Actual Deviation Research Articles

Flexible tools for specifying design variation

This paper describes flexible tools for specifying design variations that are based on non-uniform profile tolerance definitions. These tools specify bounds of design performance that can be used for negotiation among engineers in a collaborative design process. These specification methods allow for the capture of many different design functions that are not easily described with current tool designs. In addition, these specification methods lend themselves to efficient verification methods. Profile tolerance definitions provide the most general variation controls for complex mechanical surfaces. Common design practices and engineering standards for profile tolerances exhibit many weaknesses and limitations. We present a rationale for a complete specification approach using B-splines [1, 2] for profile tolerances, and illustrate the approach with examples. B-splines can be used to specify both uniform and non-uniform profile tolerance boundaries. Subsequently, algorithms for the evaluation of actual feature deviations and reporting methodologies for such tolerance zones are presented.

Electrical Parameter Statistic Analysis and Parallel Coordination of ZnO Varistors in Low-Voltage Protection Devices

Analyzing the nonuniformity of electrical parameters of ZnO varistors is useful to select and coordinate the ZnO varistors in parallel operation and improve the protection capability of surge-protection device (SPD). The nonuniformity of 1-mA dc voltage and impulse residual voltage of commercial low-voltage ZnO varistors were estimated by statistic analysis in this paper. The Minimum Gobble Distribution was used to describe the distribution of 1-mA dc voltage and impulse residual voltage, ZnO varistors were verified conforming to the Minimum Gobble Distribution by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The relationship between the impulse residual voltage and 1-mA dc voltage has a chaos phenomenon, and they have a close relative degree by t-test, the impulse residual voltage can be estimated by voltage ratio and 1-mA dc voltage. The nonuniform phenomena of electrical parameters of ZnO varistors were simulated by Voronoi network. The current overload of ZnO varistor with reduced residual voltage is serious, in order to keep safe operation of SPDs, when we design a SPD with ZnO varistors in parallel, a safe margin coefficient of discharge withstand current should be considered according to the actual relative standard deviation of surge residual voltages of used ZnO varistors.

Manual and hemispheric asymmetries in the execution of actual and pantomimed prehension

Impairments of the ipsilesional hand after brain damage have been reported in goal-directed motor acts and in pantomimes; the relationship between both movement conditions is largely unknown. In the presented study, pantomimed and actual prehension was examined in 29 stroke patients with left brain damage (LBD) or right brain damage (RBD) as well as in 21 control subjects. Kinematic analyses revealed various performance differences between the conditions of movement execution and the subject groups. The differences depended on the hand tested and on the side of the brain lesion. During actual prehension deviations from normal performance were obvious in the peak velocity of the transport component of the movement, which was reduced in RBD patients, and in the duration of the final adjustment phase, which was prolonged in both patient groups. Pantomime changed various features of movement execution. The transport component was particularly altered in the groups performing with the right hand. Hand aperture was significantly smaller during pantomime than during actual movement execution in all groups. However, this effect was particularly obvious in LBD patients, in whom the hand aperture was even completely absent during many of their pantomimes. Actual movement execution immediately preceding the pantomimes did not change the characteristic features of pantomimes. Thus, the cerebral processes for actually executed and pantomimed motor acts differ. Actual movements seem to be governed by external affordances and constraints; whereas, pantomimes may represent a symbolic act. During prehension, differences in grip formation reveal most directly this dichotomy. We argue that the left hemisphere plays a special role in the generation of the symbolic act; a lesion may abolish grip formation and causes the clinical symptom of apraxia.

Claudius Ptolemy's Map Consistency and Pannonia

When seeking for the possible emendation of the errors in a map based on Ptolemy's co-ordinates, we have to understand the measuring process of his sources first. Ptolemy possibly used the official formulae provinciae, which were created with the help of gromatic surveys carried out with due precision, but the author had to deal with different formulae, in Pannonia possibly four, which were not consistent with one another. Carefully examining the actual deviations, we can restore the ways and the starting-points of the surveys, and so the methods of eliminating the inconsistencies can be identified.

