Modelling the dynamics of dengue real epidemics

In this work, we use a mathematical model for dengue transmission with the aim of analysing and comparing two dengue epidemics that occurred in Salvador, Brazil, in 1995-1996 and 2002. Using real data, we obtain the force of infection, Λ, and the basic reproductive number, R(0), for both epidemics. We also obtain the time evolution of the effective reproduction number, R(t), which results in a very suitable measure to compare the patterns of both epidemics. Based on the analysis of the behaviour of R(0) and R(t) in relation to the adult mosquito control parameter of the model, we show that the control applied only to the adult stage of the mosquito population is not sufficient to stop dengue transmission, emphasizing the importance of applying the control to the aquatic phase of the mosquito.     

Impact of dynamic virtual and real robots on perceived safe waiting time and maximum reach of robot arms

This research examines perception of dynamic objects and robots in a virtual and real industrial work environment. The studies are modelled after those of Karwowski and Rahimi from the early 1990s. By applying virtual reality technology, the real workplace can be simulated in the virtual world for the improvement of facility design. Perception of hazard and risk, safe waiting time, maximum reach of robot arm are measured related to the impact of parameters such as robot size, speed and type and exposure to a virtual accident. Analysis includes techniques such as sequential experiments to compare results in the virtual and real environments. These methods may be considered as a model for studying perception and transfer in other domains. The comparison of the analysed data in the virtual and real environments helps to further determine the transferability of performance and perception from virtual reality to real. Results show similarity in perceived safe waiting time, but there are large differences in perceived maximum reach of robot arms between the virtual and real environments. Using the preliminary results from the integrated data in the sequential experiments, potential guidelines for using virtual facility layout in industry are discussed.     

Global citizenship and the real world of technology

The article opposes a naive conception of technology with the emphasis on material artifacts and supports the view that the “real world of technology” and its problems have to be understood in terms of systems. Technology forms a new environment, a shared house in which we all dwell today. From this viewpoint the paper argues about new moral and political responsibilities with which citizens are confronted in the emerging global technical system. It is pointed out that the same processes underlying the technological integration of the world and the globalization of society also seem to awaken new modes of citizenship in a global civil society.     

Resolving quadrature fringes in real time

In many interferometers, two fringe signals can be generated in quadrature. The relative phase of the two fringe signals depends on whether the optical path length is increasing or decreasing. A system is developed in which two quadrature fringe signals are digitized and analyzed in real time with a digital signal processor to yield a linear, high-resolution, wide-dynamic-range displacement transducer. The resolution in a simple Michelson interferometer with inexpensive components is 5 x 10(-13) m Hz(-1/2) at 2 Hz.     

实时动态场景生成

利用三维建模软件对目标和光电跟踪测量系统等实物建立三维模型,把捕获系统实时获取的目标状态信息和光电跟踪测量系统运行信息通过网络实时传送给场景生成计算机,场景生成计算机利用这些数据信息驱动三维模型,从而实时模拟目标与光电跟踪测量系统的运行状态。该系统可为指挥控制人员的决策提供更直观、简便的帮助。     

Postal address reading in real time

In 1994, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) delivered 177 billion pieces of mail to 125 million delivery addresses. To assist in processing this large volume of mail, USPS and the Center for Document Analysis and Recognition (CEDAR) have been exploring automation methods for processing letter mail with handwritten addresses. The CEDAR system for locating and reading destination address blocks on letter mail pieces operates at real-time rates. The system architecture uses a variety of pipelining and multiprocessor techniques to achieve the required processing speed and minimize latency. Image processing operations are performed using specialized hardware operating at 103 ns/pixel. This hardware includes CCITT Group 3 (FAX) decompression, image enhancement, and conversion of the image representation from pixel-based representation to symbolic representation. This symbolic representation of the image can be processed in real time using software running on general-purpose processors. This software performs the address block location (ABL), handwritten address interpretation (HWAI), and data base querying needed to determine the delivery point of the mail piece. The current system can correctly locate and produce a five-digit ZIP code with an accuracy of 66% on a test set of 1566 handwritten mail pieces. A unique delivery point (e.g., ZIP + 4 code) can be determined on these same mail pieces 26% of the time. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Bj rn Lomborg: The skeptical environmentalist: measuring the real state of the world

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy -     

Minimizing the cycle time in serial manufacturing systems with multiple dual-gripper robots

