A systematic methodology for determining/optimizing a machine vision system's capability

This paper presents a systematic methodology based on Taguchi methods to determine and optimize a machine vision system's capability. Seven factors were studied in anL ₂₇(3¹³) orthogonal array: lens type, color of the background, distance between two objects on the target, distance between the camera and the target, filter, lighting source, and angle between the optic axis of the camera and the surface of the target. The optimal factor-level combination was determined from the experiment results, and the response surface plots were provided for a user to choose an alternative. Because this Taguchi methods-based methodology is simple and effective, it is recommended for determining and optimizing a machine vision system's capability.     

Solution‐Processed Small‐Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Ambipolar Transistors

Solution‐processed small‐molecule bulk heterojunction (BHJ) ambipolar organic thin‐film transistors are fabricated based on a combination of [2‐phenylbenzo[d,d']thieno[3,2‐b;4,5‐b']dithiophene (P‐BTDT) : 2‐(4‐n‐octylphenyl)benzo[d,d ']thieno[3,2‐b;4,5‐b']dithiophene (OP‐BTDT)] and C₆₀. Treating high electrical performance vacuum‐deposited P‐BTDT organic semiconductors with a newly developed solution‐processed organic semiconductor material, OP‐BTDT, in an optimized ratio yields a solution‐processed p‐channel organic semiconductor blend with carrier mobility as high as 0.65 cm² V^?1 s^?1. An optimized blending of P‐BTDT:OP‐BTDT with the n‐channel semiconductor, C₆₀, results in a BHJ ambipolar transistor with balanced carrier mobilities for holes and electrons of 0.03 and 0.02 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively. Furthermore, a complementary‐like inverter composed of two ambipolar thin‐film transistors is demonstrated, which achieves a gain of 115.     

Activation of the human estrogen receptor by estrogenic and antiestrogenic compounds in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a positive selection system

OBJECTIVE: To develop a slow-release carboplatin formulation for intratumoral administration to cats. DESIGN: Preliminary study to analyze pharmacokinetic effects of purified sesame oil in the carboplatin formulation for intratumoral administration, and a second study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicosis of intratumoral administration of carboplatin in purified sesame oil. ANIMALS: 23 cats with squamous cell carcinomas of the nasal plane. PROCEDURE: Eight cats with advanced-stage tumors were submitted to intratumoral administration of 100 mg of carboplatin/m2 of body surface area, with or without purified sesame oil, using a two-period, cross-over design. Fifteen additional cats were treated by intratumoral administration of carboplatin in purified sesame oil. Four weekly intratumoral chemotherapy injections of carboplatin in purified sesame oil at a dosage of 1.5 mg/cm3 of tissue were given. RESULTS: Purified sesame oil in the formulation significantly reduced systemic exposure to carboplatin and drug leakage from the sites of injection. Cumulative effects of repeated intratumoral administrations on plasma concentrations of carboplatin were not observed. Systemic toxicosis was not observed, and local toxicosis was minimal. Healing of ulcerated lesions was not compromised. Rates of complete clinical tumor clearance and complete response were 67 and 73.3%, respectively. Product-limit estimates of mean progression-free survival times was 16 +/- 3.3 months. The 1-year progression-free survival rate was 55.1 +/- 13%. Local recurrence was observed in 7 cats; 4 had marginal tumor recurrence, and 3 had in-field and marginal tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Intratumoral carboplatin chemotherapy is safe and effective for cats with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal plane. Future studies to improve treatment efficacy could include evaluation of increased dose-intensity as well as combination of this modality with radiotherapy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intratumoral administration of carboplatin in a water-sesame-oil emulsion was found to be a practical and effective new treatment for facial squamous cell carcinomas in cats.     

Effects of Pore Morphology and Grain Size on the Dielectric Properties and Tetragonal–Cubic Phase Transition of High-Purity Barium Titanate

The effects of pore morphology and grain size on the dielectric behavior of high-purity stoichiometric BaTiO₃ have been intensively investigated. It was found that the dielectric constant was influenced not only by grain size but also by pore morphology. Dielectric constants below the Curie temperature could be evaluated by the Maxwell relationship for specimens with fractional density >90%ρ_t and be estimated by the modified Niesel's equation, but depolarization might be involved for specimens with fractional density <90%ρ_t. Dielectric Behavior above the Curie temperature followed the Curie–Weiss low. The Curie constants could be separated into two regions depending on the pore morphology, decreasing linearly with increasing porosity at different rates. The results suggest that the tetragonal–cubic phase transition temperature of specimens with fractional density <90%ρ_t is affected by depolarization due to the presence of continous channel pores. The dissipation factor was increased with increasing porosity due to the adsorption of water. In this study, a high-density (<99%ρ_t), uniform, and fine-grained (∼1.2 μm) microstructure of high-purity stoichimetric barium titanate has been produced by using wet processing ad pressureless sintering, in which a high dielectric constant (>6100 at 25°C and 1 kHz) and a low dissipation factor (<0.025) could be achieved.     

