Control of a high Precision Double Drive

The speed control system for a concept for cost effective drives with high precision is presented. The drive concept consists of two parallel working drives. The concept is an alternative to direct drives. One big advantage is the use of standard gear boxes with economical components. This paper deals with the control of the drive system consisting of two parts: one drive produces the power for the machine, another drive makes the motion precice and dynamic. Both drives are combined to one double drive by a control system. The drive system is usefull for printing machines and other machines with high power consumption at a nearly constant speed and high accuracy requirements. The calculation for a drive system with 37 kW shows, that the control drive has to supply only about 20 % of the total torque and power needed to compensate the errors of the power drive. The stability of the system is shown by a simulation of the double drive.

The global radar applied to the precision farming sector

The case describes the development of MyFARM’s internationalization plan, a service of Deimos Engenharia, under the GloCal Radar. This space engineering company hired Lisbon Consulting Company to undertake the project to overcome its lack of market orientation. The consultants’ analysis revealed Stevens County, Kansas, as the market with the highest potential for MyFARM. A suitable entry strategy and adaptation of the service for the local market was proposed. The case culminates with the Board of Directors discussing the viability of implementing the consultants’ recommendations to start diversifying their sources of revenue streams.

Continuous quantification of HER2 expression by microfluidic precision immunofluorescence estimates HER2 gene amplification in breast cancer.

Chromogenic immunohistochemistry (IHC) is omnipresent in cancer diagnosis, but has also been criticized for its technical limit in quantifying the level of protein expression on tissue sections, thus potentially masking clinically relevant data. Shifting from qualitative to quantitative, immunofluorescence (IF) has recently gained attention, yet the question of how precisely IF can quantify antigen expression remains unanswered, regarding in particular its technical limitations and applicability to multiple markers. Here we introduce microfluidic precision IF, which accurately quantifies the target expression level in a continuous scale based on microfluidic IF staining of standard tissue sections and low-complexity automated image analysis. We show that the level of HER2 protein expression, as continuously quantified using microfluidic precision IF in 25 breast cancer cases, including several cases with equivocal IHC result, can predict the number of HER2 gene copies as assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Finally, we demonstrate that the working principle of this technology is not restricted to HER2 but can be extended to other biomarkers. We anticipate that our method has the potential of providing automated, fast and high-quality quantitative in situ biomarker data using low-cost immunofluorescence assays, as increasingly required in the era of individually tailored cancer therapy.

Image guided critical screw placement precision in the cervical spine : important or incidental? : results of a series of 91 consecutive cases using OVEM

Study design: A retrospective study of image guided cervical implant placement precision. Objective: To describe a simple and precise classification of cervical critical screw placement. Summary of Background Data: "Critical" screw placement is defined as implant insertion into a bone corridor which is surrounded circumferentially by neurovascular structures. While the use of image guidance has improved accuracy, there is currently no classification which provides sufficient precision to assess the navigation success of critical cervical screw placement. Methods: Based on postoperative clinical evaluation and CT imaging, the orthogonal view evaluation method (OVEM) is used to classify screw accuracy into grade I (no cortical breach), grade la (screw thread cortical breach), grade II (internal diameter cortical breach) and grade III (major cortical breach causing neural or vascular injury). Grades II and III are considered to be navigation failures, after accounting for bone corridor / screw mismatch (minimal diameter of targeted bone corridor being smaller than an outer screw diameter). Results: A total of 276 screws from 91 patients were classified into grade I (64.9%), grade la (18.1%), and grade II (17.0%). No grade III screw was observed. The overall rate of navigation failure was 13%. Multiple logistic regression indicated that navigational failure was significantly associated with the level of instrumentation and the navigation system used. Navigational failure was rare (1.6%) when the margin around the screw in the bone corridor was larger than 1.5 mm. Conclusions: OVEM evaluation appears to be a useful tool to assess the precision of critical screw placement in the cervical spine. The OVEM validity and reliability need to be addressed. Further correlation with clinical outcomes will be addressed in future studies.