Robots are being used more and more extensively as material-handling systems for automated manufacturing systems. This is especially true for dual-gripper robots whose in-process buffer (the robot's second gripper) constitutes a further element of flexibility. When the number of stations to be served is high and the set of activities the robot must execute is great, the system throughput may depend on robot capability rather than on process times. In such conditions, the use of several robots leads to an increase in system productivity. Obviously, the design and the management of such a handling system becomes more complex: the minimum number of robots required, the work stations to be served by each of them and the robot move cycles must be all determined so as to minimize the cycle time of a multi-robot serial system. Since the aim of minimizing the cycle time could lead to a non-univocal configuration, a secondary objective may be pursued. To this aim, the classic case of a single dual-gripper robotic cell is preliminarily revisited, using a practical rather than a theoretical approach, to show that, under the conditions of minimum cycle time, it is possible to take into account both the reduction of the WIP and that of the length of the transitory periods.     

Single-protein nanomechanical mass spectrometry in real time

Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) resonators can detect mass with exceptional sensitivity. Previously, mass spectra from several hundred adsorption events were assembled in NEMS-based mass spectrometry using statistical analysis. Here, we report the first realization of single-molecule NEMS-based mass spectrometry in real time. As each molecule in the sample adsorbs on the resonator, its mass and position of adsorption are determined by continuously tracking two driven vibrational modes of the device. We demonstrate the potential of multimode NEMS-based mass spectrometry by analysing IgM antibody complexes in real time. NEMS-based mass spectrometry is a unique and promising new form of mass spectrometry: it can resolve neutral species, provide a resolving power that increases markedly for very large masses, and allow the acquisition of spectra, molecule-by-molecule, in real time.     

实时自动对焦的研究

提出一种自动对焦技术,其调焦评价函数棗图像的平面微分平方和能够反映图像高频分量的能量。用计算平面微分平方和的方法在空间域上计算相邻像素亮度差值的平方和,对应于在频率域上计算图像高频分量的能量和,此值越大,图像对焦越准确。用平面微分平方和计算一行图像(N个像素)的调焦评价函数时,计算时间仅为2 (N -1)个时钟周期。     

RTSVC: Real‐time system for visual control of robots

This article presents an image processing system that can work in hard real‐time. Compared with systems that use the traditional multiprocessor architecture approach, this computer system takes advantage on recent technological advances and it is designed to work with a single processor PC under RTLinux. Its programming environment is similar to C programming language and it offers a friendly graphical user interface. The performance of the system is illustrated by means of experiments applied to visual guidance of mobile robots via velocity fields using a fixed high‐speed camera. The experiments were carried out with a strict sampling frequency of 100 Hz. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 18, 251–256, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).     

Volume cytometry: microfluidic sensor for high-throughput screening in real time

Regulation of cell volume was one of the earliest evolutionary demands for life and remains a universal measure of cell metabolism. Since conventional methods to measure cell volume, such as microscopy, are complex and time-consuming, cell volume has not been used as the basis for cell-based screening. We have developed a microfabricated chip that can measure the volume of small numbers of cells in real time with unprecedented resolution. The method is applicable to adherent or suspended populations of cells and membrane-bound organelles. Our prototype device can detect volume changes in a monolayer of tissue-cultured astrocytes responding to anisotonic stimuli of <1mOsm. We determined the sensitivity to antibiotics of different E. coli strains in <10 min at 24 degrees C. This time can be reduced at higher temperatures enabling on-site clinical testing of infectious agents. Using the chip to screen natural products, we found a peptide in spider venom that inhibits eukaryotic volume regulation at approximately 100pM. The prototype chip made in silicon is inexpensive, reusable, and runs on low-voltage electrical power. The technology can be readily transferred to large arrays in plastic.     

Studying early time HWCVD growth of a-Si:H by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry

We have applied real time spectroscopic ellipsometry and secondary ion mass spectrometry to study the growth of amorphous silicon by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition. Differences in temperature and hydrogen content affect the optical properties of the film. These effects provide valuable insight into the growth process. We have compared a-Si:H films grown at two different temperatures to better understand these effects. Our studies reveal the presence of a distinct 100–200-thick layer at the top of the growing film. The properties of this layer are primarily determined by the ambient conditions in the growth chamber and appear relatively independent of substrate temperature. In contrast, the properties of the bulk of the film are strongly influenced by substrate temperature. These results imply that differences in film properties associated with substrate temperature are the result of subsurface reconstruction and diffusion processes.