic control of the hand during multi-finger force production tasks depends on the hand muscles involved. Healthy subjects performed accurate force production tasks and targeted force pulses while pressing against loops positioned at the level of fingertips, middle phalanges, and proximal phalanges. This varied the involvement of the extrinsic and intrinsic finger flexors. The framework of the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis was used to analyze the structure of inter-trial variance, motor equivalence, and anticipatory synergy adjustments prior to the force pulse in the spaces of finger forces and finger modes (hypothetical finger-specific control signals). Subjects showed larger maximal force magnitudes at the proximal site of force production. There were synergies stabilizing total force during steady-state phases across all three sites of force production; no differences were seen across the sites in indices of structure of variance, motor equivalence, or anticipatory synergy adjustments. Indices of variance, which did not affect the task (within the UCM), correlated with motor equivalent motion between the steady states prior to and after the force pulse; in contrast, variance affecting task performance did not correlate with non-motor equivalent motion. The observations are discussed within the framework of hierarchical control with referent coordinates for salient effectors at each level. The findings suggest that multi-finger synergies are defined at the level of abundant transformation between the low-dimensional hand level and higher dimensional finger level while being relatively immune to transformations between the finger level and muscle level. The results also support the scheme of control with two classes of neural variables that define referent coordinates and gains in back-coupling loops between hierarchical control levels.

FDTD approach to optical forces of tightly focused vector beams on metal particles.

PubMed

Qin, Jian-Qi; Wang, Xi-Lin; Jia, Ding; Chen, Jing; Fan, Ya-Xian; Ding, Jianping; Wang, Hui-Tian

2009-05-11

We propose an improved FDTD method to calculate the optical forces of tightly focused beams on microscopic metal particles. Comparison study on different kinds of tightly focused beams indicates that trapping efficiency can be altered by adjusting the polarization of the incident field. The results also show the size-dependence of trapping forces exerted on metal particles. Transverse tapping forces produced by different illumination wavelengths are also evaluated. The numeric simulation demonstrates the possibility of trapping moderate-sized metal particles whose radii are comparable to wavelength.

The impact of European Registers of Road Transport Undertakings on security and enforcement of the system of digital tachograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rychter, M.; Rychter, R.

2016-09-01

Secure digital tachograph system is indisputably a means having the great influence on road safety, enforcement of the social conditions for drivers in road transport as well as supporting the fair competition between road transport undertakings. In order to better monitor the compliance of road transport with the rules in force, inter alia the provisions on usage the digital tachographs, the European Union regulation introduces the European Registers of Road Transport Undertakings (ERRU), a system that allows a better exchange of information between Member States. The main purpose of this analysis is to present the measures for enforcement the execution of the provisions on obligation of installation and usage of digital tachographs in road transport and for improving the security of data recorded within digital tachograph system especially through exchange of the information on the most serious infringements committed by hauliers in any Member State, which may lead to the loss of good repute and the e-document engineering method used by the ERRU system.

Random harmonic analysis program, L221 (TEV156). Volume 1: Engineering and usage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, R. D.; Graham, M. L.

1979-01-01

A digital computer program capable of calculating steady state solutions for linear second order differential equations due to sinusoidal forcing functions is described. The field of application of the program, the analysis of airplane response and loads due to continuous random air turbulence, is discussed. Optional capabilities including frequency dependent input matrices, feedback damping, gradual gust penetration, multiple excitation forcing functions, and a static elastic solution are described. Program usage and a description of the analysis used are presented.

Cost-effectiveness of digital mammography breast cancer screening.

PubMed

Tosteson, Anna N A; Stout, Natasha K; Fryback, Dennis G; Acharyya, Suddhasatta; Herman, Benjamin A; Hannah, Lucy G; Pisano, Etta D

2008-01-01

The DMIST (Digital Mammography Imaging Screening Trial) reported improved breast cancer detection with digital mammography compared with film mammography in selected population subgroups, but it did not assess the economic value of digital relative to film mammography screening. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of digital mammography screening for breast cancer. Validated, discrete-event simulation model. Data from DMIST and publicly available U.S. data. U.S. women age 40 years or older. Lifetime. Societal and Medicare. All-film mammography screening; all-digital mammography screening; and targeted digital mammography screening, which is age-targeted digital mammography (for women <50 years of age) and age- and density-targeted digital mammography (for women <50 years of age or women > or =50 years of age with dense breasts). Cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. All-digital mammography screening cost $331,000 (95% CI, $268,000 to $403,000) per QALY gained relative to all-film mammography screening but was more costly and less effective than targeted digital mammography screening. Targeted digital mammography screening resulted in more screen-detected cases of cancer and fewer deaths from cancer than either all-film or all-digital mammography screening, with cost-effectiveness estimates ranging from $26,500 (CI, $21,000 to $33,000) per QALY gained for age-targeted digital mammography to $84,500 (CI, $75,000 to $93,000) per QALY gained for age- and density-targeted digital mammography. In the Medicare population, the cost-effectiveness of density-targeted digital mammography screening varied from a base-case estimate of $97,000 (CI, $77,000 to $131,000) to $257,000 per QALY gained (CI, $91,000 to $536,000) in the alternative-case analyses, in which the sensitivity of film mammography was increased and the sensitivity of digital mammography in women with nondense breasts was decreased. Results were sensitive to the cost of digital mammography and to the prevalence of dense breasts. Results were dependent on model assumptions and DMIST findings. Relative to film mammography, screening for breast cancer by using all-digital mammography is not cost-effective. Age-targeted screening with digital mammography seems cost-effective, whereas density-targeted screening strategies are more costly and of uncertain value, particularly among women age 65 years or older.

Assessing the Validity of Air Force Selection and Training Strategies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mumford, Michael D.; And Others

A study was undertaken to develop a system for predicting the impact of adjustments in aptitude requirements on outcomes (performance) in Air Force basic resident technical training. To accomplish this, a multivariate modeling approach was used. Initially, interviews were constructed within a variety of technical training programs to specify the…

Baroclinic Adjustment of the Eddy-Driven Jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novak, Lenka; Ambaum, Maarten H. P.; Harvey, Ben J.

