Machine Learning Based AFP Inspection: A Tool for Characterization and Integration

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) has become a standard manufacturing technique in the creation of large scale composite structures due to its high production rates. However, the associated rapid layup that accompanies AFP manufacturing has a tendency to induce defects. We forward an inspection system that utilizes machine learning (ML) algorithms to locate and characterize defects from profilometry scans coupled with a data storage system and a user interface (UI) that allows for informed manufacturing. A Keyence LJ-7080 blue light profilometer is used for fast 2D height profiling. After scans are collected, they are process by ML algorithms, displayed to an operator through the UI, and stored in a database. The overall goal of the inspection system is to add an additional tool for AFP manufacturing. Traditional AFP inspection is done manually adding to manufacturing time and being subject to inspector errors or fatigue. For large parts, the inspection process can be cumbersome. The proposed inspection system has the capability of accelerating this process while still keeping a human inspector integrated and in control. This allows for the rapid capability of the automated inspection software and the robustness of a human checking for defects that the system either missed or misclassified

Evaluating leadership's approach to implementing organizational change across the Naval Aviation Enterprise with a focus on the development of Fleet Readiness Centers

MBA Professional ReportNAVAIR is currently realigning its Aviation Maintenance infrastructure to fall under the overarching umbrella of the newly minted Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE). This realignment will call for a new enterprise-wide strategy and structure. Hierarchies and relationships are being redefined throughout the enterprise resulting in entirely new organizational structures functionally equivalent to industryb2ss small business units. This realignment will result in the elimination of Intermediate level maintenance as it exists today and presents a myriad of challenges to the Fleet in the terms of achieving business efficiencies and employee relationship management. This MBA Project evaluates, by survey, how effectively the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps have managed the change effort as they continue to realign their Intermediate and Depot level units under the new FRC construct.http://archive.org/details/evaluatingleader1094510097US Navy (USN) authorApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Outcomes Considered Most Important by Emergency Physicians When Determining Disposition of Patients with Pulmonary Embolism

Purpose: Clinical decision rules for the disposition of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) are typically validated against an outcome of 30-day mortality or disease recurrence. There is little justification for this time frame, nor is it clear whether this outcome reflects emergency department (ED) decision making. Aims: To determine which outcomes emergency physicians (EP) consider most relevant to disposition decisions. Methods: Survey of attending EPs in geographically diverse US states using acute PE as the diagnostic framework. Responses required single-answer multiple choice, a numerical percentage, rank-ordered responses, or a five-point Likert scale. We distributed the survey via e-mail to 608 EPs. Results: We received responses from 292 (48%) EPs: 88% board certified, 91% trained in emergency medicine, and 70% work in academics. Respondents reported discharging 1% of patients with PE from the ED, but 21% reported being asked to do so by an admitting service. EPs were more interested in knowing 5-day (in hospital) outcomes [192/265, 72% (95% exact CI=66%–78%)] than 30-day outcomes [39/261, 15% (95% exact CI=11%–20%)] or 90-day outcomes [29/263, 11% (95% exact CI=8%–15%)]. On a Likert scale, 212/241 (88%, 95% exact CI=83%–92%) agreed or strongly agreed that they considered 5-day (in hospital) clinical deterioration when making a decision to admit or discharge a patient from the ED compared to 184/242 (76%, 95% exact CI=70%–81%) and 73/242 (30%, 95% exact CI=24%–36%) for 30 and 90 days, respectively. A wide variety of clinical outcomes beyond death or recurrent PE were considered indicative of clinical deterioration. Conclusions: Five-day (in hospital) outcomes that incorporate a variety of clinical deterioration events are of interest to EPs when determining the disposition of ED patients with PE. Researchers should consider this when developing and validating clinical decision rules

Spruce-Fir Moss Spider (Microhexura Montivaga) Monitoring Plan

On June 20, 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced it would conduct a 5-year status review of the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider as part of the process mandated by the Endangered Species Act. Although the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider has been listed as endangered since 1994, minimal research has been done on its basic ecology, and there is presently no long-term monitoring plan in place. This inhibits proper management of the species (USFWS 2019). It is also worth noting that few field surveys have been done on the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider because there are only a handful of people with sufficient experience and skill to find and identify this cryptic species , and because frequent surveys would disturb the spider’s limited and fragile habitat. Furthermore, given the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider’s endangered status, observers must employ non-lethal survey methods. Traditional methods that kill the target species would undermine conservation efforts (Lecq et al. 2015). This further complicates research on the species. In light of these challenges, as well as limited availability of human and material resources, this plan focuses on occupancy rather than abundance. Compared to abundance studies, occupancy studies tend to be more cost effective and also more appropriate for cryptic species (Dibner et al. 2017). I hope that the information presented here will contribute in some small way to the development of a long-term monitoring plan for this difficult to monitor, endangered species

Paediatric trauma on the Last Frontier: an 11-year review of injury mechanisms, high-risk injury patterns and outcomes in Alaskan children

Background: Paediatric trauma system development in Alaska is complicated by a vast geographic coverage area, wide regional variations in environment and culture, and a lack of available published data. Objective: To provide a detailed description of paediatric trauma mechanisms, high-risk injury patterns and outcomes in Alaska. Design: This retrospective study included all children aged 17 years or younger in the State of Alaska Trauma Registry database admitted with traumatic injury between 2001 and 2011. Each injury record was reviewed individually and assigned a mechanism based on Centers for Disease Control E-codes. Geographic definitions were based on existing Emergency Medical Services regions. Mechanisms were compared by geographic region, patient demographics, injury characteristics and outcome. Subgroup analysis of fatal injuries was performed to identify causes of death. Results: Of 5,547 patients meeting inclusion criteria, the most common mechanisms of injury were falls (39%), motor vehicle collisions (10%) and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents (9%). The overall case fatality rate was 2%. Mechanisms with the greatest risk of death were gunshot wounds (21%), pedestrians struck by motorized vehicles (9%) and motor vehicle collisions (5%). These 3 mechanisms accounted for 15% of injuries but 60% of deaths in the overall cohort. Injury patterns involving combined central nervous system (CNS) and torso injuries were unusual but especially lethal, occurring in 3% of patients but carrying a case fatality rate of 18%. Although the distribution of mechanisms was generally similar for each geographic region, ATV and snowmobile injuries were significantly more common in remote areas (23% remote vs. 7% non-remote, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Mechanisms of paediatric trauma in Alaska have widely varying impacts on outcome and show some variation by region. Highest-risk mechanisms include gunshot wounds and motorized vehicle-related accidents. Prevention efforts should give special attention to CNS injury prevention, ATV and snowmobile safety in remote areas, and optimization of management of multisystem trauma. Further studies should investigate predictors of outcome in greater detail

Automated Fiber Placement Defects: Automated Inspection and Characterization

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) is an additive composite manufacturing technique, and a pressing challenge facing this technology is defect detection and repair. Manual defect inspection is time consuming, which led to the motivation to develop a rapid automatic method of inspection. This paper suggests a new automated inspection system based on convolutional neural networks and image segmentation tasks. This creates a pixel by pixel classification of the defects of the whole part scan. This process will allow for greater defect information extraction and faster processing times over previous systems, motivating rapid part inspection and analysis. Fine shape, height, and boundary detail can be generated through our system as opposed to a more coarse resolution demonstrated in other techniques. These scans are analyzed for defects, and then each defect is stored for export, or correlated to machine parameters or part design. The network is further improved through novel optimization techniques. New training instances can also be created with every new part scan by including the machine operator as a post inspection check on the accuracy of the system. Having a continuously adapting inspection system will increase accuracy for automated inspections, cutting down on false readings