Level and precision of behavioural thermoregulation in the bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps : effects of hypoxia and environmental thermal quality /

Most metabolic functions are optimized within a narrow range of body temperatures, which is why thermoregulation is of great importance for the survival and overall fitness of an animal. It has been proposed that lizards will thermoregulate less precisely in low thermal quality environments, where the costs associated with thermoregulation are high; in the case of lizards, whose thermoregulation is mainly behavioural, the primary costs ofthermoregulation are those derived from locomotion. Decreasing thermoregulatory precision in costly situations is a strategy that enhances fitness by allowing lizards to be more flexible to changing environmental conditions. It allows animals to maximize the benefits of maintaining a relatively high body temperature while minimizing energy expenditure. In situations where oxygen concentration is low, the costs of thermoregulation are relatively high (i.e. in relation to the amount of oxygen available for metabolic functions). As a result, it is likely that exposures to hypoxic conditions induce a decrease in the precision of thermoregulation. This study evaluated the effects of hypoxia and low environmental thermal quality, two energetically costly conditions, on the precision and level of thermoregulation in the bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps, in an electronic temperature-choice shuttle box. Four levels of hypoxia (1O, 7, 5 and 4% 02) were tested. Environmental thermal quality was manipulated by varying the rate of temperature change (oTa) in an electronic temperature-choice shuttle box. Higher oT a's translate into more thermally challenging environments, since under these conditions the animals are forced to move a greater number of times (and hence invest more energy in locomotion) to maintain similar temperatures than at lower oTa's. In addition, lizards were tested in an "extreme temperatures" treatment during which air temperatures of the hot and cold compartments of the shuttle box were maintained at a constant 50 and 15°C respectively. This was considered the most thermally challenging environment. The selected ambient (T a) and internal body temperatures (Tb) of bearded dragons, as well as the thermoregulatory precision (measured by the central 68% ofthe Ta and T b distribution) were evaluated. The thermoregulatory response was similar to both conditions. A significant increase in the size of the Tb range, reflecting a decrease in thermoregulatory precision, and a drop in preferred body temperature of ~2 °C, were observed at both 4% oxygen and at the environment of lowest thermal quality. The present study suggests that in energetically costly situations, such as the ones tested in this study, the bearded dragon reduces energy expenditure by decreasing preferred body temperature and minimizing locomotion, at the expense of precise behavioural thermoregulation. The close similarity of the behavioural thermoregulatory response to two very different stimuli suggests a possible common mechanism and neuronal pathway to the thermoregulatory response.

The Effectiveness of the precision fluency shaping program controlling stuttering behaviour in adults

This study was done to test the effectiveness of the Precision Fluency Shaping Program in controlling stuttering behaviour in adults. Two sites were chosen, each using the Precision Fluency Shaping Program to treat stuttering. At each clinic, a Speech Patbologist made a random selection of the subjects' pre- and post-therapy video-taped interviews, totalling 20 in all. During the interviews, the clients were asked questions and re~d a short passage to determine the frequency of stuttering in natural conversation and in reading. Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory questionnaires vvere also filled in before and after therapy. Two judges were trained to identify stuttering behaviour, and were given an inter-rater reliability test at selected intervals throughout the study. Protocols",:m.a;d;6 of each interview tape, were scored for (a) stuttering behaviour and (b) words spoken or read. An Analysis of Variance Repeated Measures Test was used to compare before and after scores of conversations, readings, and Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory to determine whether the Precision Fluency Shaping Program controlled stuttering behaviour significantly. A Pearson R Correlation Test was also administered to determine if a relationship existed bet\veen Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory and (i) conversation and (ii) reading scores.

Reconstruction active par projection de lumière non structurée

Cette thèse porte sur la reconstruction active de modèles 3D à l’aide d’une caméra et d’un projecteur. Les méthodes de reconstruction standards utilisent des motifs de lumière codée qui ont leurs forces et leurs faiblesses. Nous introduisons de nouveaux motifs basés sur la lumière non structurée afin de pallier aux manques des méthodes existantes. Les travaux présentés s’articulent autour de trois axes : la robustesse, la précision et finalement la comparaison des patrons de lumière non structurée aux autres méthodes. Les patrons de lumière non structurée se différencient en premier lieu par leur robustesse aux interréflexions et aux discontinuités de profondeur. Ils sont conçus de sorte à homogénéiser la quantité d’illumination indirecte causée par la projection sur des surfaces difficiles. En contrepartie, la mise en correspondance des images projetées et capturées est plus complexe qu’avec les méthodes dites structurées. Une méthode d’appariement probabiliste et efficace est proposée afin de résoudre ce problème. Un autre aspect important des reconstructions basées sur la lumière non structurée est la capacité de retrouver des correspondances sous-pixels, c’est-à-dire à un niveau de précision plus fin que le pixel. Nous présentons une méthode de génération de code de très grande longueur à partir des motifs de lumière non structurée. Ces codes ont l’avantage double de permettre l’extraction de correspondances plus précises tout en requérant l’utilisation de moins d’images. Cette contribution place notre méthode parmi les meilleures au niveau de la précision tout en garantissant une très bonne robustesse. Finalement, la dernière partie de cette thèse s’intéresse à la comparaison des méthodes existantes, en particulier sur la relation entre la quantité d’images projetées et la qualité de la reconstruction. Bien que certaines méthodes nécessitent un nombre constant d’images, d’autres, comme la nôtre, peuvent se contenter d’en utiliser moins aux dépens d’une qualité moindre. Nous proposons une méthode simple pour établir une correspondance optimale pouvant servir de référence à des fins de comparaison. Enfin, nous présentons des méthodes hybrides qui donnent de très bons résultats avec peu d’images.

