Binocular contrast interactions:Dichoptic masking is not a single process

To decouple interocular suppression and binocular summation we varied the relative phase of mask and target in a 2IFC contrast-masking paradigm. In Experiment I, dichoptic mask gratings had the same orientation and spatial frequency as the target. For in-phase masking, suppression was strong (a log-log slope of ∼1) and there was weak facilitation at low mask contrasts. Anti-phase masking was weaker (a log-log slope of ∼0.7) and there was no facilitation. A two-stage model of contrast gain control [Meese, T.S., Georgeson, M.A. and Baker, D.H. (2006). Binocular contrast vision at and above threshold. Journal of Vision, 6: 1224-1243] provided a good fit to the in-phase results and fixed its free parameters. It made successful predictions (with no free parameters) for the anti-phase results when (A) interocular suppression was phase-indifferent but (B) binocular summation was phase sensitive. Experiments II and III showed that interocular suppression comprised two components: (i) a tuned effect with an orientation bandwidth of ∼±33° and a spatial frequency bandwidth of >3 octaves, and (ii) an untuned effect that elevated threshold by a factor of between 2 and 4. Operationally, binocular summation was more tightly tuned, having an orientation bandwidth of ∼±8°, and a spatial frequency bandwidth of ∼0.5 octaves. Our results replicate the unusual shapes of the in-phase dichoptic tuning functions reported by Legge [Legge, G.E. (1979). Spatial frequency masking in human vision: Binocular interactions. Journal of the Optical Society of America, 69: 838-847]. These can now be seen as the envelope of the direct effects from interocular suppression and the indirect effect from binocular summation, which contaminates the signal channel with a mask that has been suppressed by the target. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oulun Energian kaukolämpöverkoston ja -tuotannon kehitys vuosina 2006 - 2020

Tässä diplomityössä on tarkasteltu Oulun Energian kaukolämpötoiminnan kehitystä lähitulevaisuudessa. Työn yhteydessä selvitettiin nykyisessä tilanteessa mitoituslämpötilaa -32 oC vastaava tehotilastollisen analyysin avulla ja laadittiin kasvuennuste kaukolämmityksen tehontarpeesta seuraavalle viidelletoista vuodelle. Kasvuennusteen perusteella on tehty tarkastelu kaukolämmön varatehon riittävyydestä. Verkoston tehonsiirtokykyä nykyisissä ja tulevaisuuden kuormitustilanteissa on tarkasteltu Process VisioninGrades Heating -verkostolaskentaohjelmiston avulla. Tarkastelun perusteella kaukolämpöverkoston siirtokyky on kohtalaisen hyvä. Verkoston ongelmakohtia ovat länsi-itäsuunnassa olevat siirtolinjat. Varatehon määrä tulee laskemaan lähivuosina alle suositeltavan määrän, mikäli uutta lämmöntuotantokapasiteettia ei rakenneta. Alkuvaiheessa paras ratkaisu tilanteen korjaamiseksi olisi uusien lämpökeskusten rakentaminen sekä kaupungin etelä- että itä-osiin. 2010-luvulla tarve uuden voimalaitoksen rakentamiselle kaukolämpötehon tarpeen kattamiseksi tulee kasvamaan.

Kaukolämmöntuotannon ja verkon käytön optimointi uudessa ajotilanteessa

Diplomityössä kehitetään Savonlinnan kaupungin kaukolämmöntuotantoa ja kaukolämpöverkon käyttöä muuttuneessa ajotilanteessa. Muuttunut tilanne syntyy, kun Savonlinnaan rakennetaan uusi lämmitysvoimalaitos. Kaukolämpöverkkoa yhdistetään samanaikaisesti viidestä erillisestä verkosta yhdeksi kokonaiseksi verkoksi. Kaukolämmöntuotannon ja verkon käytön optimointi suoritettiin Process Vision Oy: n kehittämällä kaukolämpöverkon laskentaohjelmalla. Optimoinnissa pyrittiin saamaan mahdollisimman aikaisin taloudellisin laitos eli uusi hakelaitos täyteen tehoon ja tarvittava lisäteho otettiin öljylämpökeskuksista. Hakelaitoksen käytettävyyttä lisättiin rakentamalla kaukolämpöverkkoon välipumppaamo ja kaukolämpöveden apujäähdytin. Hakelaitosta voidaan käyttää 0°C ulkolämpötilaan asti, mutta kun käytetään apuna välipumppausta voidaan pumppauksellisesti pelkästään hakelaitokselta syöttää tehoa aina 14 °C lämpötilaan asti. Välipumppauksen avulla vuosittain vähennetään öljyn ja lisätään hakkeen polttoa n. 10,4 GWh. Nykyisillä öljyn ja hakkeen hinnoilla säästö vuodessa on n. 887000 mk. Välipumppauksella vähennetään lisäksi kaukolämpöverkon pumppauskustannuksia.

