Abstract: In this work a surgical simulator is produced which
enables a training otologist to conduct a virtual, real-time prosthetic
insertion. The simulator provides the Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon
with real-time visual and haptic responses during virtual cochlear
implantation into a 3D model of the human Scala Tympani (ST). The
parametric model is derived from measured data as published in the
literature and accounts for human morphological variance, such as
differences in cochlear shape, enabling patient-specific pre- operative
assessment. Haptic modeling techniques use real physical data and
insertion force measurements, to develop a force model which
mimics the physical behavior of an implant as it collides with the ST
walls during an insertion. Output force profiles are acquired from the
insertion studies conducted in the work, to validate the haptic model.
The simulator provides the user with real-time, quantitative insertion
force information and associated electrode position as user inserts the
virtual implant into the ST model. The information provided by this
study may also be of use to implant manufacturers for design
enhancements as well as for training specialists in optimal force
administration, using the simulator. The paper reports on the methods
for anatomical modeling and haptic algorithm development, with
focus on simulator design, development, optimization and validation.
The techniques may be transferrable to other medical applications
that involve prosthetic device insertions where user vision is
obstructed.
Abstract: Undoubtedly, chassis is one of the most important
parts of a vehicle. Chassis that today are produced for vehicles are
made up of four parts. These parts are jointed together by screwing.
Transverse parts are called cross member.
This study reviews the stress generated by cyclic laboratory loads
in front cross member of Peugeot 405. In this paper the finite element
method is used to simulate the welding process and to determine the
physical response of the spot-welded joints. Analysis is done by the
Abaqus software.
The Stresses generated in cross member structure are generally
classified into two groups: The stresses remained in form of residual
stresses after welding process and the mechanical stress generated by
cyclic load. Accordingly the total stress must be obtained by
determining residual stress and mechanical stress separately and then
sum them according to the superposition principle.
In order to improve accuracy, material properties including
physical, thermal and mechanical properties were supposed to be
temperature-dependent. Simulation shows that maximum Von Misses
stresses are located at special points. The model results are then
compared to the experimental results which are reported by
producing factory and good agreement is observed.
Abstract: The fundamental defect inherent to the thermoforming
technology is wall-thickness variation of the products due to
inadequate thermal processing during production of polymer. A
nonlinear viscoelastic rheological model is implemented for
developing the process model. This model describes deformation
process of a sheet in thermoforming process. Because of relaxation
pause after plug-assist stage and also implementation of two stage
thermoforming process have minor wall-thickness variation and
consequently better mechanical properties of polymeric articles. For
model validation, a comparative analysis of the theoretical and
experimental data is presented.
Abstract: The oil and gas industry has moved towards Load and
Resistance Factor Design through API RP2A - LRFD and the
recently published international standard, ISO-19902, for design of
fixed steel offshore structures. The ISO 19902 is intended to provide
a harmonized design practice that offers a balanced structural fitness
for the purpose, economy and safety. As part of an ongoing work, the
reliability analysis of tubular joints of the jacket structure has been
carried out to calibrate the load and resistance factors for the design
of offshore platforms in Malaysia, as proposed in the ISO.
Probabilistic models have been established for the load effects (wave,
wind and current) and the tubular joints strengths. In this study the
First Order Reliability Method (FORM), coded in MATLAB
Software has been employed to evaluate the reliability index of the
typical joints, designed using API RP2A - WSD and ISO 19902.
Abstract: Color constancy algorithms are generally based on the
simplified assumption about the spectral distribution or the reflection
attributes of the scene surface. However, in reality, these assumptions
are too restrictive. The methodology is proposed to extend existing
algorithm to applying color constancy locally to image patches rather
than globally to the entire images.
In this paper, a method based on low-level image features using
superpixels is proposed. Superpixel segmentation partition an image
into regions that are approximately uniform in size and shape. Instead
of using entire pixel set for estimating the illuminant, only superpixels
with the most valuable information are used. Based on large scale
experiments on real-world scenes, it can be derived that the estimation
is more accurate using superpixels than when using the entire image.
Abstract: Short term electricity demand forecasts are required
by power utilities for efficient operation of the power grid. In a
competitive market environment, suppliers and large consumers also
require short term forecasts in order to estimate their energy
requirements in advance. Electricity demand is influenced (among
other things) by the day of the week, the time of year and special
periods and/or days such as Ramadhan, all of which must be
identified prior to modelling. This identification, known as day-type
identification, must be included in the modelling stage either by
segmenting the data and modelling each day-type separately or by
including the day-type as an input. Day-type identification is the
main focus of this paper. A Kohonen map is employed to identify the
separate day-types in Algerian data.
