Experiments in the use of multiple-choice examinations forelectromagnetics-related topics

The results of experimental usages of multiple-choice examinations for topics in electromagnetic compatibility, basic electromagnetics, and optics are reported. A novel technique to prevent students from gaining marks by random answers, the “stupid answer” method, was tested in one of the experiments and found to give good results. It was found that the mark distributions were comparable with those achieved by the same groups of students in traditional examinations and there appeared to be a good correlation with the abilities of the students, as measured in the traditional way. Fears that the examination would be too superficial and that students would easily score high marks proved groundless. It is suggested that, although the method has the possible disadvantage that it is not possible to pursue a problem in depth, it has several advantages, in particular in being able to cover the whole of the syllabus. When marked by computer, the method is inherently anonymous. A dramatic saving in the number of skilled person-hours required for marking was effected and there is also a potential for a significant saving in the number of person-hours required for the setting of questions     

Services: A System's Perspective

A system's perspective of services is contained herein. Analogous to manufacturing, services can and should also be viewed from a system's perspective. While the interdependences, similarities, and complementarities of manufacturing and services are significant, there are considerable differences between goods and services, including the shift in focus from mass production to mass customization (whereby a service is produced and delivered in response to a customer's stated or imputed needs). In general, a service system can be considered to be a combination or recombination of three essential components-people (characterized by behaviors, attitudes, values, etc.), processes (characterized by collaboration, customization, etc.), and products (characterized by software, hardware, infrastructures, etc.). Furthermore, inasmuch as a service system is an integrated system, it is, in essence, a system-of-systems (SoS) which objectives are to enhance its efficiency (leading to greater interdependency), effectiveness (leading to greater usefulness), and adaptiveness (leading to greater responsiveness). The integrative methods include a component's design, interface, and interdependency; a decision's strategic, tactical, and operational orientation; and an organization's data, modeling, and cybernetic consideration. A number of insights are also provided, including an alternative SoS view of services; the increasing complexity of systems (especially service systems), with all the attendant life-cycle design, human interface, and system integration issues; the increasing need for real-time, adaptive decision making within such an SoS; and the fact that modern systems are also becoming increasingly more human-centered, if not human-focused-thus, products and services are becoming more complex and more personalized or customized.     

Patent, copyright and trade secret protection for software

Crucial to the value of computers has been the development of software. Software development can require many hours of programming work. Typically, complex software is developed by a team of engineers and computer scientists working on separate modules, later assembled into the complete routines of a program. The development of computer programs requires the investment of considerable human, technical, and financial resources. Just as clear is the fact that programs can be copied for a fraction of the cost needed to develop them independently. Thus, legal protection is important not only to facilitate commercialization of software, but also to discourage unauthorized counterfeiting and modification of programs. Essentially there are only three ways to protect computer software under the law: patent it, register a copyright for it, or keep it as a trade secret. Each of these separate types of legal protection creates a "monopoly" that is, an exclusive right to use or to prevent others from using the protected subject matter     

基于改进麻雀算法的机场跑道胶痕检测方法

针对光照条件差导致的胶痕检测效率低、精度差等问题，提出了一种基于改进麻雀搜索算法的机场跑道胶痕多阈值分割方法。首先利用透镜成像反向学习提高初始化种群的多样性，然后引入优化性能级别和自适应因子，提高发现者个体质量和搜索能力，其次引入萤火虫算法，协助传统麻雀搜索算法跳出局部最优，最后采用改进麻雀算法优化Tsallis相对熵度量函数实现胶痕自动、精准分割。实验结果表明，该方法的胶痕检测精度远高于传统算法，其FSIM值均大于0.8，SSIM值接近于1，并且在光照条件差和道面、标志线与胶痕混叠的情况下表现出了良好的分割效果。     

家电产品常用板材的选用(一)

本文首先介绍国内和日本、德国、俄罗斯等国冷轧薄钢板及镀锌薄钢板的牌号、标记识别及生产地及与我国家标准薄钢板牌号的相互之间的关系,并比较具体地介绍冷轧板的实效性、镀锌薄钢板的锌层特性、镀锌层表面处理的特性、钢板表面质量等级及表面缺陷对工件外观质量的影响、冷轧板制件的电镀锌的技术条件等诸多方面的状况。从而帮助我们在设计、制造家电产品中,比较正确地选择合适的板材。     

When are expert witnesses liable for their malpractice?

Expert witness testimony is essential to all legal proceedings that involve technical, medical, professional, or scientific matters. More generally, experts must testify whenever the underlying matters are beyond the common knowledge of lay jurors. As we have written in previous articles, the courts have spent much time and energy determining how to access the proper qualifications for experts. Without an expert, a plaintiff cannot proceed to trial, and a defendant is usually doomed to an adverse jury verdict. Since experts are often a scarce resource that is essential to litigation, many charge substantial fees for their services. If the expert does not do a good job, the party employing the expert will lose the lawsuit as well as be responsible for the expert's fees. This article deals with expert witness malpractice. Should the party hiring the expert be entitled to sue the expert for malpractice? Should the party that the expert testifies against be allowed to sue the expert? Conversely, what are the legal risks of being an expert witness?     

