Semi-global techniques in image matching and change detection with applications to civil and environmental engineering.

This work of thesis wants to present a dissertation of the wide range of modern dense matching algorithms, which are spreading in different application and research fields, with a particular attention to the innovative “Semi-Global” matching techniques. The choice of develop a semi-global numerical code was justified by the need of getting insight on the variables and strategies that affect the algorithm performances with the primary objective of maximizing the method accuracy and efficiency, and the results level of completeness. The dissertation will consist in the metrological characterization of the proprietary implementation of the semi-global matching algorithm, evaluating the influence of several matching variables and functions implemented in the process and comparing the accuracy and completeness of different results (digital surface models, disparity maps and 2D displacement fields) obtained using our code and other commercial and open-source matching programs in a wide variety of application fields.

Knowledge management in a New Zealand tree farming company:Ambiguity and resistance to the "technology solution"

Purpose - Managers at the company attempt to implement a knowledge management information system in an attempt to avoid loss of expertise while improving control and efficiency. The paper seeks to explore the implications of the technological solution to employees within the company. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports qualitative research conducted in a single organization. Evidence is presented in the form of interview extracts. Findings - The case section of the paper presents the accounts of organizational participants. The accounts reveal the workers' reactions to the technology-based system and something of their strategies of resistance to the system. These accounts also provide glimpses of the identity construction engaged in by these knowledge workers. The setting for the research is in a knowledge-intensive primary industry. Research was conducted through observation and interviews. Research limitations/implications - The issues identified are explored in a single case-study setting. Future research could look at the relevance of the findings to other settings. Practical implications - The case evidence presented indicates some of the complexity of implementation of information systems in organizations. This could certainly be seen as more evidence of the uncertainty associated with organizational change and of the need for managers not to expect an easy adoption of intrusive IT solutions. Originality/value - This paper adds empirical insight to a largely conceptual literature. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

An investigation of thin amorphous carbon-based sputtered coatings for MEMS and micro-engineering applications

The work presented in this thesis describes an investigation into the production and properties of thin amorphous C films, with and without Cr doping, as a low wear / friction coating applicable to MEMS and other micro- and nano-engineering applications. Firstly, an assessment was made of the available testing techniques. Secondly, the optimised test methods were applied to a series of sputtered films of thickness 10 - 2000 nm in order to: (i) investigate the effect of thickness on the properties of coatingslcoating process (ii) investigate fundamental tribology at the nano-scale and (iii) provide a starting point for nanotribological coating optimisation at ultra low thickness. The use of XPS was investigated for the determination of Sp3/Sp2 carbon bonding. Under C 1s peak analysis, significant errors were identified and this was attributed to the absence of sufficient instrument resolution to guide the component peak structure (even with a high resolution instrument). A simple peak width analysis and correlation work with C KLL D value confirmed the errors. The use of XPS for Sp3/Sp2 was therefore limited to initial tentative estimations. Nanoindentation was shown to provide consistent hardness and reduced modulus results with depth (to < 7nm) when replicate data was suitably statistically processed. No significant pile-up or cracking of the films was identified under nanoindentation. Nanowear experimentation by multiple nanoscratching provided some useful information, however the conditions of test were very different to those expect for MEMS and micro- / nano-engineering systems. A novel 'sample oscillated nanoindentation' system was developed for testing nanowear under more relevant conditions. The films were produced in an industrial production coating line. In order to maximise the available information and to take account of uncontrolled process variation a statistical design of experiment procedure was used to investigate the effect of four key process control parameters. Cr doping was the most significant control parameter at all thicknesses tested and produced a softening effect and thus increased nanowear. Substrate bias voltage was also a significant parameter and produced hardening and a wear reducing effect at all thicknesses tested. The use of a Cr adhesion layer produced beneficial results at 150 nm thickness, but was ineffective at 50 nm. Argon flow to the coating chamber produced a complex effect. All effects reduced significantly with reducing film thickness. Classic fretting wear was produced at low amplitude under nanowear testing. Reciprocating sliding was produced at higher amplitude which generated three body abrasive wear and this was generally consistent with the Archard model. Specific wear rates were very low (typically 10-16 - 10-18 m3N-1m-1). Wear rates reduced exponentially with reduced film thickness and below (approx.) 20 nm, thickness was identified as the most important control of wear.

