The transmission of vibration through gloves: effects of push force, vibration magnitude and inter-subject variability

The extent to which a glove modifies the risks from hand-transmitted vibration is quantified in ISO 10819:1996 by a measure of glove transmissibility determined with one vibration magnitude, one contact force with a handle and only three subjects. This study was designed to investigate systematically the vibration transmissibility of four 'anti-vibration' gloves over the frequency range 16-1600 Hz with 12 subjects, at six magnitudes of vibration (0.25-8.0 ms(-2) r.m.s.) and with six push forces (5 N to 80 N). The four gloves showed different transmissibility characteristics that were not greatly affected by vibration magnitude but highly dependent on push force. In all conditions, the variability in transmissibility between subjects was as great as the variability between gloves. It is concluded that a standardised test of glove dynamic performance should include a wide range of hands and a range of forces representative of those occurring in work with vibratory tools. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: The transmission of vibration through anti-vibration gloves is highly dependent on the push force between the hand and a handle and also highly dependent on the hand that is inside the glove. The influence of neither factor is well reflected in ISO 10819:1996, the current standard for anti-vibration gloves.     

Automated signal pattern evaluation of a bladder cancer specific multiprobe-fish assay applying a user-trainable workstation

OBJECTIVE: Signal pattern enumeration of Urovysion Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization test is tedious and requires great experience. Our aim was to eliminate human interaction by automating the process, using an adoptable, automated image acquisition, and analysis system. METHODS: For extensive analytical analysis control, cell populations were used, while preliminary clinical study was performed on 21 patients with clinical suspicion for bladder cancer. All investigations were carried out using an automated user‐trainable workstation (Metafer4‐Metacyte). RESULTS: The system identified nuclei with a specificity and sensitivity of 92.7 and 96.6%, respectively, while signal detection accuracy was 81.1% on average. Both analytical and diagnostic accuracy of automated analysis was comparable to manual approach (94.8 and 71% vs. 97.9 and 76%, respectively), but classification accuracy increased with degree of polysomy, thus diagnostic sensitivity in low grade, low stage cases was poor. CONCLUSION: It is possible to automate signal enumeration of Urovysion using a user‐trainable system, and achieve efficiency comparable to manual analysis. Previously introduced automated immunophenotypic targeting should further increase diagnostic sensitivity, while resulting in a comprehensively automated method. However, the problem of reduced detection accuracy in cases featured with low polysomy is likely to remain a great challenge of automated signal enumeration. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:814–820, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The effect of labeling on the perceived quality of HDR video transmission

Cognition, Technology & Work - At the time of this paper, high dynamic range (HDR) visualization has already emerged in both the industry and the commercial sector, with HDR displays already...     

Effects of particle nonsphericity and radiation polarization on retrieving dust properties from MODIS observations

The scattering and radiative properties of mineral dust aerosols at violet-to-blue (0.412, 0.441, and 0.470 μm) and red (0.650 μm) wavelengths are investigated. To account for the effect of particle nonsphericity on the optical properties of dust aerosols, in the present study, these particles are assumed to be spheroids. A combination of the T-matrix method and an improved geometric optics method is applied to the computation of the single-scattering properties of spheroidal particles with size parameters ranging from the Rayleigh to geometric optics regimes. For comparison, the Lorenz–Mie theory is employed to compute the optical properties of spherical dust particles that have the same volumes as their nonspherical counterparts. The differences between the phase functions of spheroidal and spherical particles lead to quite different lookup tables involved in retrieving dust aerosol properties. Moreover, the applicability of a hybrid approach based on the spheroid model for the phase function and the sphere model for the other phase matrix elements is also demonstrated. The present sensitivity study, employing the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) measurements and the fundamental principle of the Deep Blue algorithm, illustrates that neglecting the nonsphericity of dust particles usually leads to an underestimate of retrieved aerosol optical depth; although, depending on the scattering angle, an overestimate is noted in some cases. Furthermore, the effect of including full polarization treatment in forward radiative transfer simulation on dust property retrieval is also investigated. It is found that the effect of radiation polarization on the Deep Blue dust property retrieval is not negligible if the retrieval is based on two violet—blue channels centered at 0.412 and 0.470 μm.     

Modelling the Doctor Blade-Roller Tribosystem for Improving the Cleaning Performance During Paper Production

Doctor blades are commonly used in paper machines to keep the surface of rollers clean. Due to higher demanding conditions, the requirements for doctor blades have steadily increased. The wear rates must remain low, while simultaneously their cleaning function has to be ensured. For this reason, the paper industry has developed a high degree of empirical knowledge concerning the cleaning of roller surfaces. However, up to now, no systematic approach has been successfully applied to optimize the cleaning performance of the doctor blade-roller tribosystem. This study presents an attempt to model the system based on the force equilibrium conditions at the blade tip between hydrodynamic and contact forces. The change of the blade geometry due to wear is also taken into account. By these means, a non-dimensional group involving the key parameters is obtained. This allows for a systematic improvement of the cleaning efficiency, by targeted changes of the process parameters.     

On radiant energy in high-temperature research

The mechanism of heating solids with radiant energy is reviewed and the need for measuring radiative properties is pointed out. Image furnaces are suitable for such measurement at high temperatures. The limitations of image furnace operations are discussed and methods as well as equipment offered to overcome the limitations. The importance of artificial black bodies in high-flux measurements is described and a new shape for such cavities is proposed. Data comparing this shape with hitherto used shapes are tabulated. Design for a fast-action on-off shutter for image furnaces is presented. In its retracted position the shutter does not cast any shadow on the mirror and it does not require artificial cooling even when exposed to radiation.     

Hot explosive compaction of Mo-Ti alloys

The hot explosive compaction (HEC) technique developed for tungsten-titanium (W-Ti) alloys has been applied to molybdenum-titanium (Mo-Ti) alloys as well. The Mo+Ti powders were mixed and surrounded by an exothermic Ti+C mixture. The TiC reaction, when ignited, released a large amount of heat via a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction. Heat from the SHS reaction diffused into the Mo+Ti powder bed, causing the interior temperature to rise above 1500 °C. When the powder bed became isothermal, it was consolidated to high density by pressure waves generated by the detonation of an explosive. The amount of explosive charge and the molar ratio of exothermic mixture to sample were adjusted to produce full-density Mo-Ti alloy billets. The billets were sectioned and examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and microhardness measurements. In the context of the original fabrication process, the evolution of the resultant microstructure of the Mo-Ti product is described.     

BMBF-Klausurwoche: Clinical Ethics Consultation: theories & methods – implementation – evaluation

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