2017-04-01

The prediction of poleward shift in the midlatitude eddy-driven jets due to anthropogenic climate change is now a robust feature of climate models, but the magnitude of this shift or the processes responsible for it are less certain. This uncertainty comes from the complex response in storm tracks to large-scale forcing and their nonlinear modulation of the jet. This study uses global circulation models to reveal a relationship between eddy growth rate (referred to as baroclinicity) and eddy activity, whereby baroclinicity responds most rapidly to an eddy-dissipating forcing whereas eddy activity responds most rapidly to a baroclinicity-replenishing forcing. This nonlinearity can be generally explained using a two-dimensional dynamical system essentially describing the baroclinic adjustment as a predator-prey relationship. Despite this nonlinearity, the barotropic changes in the eddy-driven jet appear to be of a comparable magnitude for the ranges of both types of forcing tested in this study. It is implied that while changes in eddy activity or baroclinicity may indicate the sign of latitudinal jet shifting, the precise magnitude of this shifting is a result of a balance between these two quantities.

[Effect of 2 methods of occlusion adjustment on occlusal balance and muscles of mastication in patient with implant restoration].

PubMed

Wang, Rong; Xu, Xin

2015-12-01

To compare the effect of 2 methods of occlusion adjustment on occlusal balance and muscles of mastication in patients with dental implant restoration. Twenty patients, each with a single edentulous posterior dentition with no distal dentition were selected, and divided into 2 groups. Patients in group A underwent original occlusion adjustment method and patients in group B underwent occlusal plane reduction technique. Ankylos implants were implanted in the edentulous space in each patient and restored with fixed prosthodontics single unit crown. Occlusion was adjusted in each restoration accordingly. Electromyograms were conducted to determine the effect of adjustment methods on occlusion and muscles of mastication 3 months and 6 months after initial restoration and adjustment. Data was collected and measurements for balanced occlusal measuring standards were obtained, including central occlusion force (COF), asymmetry index of molar occlusal force(AMOF). Balanced muscles of mastication measuring standards were also obtained including measurements from electromyogram for the muscles of mastication and the anterior bundle of the temporalis muscle at the mandibular rest position, average electromyogram measurements of the anterior bundle of the temporalis muscle at the intercuspal position(ICP), Astot, masseter muscle asymmetry index, and anterior temporalis asymmetry index (ASTA). Statistical analysis was performed using Student 's t test with SPSS 18.0 software package. Three months after occlusion adjustment, parameters of the original occlusion adjustment method were significantly different between group A and group B in balanced occlusal measuring standards and balanced muscles of mastication measuring standards. Six months after occlusion adjustment, parameters of the original occlusion adjustment methods were significantly different between group A and group B in balanced muscles of mastication measuring standards, but was no significant difference in balanced occlusal measuring standards. Using occlusion plane reduction adjustment technique, it is possible to obtain occlusion index and muscles of mastication's electromyogram index similar to the opposite side's natural dentition in patients with single unit fix prosthodontics crown and single posterior edentulous dentition without distal dentitions.

Fitts’ Law in Early Postural Adjustments

PubMed Central

Bertucco, M.; Cesari, P.; Latash, M.L

2012-01-01

We tested a hypothesis that the classical relation between movement time and index of difficulty (ID) in quick pointing action (Fitts’ Law) reflects processes at the level of motor planning. Healthy subjects stood on a force platform and performed quick and accurate hand movements into targets of different size located at two distances. The movements were associated with early postural adjustments that are assumed to reflect motor planning processes. The short distance did not require trunk rotation, while the long distance did. As a result, movements over the long distance were associated with substantiual Coriolis forces. Movement kinematics and contact forces and moments recorded by the platform were studied. Movement time scaled with ID for both movements. However, the data could not be fitted with a single regression: Movements over the long distance had a larger intercept corresponding to movement times about 140 ms longer than movements over the shorter distance. The magnitude of postural adjustments prior to movement initiation scaled with ID for both short and long distances. Our results provide strong support for the hypothesis that Fitts’ Law emerges at the level of motor planning, not at the level of corrections of ongoing movements. They show that, during natural movements, changes in movement distance may lead to changes in the relation between movement time and ID, for example when the contribution of different body segments to the movement varies and when the action of Coriolis force may require an additional correction of the movement trajectory. PMID:23211560

Relative performance of empirical and physical models in assessing the seasonal and annual glacier surface mass balance of Saint-Sorlin Glacier (French Alps)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Réveillet, Marion; Six, Delphine; Vincent, Christian; Rabatel, Antoine; Dumont, Marie; Lafaysse, Matthieu; Morin, Samuel; Vionnet, Vincent; Litt, Maxime

2018-04-01

This study focuses on simulations of the seasonal and annual surface mass balance (SMB) of Saint-Sorlin Glacier (French Alps) for the period 1996-2015 using the detailed SURFEX/ISBA-Crocus snowpack model. The model is forced by SAFRAN meteorological reanalysis data, adjusted with automatic weather station (AWS) measurements to ensure that simulations of all the energy balance components, in particular turbulent fluxes, are accurately represented with respect to the measured energy balance. Results indicate good model performance for the simulation of summer SMB when using meteorological forcing adjusted with in situ measurements. Model performance however strongly decreases without in situ meteorological measurements. The sensitivity of the model to meteorological forcing indicates a strong sensitivity to wind speed, higher than the sensitivity to ice albedo. Compared to an empirical approach, the model exhibited better performance for simulations of snow and firn melting in the accumulation area and similar performance in the ablation area when forced with meteorological data adjusted with nearby AWS measurements. When such measurements were not available close to the glacier, the empirical model performed better. Our results suggest that simulations of the evolution of future mass balance using an energy balance model require very accurate meteorological data. Given the uncertainties in the temporal evolution of the relevant meteorological variables and glacier surface properties in the future, empirical approaches based on temperature and precipitation could be more appropriate for simulations of glaciers in the future.

Tactility as a function of grasp force: Effects of glove, orientation, pressure, load, and handle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bishu, Ram R.; Bronkema, Lisa A.; Garcia, Dishayne; Klute, Glenn; Rajulu, Sudhakar

1994-01-01

One of the reasons for reduction in performance when gloves are donned is the lack of tactile sensitivity. It was argued that grasping force for a weight to be grasped will be a function of the weight to be lifted and the hand conditions. It was further reasoned that the differences in grasping force for various hand conditions will be a correlate of the tactile sensitivity of the corresponding hand conditions. The objective of this experiment, therefore, was to determine the effects of glove type, pressure, and weight of load on the initial grasping force and stable grasping force. It was hypothesized that when a person grasps an object, he/she grasps very firmly initially and then releases the grasp slightly after realizing what force is needed to maintain a steady grasp. This would seem to be particularly true when a person is wearing a glove and has lost some tactile sensitivity and force feedback during the grasp. Therefore, the ratio of initial force and stable force and the stable force itself would represent the amount of tactile adjustment that is made when picking up an object, and this adjustment should vary with the use of gloves. A dynamometer was fabricated to measure the grasping force; the tests were performed inside a glove box. Four female and four male subjects participated in the study, which measured the effects of four variables: load effect, gender effect, glove type, and pressure variance. The only significant effects on the peak and stable force were caused by gender and the weight of the load lifted. Neither gloves nor pressure altered these forces when compared to a bare-handed condition, as was suspected before the test. It is possible that gloves facilitate in holding due to coefficient of friction while they deter in peak grasp strength.

