A Neural Network Approach for Non-contact Defect Inspection of Flat Panel Displays

AbstractThis paper proposes a neural network-based approach for the inspection of electrical defects on thin film transistor lines of flat panel displays. The inspection is performed on digitized waveform data of voltage signals that are captured by a capacitor-based non-contact sensor by scanning over thin film transistor lines on the surface of the mother glass of flat panels. The sudden deep falls (open circuits) or sharp rises (short circuits) on the captured noisy waveform are classified and detected by employing a four-layer feed-forward neural network with two hidden layers. The topology of the network comprises an input layer with two units, two hidden layers with two and three units, and an output layer with one unit; a standard sigmoid function as the activation function for each unit. The network is trained with a fast adaptive back-propagation algorithm to find an optimal set of associated weights of neurons by feeding a known set of input data. The ambiguity of the threshold definition does not arise in this method because it uses only local features of waveform data at and around selected candidate points as inputs to the network, unlike the existing thresholding-based method, which is inherently prone to missed detections and false detections

Enhancing Sustainable Rural Development in Sri Lanka: A Study of Community-Centered Approaches and Volunteerism in Ohiya, Karagahayaya, and Moragahapallama

This study investigates community-based volunteer programs in Sri Lanka, with a specific focus on development initiatives that emphasize community participation. The research identifies three primary development approaches: "Community-Oriented Development," "Community-Engaged Development," and "Community-Driven Development." These approaches aim to promote the adoption of sustainable and effective development practices by actively involving volunteers. The study's findings reveal shortcomings in existing approaches, including issues related to sustainability and their alignment with the intended beneficiary areas. This conclusion is based on a rigorous review and comprehensive analysis of the subject. To address these challenges, the research provides valuable examples of community-centered development efforts that are highly recommended. The study benefited significantly from the inclusion of three key case study regions in Sri Lanka: Ohiya, Karagahayaya, and Moragahapalla. The active involvement and collaboration of local residents played a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes and ensuring the relevance and feasibility of the proposed development strategies. In summary, this research centers on development projects in Sri Lanka that prioritize community involvement and participation. The active engagement of local residents is instrumental in shaping the outcomes and validating the practicality of the proposed development strategies

フラットパネルディスプレイ製造工程におけるニューラルネットワークに基づく欠陥検査過程

広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(工学)Doctor of Engineeringdoctora

Assessment of Food Safety Knowledge of Food Handlers and the Level of Implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices at Restaurants in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka

The study aims to assess the food safety knowledge of restaurant owners/head chefs and to investigate the current level of implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in restaurants in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. Data were collected from a convenient sample of 100 respondents (50 owners and 50 head chefs) of 50 restaurants in the Kegalle District using both researcher and self-administered questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using Minitab (16/17) and the Microsoft Excel softwarepackages. The General and in-depth food safety knowledge of the respondents were tested using a selfadministered questionnaire which consisted of 24 questions. The GMP implementation was evaluated using a checklist consisting of 40 major Good Manufacturing Practices. The results indicate that the food safety knowledge of the respondents (restaurant owners and head chefs) increased with their education level and level of training. The mean in-depth knowledge score of the respondents was significantly different (p < 0.05) from that of their mean general knowledge of food safety. Results indicate that 22% of the respondents have never attended any training sessions or open seminars related to food safety and showed poor knowledge, especially on aspects such as correct temperature control during handling food. The level of GMP implementation increased with restaurant owners' in-depth and total food safety knowledge. The food safety knowledge of head chefs did not seem to affect the level of GMP implementation at restaurants. Since the GMP implementation at restaurants is mostly affected by the restaurant owner’s knowledge and skills, the authors recommend conducting training sessions or open seminars to upgrade their in-depth and total knowledge of food safety

The association of abdominal muscle with outcomes after scheduled abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Sarcopenia is the degenerative loss of core muscle mass. It is an aspect of frailty, which is associated with increased rates of peri‐operative harm. We assessed the association of the cross‐sectional areas of abdominal muscles, including psoas, with survival during a median (IQR [range]) follow‐up of 3.8 (3.2–4.4 [0.0–5.1]) years after scheduled endovascular (132) or open (5) abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in 137 patients. In multivariate analysis, mortality hazard (95%CI) was independently associated with: age, 1.06 (1.01–1.13) per year, p = 0.03; and the adjusted area of the left psoas muscle, 0.94 (0.81–1.01) per mm2.kg−0.83, p = 0.08. Shortened hospital stay was independently associated with haemoglobin concentration and adjusted left psoas muscle area, hazard ratio (95%) 1.01 (1.00–1.02) per g.l−1 and 1.05 (1.02–1.07) per mm2.kg−0.83, p = 0.04 and 0.001, respectively