A comparison of high-profile and low-profile dynamic mobilization splint designs

Despite claims that the high-profile dynamic mobilization splint design requires less frequent adjustments than the low-profile design, the authors are not aware of biomechanical evidence supporting such claims. The purpose of this study was to reexamine this claim and quantitatively analyze each design as well as the differences between designs with respect to the actual deviation from a 90° angle of applied force for 60°, 30°, 20°, and 10° gains in proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) extension. Additionally, for 10°, 20°, and 30°gains in PIP extension, the authors determined the corrective and shear forces as a function of the deviation from a 90° angle of applied force for each design, as well as the difference between the designs. Results show that in all instances examined, the actual difference between the designs is quite small. Implications of such findings are discussed along with newly identified relationships of potential utility to the hand therapist.

Empirical tests on regressive estimations: implications on surveys and diaries.

Using a large real-life corporate database initially consisting of 3,990 heads of households stratified on the basis of various demographic and geographic variables, and whose communication activities (long distance telephone calls, letters, cards, and visits) were surveyed and monitored, this study investigated the direction as well as magnitude of estimation errors in survey responses and diary entries. Supporting the 1994 Fiedler and Armbruster psychometric formulation and conjecture, we show that estimation errors in reports of the frequency and duration of people's own communication activities exhibit a consistent tendency to regress toward the mean. This regressive estimation is greater for those who are further away from the mean in actual behavior and is proportional to the actual deviation from the mean. Furthermore, this regressive estimation is inversely related to the average frequency across behavioral categories. An important implication of our findings is that the distribution of estimated behavioral frequencies and durations appear more concentrated in surveys than they actually are in the general population, although the general shape of the distribution is unaffected.

Nutritional parameters of commercially available milk samples by FTIR and chemometric techniques

A chemometric study on the prediction of the main nutritional aspects of milk has been carried out by using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) attenuated total reflectance (ATR) measurements of commercially available milk samples of different types. Whole, semi and skimmed milks, enriched or not with calcium, vitamins or modified by alteration of lipid or sugar composition were considered. After evaluating different strategies for data acquisition and ATR cleaning between samples, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was carried out for classification of samples in order to choose the calibration set. The prediction capabilities of partial least squares (PLS) data treatment were evaluated in order to obtain information about total fat, total protein, total carbohydrates (CH), calories and calcium. On using the mean square error of cross-validation and prediction as control variables, a critical evaluation were made about the calibration set to be used, the spectral range to be considered and the data treatment (PLS-1 or PLS-2) to be performed. By selecting a calibration set of 33 samples the properties of 48 samples were predicted with relative precision of triplicates of 0.062, 0.040 and 0.039% w/v for total fat, protein and carbohydrates, and 0.66 kcal/100 ml for calories, and 2.1 mg of Ca/100 ml. The mean difference ( d x − y ) between predicted and actual values and standard deviation of mean differences ( s x − y ), were of 0.06 (0.38), 0.03 (0.18) and −0.15 (0.41), being s x − y values between brackets, for total fat, proteins and carbohydrates, 0.06 (3.8) kcal/100 ml for calories and −4.5 (9) mg/100 ml for calcium. The sensitivity and selectivity of the methodology developed were evaluated on terms of the net analyte signal. Selectivity factors ranging from 2 to 7.6% have been calculated for the five parameters considered.

Nutritional parameters of commercially available milk samples by FTIR and chemometric techniques

A chemometric study on the prediction of the main nutritional aspects of milk has been carried out by using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) attenuated total reflectance (ATR) measurements of commercially available milk samples of different types. Whole, semi and skimmed milks, enriched or not with calcium, vitamins or modified by alteration of lipid or sugar composition were considered. After evaluating different strategies for data acquisition and ATR cleaning between samples, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was carried out for classification of samples in order to choose the calibration set. The prediction capabilities of partial least squares (PLS) data treatment were evaluated in order to obtain information about total fat, total protein, total carbohydrates (CH), calories and calcium. On using the mean square error of cross-validation and prediction as control variables, a critical evaluation were made about the calibration set to be used, the spectral range to be considered and the data treatment (PLS-1 or PLS-2) to be performed. By selecting a calibration set of 33 samples the properties of 48 samples were predicted with relative precision of triplicates of 0.062, 0.040 and 0.039% w/v for total fat, protein and carbohydrates, and 0.66 kcal/100 ml for calories, and 2.1 mg of Ca/100 ml. The mean difference ( d x − y ) between predicted and actual values and standard deviation of mean differences ( s x − y ), were of 0.06 (0.38), 0.03 (0.18) and −0.15 (0.41), being s x − y values between brackets, for total fat, proteins and carbohydrates, 0.06 (3.8) kcal/100 ml for calories and −4.5 (9) mg/100 ml for calcium. The sensitivity and selectivity of the methodology developed were evaluated on terms of the net analyte signal. Selectivity factors ranging from 2 to 7.6% have been calculated for the five parameters considered.