Hämeenlinnan Energian kaukolämpö- ja maakaasuverkoston suunnittelu- ja kunnossapitoympäristön kehittäminen tietojärjestelmien avulla

Diplomityössä selvitetään Hämeenlinnan Energian kaukolämpö- ja maakaasuverkoston suunnitteluun ja kunnossapitoon liittyvien tietojärjestelmien kehitysmahdollisuuksia. Käydään läpi olemassa olevat järjestelmät ja todetaan olevan tarpeen uudistaa verkostolaskenta- ja kunnossapito-ohjelmia. Mahdolliseksi uudeksi verkostolaskentaohjelmaksi rajataan Komartekin Flowra 32 tai Process Visionin lämpö Nexus. Kunnossapidon osalta Komartekin Lämpökunto tai Kunnondatan Visual Maint. Tehtyjen ohjelmavertailujen jälkeen työssä esitetään Hämeenlinnan Energian uudeksi verkostolaskentaohjelmaksi lämpö Nexus ja kunnossapito-ohjelmaksi Visual Maint. Ohjelmahankinnoille esitetään käyttöönottosuunnitelmat. Olemassa olevien tietojärjestelmien osalta esitetään vaihtoehtoja, joilla voidaan lisätä ohjelmista saatavaa hyötyä.

Agile CRM System Implementation Project

The application of information technology (IT) in customer relationship management (CRM) is growing rapidly as many companies implement CRM systems to support their numerous customer facing activities. However, failure rates of CRM projects remain notably high as they deliver scant solutions and poor user acceptance. As a consequence, it is justified to study previously researched CRM success factors and apply them to CRM system implementation. The aim of this master’s thesis was to get acquainted with relevant academic theories, frameworks and practices concerning CRM and agile development, and use them to generate a modified CRM project strategy to support the successful execution of the case company’s, Process Vision Oy, CRM implementation project. The empirical CRM system implementation project was conducted simultaneously with writing this thesis. Its theoretical findings could be transferred into practice through active participation in the CRM system development and deployment work. The project’s main goal was to produce and take into use a functioning CRM system. The goal was met, since at the time of printing this thesis the first system release was successfully published to its users at Process Vision’s marketing and sales departments. The key success elements in the CRM project were cyclic, iterative system development, customer oriented approach, user inclusion and flexible project management. Implying agile development practices ensured being able to quickly respond to changes arising during the progress of the CRM project. Throughout modelling of the core sales process formed a strong basis, on which the CRM system’s operational and analytical functionalities were built. End users were included in the initial specification of system requirements and they provided feedback on the system’s usage. To conclude, the chosen theoretical CRM roadmaps and agile development practices proved as beneficial in the successful planning and execution of the agile CRM system implementation project at Process Vision.

Automatisointiin ja monistettavuuteen perustuvan palvelumallin soveltaminen tietojärjestelmätoimituksissa

Ohjelmistotuotannon yleinen ongelma on se, että toimitusprojektien läpivientiajat pitkittyvät. Kilpailun kiristyessä ohjelmistoalalla on alettu kiinnittää erityistä huomiota projektien eri vaiheiden tehostamiseen. Process Vision Oy kehittää energiatietojärjestelmiä Suomen energia-alan yrityksille. Yrityksessä on kehitetty vuonna 2010 palvelumalli, jonka avulla pyritään nopeuttamaan toimitusprojektien eri vaiheita. Valtioneuvosto valmisteli vuonna 2009 tuntimittausasetuksen, joka määritti sääntöjä mittaustiedon hallintaan energia-alalla. Kyseisen asetuksen pohjalta Energiateollisuus julkaisi vuonna 2010 ohjeistuksen, joka selkeyttää asetuksen sisällön vaatimuksia jakeluverkonhaltijoille ja sähkön myyjille. Process Vision Oy on valmistellut ohjeistuksen pohjalta tuntimittauspaketin, joka sisältää ohjeistuksen mukaiset toiminnot GENERIS-järjestelmässä. Tässä diplomityössä määritellään Process Vision Oy:n palvelumallin mukaiset standardikomponentit tuntimittauspaketin toimitusprojekteja varten. Työn tavoitteena on kehittää mahdollisimman pitkälle tuotteistettu tuntimittauspaketin toimitus uusille ja vanhoille asiakkaille. Työn lopussa pohditaan miten hyvin palvelumalli soveltuu tuntimittauspaketin toimitusprojekteihin. Lisäksi työssä kartoitetaan yrityksessä käytössä olevien automatisointityökalujen kehitystarpeita. Työn tuloksena saatiin määriteltyä GENERIS-objektit ja konfiguraatiot, jotka toimitetaan tuntimittauspaketin mukana. Työn ohessa sisällytettiin yrityksen Suomen taseselvitysjärjestelmien asennusohjeeseen tuntimittauspaketin toiminnallisuuksien konfigurointi. Uusien vientimäärittelyjen avulla voidaan tuntimittauspaketin toiminnallisuudet toimittaa jatkossa tehokkaammin kuin aiemmin.