Radiative Forcing in the ACCMIP Historical and Future Climate Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shindell, Drew Todd; Lamarque, J.-F.; Schulz, M.; Flanner, M.; Jiao, C.; Chin, M.; Young, P. J.; Lee, Y. H.; Rotstayn, L.; Mahowald, N.;

New layer-based imaging and rapid prototyping techniques for computer-aided design and manufacture of custom dental restoration.

PubMed

Lee, M-Y; Chang, C-C; Ku, Y C

2008-01-01

Fixed dental restoration by conventional methods greatly relies on the skill and experience of the dental technician. The quality and accuracy of the final product depends mostly on the technician's subjective judgment. In addition, the traditional manual operation involves many complex procedures, and is a time-consuming and labour-intensive job. Most importantly, no quantitative design and manufacturing information is preserved for future retrieval. In this paper, a new device for scanning the dental profile and reconstructing 3D digital information of a dental model based on a layer-based imaging technique, called abrasive computer tomography (ACT) was designed in-house and proposed for the design of custom dental restoration. The fixed partial dental restoration was then produced by rapid prototyping (RP) and computer numerical control (CNC) machining methods based on the ACT scanned digital information. A force feedback sculptor (FreeForm system, Sensible Technologies, Inc., Cambridge MA, USA), which comprises 3D Touch technology, was applied to modify the morphology and design of the fixed dental restoration. In addition, a comparison of conventional manual operation and digital manufacture using both RP and CNC machining technologies for fixed dental restoration production is presented. Finally, a digital custom fixed restoration manufacturing protocol integrating proposed layer-based dental profile scanning, computer-aided design, 3D force feedback feature modification and advanced fixed restoration manufacturing techniques is illustrated. The proposed method provides solid evidence that computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies may become a new avenue for custom-made fixed restoration design, analysis, and production in the 21st century.

Cancer Cases from ACRIN Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial: Radiologist Analysis with Use of a Logistic Regression Model1

PubMed Central

Pisano, Etta D.; Acharyya, Suddhasatta; Cole, Elodia B.; Marques, Helga S.; Yaffe, Martin J.; Blevins, Meredith; Conant, Emily F.; Hendrick, R. Edward; Baum, Janet K.; Fajardo, Laurie L.; Jong, Roberta A.; Koomen, Marcia A.; Kuzmiak, Cherie M.; Lee, Yeonhee; Pavic, Dag; Yoon, Sora C.; Padungchaichote, Wittaya; Gatsonis, Constantine

2009-01-01

Purpose: To determine which factors contributed to the Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST) cancer detection results. Materials and Methods: This project was HIPAA compliant and institutional review board approved. Seven radiologist readers reviewed the film hard-copy (screen-film) and digital mammograms in DMIST cancer cases and assessed the factors that contributed to lesion visibility on both types of images. Two multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze the combined and condensed visibility ratings assigned by the readers to the paired digital and screen-film images. Results: Readers most frequently attributed differences in DMIST cancer visibility to variations in image contrast—not differences in positioning or compression—between digital and screen-film mammography. The odds of a cancer being more visible on a digital mammogram—rather than being equally visible on digital and screen-film mammograms—were significantly greater for women with dense breasts than for women with nondense breasts, even with the data adjusted for patient age, lesion type, and mammography system (odds ratio, 2.28; P < .0001). The odds of a cancer being more visible at digital mammography—rather than being equally visible at digital and screen-film mammography—were significantly greater for lesions imaged with the General Electric digital mammography system than for lesions imaged with the Fischer (P = .0070) and Fuji (P = .0070) devices. Conclusion: The significantly better diagnostic accuracy of digital mammography, as compared with screen-film mammography, in women with dense breasts demonstrated in the DMIST was most likely attributable to differences in image contrast, which were most likely due to the inherent system performance improvements that are available with digital mammography. The authors conclude that the DMIST results were attributable primarily to differences in the display and acquisition characteristics of the mammography devices rather than to reader variability. PMID:19703878

Men's Adjustment to Their Partners' Breast Cancer: A Dyadic Coping Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feldman, Barry N.; Broussard, Anne C.

2006-01-01

The continuing increase in cancer rates among women in the United States is forcing more men to experience the impact of breast cancer on their relationships. Using 71 male partners of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, this study assessed how dyadic coping strategies affected men's adjustment to their partners' illness. While their partners…

Demonization of Divorce: Prevalence Rates and Links to Postdivorce Adjustment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krumrei, Elizabeth J.; Mahoney, Annette; Pargament, Kenneth I.

2011-01-01

The meaning-making process can be crucial to individuals as they adjust to their divorce. Demonization is a negative coping response (also known as spiritual struggle) that involves appraising someone or something as related to demonic forces. Individuals may cognitively frame a divorce as the work of Satan in order to understand suffering while…

Comparison of White and Chinese perception of esthetic Chinese lip position.

PubMed

Chong, Hui Theng; Thea, Kim Wei; Descallar, Joseph; Chen, Yong; Dalci, Oyku; Wong, Ricky; Darendeliler, M Ali

2014-03-01

To compare the esthetic preference of White and Chinese judges with regard to Chinese lip position. The profile images of a dental and skeletal Class I Chinese adult male and female were digitally adjusted to Chinese mean values. The lip profile was adjusted with the upper and lower lip at the mean distance from the Ricketts' E-line. These images were used as baseline images and were further digitally manipulated to generate six additional images with the upper and lower lip such that they lay 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 standard deviations (SDs) in front of or behind the E-line. An additional image was modified based on a White mean value. The images were viewed and ranked by 251 White and Chinese judges (dentists and laypersons) in Australia and China. Significantly more Chinese judges ranked the retrusive profiles higher than the White judges. The White judges also ranked the profile image adjusted to -0.5 SD as the most esthetic for both the female and male, while the Chinese judges ranked the -1.0 SD profile as the most esthetic. The ethnicity of the judges is a significant factor influencing the perception of esthetic lip position. The Chinese judges prefer a more retrusive profile and are more likely to rate a protrusive profile as unacceptable, compared with the White judges.