工业大气腐蚀条件下钢芯铝绞线的微动腐蚀特性研究

在自制的微动磨损试验装置上研究了LGJ150/25型钢芯铝绞线(aluminium conductor steel reinforced,ACSR)在工业大气腐蚀环境、不同振幅条件下的微动腐蚀行为.结果表明:铝股线微动腐蚀斑基本保持了干态微动磨损斑的特征,但磨损面分布有腐蚀产物层,在磨损斑的边缘有腐蚀孔洞:微动腐蚀铝股...     

基于GPS与轨道信息的地图匹配列车定位算法

本文提出了基于GPS和轨道固有信息的地图匹配列车定位算法,通过静态采集线路经纬度信息建立公里标与经纬度对应关系数据库,然后给出了由GPS实时获得的经纬度确定列车将要经过的下一整点公里标的搜索算法.在整公里标之间,利用轨道投影定位算法将CPS实测数据投影到真实的轨道上,得到列车精确位置的估计.针对曲线区段的定位,还提出了一种基于GPS方位角和轨道信息的同向切线定位法.现场试验表明,该算法提高了列车定位精度,达到了预期效果.     

Comparing US and international power and control cable standards

Cables made to IEC and US standards, while having the same purpose, are of widely different designs. Cables made to one standard cannot be made to match the requirements of the other. The cable made to the US standards have been used in the US and throughout most of the world. The IEC standards have not been widely used in Europe where national and private industrial and utility standards have prevailed. IEC standards have been mainly used in countries where there have not been strong electrical codes. The European Union's adaptation of the IEC standards under the harmonized EN standards of CENELEC adds the force of law to the standards. This will promote a wider use of the IEC (CENELEC) standards on the European continent, although each country could still apply its national rules to the CENELEC standard. This is scheduled to change because all CENELEC European harmonized documents have already been withdrawn and replaced by European Norms. These are the same, word for word, in all European countries. CENELEC members are also members of the IEC and, therefore, do not operate a competitive policy with respect to the IEC. International harmonization of standards must be done at the IEC level. The addition of the CE mark to products meeting CENELEC is similar to the application of the UL mark to products meeting UL standards in the US Worldwide harmonization of standards looks to be a long process. North American and European electrical systems are based on different voltages or frequencies, different conductor sizes, and a different concept of what an electrical system should do     

螺纹钢性能测试视频引伸计研究

针对目前视频引伸计在实际应用中存在的做标记困难、标记在试验中容易发生脱落的问题，面向螺纹钢性能测试，研究了一套无需特殊人工标记，基于螺纹钢自身的纹理特征就可实现高精度位移跟踪测量的视频引伸计系统。介绍了视频引伸计测量系统的硬件组成、选型和基本工作原理。主要对所采用的图像匹配算法进行了研究，分析讨论了匹配模板位置和大小的选取、基于曲面拟合的亚像素定位算法以及动态测试中匹配模板的更新等问题。最后通过静态试验、刚性位移试验和动态试验验证了该视频引伸计系统能够保证测量的实时性和准确性。     

五年制高职基础课程设置探讨

课程目标是指导整个课程编制的准则，学科课程的设置是实现课程目标的重要内容，对于五年制高职前二年的教育阶段来说，应该属于基础教育的范畴，因此，要在二年内为今后未完全确定的专业学习打下良好的基础，所设置的课程就必须具有通用性，基础性强的特点，基础学科的课程不仅要考虑到各专业的共同需要，还应考虑到不同专业对基础课程的不要要求，引入学分制，并按照了不同的专业对于通用基础课课程提出的不同要求，对某些学科课程可以根据学生掌握的程度给以不同的学分，如有条件，还可增加选修课。     

Regulatory issues: what is in the QSR/GMP?

Medical device manufacturers must comply with the Quality Systems Regulation (QSR) in order to market products in the United States. Therefore, if one wish to be an entrepreneur in medical devices or even just work in the medical device industry, an understanding of what the QSRs are about is necessary because violations of these regulations can lead to expensive legal entanglements. Although there can be serious consequences to not complying with the regulations, the key thing to remember is that a good quality system is good business - it helps the business to run smoothly by having the appropriate checks and balances to help catch problems early. The text of the QSR is found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 820 (21 CFR 820). The current version was published in 1997. Prior to that, 21 CFR 820 was known as the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). This article will give a brief overview of what the QSR entails.     

一种用计算机指导考试命题的方法

本文提供了一种用计算机为选拔性测验指导命题的方法.其具体过程是建立一个数学模型来模拟某次考试的试卷,该模型以录取率、试卷中每题的各种可能的得分和对应的得分概率等为原始输入参数,以录取分数线和考生分数分布曲线作为输出,并编制了相应的程序让计算机完成数据处理.借助于该方法,命题者能够通过调整评分标准和各题的难度来获得满意的录取分数线和考生分数分布曲线,尤其是用该方法在考试后能通过改变各大题内部的评分标准适当调整考试结果.它对于搞好大型选拨性考试具有一定的指导意义与实用价值.     