Aspects of selection, justification and implementation of CNC machine tools in manufacturing and toolroom environments

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

Public service improvement:policies, progress and prospects - editied by Steve Martin

Steve Martin (ed.). Routledge, 2006, 180 pp., £65 (hb), ISBN: 0415376262

Formulation and process engineering of freeze-dried orally disintegrating tablets

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) which are also referred to as orodispersible and fast disintegrating tablets, are solid oral dosage forms which upon placing on the tongue, disperse/disintegrate rapidly before being swallowed as a suspension or solution. ODTs are therefore easier and more convenient to administer than conventional tablets and are particularly beneficial for paediatric and geriatric patients, who generally have difficulty swallowing their medication. The work presented in this thesis involved the formulation and process development of ODTs, prepared using freeze-drying. Gelatin is one of the principal excipients used in the formulation of freeze-dried ODTs. One of the studies presented in this thesis investigated the potential modification of the properties of this excipient, in order to improve the performance of the tablets. As gelatin is derived from animal sources, a number of ethical issues surround its use as an excipient in pharmaceutical preparations. This was one of the motivations, Methocel™ and Kollicoat® IR were evaluated as binders as alternative materials to gelatin. Polyox™ was also evaluated as a binder together with its potential uses as a viscosity increasing and mucoadhesive agent to increase the retention of tablets in the mouth to encourage pre-gastric absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The in vitro oral retention of freeze-dried ODT formulations was one property which was assessed in a design of experiments – factorial design study, which was carried out to further understand the role that formulation excipients have on the properties of the tablets. Finally, the novel approach of incorporating polymeric nanoparticles in freeze-dried ODTs was investigated, to study if the release profile of APIs could be modified, which could improve their therapeutic effect. The results from these studies demonstrated that the properties of gelatin-based formulations can be modified by adjusting pH and ionic strength. Adjustment of formulation pH has shown to significantly reduce tablet disintegration time. Evaluating Methocel™, in particular low viscosity grades, and Kollicoat® IR as binders has shown that these polymers can form tablets of satisfactory hardness and disintegration time. Investigating Polyox™ as an excipient in freeze-dried ODT formulations revealed that low viscosity grades appear suitable as binders whilst higher viscosity grades could potentially be utilised as viscosity increasing and mucoadhesive agents. The design of experiments – factorial design study revealed the influence of individual excipients in a formulation mix on resultant tablet properties and in vitro oral retention of APIs. Novel methods have been developed, which allows the incorporation of polymeric nanoparticles in situ in freeze-dried ODT formulations, which allows the modification of the release profile of APIs.

Molecular and genetic evidence for abnormalities in the nodes of Ranvier in schizophrenia

Context: Genetic, neuroimaging, and molecular neurobiological evidence support the hypothesis that the disconnectivity syndrome in schizophrenia (SZ) could arise from failures of saltatory conduction and abnormalities at the nodes of Ranvier (NOR) interface where myelin and axons interact. Objective: To identify abnormalities in the expression of oligodendroglial genes and proteins that participate in the formation, maintenance, and integrity of the NOR in SZ. Design: The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of multiple NOR genes were quantified in 2 independent postmortem brain cohorts of individuals with SZ, and generalizability to protein expression was confirmed. The effect of the ANK3 genotype on the mRNA expression level was tested in postmortem human brain. Case-control analysis tested the association of the ANK3 genotype with SZ. The ANK3 genotype's influence on cognitive task performance and functional magnetic resonance imaging activation was tested in 2 independent cohorts of healthy individuals. Setting: Research hospital. Patients: Postmortem samples from patients with SZ and healthy controls were used for the brain expression study (n=46) and the case-control analysis (n=272). Healthy white men and women participated in the cognitive (n=513) and neuroimaging (n=52) studies. Main Outcome Measures: The mRNA and protein levels in postmortem brain samples, genetic association with schizophrenia, cognitive performance, and blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: The mRNA expression of multiple NOR genes was decreased in schizophrenia. The ANK3 rs9804190 C allele was associated with lower ANK3 mRNA expression levels, higher risk for SZ in the case-control cohort, and poorer working memory and executive function performance and increased prefrontal activation during a working memory task in healthy individuals. Conclusions: These results point to abnormalities in the expression of genes and protein associated with the integrity of the NOR and suggest them as substrates for the disconnectivity syndrome in SZ. The association of ANK3 with lower brain mRNA expression levels implicates a molecular mechanism for its genetic, clinical, and cognitive associations with SZ. ©2012 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Outsourcing and offshoring engineering projects:understanding the value, sourcing models, and coordination practices

In this paper, we review recent developments in the field of outsourcing and offshoring and the implications for engineering management. We examine three aspects involved in outsourcing and offshoring, namely, sourcing models, coordination, and value extracted from outsourcing projects. We conclude that additional research is needed on recent trends in outsourcing and the impact of such change process on the practice of engineering management. © 2011 IEEE.