A Self-Assessment Framework for Inclusive Schools Supporting Assistive Technology Users.

PubMed

Hoogerwerf, Evert-Jan; Solander-Gross, Andrea; Mavrou, Katerina; Traina, Ivan; Hersh, Marion

2017-01-01

In order to support schools to assess their performance in supporting children with disabilities in their ICT and ICT-AT needs, a self-assessment framework was developed by a task force of partners and associate partners of the ENTELIS project. The self-assessment tool aims to help educational establishments that welcome learners with disabilities to assess their current outcomes and to plan improvements in supporting these students in increasing digital literacy and developing digital skills. This includes the use of mainstream Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and specially designed digital Assistive Technologies (ICT-AT). This can only successfully happen if schools fully embrace an inclusive approach to education. In this paper the authors describe the development of the framework and the further steps for its use.

WE-A-17A-06: Evaluation of An Automatic Interstitial Catheter Digitization Algorithm That Reduces Treatment Planning Time and Provide Means for Adaptive Re-Planning in HDR Brachytherapy of Gynecologic Cancers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dise, J; Liang, X; Lin, L

Purpose: To evaluate an automatic interstitial catheter digitization algorithm that reduces treatment planning time and provide means for adaptive re-planning in HDR Brachytherapy of Gynecologic Cancers. Methods: The semi-automatic catheter digitization tool utilizes a region growing algorithm in conjunction with a spline model of the catheters. The CT images were first pre-processed to enhance the contrast between the catheters and soft tissue. Several seed locations were selected in each catheter for the region growing algorithm. The spline model of the catheters assisted in the region growing by preventing inter-catheter cross-over caused by air or metal artifacts. Source dwell positions frommore » day one CT scans were applied to subsequent CTs and forward calculated using the automatically digitized catheter positions. This method was applied to 10 patients who had received HDR interstitial brachytherapy on an IRB approved image-guided radiation therapy protocol. The prescribed dose was 18.75 or 20 Gy delivered in 5 fractions, twice daily, over 3 consecutive days. Dosimetric comparisons were made between automatic and manual digitization on day two CTs. Results: The region growing algorithm, assisted by the spline model of the catheters, was able to digitize all catheters. The difference between automatic and manually digitized positions was 0.8±0.3 mm. The digitization time ranged from 34 minutes to 43 minutes with a mean digitization time of 37 minutes. The bulk of the time was spent on manual selection of initial seed positions and spline parameter adjustments. There was no significance difference in dosimetric parameters between the automatic and manually digitized plans. D90% to the CTV was 91.5±4.4% for the manual digitization versus 91.4±4.4% for the automatic digitization (p=0.56). Conclusion: A region growing algorithm was developed to semi-automatically digitize interstitial catheters in HDR brachytherapy using the Syed-Neblett template. This automatic digitization tool was shown to be accurate compared to manual digitization.« less

Proposal of digital interface for the system of the air conditioner's remote control: analysis of the system of feedback.

PubMed

da Silva de Queiroz Pierre, Raisa; Kawada, Tarô Arthur Tavares; Fontes, André Guimarães

2012-01-01

Develop a proposal of digital interface for the system of the remote control, that functions as support system during the manipulation of air conditioner adjusted for the users in general, from ergonomic parameters, objectifying the reduction of the problems faced for the user and improving the process. 20 people with questionnaire with both qualitative and quantitative level. Linear Method consists of a sequence of steps in which the input of one of them depends on the output from the previous one, although they are independent. The process of feedback, when necessary, must occur within each step separately.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of position-controlled semi-active friction damper for seismic structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Lyan-Ywan; Lin, Tzu-Kang; Jheng, Rong-Jie; Wu, Hsin-Hsien

2018-01-01

A semi-active friction damper (SAFD) can be employed for the seismic protection of structural systems. The effectiveness of an SAFD in absorbing seismic energy is usually superior to that of its passive counterpart, since its slip force can be altered in real time according to structural response and excitation. Most existing SAFDs are controlled by adjusting the clamping force applied on the friction interface. Thus, the implementation of SAFDs in practice requires precision control of the clamping force, which is usually substantially larger than the slip force. This may increase the implementation complexity and cost of SAFDs. To avoid this problem, this study proposes a novel position-controlled SAFD, named the leverage-type controllable friction damper (LCFD). The LCFD system combines a traditional passive friction damper and a leverage mechanism with a movable central pivot. By simply controlling the pivot position, the damping force generated by the LCFD system can be adjusted in real time. In order to verify the feasibility of the proposed SAFD, a prototype LCFD was tested by using a shaking table. The test results demonstrate that the equivalent friction force and hysteresis loop of the LCFD can be regulated by controlling the pivot position. By considering 16 ground motions with two different intensities, the adaptive feature of the LCFD for seismic structural control is further demonstrated numerically.

Does Digital Handwriting of Instructors Using the iPad Enhance Student Learning?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Hyeon Woo; Lim, Kyu Yon

2013-01-01

Recently, projected electronic slides have been the most common tool used in classrooms. However, electronic projection slides, such as PowerPoint slides, do not provide sufficient flexibility to augment the displayed materials; therefore, instructors are not able to adjust their instruction instantly in response to the audience reaction and…

Stepping motor controller

DOEpatents

Bourret, S.C.; Swansen, J.E.

1982-07-02

A stepping motor is microprocessor controlled by digital circuitry which monitors the output of a shaft encoder adjustably secured to the stepping motor and generates a subsequent stepping pulse only after the preceding step has occurred and a fixed delay has expired. The fixed delay is variable on a real-time basis to provide for smooth and controlled deceleration.

Corpus Callosum Morphometrics in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boger-Megiddo, Inbal; Shaw, Dennis W. W.; Friedman, Seth D.; Sparks, Bobbi F.; Artru, Alan A.; Giedd, Jay N.; Dawson, Geraldine; Dager, Stephen R.

2006-01-01

This study assessed digital corpus callosum cross sectional areas in 3-4 year olds with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing (TD) and developmentally delayed (DD) children. Though not different in absolute size compared to TD, ASD callosums were disproportionately small adjusted for increased ASD cerebral volume. ASD…

Cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function in adults 30-59 years of age (NHANES III).