Factors influencing survival after gamma knife radiosurgery for patients with single and multiple brain metastases

BACKGROUND: Significant changes are restructurng the U.S. health care delivery system. National health reform is now extending itself into the public sector. Increased health and medical costs by federal and state governments are forcing a reevaluation of major entitlement programs, especially Medicaid. METHODS/RESULTS: Because Medicaid is the single largest item in many state budgets, states are now enrolling Medicaid patients into managed and coordinated care arrangements as a means to control costs and increase access to care. HMOs are not only competing for private patients but also actively seeking the Medicaid population. Nationally, almost one-fourth of all Medicaid patients are now enrolled in managed care plans. Various models and approaches have been developed by individual states. CONCLUSIONS: Because managed care enrollment in the Medicaid program has increased substantially in recent years, selected services including vision care are no longer rendered by any practitioner willing to accept Medicaid fees. Freedom of choice is now restricted to pre-selected and panel practitioners participating with the managed care program. The rules, regulations, billing procedures, fees, and program requisites will differ under managed care programs. Private optometric practitioners must consider entering economic and organizational relationships and linkages that make them attractive to managed care organizations.     

PC-based gamma knife radiosurgery dose calculation

The PC-based dose-calculation system designed for gamma knife radiosurgery introduced in this article delivers desired accuracy and is equipped with a friendly graphical user interface to allow foolproof operations. With the ongoing advancement in PC technology, the performance/cost ratio is expected to continue to rise to render more incentive in developing a PC-based dose-calculation system.     

Machine recognition of printed Chinese characters via transformation algorithms

This paper presents some novel results concerning the recognition of single-font printed Chinese characters via the transformation algorithms of Fourier, Hadamard, and Rapid. The new design philosophy of a three-stage structure is believed to offer at least a suboptimal search strategy for recognizing printed Chinese characters with a dictionary of 7000–8000 characters. The transformation algorithms discussed in this paper will be used in the last two stages. Extensive experiments and simulations concerning feature extraction and noisy or abnormal pattern recognition have been carried out (the simulations have been restricted to a 63-character subset called “Radicals”). Comparison has been made of all three transforms according to their ability to recognize characters.     

Separation of diethylbenzene isomers by distillative freezing

Due to the close boiling points of the mixed diethylbenzene (DEB) isomers, it is rather complicated to separate them by distillation. A new separation technique, distillative freezing (DF), is successfully applied to separate p-DEB from the diethylbenzene isomers in this study. Basically, the DF process operates at a triple point condition, in which the liquid mixture is simultaneously vaporized and solidified due to the three-phase equilibrium. It results in the formation of pure crystals along with the liquid phase and vapor phase of the mixtures. The process can be continued until the liquid phase is completely eliminated and only the pure solid crystals remain in the feed. A model, whereby the DF process is simulated in a series of equilibrium stage operations, is proposed to direct the DF operation. In the model, each stage is operated under an adiabatic condition at a three-phase equilibrium. The experiments show that, in the p-DEB/m-DEB mixtures, p-DEB can be purified from 80% to 99% through several DF operations with the experimental recovery rate of p-DEB in one DF operation ranging from 58% to 77%. The unique feature of this new separation technique is that no filtration and crystal washing is required after the p-DEB crystals are obtained by DF.     

Polymerization of fluoroacrylate and guar gum copolymer as a new pretreatment paste for ink‐jet printing of polyester

A novel pretreatment paste containing fluoroacrylate copolymer and modified Guar Gum was carried out on the polyester fabric to provide partial water repellency and printability after inkjet printed with water‐based disperse dye inks. The stable fluorinated pastes were prepared via miniemulsion polymerization of fluoroalkyl acrylates, styrene, 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate, and modified guar gum in the presence of AIBN as initiator, CTAB and polyoxyethylene polyaryl ether as surfactants under suitable reaction conditions. In the analysis of monomer conversion and particle size, the highest polymerization rate with smallest particle size was obtained with increasing concentration of surfactants and initiator but the decreasing degree of substitution of guar gum to imply stronger interactions between fluoroacrylate monomers, hydroxyl groups of modified guar gum and EO units of nonionic surfactants. The 30% of stock fluorinated paste with urea concentration of 6% provided the prints with highest K/S value, satisfactory edge acuity and least color difference between front and back sides of the fabric to show more transparency. The rating 80 of water repellency tested on the best treated polyester fabric demonstrated stain proof properties after sprayed with water and dried. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009