A new computer method for temperature measurement based on an optimal control problem

A new computer method to measure extreme temperatures is presented. The method reduces the measurement of the unknown temperature to the solving of an optimal control problem, using a numerical computer. Based on this method, a new device for temperature measurement is built. It consists of a hardware part that includes some standard temperature sensors and it also has a software section.\ud The problem of temperature measurement, according to this new method, is mathematically modelled by means of the one-dimensional heat equation, with boundary and initial conditions, describing the heat transfer through the device.\ud \ud The principal hardware component of the new device is a rod. The variation of the temperature which is produced near one end of the rod is determined using some temperature measurements in the other end of the rod and the new computer method which is described in this work.\ud \ud This device works as an attenuator of high temperatures and as an amplifier of low temperatures. In fact, it realizes an extension of the standard working range of temperature sensors at very high and very low values.\ud \ud The mathematical model of the device and the computer method are explained in detail and some possible practical implementations and a collection of simulations are also presented

Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) Investigation

This report summarizes the work performed under contract NAS5-32572. It is divided into six sections. Section 1 is an overview of the GUVI program; section 2 is the technical description; section 3 discusses the flight software; section 4 is the science parameter extraction; section 5 is the instrument DPU; and section 6 is the calibration and characterization

Implementing the EffTox dose-finding design in the Matchpoint trial

Background: The Matchpoint trial aims to identify the optimal dose of ponatinib to give with conventional chemotherapy consisting of fludarabine, cytarabine and idarubicin to chronic myeloid leukaemia patients in blastic transformation phase. The dose should be both tolerable and efficacious. This paper describes our experience implementing EffTox in the Matchpoint trial. Methods: EffTox is a Bayesian adaptive dose-finding trial design that jointly scrutinises binary efficacy and toxicity outcomes. We describe a nomenclature for succinctly describing outcomes in phase I/II dose-finding trials. We use dose-transition pathways, where doses are calculated for each feasible set of outcomes in future cohorts. We introduce the phenomenon of dose ambivalence, where EffTox can recommend different doses after observing the same outcomes. We also describe our experiences with outcome ambiguity, where the categorical evaluation of some primary outcomes is temporarily delayed. Results: We arrived at an EffTox parameterisation that is simulated to perform well over a range of scenarios. In scenarios where dose ambivalence manifested, we were guided by the dose-transition pathways. This technique facilitates planning, and also helped us overcome short-term outcome ambiguity. Conclusions: EffTox is an efficient and powerful design, but not without its challenges. Joint phase I/II clinical trial designs will likely become increasingly important in coming years as we further investigate non-cytotoxic treatments and streamline the drug approval process. We hope this account of the problems we faced and the solutions we used will help others implement this dose-finding clinical trial design. Trial registration: Matchpoint was added to the European Clinical Trials Database (2012-005629-65) on 2013-12-30