PubMed

Pavlik, Valory N; Hyman, David J; Doody, Rachelle

2005-01-01

In the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), three measures of cognitive function [Simple Reaction Time Test (SRTT), Symbol Digit Substitution Test (SDST), and Serial Digit Learning Test (SDLT)] were administered to a half-sample of 3,385 adult men and nonpregnant women 30-59 years of age with no history of stroke. We used multiple linear regression analysis to determine whether there was an independent association between performance on each cognitive function measure and defined hypertension (HTN) alone, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) alone, and coexistent HTN and DM after adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic variables and selected health behaviors. After adjustment for the sociodemographic variables, the combination of HTN + DM, but not HTN alone or DM alone, was significantly associated with worse performance on the SRTT (p = 0.031) and the SDST (p = 0.011). A similar pattern was observed for SDLT performance, but the relationship did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.101). We conclude that HTN in combination with DM is associated with detectable cognitive decrements in persons under age 60.

Cognitive and evoked response measures of information processing in schizophrenics with and without a family history of schizophrenia.

PubMed

Asarnow, R F; Cromwell, R L; Rennick, P M

1978-10-01

Twenty-four male schizophrenics, 12 (SFH) with schizophrenia in the immediate family and 12 (SNFH) with no evidence of schizophrenia in the family background, and 24 male control subjects, 12 highly educated (HEC), and 12 minimally educated (MEC), were assessed for premorbid social adjustment and were administered the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, a size estimation task, and the EEG average evoked response (AER) at different levels of stimulus intensity. As predicted from the stimulus redundancy formulation, the SFH patients were poorer in premorbid adjustment, were less often paranoid, functioned at a lower level of cognitive efficiency (poor digit symbol and greater absolute error on size estimation), were more chronic, and, in some respects, had size estimation indices of minimal scanning. Contrary to prediction, the SFH group had the strongest and most sustained augmenting response on AER, while the SNFH group shifted from an augmenting to a reducing pattern of response. The relationship between an absence of AER reducing and the presence of cognitive impairment in the SFH group was a major focus of discussion.

Design and evaluation of an architecture for a digital signal processor for instrumentation applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fellman, Ronald D.; Kaneshiro, Ronald T.; Konstantinides, Konstantinos

1990-03-01

The authors present the design and evaluation of an architecture for a monolithic, programmable, floating-point digital signal processor (DSP) for instrumentation applications. An investigation of the most commonly used algorithms in instrumentation led to a design that satisfies the requirements for high computational and I/O (input/output) throughput. In the arithmetic unit, a 16- x 16-bit multiplier and a 32-bit accumulator provide the capability for single-cycle multiply/accumulate operations, and three format adjusters automatically adjust the data format for increased accuracy and dynamic range. An on-chip I/O unit is capable of handling data block transfers through a direct memory access port and real-time data streams through a pair of parallel I/O ports. I/O operations and program execution are performed in parallel. In addition, the processor includes two data memories with independent addressing units, a microsequencer with instruction RAM, and multiplexers for internal data redirection. The authors also present the structure and implementation of a design environment suitable for the algorithmic, behavioral, and timing simulation of a complete DSP system. Various benchmarking results are reported.

A program for calculating load coefficient matrices utilizing the force summation method, L218 (LOADS). Volume 1: Engineering and usage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, R. D.; Anderson, L. R.

1979-01-01

The LOADS program L218, a digital computer program that calculates dynamic load coefficient matrices utilizing the force summation method, is described. The load equations are derived for a flight vehicle in straight and level flight and excited by gusts and/or control motions. In addition, sensor equations are calculated for use with an active control system. The load coefficient matrices are calculated for the following types of loads: translational and rotational accelerations, velocities, and displacements; panel aerodynamic forces; net panel forces; shears and moments. Program usage and a brief description of the analysis used are presented. A description of the design and structure of the program to aid those who will maintain and/or modify the program in the future is included.

A digital beamforming processor for the joint DoD/NASA space based radar mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fischman, Mark A.; Le, Charles; Rosen, Paul A.

2004-01-01

The Space Based Radar (SBR) program includes a joint technology demonstration between NASA and the Air Force to design a low-earth orbiting, 2x50 m L-band radar system for both Earth science and intelligence related observations.

Digital repeat analysis; setup and operation.

PubMed

Nol, J; Isouard, G; Mirecki, J

2006-06-01

Since the emergence of digital imaging, there have been questions about the necessity of continuing reject analysis programs in imaging departments to evaluate performance and quality. As a marketing strategy, most suppliers of digital technology focus on the supremacy of the technology and its ability to reduce the number of repeats, resulting in less radiation doses given to patients and increased productivity in the department. On the other hand, quality assurance radiographers and radiologists believe that repeats are mainly related to positioning skills, and repeat analysis is the main tool to plan training needs to up-skill radiographers. A comparative study between conventional and digital imaging was undertaken to compare outcomes and evaluate the need for reject analysis. However, digital technology still being at its early development stages, setting a credible reject analysis program became the major task of the study. It took the department, with the help of the suppliers of the computed radiography reader and the picture archiving and communication system, over 2 years of software enhancement to build a reliable digital repeat analysis system. The results were supportive of both philosophies; the number of repeats as a result of exposure factors was reduced dramatically; however, the percentage of repeats as a result of positioning skills was slightly on the increase for the simple reason that some rejects in the conventional system qualifying for both exposure and positioning errors were classified as exposure error. The ability of digitally adjusting dark or light images reclassified some of those images as positioning errors.

Analog-to-digital conversion techniques for precision photometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Opal, Chet B.

1988-01-01

Three types of analog-to-digital converters are described: parallel, successive-approximation, and integrating. The functioning of comparators and sample-and-hold amplifiers is explained. Differential and integral linearity are defined, and good and bad examples are illustrated. The applicability and relative advantages of the three types of converters for precision astronomical photometric measurements are discussed. For most measurements, integral linearity is more important than differential linearity. Successive-approximation converters should be used with multielement solid state detectors because of their high speed, but dual slope integrating converters may be superior for use with single element solid state detectors where speed of digitization is not a factor. In all cases, the input signal should be tailored so that they occupy the upper part of the converter's dynamic range; this can be achieved by providing adjustable gain, or better by varying the integration time of the observation if possible.