Facilitation Process Concerning the Difficulties in Implementing A Vision For Change in the South Tipperary and Carlow Kilkenny Catchment Area Mental Health Service

Facilitation Process Concerning the Difficulties in Implementing A Vision For Change in the South Tipperary and Carlow Kilkenny Catchment Area Mental Health Service Click here to download PDF 4.27MB

Machine vision methods for process measurements in pulping

The papermaking industry has been continuously developing intelligent solutions to characterize the raw materials it uses, to control the manufacturing process in a robust way, and to guarantee the desired quality of the end product. Based on the much improved imaging techniques and image-based analysis methods, it has become possible to look inside the manufacturing pipeline and propose more effective alternatives to human expertise. This study is focused on the development of image analyses methods for the pulping process of papermaking. Pulping starts with wood disintegration and forming the fiber suspension that is subsequently bleached, mixed with additives and chemicals, and finally dried and shipped to the papermaking mills. At each stage of the process it is important to analyze the properties of the raw material to guarantee the product quality. In order to evaluate properties of fibers, the main component of the pulp suspension, a framework for fiber characterization based on microscopic images is proposed in this thesis as the first contribution. The framework allows computation of fiber length and curl index correlating well with the ground truth values. The bubble detection method, the second contribution, was developed in order to estimate the gas volume at the delignification stage of the pulping process based on high-resolution in-line imaging. The gas volume was estimated accurately and the solution enabled just-in-time process termination whereas the accurate estimation of bubble size categories still remained challenging. As the third contribution of the study, optical flow computation was studied and the methods were successfully applied to pulp flow velocity estimation based on double-exposed images. Finally, a framework for classifying dirt particles in dried pulp sheets, including the semisynthetic ground truth generation, feature selection, and performance comparison of the state-of-the-art classification techniques, was proposed as the fourth contribution. The framework was successfully tested on the semisynthetic and real-world pulp sheet images. These four contributions assist in developing an integrated factory-level vision-based process control.

Correlation between process cheese meltability determined by sensory analysis, computer vision method and Olson and Price test

The meltabilities of 14 process cheese samples were determined at 2 and 4 weeks after manufacture using sensory analysis, a computer vision method, and the Olson and Price test. Sensory analysis meltability correlated with both computer vision meltability (R-2 = 0.71, P < 0.001) and Olson and Price meltability (R-2 = 0.69, P < 0.001). There was a marked lack of correlation between the computer vision method and the Olson and Price test. This study showed that the Olson and Price test gave greater repeatability than the computer vision method. Results showed process cheese meltability decreased with increasing inorganic salt content and with lower moisture/fat ratios. There was very little evidence in this study to show that process cheese meltability changed between 2 and 4 weeks after manufacture..

Polarization vision and its role in biological signaling

Visual pigments, the molecules in photoreceptors that initiate the process of vision, are inherently dichroic, differentially absorbing light according to its axis of polarization. Many animals have taken advantage of this property to build receptor systems capable of analyzing the polarization of incoming light, as polarized light is abundant in natural scenes (commonly being produced by scattering or reflection). Such polarization sensitivity has long been associated with behavioral tasks like orientation or navigation. However, only recently have we become aware that it can be incorporated into a high-level visual perception akin to color vision, permitting segmentation of a viewed scene into regions that differ in their polarization. By analogy to color vision, we call this capacity polarization vision. It is apparently used for tasks like those that color vision specializes in: contrast enhancement, camouflage breaking, object recognition, and signal detection and discrimination. While color is very useful in terrestrial or shallow-water environments, it is an unreliable cue deeper in water due to the spectral modification of light as it travels through water of various depths or of varying optical quality. Here, polarization vision has special utility and consequently has evolved in numerous marine species, as well as at least one terrestrial animal. In this review, we consider recent findings concerning polarization vision and its significance in biological signaling.

Social BPM – The role of social networks in business process management

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de Informação

The role of management accounting in the process of innovation: A field work perspective

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Finance from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

The internationalization process of mychild to São Paulo, Brazil

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

IEA EBC Annex56 vision for cost effective energy and carbon emissions optimization in building renovation

Building sector has become an important target for carbon emissions reduction, energy consumption and resources depletion. Due to low rates of replacement of the existing buildings, their low energy performances are a major concern. Most of the current regulations are focused on new buildings and do not account with the several technical, functional and economic constraints that have to be faced in the renovation of existing buildings. Thus, a new methodology is proposed to be used in the decision making process for energy related building renovation, allowing finding a cost-effective balance between energy consumption, carbon emissions and overall added value.

A demonstration case on the derivation of process-level logical architectures for ambient assisted living ecosystems

When representing the requirements for an intended software solution during the development process, a logical architecture is a model that provides an organized vision of how functionalities behave regardless of the technologies to be implemented. If the logical architecture represents an ambient assisted living (AAL) ecosystem, such representation is a complex task due to the existence of interrelated multidomains, which, most of the time, results in incomplete and incoherent user requirements. In this chap- ter, we present the results obtained when applying process-level modeling techniques to the derivation of the logical architecture for a real industrial AAL project. We adopt a V-Model–based approach that expresses the AAL requirements in a process-level perspec- tive, instead of the traditional product-level view. Additionally, we ensure compliance of the derived logical architecture with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reference architecture as nonfunctional requirements to support the implementa- tion of the AAL architecture in cloud contexts.