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A Proposal for Optical Diagnostics Through the Enhancement of Diffraction Patterns Using Thin-film Interference Filters

  • Stefanita Carmen Gabriela;Shao Yun Feng
    • Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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    • v.9 no.6
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    • pp.428-434
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    • 2004
  • Coarse clumping of solid materials within diseased biological cells can have a marked influence on the light scattering pattern. Perturbations in refractive index lead to distinct varia­tions in the cytometric signature, especially apparent over wide scattering angles. The large dynamic range of scattering intensities restricts collection of data to narrow angular intervals be­lieved to have the highest potential for medical diagnosis. We propose the use of an interfer­ence filter to reduce the dynamic range. Selective attenuation of scattering intensity levels is expected to allow simultaneous data collection over a wide angular interval. The calculated angu­lar transmittance of a commercial shortwave-pass filter of cut-off wavelength 580 nm indicates significant attenuation of scattering peaks below ${\~}\;10^{circ}$, and reasonable peak equalization at higher angles. For the three-dimensional calculation of laser light scattered by cells we use a spectral method code that models cells as spatially varying dielectrics, stationary in time. How­ever, we perform preliminary experimental testing with the interference filter on polystyrene microspheres instead of biological cells. A microfluidic toolkit is used for the manipulation of the microspheres. The paper intends to illustrate the principle of a light scattering detection system incorporating an interference filter for selective attenuation of scattering peaks.

Accuracy of Bolton analysis measured in laser scanned digital models compared with plaster models (gold standard) and cone-beam computer tomography images

  • Kim, Jooseong;Lagravere, Manuel O.
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.46 no.1
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    • pp.13-19
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    • 2016
  • Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of Bolton analysis obtained from digital models scanned with the Ortho Insight three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner system to those obtained from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and traditional plaster models. Methods: CBCT scans and plaster models were obtained from 50 patients. Plaster models were scanned using the Ortho Insight 3D laser scanner; Bolton ratios were calculated with its software. CBCT scans were imported and analyzed using AVIZO software. Plaster models were measured with a digital caliper. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Anterior and overall Bolton ratios obtained by the three different modalities exhibited excellent agreement (> 0.970). The mean differences between the scanned digital models and physical models and between the CBCT images and scanned digital models for overall Bolton ratios were $0.41{\pm}0.305%$ and $0.45{\pm}0.456%$, respectively; for anterior Bolton ratios, $0.59{\pm}0.520%$ and $1.01{\pm}0.780%$, respectively. ICC results showed that intraexaminer error reliability was generally excellent (> 0.858 for all three diagnostic modalities), with < 1.45% discrepancy in the Bolton analysis. Conclusions: Laser scanned digital models are highly accurate compared to physical models and CBCT scans for assessing the spatial relationships of dental arches for orthodontic diagnosis.

Two-dimensional Coupled Moisture and Heat Flow Model and Sensitivity Analysis (이차원 복합적 습기와 열흐름의 분석모델과 민감도 분석)

  • Kim, Suk-Nam
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.19 no.5
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    • pp.99-107
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    • 2003
  • Moisture flow and heat flow within pavement systems have been recognized as coupled processes with complex interactions between them. The distribution of moisture and temperature within pavement due to the moisture flow and heat flow varies not only seasonally but also vertically and horizontally. This paper presents an analysis model by the finite element method for the two-dimensional coupled moisture and heat flow in unsaturated soils. To test the model the analysis result by the model is compared with the analysis result by the software, GEO-SLOPE developed by GEO-SLOPE International Ltd. in Alberta, Canada. And a sensitivity analysis using ASTM method is performed to identify how model inputs affect the modeling analysis.

Reservoir Characterization using 3-D Seismic Data in BlackGold Oilsands Lease, Alberta Canada

  • Lim, Bo-Sung;Song, Hoon-Young
    • 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2009.05a
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    • pp.35-45
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    • 2009
  • Reservoir Characterization (RC) using 3-D seismic attributes analysis can provide properties of the oil sand reservoirs, beyond seismic resolution. For example, distributions and temporal bed thicknesses of reservoirs could be characterized by Spectral Decomposition (SD) and additional seismic attributes such as wavelet classification. To extract physical properties of the reservoirs, we applied 3-D seismic attributes analysis to the oil sand reservoirs in McMurray formation, in BlackGold Oilsands Lease, Alberta Canada. Because of high viscosity of the bitumen, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology will be necessarily applied to produce the bitumen in a steam chamber generated by Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). To optimize the application of SAGD, it is critical to identify the distributions and thicknesses of the channel sand reservoirs and shale barriers in the promising areas. By 3-D seismic attributes analysis, we could understand the expected paleo-channel and characteristics of the reservoirs. However, further seismic analysis (e.g., elastic impedance inversion and AVO inversion) as well as geological interpretations are still required to improve the resolution and quality of RC.

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SOURCES OF VARIATION IN CALVING DIFFICULTY IN BEEF HEIFERS

  • Paputungan, U.;Makarechian, M.;Liu, M.F.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.255-260
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    • 1994
  • Calving records of 107 heifers from two breed groups were used to identify the major factors contributing to calving difficulty (dystocia) and compare the influence of pelvic diameters, weight and height of heifers measured after breeding and before calving on dystocia. The horizontal and vertical pelvic diameters, hip height and weight of heifers were measured two months after breeding and again two months before calving. Snell transformed calving difficulty scores (0 = normal to 100 = surgical intervention) were used in analyzing the data by analysis of covariance. Body condition score of the heifer, sire birth weight of the calf, birth weight of the calf, and ratio of calf birth weight to pelvic area all had significant effects on dystocia. Calf birth weight, ratio of calf birth weight to pelvic area, and heifer's condition score were especially important. However, sex of calf did not have a significant influence on dystocia. Generally, the variables measured before calving accounted for a higher proportion of variation in dystocia than those measured after breeding. Thus, based on the relative importance of the major factors affecting dystocia, it is suggested that selection of bulls with low birth weight for breeding on normal size heifers with optimum body condition score, and well developed pelvic opening, would be effective in reducing the incidence and severity of dystocia in beef heifers.