A fast-locking all-digital delay-locked loop for phase/delay generation in an FPGA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhujia, Chen; Haigang, Yang; Fei, Liu; Yu, Wang

2011-10-01

A fast-locking all-digital delay-locked loop (ADDLL) is proposed for the DDR SDRAM controller interface in a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The ADDLL performs a 90° phase-shift so that the data strobe (DQS) can enlarge the data valid window in order to minimize skew. In order to further reduce the locking time and to prevent the harmonic locking problem, a time-to-digital converter (TDC) is proposed. A duty cycle corrector (DCC) is also designed in the ADDLL to adjust the output duty cycle to 50%. The ADDLL, implemented in a commercial 0.13 μm CMOS process, occupies a total of 0.017 mm2 of active area. Measurement results show that the ADDLL has an operating frequency range of 75 to 350 MHz and a total delay resolution of 15 ps. The time interval error (TIE) of the proposed circuit is 60.7 ps.

Automated apparatus for producing gradient gels

DOEpatents

Anderson, N.L.

1983-11-10

Apparatus for producing a gradient gel which serves as a standard medium for a two-dimensional analysis of proteins, the gel having a density gradient along its height formed by a variation in gel composition, with the apparatus including first and second pumping means each including a plurality of pumps on a common shaft and driven by a stepping motor capable of providing small incremental changes in pump outputs for the gel ingredients, the motors being controlled, by digital signals from a digital computer, a hollow form or cassette for receiving the gel composition, means for transferring the gel composition including a filler tube extending near the bottom of the cassette, adjustable horizontal and vertical arms for automatically removing and relocating the filler tube in the next cassette, and a digital computer programmed to automatically control the stepping motors, arm movements, and associated sensing operations involving the filling operation.

Automated apparatus for producing gradient gels

DOEpatents

Anderson, Norman L.

1986-01-01

Apparatus for producing a gradient gel which serves as a standard medium for a two-dimensional analysis of proteins, the gel having a density gradient along its height formed by a variation in gel composition, with the apparatus including first and second pumping means each including a plurality of pumps on a common shaft and driven by a stepping motor capable of providing small incremental changes in pump outputs for the gel ingredients, the motors being controlled, by digital signals from a digital computer, a hollow form or cassette for receiving the gel composition, means for transferring the gel composition including a filler tube extending near the bottom of the cassette, adjustable horizontal and vertical arms for automatically removing and relocating the filler tube in the next cassette, and a digital computer programmed to automatically control the stepping motors, arm movements, and associated sensing operations involving the filling operation.

Micro-light-pipe array with an excitation attenuation filter for lensless digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takehara, Hironari; Nagasaki, Mizuki; Sasagawa, Kiyotaka; Takehara, Hiroaki; Noda, Toshihiko; Tokuda, Takashi; Ohta, Jun

2016-03-01

Digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used for detecting various biomarkers with hypersensitivity. We have been developing compact systems by replacing the fluorescence microscope with a CMOS image sensor. Here, we propose a micro-light-pipe array structure made of metal filled with dye-doped resin, which can be used as a fabrication substrate of the micro-reaction-chamber array of digital ELISA. The possibility that this structure enhances the coupling efficiency for fluorescence was simulated using a simple model. To realize the structure, we fabricated a 30-µm-thick micropipe array by copper electroplating around a thick photoresist pattern. The typical diameter of each fabricated micropipe was 10 µm. The pipes were filled with yellow-dye-doped epoxy resin. The transmittance ratio of fluorescence and excitation light could be controlled by adjusting the doping concentration. We confirmed that an angled excitation light incidence suppressed the leakage of excitation light.

Analog-to-digital conversion to accommodate the dynamics of live music in hearing instruments.

PubMed

Hockley, Neil S; Bahlmann, Frauke; Fulton, Bernadette

2012-09-01

Hearing instrument design focuses on the amplification of speech to reduce the negative effects of hearing loss. Many amateur and professional musicians, along with music enthusiasts, also require their hearing instruments to perform well when listening to the frequent, high amplitude peaks of live music. One limitation, in most current digital hearing instruments with 16-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, is that the compressor before the A/D conversion is limited to 95 dB (SPL) or less at the input. This is more than adequate for the dynamic range of speech; however, this does not accommodate the amplitude peaks present in live music. The hearing instrument input compression system can be adjusted to accommodate for the amplitudes present in music that would otherwise be compressed before the A/D converter in the hearing instrument. The methodology behind this technological approach will be presented along with measurements to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Digital integrated control of a Mach 2.5 mixed-compression supersonic inlet and an augmented mixed-flow turbofan engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Batterton, P. G.; Arpasi, D. J.; Baumbick, R. J.

1974-01-01

A digitally implemented integrated inlet-engine control system was designed and tested on a mixed-compression, axisymmetric, Mach 2.5, supersonic inlet with 45 percent internal supersonic area contraction and a TF30-P-3 augmented turbofan engine. The control matched engine airflow to available inlet airflow. By monitoring inlet terminal shock position and over-board bypass door command, the control adjusted engine speed so that in steady state, the shock would be at the desired location and the overboard bypass doors would be closed. During engine-induced transients, such as augmentor light-off and cutoff, the inlet operating point was momentarily changed to a more supercritical point to minimize unstarts. The digital control also provided automatic inlet restart. A variable inlet throat bleed control, based on throat Mach number, provided additional inlet stability margin.

An Evaluation of Multiple Perceptions of Digital Rights Management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stott, Allyn D.; Taneja, Aakash

Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions have generated much interest because of their influence on the expectations and responsibilities of customers and related organizations. It was created to restrict piracy and enhance digital media sales, however, it is found to be unable to fulfill its objectives. We find the protections by DRM lack an understanding of the end user and the evolving nature of copyright and fair use. The potential motives for pirating appear to increase as DRM becomes more intrusive causing a conflict in the objectives of DRM. Thus, adjustments must be made to the current DRM model in order for it to become beneficial for both the producer and the consumer. Our research identifies the needs, desires, and responsibilities of the various DRM stakeholders so that a successful use of DRM technologies can be modeled: a challenge faced by the media industry.

STS-48 ESC image of the MODE-01 Fluid Test Article (FTA) on OV-103's middeck

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

An electronic still camera (ESC) closeup shows the STS-48 Middeck Zero ('0') Gravity Dynamics Experiment 01 (MODE-01) Fluid Test Article (FTA) attached to an experimental support module (ESM) located in a forward middeck locker onboard the earth-orbiting Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103. The FTA is a 3.1-cm diameter cylindrical sealed Lexan tank. The FTA electromagnetic actuator has excited the test article sinusoidally, which causes the fluid inside the tank to slosh. These slosh forces, along with other data such as acceleration levels of the entire assembly, are measured by the force balance and recorded in digital form on an optical disk for later ground analysis. Crewmembers were testing the ESC as part of Development Test Objective (DTO) 648, Electronic Still Photography. The digital image was stored on a removable hard disk or small optical disk, and could be converted to a format suitable for downlink transmission. The ESC is making its initial appearance on this Space Shutt

Clinical Applications of 3D Printing: Primer for Radiologists.