Standard politics

The definition of standards are manifold. The key words in such meanings are agreements and common consent. As a general rule, to be considered a standard, buy-in is required from others. And the others, e.g. companies, typically will only go along if they feel it will benefit them. Thus, worthwhile standards are usually good (not necessarily great) engineering solutions that allow the users to make money.     

电力监控系统跨平台集成方案的研究与实现

在对异构系统信息集成模式分析的基础上,重点研究电力监控系统中的数据库跨平台访问技术,实现了异构环境下的分布式应用互联.电力监控系统的数据库访问服务经过中间件因特网通信引擎IcE的封装,对外提供通用的接口,在多种开发环境下,通过接口描述可以透明调用数据库访问服务,实现了异构系统之间共享类库的应用,同时解决了异构系统的互操作问题.     

A Programmable Framework for the Deployment of Services and Protocols in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are characterized by their heterogeneity and the diverse capabilities of their nodes given that almost any device with a wireless network interface can join such a network. In such an environment it is difficult to dynamically deploy services and protocols without a common understanding among the participating nodes and their capabilities. A deployment/provisioning framework must cope with the high-level of device heterogeneity, degree of mobility, and should also take into account the potentially limited device resources. This paper presents a context-based programmable framework for dynamic service/protocol deployment that allows the nodes of a mobile ad hoc network to download and safely activate required service/protocol software dynamically. Downloading and activation can be triggered through preconditions evaluated according to available contextual information. This strategy leads to the alignment of the nodes' capabilities so that common services and protocols can be deployed even if they are not available at every node. In addition, dynamic context-driven deployment may lead to a degree of network self-optimization. We present the programmable framework and functionality and evaluate its various aspects through testbed experimentation, simulation and analytical modeling. The results demonstrate good performance with respect to the supported functionality.     

Good neighbors can make good fences: a peer-to-peer user security system

The basic concept of good neighbors system is straightforward: users scan friends' machines with a trustworthy "good worm" and patch vulnerabilities, leaving records to propagate the worm through a social network, and to foster social feedback. The intuition is of a community in which users can check each other's security fences and lock them if they are open. Such a system is, of course, not a panacea against all attacks, but offers the potential of a new paradigm in user-focused security. The good neighbors system will help users manage their security needs, yet will not introduce new security risks. The good neighbors system combines the functional scanning and repairing of the "good worm" with the robustness of P2P networks and the embeddedness of social networks. While social and economic underpinnings of this model are addressed, there are also legal considerations. Scanning and altering resources meets the definition of a computer crime in many jurisdictions     

关于实施发电机组状态检修的探讨

借助各种监测手段及在线监测装置对发电机组主要设备的健康水平进行诊断，根据机组状态而决定是否应该进行临检、小修或大修，并以此代替计划检修，既可保证发电设备的完好率，做到应修必修，修必修好，防止重大设备损坏事故发生，同时又可避免未到检修条件而进行检修所造成的不必要的人力物力消耗及设备无为的寿命损耗。     

Real-time visual servoing for laparoscopic surgery. Controllingrobot motion with color image segmentation

The authors propose a visual tracking method for stereo laparoscopes, which is robust, simple, and operates at a maximum rate of 17 Hz. The use of a stereo laparoscope enables the robot to track the instrument in both lateral and longitudinal motions. Due to the multiplicity of problems with shape analysis, the authors do not check for the presence of any particular shape or structure. Instead, they use color information alone for instrument segmentation. The non-uniqueness of the instrument color inspires the authors to distinguish it by use of an artificial color mark. They analyzed the color distribution of typical laparoscopic images and chose a color that did not appear to mark the instrument. With color image segmentation, the mark can be correctly located in the image and used to control the robot motion. Thus, even if only a very small part of the instrument is visible, reliable data can still be obtained for robot control. The image processing component is implemented on a commercially available image processing system MaxVideo MV200 (Datacube, Inc., Danvers, MA). The robot the authors use is the AESOP 1000 (Automated Endoscope System for Optimal Positioning) (Computer Motion, Inc., Goleta, CA)     

Developing countries and ICTs

The rapid advance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) makes young people the most qualified to propagate it. ICT is also known as telematics (or info-communications). Telematics is a specialized field of engineering that has developed in part from computer science and in part from electronics, particularly telecommunications. ICT has been growing in importance around the world thanks to the explosive growth of the Internet and its many applications in education, science, services and leisure activities. Developing countries are "creating" qualified professionals whose skills can make these countries good challengers in the ICTs-related products or services, like Internet-based business or services (e-business, e-learning, etc.) Those services/products can be offered to the country itself or to other countries since only ICT-related professionals and the infrastructure are required to develop them.