Subpixel-Filterung für eine autostereoskopische Multiperspektiven-3-D-Darstellung hoher Qualität

Die stereoskopische 3-D-Darstellung beruht auf der naturgetreuen Präsentation verschiedener Perspektiven für das rechte und linke Auge. Sie erlangt in der Medizin, der Architektur, im Design sowie bei Computerspielen und im Kino, zukünftig möglicherweise auch im Fernsehen, eine immer größere Bedeutung. 3-D-Displays dienen der zusätzlichen Wiedergabe der räumlichen Tiefe und lassen sich grob in die vier Gruppen Stereoskope und Head-mounted-Displays, Brillensysteme, autostereoskopische Displays sowie echte 3-D-Displays einteilen. Darunter besitzt der autostereoskopische Ansatz ohne Brillen, bei dem N≥2 Perspektiven genutzt werden, ein hohes Potenzial. Die beste Qualität in dieser Gruppe kann mit der Methode der Integral Photography, die sowohl horizontale als auch vertikale Parallaxe kodiert, erreicht werden. Allerdings ist das Verfahren sehr aufwendig und wird deshalb wenig genutzt. Den besten Kompromiss zwischen Leistung und Preis bieten präzise gefertigte Linsenrasterscheiben (LRS), die hinsichtlich Lichtausbeute und optischen Eigenschaften den bereits früher bekannten Barrieremasken überlegen sind. Insbesondere für die ergonomisch günstige Multiperspektiven-3-D-Darstellung wird eine hohe physikalische Monitorauflösung benötigt. Diese ist bei modernen TFT-Displays schon recht hoch. Eine weitere Verbesserung mit dem theoretischen Faktor drei erreicht man durch gezielte Ansteuerung der einzelnen, nebeneinander angeordneten Subpixel in den Farben Rot, Grün und Blau. Ermöglicht wird dies durch die um etwa eine Größenordnung geringere Farbauflösung des menschlichen visuellen Systems im Vergleich zur Helligkeitsauflösung. Somit gelingt die Implementierung einer Subpixel-Filterung, welche entsprechend den physiologischen Gegebenheiten mit dem in Luminanz und Chrominanz trennenden YUV-Farbmodell arbeitet. Weiterhin erweist sich eine Schrägstellung der Linsen im Verhältnis von 1:6 als günstig. Farbstörungen werden minimiert, und die Schärfe der Bilder wird durch eine weniger systematische Vergrößerung der technologisch unvermeidbaren Trennelemente zwischen den Subpixeln erhöht. Der Grad der Schrägstellung ist frei wählbar. In diesem Sinne ist die Filterung als adaptiv an den Neigungswinkel zu verstehen, obwohl dieser Wert für einen konkreten 3-D-Monitor eine Invariante darstellt. Die zu maximierende Zielgröße ist der Parameter Perspektiven-Pixel als Produkt aus Anzahl der Perspektiven N und der effektiven Auflösung pro Perspektive. Der Idealfall einer Verdreifachung wird praktisch nicht erreicht. Messungen mit Hilfe von Testbildern sowie Schrifterkennungstests lieferten einen Wert von knapp über 2. Dies ist trotzdem als eine signifikante Verbesserung der Qualität der 3-D-Darstellung anzusehen. In der Zukunft sind weitere Verbesserungen hinsichtlich der Zielgröße durch Nutzung neuer, feiner als TFT auflösender Technologien wie LCoS oder OLED zu erwarten. Eine Kombination mit der vorgeschlagenen Filtermethode wird natürlich weiterhin möglich und ggf. auch sinnvoll sein.

