Development of a facility using robotics for testing automation of inertial instruments

The Integrated Robotics System Simulation (ROBSIM) was used to evaluate the performance of the PUMA 560 arm as applied to testing of inertial sensors. Results of this effort were used in the design and development of a feasibility test environment using a PUMA 560 arm. The implemented facility demonstrated the ability to perform conventional static inertial instrument tests (rotation and tumble). The facility included an efficient data acquisitions capability along with a precision test servomechanism function resulting in various data presentations which are included in the paper. Analysis of inertial instrument testing accuracy, repeatability and noise characteristics are provided for the PUMA 560 as well as for other possible commercial arm configurations. Another integral aspect of the effort was an in-depth economic analysis and comparison of robot arm testing versus use of contemporary precision test equipment

An infrared study of the bi-polar outflow region GGD 12-15

Infrared observations from 1 to 100 microns are presented for the region associated with a bipolar CO outflow source near the nebulous objects GGD 12 to 15. A luminous far-infrared source was found associated with a radio-continuum source in the area. This object appears to be a compact HII region around a nearly main-sequence BO star. A faint 20 micron source was also discovered at the position of an H2O maser 3O deg northwest of the HII region. This object appears to be associated with but not coincident with a 2 micron reflection nebula. This structure serves as evidence for a non-spherically symmetric, possibly disk-like dust distribution around the exciting star for the maser. This object probably powers the bi-polar CO outflow although its luminosity is less than 10% that of the star which excites the compact HII region. A number of other 2 micron sources found in the area are probably members of a recently formed cluster

Far-infrared photometry of compact extragalactic sources: OJ 187 and BL Lac

The 50 and 100 micron emissions of OJ 287 were detected and upper limits for BL Lac were obtained. These first measurements of two BL Lac objects in the far-infrared show them to be similar to the few quasars previously observed in the far-infrared. In particular, there is no evidence for significant dust emission, and the lambda approximately 100 micron flux density fits on a smooth line joining the near-infrared and millimeter continuum fluxes. The implications of the results for models of the sources are discussed briefly

Image restoration and superresolution as probes of small scale far-IR structure in star forming regions

Far-infrared continuum studies from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory are described that are designed to fully exploit the small-scale spatial information that this facility can provide. This work gives the clearest picture to data on the structure of galactic and extragalactic star forming regions in the far infrared. Work is presently being done with slit scans taken simultaneously at 50 and 100 microns, yielding one-dimensional data. Scans of sources in different directions have been used to get certain information on two dimensional structure. Planned work with linear arrays will allow us to generalize our techniques to two dimensional image restoration. For faint sources, spatial information at the diffraction limit of the telescope is obtained, while for brighter sources, nonlinear deconvolution techniques have allowed us to improve over the diffraction limit by as much as a factor of four. Information on the details of the color temperature distribution is derived as well. This is made possible by the accuracy with which the instrumental point-source profile (PSP) is determined at both wavelengths. While these two PSPs are different, data at different wavelengths can be compared by proper spatial filtering. Considerable effort has been devoted to implementing deconvolution algorithms. Nonlinear deconvolution methods offer the potential of superresolution -- that is, inference of power at spatial frequencies that exceed D lambda. This potential is made possible by the implicit assumption by the algorithm of positivity of the deconvolved data, a universally justifiable constraint for photon processes. We have tested two nonlinear deconvolution algorithms on our data; the Richardson-Lucy (R-L) method and the Maximum Entropy Method (MEM). The limits of image deconvolution techniques for achieving spatial resolution are addressed

Attitudes of advanced Australian medical oncology trainees to rural practice

Aim: To identify the views of medical oncology trainees regarding rural training posts and rural practice overall, and to identify factors that may improve recruitment. Methods: A questionnaire was posted to all advanced oncology trainees in Australia in June 2006. The trainees were questioned on the perceived advantages and disadvantages of rural practice, their experience during previous rural rotations and potential incentives and barriers in recruiting trainees and specialist oncologists to regional and rural centers. Results: There was a 60% response rate. Of all participants 58% had considered rural practice. Those with a rural family background were more likely to have considered rural practice. Attitudes based on responses to listed disadvantages and advantages of rural practice were heterogenous. Lifestyle factors seemed to be of particular importance. Although there were perceived deficiencies in opportunities for professional education in rural oncology rotations, 94% felt their rotation had been a positive experience overall and 62% were more likely to consider a rural career following their rural rotation. Improving locum cover for leave was seen as a potential incentive by 97% trainees. Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes towards rural practice, many barriers exist preventing recruitment of medical oncology trainees to rural areas, in particular lifestyle factors that are difficult to modify. Factors that can be improved include improving access to clinical trials, enabling access to locum cover. Educational opportunities for current rural trainees need to be improved. Further study into potential incentives to enhance rural recruitment is required

