Rapid method for interconversion of binary and decimal numbers

Decoding tree consisting of 40-bit semiconductor read-only memories interconverts binary and decimal numbers 50 to 100 times faster than current methods. Decimal-to-binary conversion algorithm is based on a divided-by-2 iterative equation, binary-to-decimal conversion algorithm utilizes multiplied-by-2 iterative equation

Rapid method for determination of antimicrobial susceptibilities pattern of urinary bacteria

Method determines bacterial sensitivity to antimicrobial agents by measuring level of adenosine triphosphate remaining in the bacteria. Light emitted during reaction of sample with a mixture of luciferase and luciferin is measured

Waller Creek Rapid Visual Litter Assessment Method and Baseline Results

This short report surveyed 10 different Waller Creek sites using a litter index field sheet that they designed. These scores were then assigned to each survey site.The Watershed Protection Department has developed a method to assess litter in creeks and provide a way to evaluate the success of litter management efforts in the lower Waller Creek watershed over time. A rapid visual litter assessment method was applied at ten sites on Waller Creek in downtown Austin, Texas, to describe the abundance and type of litter present at each site in addition to identification of possible sources of litter. Surveys were timed to provide an estimate of staff time necessary to conduct future litter surveys using this method. On average, to complete the survey at one site took between 6.7 and 7.5 minutes. Surveys concluded that there was a significant presence of litter in lower Waller Creek. Beverage containers were identified to be the most prevalent type of litter. Surveys identified a few point sources of litter. Additional data points at each site may be needed to more accurately describe baseline conditions in Waller Creek.Waller Creek Working Grou

An evaluation of the RAPID assessment-based process improvement method for small firms

[Abstract]: With increasing interest by the software development community in software process improvement (SPI), it is vital that SPI programs are evaluated and the reports of lessons learned disseminated. This paper presents an evaluation of a program in which low-rigour, one-day SPI assessments were offered at no cost to 22 small Australian software development firms. The assessment model was based on ISO/IEC 15504 (SPICE). About twelve months after the assessment, the firms were contacted to arrange a follow-up meeting to determine the extent to which they had implemented the recommendations from the assessment. Comparison of the process capability levels at the time of assessment and the follow-up meetings revealed that the process improvement program was effective in improving the process capability of many of these small software development firms. Analysis of the assessment and follow-up reports explored important issues relating to SPI: elapsed time from assessment to follow-up meeting, the need for mentoring, the readiness of firms for SPI, the role of the owner/manager, the advice provided by the assessors, and the need to record costs and benefits. Based on a meta-analysis of the program and its outcomes, advice and recommendations are provided to small firms and assessors. As well as providing validation of the assessment model and method, the outcomes from this research have the potential to better equip practitioners and consultants to undertake software process improvement, hence increasing the success of small software development firms in domestic and global markets

PCPro a Novel Technology for Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing

PCPro stands for Precise Cast Prototyping, which is a combination of casting technologies and milling. This method was developed at Fraunhofer IWS in Dresden, Germany. It is patented in Germany [1] and is applied in the USA under US 10/794,936. The main goal for this development was to shorten the process chain for making plastic prototypes accompanied by higher quality. The casting technology was integrated in a machining center in order to enable a high degree of automation and to avoid an external casting system. This means that Rapid Manufacturing can be easily implemented using such an automated combination of casting and machining. This article describes the PCPro method by means of the fabrication of sample parts. The advantages and the limitations in comparison to common Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing process chains will be discussed. In addition, the manufacturing of a prototype machine is presented.Mechanical Engineerin

Guidelines Towards Better Participation of Older Adults in Software Development Processes using a new SPIRAL Method and Participatory Approach

This paper presents a new method of engaging older participants in the process of application and IT solutions development for older adults for emerging IT and tech startups. A new method called SPIRAL (Support for Participant Involvement in Rapid and Agile software development Labs) is proposed which adds both sustainability and flexibility to the development process with older adults. This method is based on the participatory approach and user empowerment of older adults with the aid of a bootstrapped Living Lab concept and it goes beyond well established user-centered and empathic design. SPIRAL provides strategies for direct involvement of older participants in the software development processes from the very early stage to support the agile approach with rapid prototyping, in particular in new and emerging startup environments with limited capabilities, including time, team and resources

A Method for the Rapid Cultivation of Desulfovibrio aestuarii on Filter Membranes

The cultivation of sulfate-reducing bacteria on agar plates is a somewhat involved and time-consuming process. This is partly due to the requirement for fairly strict anaerobic conditions but mainly because of the length of the incubation period which may vary from 6 days to weeks with the resulting delay of the required information. The work reported herein was undertaken in an attempt to apply the advantageous features of the membrane filter method to the detection of anaerobic organisms. As originally developed, the membrane filter (Goetz and Tsuneishi, 1951; Clark et al., 1951) permits the recovery of small numbers of organisms from large volumes of water and the rapid cultivation of many aerobic bacteria. The ultimate purpose was to develop a method which would not require more complex manipulation than the membrane procedure according to Standard Methods for the Examination of Water, Sewage, and Industrial Wastes (A.P.H.A. 1955) and to reduce the incubation period for anaerobic bacteria

Stochastic limit approximation for rapidly decaying systems

The stochastic limit approximation method for ``rapid'' decay is presented, where the damping rate \gamma is comparable to the system frequency \Omega, i.e., \gamma \sim \Omega, whereas the usual stochastic limit approximation is applied only to the weak damping situation \gamma << \Omega. The key formulas for rapid decay are very similar to those for weak damping, but the dynamics is quite different. From a microscopic Hamiltonian, the spin-boson model, a Bloch equation containing two independent time scales is derived. This is a useful method to extract the minimal dissipative dynamics at high temperature kT >> \hbar\Omega and the master equations obtained are of the Lindblad form even for the Caldeira-Leggett model. The validity of the method is confirmed by comparing the master equation derived through this method with the exact one.Comment: REVTeX, 6 pages; To be published in Phys. Rev. A 63 (Feb. 2000

SLS Materials Development Method for Rapid Manufacturing

As soon as SFF technology development began to make Rapid Prototyping possible the interest in Rapid Manufacturing (RM) began to grow. The advantages in terms of functional integration, elimination of tooling and fixtures and mass customization make a compelling case for RM, leading some in the field to call it the next industrial revolution. Yet without the materials properties necessary to provide the function and variety currently available from mass production methods, the application of RM will remain limited. Developing new materials for the SLS process, one immediate step toward a larger portfolio of RM materials, is very challenging. The formation of high quality SLS parts relies on appropriate powder characteristics, thermal cycles and sintering behavior. Based on a brief examination of the key factors in SLS processing and a research project to develop a new binder material for Silicon Carbide composites, a systematic materials development method is proposed in this paper. The method provides guidance for introducing new SLS materials, support for educating new SLS users and researchers and direction for several future research projects.Mechanical Engineerin