Abstract: In projects like waterpower, transportation and
mining, etc., proving up the rock-mass structure and hidden tectonic
to estimate the geological body-s activity is very important.
Integrating the seismic results, drilling and trenching data,
CSAMT method was carried out at a planning dame site in southwest
China to evaluate the stability of a deformation. 2D and imitated 3D
inversion resistivity results of CSAMT method were analyzed. The
results indicated that CSAMT was an effective method for defining
an outline of deformation body to several hundred meters deep; the
Lung Pan Deformation was stable in natural conditions; but uncertain
after the future reservoir was impounded.
This research presents a good case study of the fine surveying and
research on complex geological structure and hidden tectonic in
engineering project.
Abstract: Dr Eliyahu Goldratt has done the pioneering work in
the development of Theory of Constraints. Since then, many more
researchers around the globe are working to enhance this body of
knowledge. In this paper, an attempt has been made to compile the
salient features of this theory from the work done by Goldratt and
other researchers. This paper will provide a good starting point to the
potential researchers interested to work in Theory of Constraints. The
paper will also help the practicing managers by clarifying their
concepts on the theory and will facilitate its successful
implementation in their working areas.
Abstract: As the trend of manufacturing is being dominated depending on services, products and processes are more and more related with sophisticated services. Thus, this research starts with the discussion about integration of the product, process, and service in the innovation process. In particular, this paper sets out some foundations for a theory of service innovation in the field of manufacturing, and proposes the dynamic model of service innovation related to product and process. Two dynamic models of service innovation are suggested to investigate major tendencies and dynamic variations during the innovation cycle: co-innovation and sequential innovation. To structure dynamic models of product, process, and service innovation, the innovation stages in which two models are mainly achieved are identified. The research would encourage manufacturers to formulate strategy and planning for service development with product and process.
Abstract: Bone remodeling occurs by the balanced action of
bone resorbing osteoclasts (OC) and bone-building osteoblasts.
Increased bone resorption by excessive OC activity contributes
to malignant and non-malignant diseases including osteoporosis.
To study OC differentiation and function, OC formed in
in vitro cultures are currently counted manually, a tedious
procedure which is prone to inter-observer differences. Aiming
for an automated OC-quantification system, classification of
OC and precursor cells was done on fluorescence microscope
images based on the distinct appearance of fluorescent nuclei.
Following ellipse fitting to nuclei, a combination of eight
features enabled clustering of OC and precursor cell nuclei.
After evaluating different machine-learning techniques, LOGREG
achieved 74% correctly classified OC and precursor cell
nuclei, outperforming human experts (best expert: 55%). In
combination with the automated detection of total cell areas,
this system allows to measure various cell parameters and most
importantly to quantify proteins involved in osteoclastogenesis.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel improvement for the generalized Lloyd Algorithm (GLA). Our algorithm makes use of an M-tree index built on the codebook which makes it possible to reduce the number of distance computations when the nearest code words are searched. Our method does not impose the use of any specific distance function, but works with any metric distance, making it more general than many other fast GLA variants. Finally, we present the positive results of our performance experiments.
Abstract: A new digital transceiver circuit for asynchronous frame detection is proposed where both the transmitter and receiver contain all digital components, thereby avoiding possible use of conventional devices like monostable multivibrators with unstable external components such as resistances and capacitances. The proposed receiver circuit, in particular, uses a combinational logic block yielding an output which changes its state as soon as the start bit of a new frame is detected. This, in turn, helps in generating an efficient receiver sampling clock. A data latching circuit is also used in the receiver to latch the recovered data bits in any new frame. The proposed receiver structure is also extended from 4- bit information to any general n data bits within a frame with a common expression for the output of the combinational logic block. Performance of the proposed hardware design is evaluated in terms of time delay, reliability and robustness in comparison with the standard schemes using monostable multivibrators. It is observed from hardware implementation that the proposed circuit achieves almost 33 percent speed up over any conventional circuit.