Adhesive wear of modern and traditional engineering coatings

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

Excipient characterization and particle engineering to develop directly compressed orally disintegrating tablets

ODTs have emerged as a novel oral dosage form with a potential to deliver a wide range of drug candidates to paediatric and geriatric patients. Compression of excipients offers a costeffective and translatable methodology for the manufacture of ODTs. Though, technical challenges prevail such as difficulty to achieve suitable tablet mechanical strength while ensuring rapid disintegration in the mouth, poor compressibility of preferred ODT diluent Dmannitol, and limited use for modified drug-release. The work investigates excipients’ functionality in ODTs and proposes new methodologies for enhancing material characteristics via process and particle engineering. It also aims to expand ODT applications for modified drug-release. Preformulation and formulation studies employed a plethora of techniques/tests including AFM, SEM, DSC, XRD, TGA, HSM, FTIR, hardness, disintegration time, friability, stress/strain and Heckel analysis. Tableting of D-mannitol and cellulosic excipients utilised various compression forces, material concentrations and grades. Engineered D-mannitol particles were made by spray drying mannitol with pore former NH4HCO3. Coated microparticles of model API omeprazole were prepared using water-based film forming polymers. The results of nanoscopic investigations elucidated the compression profiles of ODT excipients. Strong densification of MCC (Py is 625 MPa) occurs due to conglomeration of physicomechanical factors whereas D-mannitol fragments under pressure leading to poor compacts. Addition of cellulosic excipients (L-HPC and HPMC) and granular mannitol to powder mannitol was required to mechanically strengthen the dosage form (hardness >60 N, friability <1%) and to maintain rapid disintegration (<30 sec). Similarly, functionality was integrated into D-mannitol by fabrication of porous, yet, resilient particles which resulted in upto 150% increase in the hardness of compacts. The formulated particles provided resistance to fracture under pressure due to inherent elasticity while promoted tablet disintegration (50-77% reduction in disintegration time) due to porous nature. Additionally, coated microparticles provided an ODT-appropriate modified-release coating strategy by preventing drug (omeprazole) release.

Dyslexia research at the turn of the 21st century:behavioural, neuroimaging and genetic findings

Behavioural studies have shown that dyslexics are a heterogeneous population and between-group comparisons are thus inadequate. Some subjects do not develop dyslexia despite having a deficit implicated in this disorder, which points to protective factors. Dyslexia co-occurs with ADHD, DCD, SLI, and SSD, so that future behavioural studies will need to screen and/or statistically control for other disorders. Studies of multiple cases of DPs with other developmental disorders are necessary. Neuroimaging findings show structural and/or functional brain abnormalities in language areas, V5/MT and the cerebellum. Future neuroimaging studies need to investigate the whole reading network and multiple cases. Six dyslexia risk genes have been found, mostly involved in neural migration, which may suggest dyslexia is a deficit of neuronal migration. However, it is not clear how these genes can restrict migration to specific brain areas. As a complex and heterogeneous disorder, dyslexia is likely to be associated with several mutated genes. ADHD and SSD are characterised by genetic risk factors which are partially shared with dyslexia, resulting in comorbidity. Future genetic studies need to focus on identifying other risk genes and pleiotropic genes involved in comorbidities, and linking genotypes implicated in dyslexia with brain structure. Any theory of dyslexia needs to take into account a multitude of risk and protective factors across behavioural, neural and genetic domains.

Automorphisms of the Planar Tree Power Series Algebra and the Non-Associative Logarithm

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 17A50, 05C05.

Selection, staging and sequencing in the recent Chinese privatization

Selection in privatization is a decision-making process of choosing state-owned enterprises (SOEs), prioritizing and sequencing privatizing events, and determining the extent of private ownership in partial privatization. We investigate this process in an important but rarely studied case of China. Based on the SOE population over 1998-2008, we track 49,456 wholly SOEs and identify 9,359 privatization cases over time. Our econometric analysis concludes: (i) The privatization selection is a complex decision-making process in which local governments balance between various economic, financial and political objectives. (ii) In the recent Chinese privatization, firm performance relates to the selection, staging and sequencing in privatization in an inverted-U fashion. The worse and the best performing SOEs are more likely to remain state-owned, maintain higher state holding when privatized, and are less likely to be privatized later in time. These patterns suggest the privatization reform slowdown and the underlying changes in the privatization policy.