PubMed

Ballard, David H; Trace, Anthony Paul; Ali, Sayed; Hodgdon, Taryn; Zygmont, Matthew E; DeBenedectis, Carolynn M; Smith, Stacy E; Richardson, Michael L; Patel, Midhir J; Decker, Summer J; Lenchik, Leon

2018-01-01

Three-dimensional (3D) printing refers to a number of manufacturing technologies that create physical models from digital information. Radiology is poised to advance the application of 3D printing in health care because our specialty has an established history of acquiring and managing the digital information needed to create such models. The 3D Printing Task Force of the Radiology Research Alliance presents a review of the clinical applications of this burgeoning technology, with a focus on the opportunities for radiology. Topics include uses for treatment planning, medical education, and procedural simulation, as well as patient education. Challenges for creating custom implantable devices including financial and regulatory processes for clinical application are reviewed. Precedent procedures that may translate to this new technology are discussed. The task force identifies research opportunities needed to document the value of 3D printing as it relates to patient care. Copyright © 2018 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Skin surface and sub-surface strain and deformation imaging using optical coherence tomography and digital image correlation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, X.; Maiti, R.; Liu, X.; Gerhardt, L. C.; Lee, Z. S.; Byers, R.; Franklin, S. E.; Lewis, R.; Matcher, S. J.; Carré, M. J.

2016-03-01

Bio-mechanical properties of the human skin deformed by external forces at difference skin/material interfaces attract much attention in medical research. For instance, such properties are important design factors when one designs a healthcare device, i.e., the device might be applied directly at skin/device interfaces. In this paper, we investigated the bio-mechanical properties, i.e., surface strain, morphological changes of the skin layers, etc., of the human finger-pad and forearm skin as a function of applied pressure by utilizing two non-invasive techniques, i.e., optical coherence tomography (OCT) and digital image correlation (DIC). Skin deformation results of the human finger-pad and forearm skin were obtained while pressed against a transparent optical glass plate under the action of 0.5-24 N force and stretching naturally from 90° flexion to 180° full extension respectively. The obtained OCT images showed the deformation results beneath the skin surface, however, DIC images gave overall information of strain at the surface.

Applications of digital image acquisition in anthropometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woolford, B.; Lewis, J. L.

1981-01-01

A description is given of a video kinesimeter, a device for the automatic real-time collection of kinematic and dynamic data. Based on the detection of a single bright spot by three TV cameras, the system provides automatic real-time recording of three-dimensional position and force data. It comprises three cameras, two incandescent lights, a voltage comparator circuit, a central control unit, and a mass storage device. The control unit determines the signal threshold for each camera before testing, sequences the lights, synchronizes and analyzes the scan voltages from the three cameras, digitizes force from a dynamometer, and codes the data for transmission to a floppy disk for recording. Two of the three cameras face each other along the 'X' axis; the third camera, which faces the center of the line between the first two, defines the 'Y' axis. An image from the 'Y' camera and either 'X' camera is necessary for determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the point.

Evaluation of the Accuracy and Related Factors of the Mechanical Torque-Limiting Device for Dental Implants

PubMed Central

Kazemi, Mahmood; Rohanian, Ahmad; Monzavi, Abbas; Nazari, Mohammad Sadegh

2013-01-01

Objective: Accurate delivery of torque to implant screws is critical to generate ideal preload in the screw joint and to offer protection against screw loosening. Mechanical torque-limiting devices (MTLDs) are available for this reason. In this study, the accuracy of one type of friction-style and two types of spring-style MTLDs at baseline, following fatigue conditions and sterilization processes were determined. Materials and Methods: Five unused MTLDs were selected from each of Straumann (ITI), Astra TECH and CWM systems. To measure the output of each MTLD, a digital torque gauge with a 3-jaw chuck was used to hold the driver. Force was applied to the MTLDs until either the friction styles released at a pre-calibrated torque value or the spring styles flexed to a pre-calibrated limit (target torque value). The peak torque value was recorded and the procedure was repeated 5 times for each MTLD. Then MTLDs were subjected to fatigue conditions at 500 and 1000 times and steam sterilization processes at 50 and 100 times and the peak torque value was recorded again at each stage. Results: Adjusted difference between measured torque values and target torque values differed significantly between stages for all 3 systems. Adjusted difference did not differ significantly between systems at all stages, but differed significantly between two different styles at baseline and 500 times fatigue stages. Conclusion: Straumann (ITI) devices differed minimally from target torque values at all stages. MTLDs with Spring-style were significantly more accurate than Friction-style device in achieving their target torque values at baseline and 500 times fatigue. PMID:23724209

[Rationale, design and methodology of physical attributes identification of the fear of falling syndrome (FISTAC study)].

PubMed

Esbrí Víctor, Mariano; Huedo Rodenas, Isabel; López Utiel, Melisa; Martínez Reig, Marta; López Jiménez, Esther; Herizo Muñoz, María Ángeles; Sánchez Nievas, Ginés; Abizanda Soler, Pedro

The aim of this study was to identify the physical determining factors of the Fear of Falling Syndrome (FoF) in older adults with a history of falls. An observational study was conducted on 183 subjects older than 64 years with a fall in the previous year, with data collected from the geriatrics outpatient clinic of the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario from Albacete, Spain. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, as well as comorbidity, drugs usually taken, functional status, physical function, frailty, cognitive and affective status were collected. Muscle mass was measured using bioimpedancy meter (BIA), and densitometry (DXA), strength with digital hand-held JAMAR dynamometer and with a Leg-press machine, muscle potency with a T-Force instrument, gait variability with the Gait-Rite instrument, and postural stability with the Neurocom Balance Master posturograph were also determined. An analysis was performed to determine if the FoF is associated with physical impairments adjusted for the study covariates. The study included 140 subjects with FoF, and 43 without it. The mean age was 78.4 years, and 147 were women. Posturography could be measured in 182 participants, DXA in 117, BIA in 165, and muscle potency in 146. FoF was associated with female sex, frailty, depressed mood, social risk, muscle strength and power, physical function, number of drugs used, and orthostatic hypotension in the overall sample. After adjusting for sex, only frailty, depressed mood, and number of drugs remained associated. Rationale, design, and methods of the FISTAC study are presented. Copyright © 2016 SEGG. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Parameter estimation and statistical analysis on frequency-dependent active control forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Tau Meng; Cheng, Shanbao