Abstract: Subdivision is a method to create a smooth surface from a coarse mesh by subdividing the entire mesh. The conventional ways to compute and render surfaces are inconvenient both in terms of memory and computational time as the number of meshes will increase exponentially. An adaptive subdivision is the way to reduce the computational time and memory by subdividing only certain selected areas. In this paper, a new adaptive subdivision method for triangle meshes is introduced. This method defines a new adaptive subdivision rules by considering the properties of each triangle's neighbors and is embedded in a traditional Loop's subdivision. It prevents some undesirable side effects that appear in the conventional adaptive ways. Models that were subdivided by our method are compared with other adaptive subdivision methods
Abstract: In this paper, a new technique for fast painting with
different colors is presented. The idea of painting relies on applying
masks with different colors to the background. Fast painting is
achieved by applying these masks in the frequency domain instead of
spatial (time) domain. New colors can be generated automatically as a
result from the cross correlation operation. This idea was applied
successfully for faster specific data (face, object, pattern, and code)
detection using neural algorithms. Here, instead of performing cross
correlation between the input input data (e.g., image, or a stream of
sequential data) and the weights of neural networks, the cross
correlation is performed between the colored masks and the
background. Furthermore, this approach is developed to reduce the
computation steps required by the painting operation. The principle of
divide and conquer strategy is applied through background
decomposition. Each background is divided into small in size subbackgrounds
and then each sub-background is processed separately by
using a single faster painting algorithm. Moreover, the fastest painting
is achieved by using parallel processing techniques to paint the
resulting sub-backgrounds using the same number of faster painting
algorithms. In contrast to using only faster painting algorithm, the
speed up ratio is increased with the size of the background when using
faster painting algorithm and background decomposition. Simulation
results show that painting in the frequency domain is faster than that in
the spatial domain.
Abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of soil microorganisms and the burhead plant, as well as the combination of soil microorganisms and plants to remediate monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), and triethylene glycol (TEG) in synthetic wastewater. The result showed that a system containing both burhead plant and soil microorganisms had the highest efficiency in EGs removal. Around 100% of MEG and DEG and 85% of TEG were removed within 15 days of the experiments. However, the burhead plant had higher removal efficiency than soil microorganisms for MEG and DEG but the same for TEG in the study systems. The removal rate of EGs in the study system related to the molecular weight of the compounds and MEG, the smallest glycol, was removed faster than DEG and TEG by both the burhead plant and soil microorganisms in the study system.
Abstract: A satellite is being integrated and tested by BISEE (Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Environment Engineering). This paper describes the infrared lamp array simulation technology used for satellite thermal balance and thermal vacuum test. These tests were performed in KM6 space environmental simulator in Beijing, China. New software and hardware developed by BISEE, along with enhanced heat flux uniformity, provided for well accomplished thermal balance and thermal vacuum tests. The flux uniformity of lamp array was satisfied with test requirement. Monitored background radiometer offered reliable heat flux measurements with remarkable repeatability. Simulation software supplied accurate thermal flux distribution predictions.
Abstract: The rheological properties, structure and potential synergistic interactions of whey proteins (1-6%) and inulin (20%) in mixed gels in the presence of CaCl2 was the aim of this study. Whey proteins have a strong influence on inulin gel formation. At low concentrations (2%) whey proteins did not impair in inulin gel formation. At higher concentration (4%) whey proteins impaired inulin gelation and inulin impaired the formation of a Ca2+-induced whey protein network. The presence of whey proteins at a level allowing for protein gel network formation (6%) significantly increased the rheological parameters values of the gels. SEM micrographs showed that whey protein structure was coated by inulin moieties which could make the mixed gels firmer. The protein surface hydrophobicity measurements did not exclude synergistic interactions between inulin and whey proteins, however. The use of an electrophoretic technique did not show any stable inulin-whey protein complexes.
Abstract: This paper is mainly concerned with the application of a novel technique of data interpretation to the characterization and classification of measurements of plasma columns in Tokamak reactors for nuclear fusion applications. The proposed method exploits several concepts derived from soft computing theory. In particular, Artifical Neural Networks have been exploited to classify magnetic variables useful to determine shape and position of the plasma with a reduced computational complexity. The proposed technique is used to analyze simulated databases of plasma equilibria based on ITER geometry configuration. As well as demonstrating the successful recovery of scalar equilibrium parameters, we show that the technique can yield practical advantages compares with earlier methods.
Abstract: Distributed Generation (DG) in the form of renewable
power generation systems is currently preferred for clean power
generation. It has a significant impact on the distribution systems.
This impact may be either positively or negatively depending on the
distribution system, distributed generator and load characteristics. In
this works, an overview of DG is briefly introduced. The technology
of DG is also listed while the technical impacts and economic
impacts are explained.
Abstract: The present paper proposes high performance nonlinear
force controllers for a servopneumatic real-time fatigue test
machine. A CompactRIO® controller was used, being fully
programmed using LabVIEW language. Fuzzy logic control
algorithms were evaluated to tune the integral and derivative
components in the development of hybrid controllers, namely a FLC
P and a hybrid FLC PID real-time-based controllers. Their
behaviours were described by using state diagrams. The main
contribution is to ensure a smooth transition between control states,
avoiding discrete transitions in controller outputs. Steady-state errors
lower than 1.5 N were reached, without retuning the controllers.
Good results were also obtained for sinusoidal tracking tasks from
1/¤Ç to 8/¤Ç Hz.