Intelligent Foreign Particle Inspection Machine for Injection Liquid Examination Based on Modified Pulse-Coupled Neural Networks

A biologically inspired spiking neural network model, called pulse-coupled neural networks (PCNN), has been applied in an automatic inspection machine to detect visible foreign particles intermingled in glucose or sodium chloride injection liquids. Proper mechanisms and improved spin/stop techniques are proposed to avoid the appearance of air bubbles, which increases the algorithms' complexity. Modified PCNN is adopted to segment the difference images, judging the existence of foreign particles according to the continuity and smoothness properties of their moving traces. Preliminarily experimental results indicate that the inspection machine can detect the visible foreign particles effectively and the detection speed, accuracy and correct detection rate also satisfying the needs of medicine preparation

NASA SBIR abstracts of 1990 phase 1 projects

The research objectives of the 280 projects placed under contract in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1990 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 program are described. The basic document consists of edited, non-proprietary abstracts of the winning proposals submitted by small businesses in response to NASA's 1990 SBIR Phase 1 Program Solicitation. The abstracts are presented under the 15 technical topics within which Phase 1 proposals were solicited. Each project was assigned a sequential identifying number from 001 to 280, in order of its appearance in the body of the report. The document also includes Appendixes to provide additional information about the SBIR program and permit cross-reference in the 1990 Phase 1 projects by company name, location by state, principal investigator, NASA field center responsible for management of each project, and NASA contract number

The NASA SBIR product catalog

The purpose of this catalog is to assist small business firms in making the community aware of products emerging from their efforts in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It contains descriptions of some products that have advanced into Phase 3 and others that are identified as prospective products. Both lists of products in this catalog are based on information supplied by NASA SBIR contractors in responding to an invitation to be represented in this document. Generally, all products suggested by the small firms were included in order to meet the goals of information exchange for SBIR results. Of the 444 SBIR contractors NASA queried, 137 provided information on 219 products. The catalog presents the product information in the technology areas listed in the table of contents. Within each area, the products are listed in alphabetical order by product name and are given identifying numbers. Also included is an alphabetical listing of the companies that have products described. This listing cross-references the product list and provides information on the business activity of each firm. In addition, there are three indexes: one a list of firms by states, one that lists the products according to NASA Centers that managed the SBIR projects, and one that lists the products by the relevant Technical Topics utilized in NASA's annual program solicitation under which each SBIR project was selected

NASA SBIR abstracts of 1991 phase 1 projects

The objectives of 301 projects placed under contract by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are described. These projects were selected competitively from among proposals submitted to NASA in response to the 1991 SBIR Program Solicitation. The basic document consists of edited, non-proprietary abstracts of the winning proposals submitted by small businesses. The abstracts are presented under the 15 technical topics within which Phase 1 proposals were solicited. Each project was assigned a sequential identifying number from 001 to 301, in order of its appearance in the body of the report. Appendixes to provide additional information about the SBIR program and permit cross-reference of the 1991 Phase 1 projects by company name, location by state, principal investigator, NASA Field Center responsible for management of each project, and NASA contract number are included

34th Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems-Final Program

Organized by the Naval Postgraduate School Monterey California. Cosponsored by the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society. Symposium Organizing Committee: General Chairman-Sherif Michael, Technical Program-Roberto Cristi, Publications-Michael Soderstrand, Special Sessions- Charles W. Therrien, Publicity: Jeffrey Burl, Finance: Ralph Hippenstiel, and Local Arrangements: Barbara Cristi

The application of neural networks to anodic stripping voltammetry to improve trace metal analysis