2007-07-01

The active control forces of an active magnetic bearing (AMB) system are known to be frequency dependent in nature. This is due to the frequency-dependent nature of the AMB system, i.e. time lags in sensors, digital signal processing, amplifiers, filters, and eddy current and hysteresis losses in the electromagnetic coils. The stiffness and damping coefficients of these control forces can be assumed to be linear for small limit of perturbations within the air gap. Numerous studies have also attempted to estimate these coefficients directly or indirectly without validating the model and verifying the results. This paper seeks to address these issues, by proposing a one-axis electromagnetic suspension system to simplify the measurement requirements and eliminate the possibility of control force cross-coupling capabilities. It also proposes an on-line frequency domain parameter estimation procedure with statistical information to provide a quantitative measure for model validation and results verification purposes. This would lead to a better understanding and a design platform for optimal vibration control scheme for suspended system. This is achieved by injecting Schroeder Phased Harmonic Sequences (SPHS), a multi-frequency test signal, to persistently excite all possible suspended system modes. By treating the system as a black box, the parameter estimation of the "actual" stiffness and damping coefficients in the frequency domain are realised experimentally. The digitally implemented PID controller also facilitated changes on the feedback gains, and this allowed numerous system response measurements with their corresponding estimated stiffness and damping coefficients.

[Chinese medicine industry 4.0：advancing digital pharmaceutical manufacture toward intelligent pharmaceutical manufacture].

PubMed

Cheng, Yi-Yu; Qu, Hai-Bin; Zhang, Bo-Li

2016-01-01

A perspective analysis on the technological innovation in pharmaceutical engineering of Chinese medicine unveils a vision on "Future Factory" of Chinese medicine industry in mind. The strategy as well as the technical roadmap of "Chinese medicine industry 4.0" is proposed, with the projection of related core technology system. It is clarified that the technical development path of Chinese medicine industry from digital manufacture to intelligent manufacture. On the basis of precisely defining technical terms such as process control, on-line detection and process quality monitoring for Chinese medicine manufacture, the technical concepts and characteristics of intelligent pharmaceutical manufacture as well as digital pharmaceutical manufacture are elaborated. Promoting wide applications of digital manufacturing technology of Chinese medicine is strongly recommended. Through completely informationized manufacturing processes and multi-discipline cluster innovation, intelligent manufacturing technology of Chinese medicine should be developed, which would provide a new driving force for Chinese medicine industry in technology upgrade, product quality enhancement and efficiency improvement. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Feasibility of a GNSS-Probe for Creating Digital Maps of High Accuracy and Integrity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vartziotis, Dimitris; Poulis, Alkis; Minogiannis, Alexandros; Siozos, Panayiotis; Goudas, Iraklis; Samson, Jaron; Tossaint, Michel

The “ROADSCANNER” project addresses the need for increased accuracy and integrity Digital Maps (DM) utilizing the latest developments in GNSS, in order to provide the required datasets for novel applications, such as navigation based Safety Applications, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Digital Automotive Simulations. The activity covered in the current paper is the feasibility study, preliminary tests, initial product design and development plan for an EGNOS enabled vehicle probe. The vehicle probe will be used for generating high accuracy, high integrity and ADAS compatible digital maps of roads, employing a multiple passes methodology supported by sophisticated refinement algorithms. Furthermore, the vehicle probe will be equipped with pavement scanning and other data fusion equipment, in order to produce 3D road surface models compatible with standards of road-tire simulation applications. The project was assigned to NIKI Ltd under the 1st Call for Ideas in the frame of the ESA - Greece Task Force.

Flight Test Results for the F-16XL With a Digital Flight Control System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stachowiak, Susan J.; Bosworth, John T.

2004-01-01

In the early 1980s, two F-16 airplanes were modified to extend the fuselage length and incorporate a large area delta wing planform. These two airplanes, designated the F-16XL, were designed by the General Dynamics Corporation (now Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems) (Fort Worth, Texas) and were prototypes for a derivative fighter evaluation program conducted by the United States Air Force. Although the concept was never put into production, the F-16XL prototypes provided a unique planform for testing concepts in support of future high-speed supersonic transport aircraft. To extend the capabilities of this testbed vehicle the F-16XL ship 1 aircraft was upgraded with a digital flight control system. The added flexibility of a digital flight control system increases the versatility of this airplane as a testbed for aerodynamic research and investigation of advanced technologies. This report presents the handling qualities flight test results covering the envelope expansion of the F-16XL with the digital flight control system.

Discrete-time stability of continuous-time controller designs for large space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balas, M. J.

1982-01-01

In most of the stable control designs for flexible structures, continuous time is assumed. However, in view of the implementation of the controllers by on-line digital computers, the discrete-time stability of such controllers is an important consideration. In the case of direct-velocity feedback (DVFB), involving negative feedback from collocated force actuators and velocity sensors, it is not immediately apparent how much delay due to digital implementation of DVFB can be tolerated without loss of stability. The present investigation is concerned with such questions. A study is conducted of the discrete-time stability of DVFB, taking into account an employment of Euler's method of approximation of the time derivative. The obtained result gives an indication of the acceptable time-step size for stable digital implementation of DVFB. A result derived in connection with the consideration of the discrete-time stability of stable continuous-time systems provides a general condition under which digital implementation of such a system will remain stable.

Group 1 Type: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as a Force Multiplier to the Fire Support Team

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-03

2 History ........ : ............................................................. : ...................... 4 The...observer team will effectively put rounds on target with fewer adjustments and better accuracy for first round fire for effect in situations where the...Vision and Strategy 2025 publication,3 We will pursue developments with unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) to widen the force size multiplying

Planning for Reduction in Force in Institutions of Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Westerman, Melvin Elliott

A description of reduction in force (RIF) planning as undertaken by Pennsylvania State University is presented. It is suggested that because a university is a system, adjustments to personnel functions must follow systemic rationale to be successful. It is proposed that RIF olanning is a personnel planning process that can be evaluated by using…

An Empirical System for Assessing the Impact of Aptitude Requirement Adjustments on Air Force Initial Skills Training.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mumford, Michael D.; And Others

A multivariate modeling approach was developed to assess the impact of changes in aptitude requirement minimums on U.S. Air Force technical training outcomes. Initially, interviews were conducted with technical training personnel to identify significant student inputs, course content, and training outcome variables. Measures of these variables…