Understanding British Values in Primary Schools: Policy and Practice

This book will explore the notion and values and British values, how school promote and engage with the education agenda linked to the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

MRI On the Fly: Accelerating MRI Imaging Using LDA Classification with LDB Feature Extraction

To improve MRI acquisition time, we explored the uses of linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and local discriminant bases (LDB) for the task of classifying MRI images using a minimal set of signal acquisitions. Our algorithm has both off-line and on-line components. The off-line component uses the k-basis algorithm to partition a set of training images (all from a particular region of a patient) into classes. For each class, we find a basis by applying the best basis algorithm on the images in that class. We keep these bases to be used by the on-line process. We then apply LDB to the training set with the class assignments, determining the best discriminant basis for the set. We rank the basis coordinates according to discriminating power, and retain the top M coordinates for the on-line algorithm. We keep the top M coordinates, which index the basis functions with the most discriminating capability, for on-line purposes. Finally, we train LDA on these transformed coordinates, producing a classifier for the images. With the off-line requirements complete, we can take advantage of the simplicity and speed of the on-line mechanism to acquire an image in a similar region of the patient. We need acquire only the M important coordinates of the image in the discriminant basis to create a ``scout image.\u27\u27 This image, which can be acquired quickly since M is much much smaller than the number of measurements needed to fill in the values of the 256 by 256 pixels, is then sent through the map furnished by LDA which in turn assigns a class to the image. Returning to the list of bases that we kept from the k-bases algorithm, we find the optimal basis for the particular class at hand. We then acquire the image using that optimal basis, omitting the coefficients with the least truncation error. The complete image can then be quickly reconstructed using the inverse wavelet packet transform. The power of our algorithm is that the on-line task is fast and simple, while the computational complexity lies mostly in the off-line task that needs to be done only once for images in a certain region. In addition, our algorithm only makes use of the flexibility of MRI hardware, so no modifications in hardware design are needed

Narrowing the Farm-to-Plate Knowledge Gap through Semiotics and the Study of Consumer Responses Regarding Livestock Images

It has been suggested that a farm-to-plate knowledge gap exists between farmers and consumers. In addition, previous studies have concluded that U.S. citizens do not have accurate knowledge or perceptions about agriculture. It is thought that this absence of knowledge and existing misconceptions may be due to the images consumers see regularly through the media. In this research study, researchers used a directly administered questionnaire to evaluate consumers’ responses regarding the comparison of two livestock images. The study was conducted at the 2009 Ohio State Fair. Through voluntary participation, research participants answered questions regarding their perceptions of traditional and conventional livestock housing methods by viewing two images. In addition, participants were asked to justify each of their responses through oral reasoning. Questionnaires were completed by 508 participants, of which 502 were deemed usable. Results indicate participants are somewhat knowledgeable about livestock housing methods, but the perceptions and justifications of the respondents are not always accurate. The results also indicate agricultural images, as well as images regularly seen in the media, may influence such perceptions. In order to narrow the farm-to-plate knowledge gap, it is important for the agriculture industry to effectively improve the knowledge and perceptions of agriculture amongst consumers

Adaptive Energy Efficient Scheduling (AEES) for Fault Tolerant Coverage in Sensor Networks

For many sensor network applications it is necessary to provide full sensing coverage to a security-sensitive area. To actively monitor the set of target the subset of sensors are redundantly deployed. One of the major challenges in devising such network lies in the constrained energy and to tolerate unexpected failure to prolong the life span of the network. In this we rapidly restore the field monitoring, by periodically refreshing and switching the cover to tackle unanticipated failure in an energy efficient manner, because energy is the most critical resource considering the irreplaceable of batteries of the sensor nodes. In the same time it should amenably support more than one sensor at a time with different degree in distributed approach that periodically selects the covers and switch between them to extend coverage time and tolerate unexpected failures at runtime. In this scheme the sensor is an autonomous system that has the authority to decide how to cover its sensing range. It also incorporates a novel technique for offline cover update (OCU) to facilitate asynchronous transition between covers. This approach is robust to failure pattern is no uniform. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15013