This thesis describes a novel application of an artificial neural network and links together the two diverse disciplines of electroanalytical chemistry and information sciences. The artificial neural network is used to process data obtained from a Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping (DPAS) electroanalytical scan and produces as an output, predictions of lead concentration in samples where the concentration is less than 100 parts per billion. A comparative study of several post analysis processing techniques is presented, both traditional and neural. Through this it is demonstrated that by using a neural network, both the accuracy and the precision of the concentration predictions are increased by a factor of approximately two, over those obtained using a traditional, peak height calibration curve method. Statistical justification for these findings is provided Furthermore it is shown that, by post processing with a neural network, good quantitative predictions of heavy metal concentration may be made from instrument responses so poor that, if using tradition methods of calibration, the analytical scan would have had to be repeated. As part of the research the author has designed and built a complete computer controlled analytical instrument which provides output both to a graphical display and to the neural network. This instrument, which is fully described in the text, is operated via a mouse driven user interface written by the author

Small business innovation research. Abstracts of 1988 phase 1 awards

Non-proprietary proposal abstracts of Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects supported by NASA are presented. Projects in the fields of aeronautical propulsion, aerodynamics, acoustics, aircraft systems, materials and structures, teleoperators and robots, computer sciences, information systems, data processing, spacecraft propulsion, bioastronautics, satellite communication, and space processing are covered

Small business innovation research. Abstracts of completed 1987 phase 1 projects

Non-proprietary summaries of Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects supported by NASA in the 1987 program year are given. Work in the areas of aeronautical propulsion, aerodynamics, acoustics, aircraft systems, materials and structures, teleoperators and robotics, computer sciences, information systems, spacecraft systems, spacecraft power supplies, spacecraft propulsion, bioastronautics, satellite communication, and space processing are covered

Preparing, Characterizing, On-Line Digital Image Processing of Residence Time Distribution and Modeling of Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposite Foams

The objectives of this research were to prepare, characterize and to study the effects of organoclay and extrusion variables on the physical, mechanical, structural, thermal and functional properties of tapioca starch (TS)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposite foams. On-line digital imaging processing was used to determine residence time distribution (RTD). Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used to model the mechanical properties of nanocomposite foams. Four different organoclays (Cloisite 10A, 25A, 93A, 15A) were used to produce nanocomposite foams by melt-intercalation. The properties were characterized using Xray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetric, and Instron universal testing machine. The properties were influenced significantly with the addition of different organoclays. TS/PLA/Cloisite 30B nanocomposite foams, with four clay contents of 1, 3, 5, 7 wt%, were prepared by a melt-intercalation method. Among the four nanocomposites, 3 wt% clay content produced significantly different properties. Screw speed, screw configuration, die nozzle diameter and moisture content were varied to determine their effects on organoclay intercalation. These extrusion variables had significant effects on the properties of TS/PLA /Cloisite 10A nanocomposite foams due to the intercalation of organoclay. Multiple inputs single output (MISO) models were developed to predict mechanical properties of nanocomposite foams. Four individual ANFIS models were developed. All models preformed well with R2 values \u3e 0.71 and had very low root mean squared errors (RMSE). Effects of screw configurations and barrel temperatures on the RTD and MISO models were developed to predict mechanical properties. The influence of the extrusion variables had a significant effect on the mean residence time (MTR). On-line digital image processing (DIP) technique was developed to measure the RTD as compared to the colorimeter method. R2 showed a correlation of 0.88 of a* values from both methods. The influence of screw configuration and temperature on RTD were analyzed by the MRT and variance for both methods. Mixing screws and lower temperature resulted in higher MRT and variance for both methods

Acoustic and Elastic Waves: Recent Trends in Science and Engineering

The present Special Issue intends to explore new directions in the field of acoustics and ultrasonics. The interest includes, but is not limited to, the use of acoustic technology for condition monitoring of materials and structures. Topics of interest (among others): • Acoustic emission in materials and structures (without material limitation) • Innovative cases of ultrasonic inspection • Wave dispersion and waveguides • Monitoring of innovative materials • Seismic waves • Vibrations, damping and noise control • Combination of mechanical wave techniques with other types for structural health monitoring purposes. Experimental and numerical studies are welcome