A digital image analysis method for diagnostic ultrasound calibration

Acoustic test objects are commonly used for quality assurance testing of diagnostic ultrasound machines. However, the accompanying calibration protocols rely heavily on the judgment of the sonographer, are dependent on machine settings and are semi-quantitative. In the current study, two unique test objects and protocols were designed to quantitatively determine diagnostic ultrasound parameters, namely axial resolution and geometric uniformity, and lateral resolution and geometric uniformity of the ultrasound field. The effect of focal zone, signal gain, and distance from the ultrasound probe on these parameters was assessed. The investigation was performed using a typical low-frequency diagnostic unit equipped with a 7.5 MHz linear pulse–echo probe. Results underline the need to ensure that sensitivity of routine testing regimes is adequate for the measurements to be made. This study is a preliminary part of a larger project developing an ultrasound technique to be used as an engineering design tool in a non-clinical industrial setting for quality assurance testing of total knee replacements immersed in water.     

The reproducible properties of correct forecasts

Each period, one outcome out of finitely many possibilities is observed. Each period, a forecaster announces some probability for the future outcomes based on the available data. An outsider wants to know if the forecaster has some knowledge of the data generating process. Let a test be an arbitrary function from sequences of forecasts and outcomes to {0,1}. When the test returns a 0 the test is said to reject the forecasts based on the outcome sequence. When the test resturns a 1 the test is said to not reject the forecasts based on the outcome sequence. Consider any test that does not reject the truth, i.e. it does not reject when the announced forecasts are the conditional probabilities of the data generating process. Based on Fans (1953) Minimax theorem, I show that it is possible to produce forecasts that will not be rejected on any sequence of outcomes. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number:D83 LearningI thankfully acknowledge financial support from the National Science Foundation grant SES 0109650. I also thank a referee for useful comments. All errors are mine.     

大电流超导材料临界电流的感应法测量

文中总结了感应法测量大电流超导材料临界电流的方法 ,叙述测量的原理及装置 ,分析对环电流进行定标时可能产生的误差及减少误差的措施 ,给出计算结果 ,并对之进行讨论     

基于视觉测量的飞行器舵面角位移传感器标定

提出一种基于计算机单目视觉的飞行器副翼、襟翼、方向舵和升降舵角位移传感器的非接触标定方法.用共面的两个特征圆组成一标定靶固定在飞行器舵面上,用一台定焦数码摄像机对标定靶拍照,获得特征圆数字图像.经图像分析确定特征圆圆心及直径在像面上的透视投影位置和长度,根据透视投影逆变换原理建立物和像空间坐标关系的解算模型,进而导出靶面平面方程.飞行器舵面角位移则由标定靶面的法线方向余弦来表示.仿真结果表明,该方法具有标定过程快速、简单和准确的特点.不需事先标定摄像机内外部参量,其标定准确度优于0.2°.     

扫描相机标定脉冲信号位置的确定及噪声处理

 扫描相机标定数据处理中的一个关键问题是如何准确确定脉冲信号的位置，实验数据的信噪比和脉冲信号位置的定义方法都会对标定结果的准确性产生影响。采用了取半高宽的方法来确定扫描相机标定脉冲信号的位置，在信噪比比较高 （大于100） 的情况下，该方法确定标定信号的位置可以达到亚像素水平。对于信噪比比较低 (小于10) 的实验数据，先采用快速傅里叶变换方法对其进行滤波，通过滤波可以极大地抑制噪声信号的影响，然后采用“半高宽法”确定脉冲信号的位置，最后得出可信的标定结果。当扫描相机定在0.3 ns的扫描档时，通过该方法得到的扫描速度为0.214 ps/pixel,扫描不确定度为0.002 9 ps/pixel,拟合线性相关系数为0.999 7。     

Multi-sensors SAR system for real-time dosimetry assessment

A multi-sensor test-bench for determining the SAR (specific absorption rate) due to wireless devices emitting in equivalent human tissues is presented. Real-time SAR assessment is proposed considering a spatially distributed multiprobe test-bench. In comparison with a multi-axial robot SAR system, the proposed one does not require any displacement, thus reducing drastically acquisition time, once parallel data acquisition and interpolation techniques are employed for accelerating measurements.     

Calibration of the default probability model

In this paper, we study the calibration problem for the Merton–Vasicek default probability model [Robert Merton, On the pricing of corporate debt: the risk structure of interest rate, Journal of Finance 29 (1974) 449–470]. We derive conditions that guarantee existence and uniqueness of the solution. Using analytical properties of the model, we propose a fast calibration procedure for the conditional default probability model in the integrated market and credit risk framework. Our solution allows one to avoid numerical integration problems as well as problems related to the numerical solution of the nonlinear equations.     

Proficiency testing scheme for the harmonization and comparability of analytical measurements

According to the experience of the successful implementation of proficiency tests (PT) by using the certified reference value as the assigned value, a new scheme of evaluation is presented by suggesting the use of the uncertainty associated with the certified value. The technical performance of laboratories is evaluated by the parameter quadratic mean error (QME), which is the square root of the sum of the square of the bias and that of the standard deviation of the laboratory. This parameter is considered as the estimate of the measurement uncertainty of the laboratory and is compared to the uncertainty (U) associated with the certified value provided by an NMI. Considering that the calibration and measurement capability, known as the CMC, is recognized among NMIs, the ratio QME/U enables us to compare the PT relative to the CMC of an NMI, and, consequently, to any other comparison results based on the CMC of signatories of the mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) of the International Committee of Weights and Measure (CIPM). Presented at BERM-11, October 2007, Tsukuba, Japan.     

Chemical approach to ill-conditioned calculation problems in spectrophotometry

Multiple-component determinations present difficulties which cannot be resolved mathematically when there is severe spectral overlap, as in the determination of rare-earth elements with chromogenic reagents. The interdependence of absorptivities is greatly decreased when absorbance data from procedures based on several chromogenic reagents are used together in the calculations of calibration factors and concentrations. Various features of the method are discussed.