Precision mapping

The nondestructive determination of plant total dry matter (TDM) in the field is greatly preferable to the harvest of entire plots in areas such as the Sahel where small differences in soil properties may cause large differences in crop growth within short distances. Existing equipment to nondestructively determine TDM is either expensive or unreliable. Therefore, two radiometers for measuring reflected red and near-infrared light were designed, mounted on a single wheeled hand cart and attached to a differential Global Positioning System (GPS) to measure georeferenced variations in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in pearl millet fields [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. The NDVI measurements were then used to determine the distribution of crop TDM. The two versions of the radiometer could (i) send single NDVI measurements to the GPS data logger at distance intervals of 0.03 to 8.53 m set by the user, and (ii) collect NDVI values averaged across 0.5, 1, or 2 m. The average correlation between TDM of pearl millet plants in planting hills and their NDVI values was high (r^2 = 0.850) but varied slightly depending on solar irradiance when the instrument was calibrated. There also was a good correlation between NDVI, fractional vegetation cover derived from aerial photographs and millet TDM at harvest. Both versions of the rugged instrument appear to provide a rapid and reliable way of mapping plant growth at the field scale with a high spatial resolution and should therefore be widely tested with different crops and soil types.

Molecular mechanisms controlling the precision of chemokine guided cell migration

By the end of the first day of embryonic development, zebrafish primordial germ cells (PGCs) arrive at the site where the gonad develops. In our study we investigated the mechanisms controlling the precision of primordial germ cell arrival at their target. We found that in contrast with our expectations which were based on findings in Drosophila and mouse, the endoderm does not constitute a preferred migration substrate for the PGCs. Rather, endoderm derivatives are important for later stages of organogenesis keeping the PGC clusters separated. It would be interesting to investigate the precise mechanism by which endoderm controls germ cell position in the gonad. In their migration towards the gonad, zebrafish germ cells follow the gradient of chemokine SDF-1a, which they detect using the receptor CXCR4b that is expressed on their membrane. Here we show that the C-terminal region of CXCR4b is responsible for down-regulation of receptor activity as well as for receptor internalization. We demonstrate that receptor molecules unable to internalize are less potent in guiding germ cells to the site where the gonad develops, thereby implicating chemokine receptor internalization in facilitating precision of migration during chemotaxis in vivo. We demonstrate that while CXCR4b activity positively regulates the duration of the active migration phases, the down-regulation of CXCR4b signalling by internalization limits the duration of this phase. This way, receptor signalling contributes to the persistence of germ cell migration, whereas receptor down-regulation enables the cells to stop and correct their migration path close to the target where germ cells encounter the highest chemokine signal. Chemokine receptors are involved in directing cell migration in different processes such as lymphocyte trafficking, cancer and in the development of the vascular system. The C-terminal domain of many chemokine receptors was shown to be essential for controlling receptor signalling and internalization. It would therefore be important to determine whether the role for receptor internalization in vivo as described here (allowing periodical corrections to the migration route) and the mechanisms involved (reducing the level of signalling) apply for those other events, too.

Precision laser spectroscopy of the ground state hyperfine splitting of hydrogenlike ^209 Bi^82+

The first direct observation of a hyperfine splitting in the optical regime is reported. The wavelength of the M1 transition between the F = 4 and F = 5 hyperfine levels of the ground state of hydrogenlike ^209 Bi^82+ was measured to be \lamda_0 = 243.87(4) nm by detection of laser induced fluorescence at the heavy-ion storage ring ESR at GSI. In addition, the lifetime of the laser excited F = 5 sublevel was determined to be \tau_0 = 0.351(16) ms. The method can be applied to a number of other nuclei and should allow a novel test of QED corrections in the previously unexplored combination of strong magnetic and electric fields in highly charged ions.

Performance Evaluation of the Scheme 86 and HP Precision Architecture

The Scheme86 and the HP Precision Architectures represent different trends in computer processor design. The former uses wide micro-instructions, parallel hardware, and a low latency memory interface. The latter encourages pipelined implementation and visible interlocks. To compare the merits of these approaches, algorithms frequently encountered in numerical and symbolic computation were hand-coded for each architecture. Timings were done in simulators and the results were evaluated to determine the speed of each design. Based on these measurements, conclusions were drawn as to which aspects of each architecture are suitable for a high- performance computer.

Assessing the Precision of Compositional Data in a Stratified Double Stage Cluster Sample: Application to the Swiss Earnings Structure Survey

Precision of released figures is not only an important quality feature of official statistics, it is also essential for a good understanding of the data. In this paper we show a case study of how precision could be conveyed if the multivariate nature of data has to be taken into account. In the official release of the Swiss earnings structure survey, the total salary is broken down into several wage components. We follow Aitchison's approach for the analysis of compositional data, which is based on logratios of components. We first present diferent multivariate analyses of the compositional data whereby the wage components are broken down by economic activity classes. Then we propose a number of ways to assess precision