Life cycle assessment (LCA) of sustainable building materials: An overview

The construction industry is one of the largest exploiters of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. It was inevitable that it would find itself at the centre of concerns regarding environmental impact. The process and operation of building construction consumes a great deal of materials throughout its service life cycle. The selection and use of sustainable building materials play an important role in the design and construction of green building. This chapter sets out to present an overview of sustainable building materials and their impacts on the environment. It also discusses the life cycle assessment as a methodological principle and framework, and its limitations for the analysis of sustainable building materials. © 2014 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved

Método para quantificação do consumo energético no ciclo de vida de equipamentos hidrossanitários

A escolha entre diferentes materiais, produtos ou sistemas empregados na construção civil pode levar em consideração diferentes critérios, sejam estes econômicos, sociais, culturais e ambientais. No caso de equipamentos hidrossanitários, a avaliação econômica e do consumo de recursos, tais como a água, são os critérios mais comumente empregados. O presente artigo objetiva a proposição de um método para quantificação do consumo energético de equipamentos hidrossanitários com base no conceito de Análise do Ciclo de Vida. Essa quantificação permite a comparação entre o desempenho de diferentes equipamentos hidrossanitários com base no dispêndio energético total. No presente artigo o método proposto é aplicado em um estudo de caso analisando dois modelos de torneira (convencional e com fechamento hidromecânico). O consumo energético total no ciclo de vida das torneiras convencional e economizadora de água utilizadas no estudo foi de respectivamente, 151,66 MJ e 127,58 MJ. A etapa de uso das torneiras apresentou peso preponderante nos resultados, com participação de 64,6% para a torneira convencional e 56,5% para a torneira com fechamento hidromecânico. O método proposto se mostrou adequado para quantificação do consumo energético no ciclo de vida e posterior escolha entre diferentes equipamentos hidrossanitários que exerçam a mesma função

Formation of Oxidative-Stress Resistant Phenotypes of Listeria Monocytogenes Serotypes 1/2A and 4B and their Stability at 37oC and 4oC

The purpose of this study was to induce an oxidative-stress adaptation in Listeria monocytogenes Bug600 (serotype 1/2a) and F1057 (serotype 4b) by pre-exposing to sublethal H2O2 and alkali-stress either singly or sequentially. Our findings show that the sequential pre-exposure of cells to pH 9 for 30 min treatment followed by 50 ppm H2O2 for 30 min at 37°C yielded the highest oxidative-stress resistant phenotypes of L. monocytogenes Bug600 and F1057. The sublethal H2O2 and sublethal alkali-stress induced oxidative-stress adaptations were completely reversible within 60 min at 37°C in the absence of such sublethal stress. However, the oxidative-stress adaptation induced at 37°C was stable at 4°C over a 24 h test period in both L. monocytogenes Bug600 and F1057. Future studies will focus on the potential cross-resistance of oxidative-stress adapted L. monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a and 4b to commonly used disinfectants and GRAS antimicrobials

Growth and Biofilm Formation by Listeria Monocytogenes and Salmonella Spp. In Cantaloupe Extracts on Four Food-Contact Surfaces at 22°C and 10°C

Center for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration reports indicate that cantaloupe is one of the five most likely fruits and vegetables to cause a foodborne disease outbreak. Cantaloupe is a potential hazardous food based on the FDA food code since it is capable of supporting pathogen growth due to its low acidity and high moisture content. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of strain and temperature on growth and biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in cantaloupe flesh and peel extracts on different food-contact processing surfaces. Growth of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella strains was greater in high cantaloupe flesh and peel extract concentration at 22°C and 10°C. In 50 mg/ml of cantaloupe flesh or peel extract, the cell numbers of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella increased by 5.0-5.5 log CFU/ml in 40 h at 22°C and 1-3.5 log CFU/ml in 72 h at 10°C. In 2 mg/ml of cantaloupe flesh or peel extract, the cell numbers of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella increased by 4.0-4.5 log CFU/ml in 72 h at 22°C but no change in log CFU/ml in 72 h at 10°C. There were no differences (P ˃ 0.05) among L. monocytogenes orSalmonella strains for biofilm formation in cantaloupe extracts, but biofilm formation was greater (P \u3c 0.05) at high temperature and high cantaloupe flesh or peel extract concentration. In 50 mg/ml cantaloupe flesh or peel extract, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella produced biofilms of 7 log CFU/coupon in 4 days at 22°C and 4-5 log CFU/coupon in 7 days at 10°C. In 2 mg/ml cantaloupe flesh or peel extract, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella produced biofilms of 5-6 log CFU/coupon in 4 days at 22°C and 3-4 log CFU/coupon in 7 days at 10°C. L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. formed less biofilms (P \u3c 0.05) on buna-n rubber when compared to stainless steel, polyethylene and polyurethane surfaces. These findings indicate that a very low concentration of nutrients that are leaked from cantaloupe flesh or peel can induce growth and biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on different food-contact surfaces