Multiobjective Optimization of Three-Stage Spur Gear Reduction Units Using Interactive Physical Programming

  • Huang Hong Zhong;Tian Zhi Gang;Zuo Ming J.
    • Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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    • v.19 no.5
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    • pp.1080-1086
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    • 2005
  • The preliminary design optimization of multi-stage spur gear reduction units has been a subject of considerable interest, since many high-performance power transmission applications (e.g., automotive and aerospace) require high-performance gear reduction units. There are multiple objectives in the optimal design of multi-stage spur gear reduction unit, such as minimizing the volume and maximizing the surface fatigue life. It is reasonable to formulate the design of spur gear reduction unit as a multi-objective optimization problem, and find an appropriate approach to solve it. In this paper an interactive physical programming approach is developed to place physical programming into an interactive framework in a natural way. Class functions, which are used to represent the designer's preferences on design objectives, are fixed during the interactive physical programming procedure. After a Pareto solution is generated, a preference offset is added into the class function of each objective based on whether the designer would like to improve this objective or sacrifice the objective so as to improve other objectives. The preference offsets are adjusted during the interactive physical programming procedure, and an optimal solution that satisfies the designer's preferences is supposed to be obtained by the end of the procedure. An optimization problem of three-stage spur gear reduction unit is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Parametric study on eccentrically-loaded partially encased composite columns under major axis bending

  • Begum, Mahbuba;Driver, Robert G.;Elwi, Alaa E.
    • Steel and Composite Structures
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    • v.19 no.5
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    • pp.1299-1319
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    • 2015
  • This paper presents a detailed parametric study, conducted using finite element tools to cover a range of several geometric and material parameters, on the behaviour of thin-walled partially encased composite (PEC) columns. The PEC columns studied herein are composed of thin-walled built-up H-shaped steel sections with concrete infill cast between the flanges. Transverse links are provided between the opposing flanges to improve resistance to local buckling. The parametric study is confined to eccentrically-loaded columns subjected to major axis bending only. The parameters that were varied include the overall column slenderness ratio (L/d), load eccentricity ratio (e/d), link spacing-to-depth ratio (s/d), flange plate slenderness ratio (b/t) and concrete compressive strength ($f_{cu}$). The overall column slenderness ratio was chosen to be the primary variable with values of 5, 10 and 15. Other parameters were varied within each case of L/d ratio. The effects of the selected parameters on the behaviour of PEC columns were studied with respect to the failure mode, peak axial load, axial load versus average axial strain response, axial load versus lateral displacement response, moment versus lateral displacement behaviour and the axial load-moment interaction diagram. The results of the parametric study are presented in the paper and the influences of each of the parameters investigated are discussed.

Pounding between adjacent buildings of varying height coupled through soil

  • Naserkhaki, Sadegh;El-Rich, Marwan;Aziz, Farah N.A. Abdul;Pourmohammad, Hassan
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.573-593
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    • 2014
  • Pounding between adjacent buildings is a significant challenge in metropolitan areas because buildings of different heights collide during earthquake excitations due to varying dynamic properties and narrow separation gaps. The seismic responses of adjacent buildings of varying height, coupled through soil subjected to earthquake-induced pounding, are evaluated in this paper. The lumped mass model is used to simulate the buildings and soil, while the linear visco-elastic contact force model is used to simulate pounding forces. The results indicate while the taller building is almost unaffected when the shorter building is very short, it suffers more from pounding with increasing height of the shorter building. The shorter building suffers more from the pounding with decreasing height and when its height differs substantially from that of the taller building. The minimum required separation gap to prevent pounding is increased with increasing height of the shorter building until the buildings become almost in-phase. Considering the soil effect; pounding forces are reduced, displacements and story shears are increased after pounding, and also, minimum separation gap required to prevent pounding is increased.

Spatial Point-pattern Analysis of a Population of Lodgepole Pine

  • Chhin, Sophan;Huang, Shongming
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.34 no.6
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    • pp.419-428
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    • 2018
  • Spatial point-patterns analyses were conducted to provide insight into the ecological process behind competition and mortality in two lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands, one in the Lower Foothills, and the other in the Upper Foothills natural subregions in the boreal forest of Alberta, Canada. Spatial statistical tests were applied to live and dead trees and included Clark-Evans nearest neighbor statistic (R), nearest neighbor distribution function (G(r)), and a variant of Ripley's K function (L(r)). In both lodgepole pine plots, the results indicated that there was significant regularity in the spatial point-pattern of the surviving trees which indicates that competition has been a key driver of mortality and forest dynamics in these plots. Dead trees generally showed a clumping pattern in higher density patches. There were also significant bivariate relationships between live and dead trees, but the relationships differed by natural subregion. In the Lower Foothills plot there was significant attraction between live and dead tees which suggests mainly one-sided competition for light. In contrast, in the Upper Foothills plot, there was significant repulsion between live and dead trees which suggests two-sided competition for soil nutrients and soil moisture.