Graphical animation as a form of prototyping real-time software systems

An analysis of prototyping of embedded Real-Time Systems by means of graphical animation techniques is presented. We analyze the fundamental characteristics of prototyping and their relation to animation mechanisms. We show that animation strongly inherits certain benefits of prototyping while at the same time animation is able to alleviate some of the drawbacks of prototyping. A survey of known visualization techniques for real-time system animation is presented with an assessment to their relative strengths and weaknesses. Finally, the animation approach taken in Esprit project no. 5570, IPTES, is described. Our approach is unique in enabling animation of heterogeneous system models, i.e., combinations of submodels belonging to different levels of abstraction.     

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy

PURPOSE: To define the accuracy and clinical impact of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in diagnosing recurrent breast cancer after mastectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of ultrasonography (US) and US-guided FNAB of 175 lesions located at the mastectomy site or in the ipsilateral axilla were reviewed. The final diagnosis was recurrent cancer in 77 cases and benign lesion in 98 cases, as verified by histological examination (n = 77) or follow-up (n = 98). RESULTS: FNAB yielded a representative aspirate in 92.6% of cases. The sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of FNAB cytology were 96.1%, 89.8% and 92.6% respectively. US and FNAB cytology were complementary methods in recurrent cancer diagnosis. The cytologic examination increased the specificity of US. The only recurrent tumor which appeared benign both sonographically and cytologically was removed because of a suspicious finding at palpation. FNAB cytologic diagnosis was found to have a clinical impact in 92.2% of the recurrent cases. CONCLUSION: US-guided FNAB provided an accurate adjunct to clinical examination and mammography for diagnosing and excluding breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy.     

An Experimental and Computational Study on the Melting Behaviour of AOD and Chromium Converter Slags

The campaigns of the AOD and chromium converters are often limited by the strong wear of the refractory materials in certain areas (usually tuyere zone). Slag protection (in which the slag is left to solidify at the converter walls after the tapping of the metal) has been considered to be an option in prolonging the campaigns of the converters. In order to study the possibilities of the slag protection, the purpose of this work was to determine the melting behaviour of the AOD and chromium converter slags; i. e. the solidus and liquidus temperatures and the composition of solid phases as a function of temperature in different slag compositions. Examination was executed using both computational (FactSage software) and experimental (optical dilatometer/SEM) methods. It was noticed that when burned dolomite was added into the slags, the increased MgO‐contents had a strong influence on the melting behaviour. Even small changes (a few percent) in the MgO‐content had a very strong influence (a few hundred degrees centigrade) on the solidus and liquidus temperatures. Solid phases that are formed during the solidification are also different in slags with and without burned dolomite addition.     

Another look at teaching experience and closed-mindedness.

Replicated a study by J. Wittmer and G. B. Webster (see record 1970-04216-001) in which significant relationships consistently appeared between teaching experience and closed-mindedness in counseling students as measured by the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale. The present sample consisted of 52 master's level students in counseling, 23 of whom had teaching experience. The analysis revealed significant results in agreement with the findings of the earlier study when the present sample was combined with that of Wittmer and Webster. Age was also significantly related to closed-mindedness in both the present and combined samples. Recommendations are made for reducing levels of closed-mindedness among counselors in training and for a careful examination in terms of possible closed-mindedness of program applicants who are older and/or have teaching experience. The requirement of teaching experience for counseling practice is challenged. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of large cryogenic structures using a spatially phase-shifted digital speckle pattern interferometer

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Backplane Stability Test Article (BSTA) was developed to demonstrate large precision cryogenic structures' technology readiness for use in the JWST. The thermal stability of the BSTA was measured at cryogenic temperatures at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) X-Ray Calibration Facility (XRCF) and included nearly continuous measurements over a six-week period in the summer of 2006 covering the temperature range from ambient down to 30 Kusing a spatially phase-shifted digital speckle pattern interferometer (SPS-DSPI). The BSTA is a full size, one-sixth section of the JWST primary mirror backplane assembly (PMBA). The BSTA, measuring almost 3 m across, contains most of the prominent structural elements of the backplane and is to our knowledge the largest structure ever measured with SPS-DSPI at cryogenic conditions. The SPS-DSPI measured rigid body motion and deformations of BSTA to nanometer-level accuracy. The SPS-DSPI was developed specifically for the purposes of this test and other tests of large cryogenic structures for JWST.     

Removal of a protective coating on Al by ion etching for high reflectance in the far ultraviolet

The effect of ion etching on the reflectance of Al coatings in the far ultraviolet is investigated. Ion etching of an overlayer grown on Al was performed by applying 100-300 eV Ar(+) ions using an ion gun. Ion etching was employed to remove the oxide naturally grown on an Al film that had been in contact with atmosphere. Ion etching was also used to remove part or all of the protective MgF(2) film on Al. The reflectance at 121.6 nm, H Lyman alpha line of the overlayer-removed Al surface was monitored after protecting it with a MgF(2) layer. Ion etching on both types of coatings resulted in an excellent reflectance value at 121.6 nm, whereas a reflectance loss was observed at longer wavelengths.     

Tritium in the urine in Finnish people

Tritium in urine was analysed from 227 randomly selected Finnish adults. The people were 18 to 65 of age. Urine samples were collected over night. The mean activity concentration of tritiated water in urine was 2.5 Bq l(-1) and the maximum activity concentration 18.3 Bq l(-1). The minimum detectable activity varied from 1.5 to 2.3 Bq l(-1). Because organically bound tritium is approximately 10% of the total tritium, its concentration was below the detection limit and could be ignored. The mean effective dose for Finnish people from tritium was 2.4 x 10(-3) microSv y(-1).     

Calibration of spatially phase-shifted DSPI for measurement of large structures

We present a method for the calibration of a spatially phase-shifted digital speckle pattern interferometer (SPS-DSPI), which was designed and built for the purpose of testing the James Webb space telescope (JWST) optical structures and related technology development structures. The need to measure dynamic deformations of large, diffuse structures to nanometer accuracy at cryogenic temperature is paramount in the characterization of a large diameter space and terrestrial based telescopes. The techniques described herein apply to any situation, in which high accuracy measurement of diffuse structures are required. The calibration of the instrument is done using a single-crystal silicon gauge. The gauge has four islands of different heights that change in a predictable manner as a function of temperature. The SPS-DSPI is used to measure the relative piston between the islands as the temperature of the gauge is changed. The measurement results are then compared with the theoretical changes in the height of the gauge islands. The maximum deviation of the measured rate of change of the relative piston in nm/K from the expected value is 3.3%.