On the Calculation of the Electrical Properties of Precision Coaxial Lines

Practical examples of air lines are slightly inhomogeneous. We give an approach for the calculation of such an air line being exclusively based on a) geometrical parameters and b) material parameters. We show that-within the limits of actual deviations of high-precision air lines-the impact of the diameter variation is by far stronger than an excentrically placed inner conductor or a deformed cross section. We find that, from a practical point of view, the conductivity of the air line conductors is the most sensitive parameter. The resulting electrical behavior of the real air line is slightly reflective, i.e., it may no longer be described by a scalar transmission factor. A simple formula for its equivalent electrical length and some test relations for the validity of this formula are given.

New probe for the measurement of dynamic changes in the rectum.

Conventional mano-volumetric techniques cannot measure changes in circumferential dimensions at several axial positions within a bowel segment. Our aims were to validate a new impedance planimetry probe for simultaneously measuring the cross-sectional area (CSA) at five axial positions in vitro and in vivo in 10 anesthetized pigs. The day-to-day coefficient of variation (CV) for CSA measured by the probe in cylindrical tubes of known diameter was 0.8-9.5%. The mean from actual diameter deviation ranged from 2.3 to 6.7%. In a conical tube the day-to-day CV was 2.3-8% and mean percentage deviation -2.8 to 1.0. Interposed narrowing sections caused a total CV of 7-13%. In vivo studies revealed variations in CSA, associated with expulsion of flatus. It is concluded that impedance planimetry allows simultaneous measurement of CSA at several levels within the rectum. In vitro validity was acceptable and alterations in lumen diameter were identified in vivo.

The Albedo Distribution of Jovian Trojan Asteroids

We present radiometrically derived V-band geometric albedos and effective radii for 32 Jovian Trojan asteroids, using near-simultaneous mid-infrared and visible observations. We sampled the large end of the group’s size distribution, down to a radius of 25 km, using 14 objects in the L4 swarm and 18 in the L5 swarm. We find that the albedo distribution is much narrower than previously derived from IRAS measurements. The Trojans, for the most part, have very similar albedos. The actual mean and standard deviation of the distribution depend on the average Trojan beaming parameter � . The ‘‘ standard ’’ value of 0.756, which was used for the IRAS analysis, yields a mean albedo of 0.056 � 0.003 and a standard deviation of 0.009. However, a value of � = 0.94, which we found represented our data better, yields 0.041 � 0.002 and a standard deviation of just 0.007. The thermal behavior of the Trojans seems to follow the ‘‘ slow rotator ’’ model, and the thermal inertia itself can be no greater than about half the Moon’s value. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to compare the Trojans’ albedo distribution with that of cometary nuclei, dead-comet candidates, and outer solar system objects. We find that the Trojan distribution is similar only to the cometary ones, and only if the Trojans’ � � 1. Observations of the binary (617) Patroclus reveal that its albedo is rather typical among the distribution. We have also discovered that (4709) Ennomos has an extremely elevated albedo, about 0.15. This object may have a very unusual thermal behavior or have recently suffered a large impact that excavated the surface down to a layer of highly reflective, pristine ice.

Predicting Cost Deviation in Reconstruction Projects: Artificial Neural Networks versus Regression

This paper investigates the challenging environment of reconstruction projects and describes the development of a predictive model of cost deviation in such high-risk projects. Based on a survey of construction professionals, information was obtained on the reasons behind cost overruns and poor quality from 50 reconstruction projects. For each project, the specific techniques used for project control were reported along with the actual cost deviation from planned values. Two indicators of cost deviation are used in this study: cost overrun to the owner, and the cost of rework to the contractor. Based on the information obtained, 36 factors were identified as having direct impact on the cost performance of reconstruction projects. Two techniques were then used to develop models for predicting cost deviation: statistical analysis, and artificial neural networks (ANNs). While both models had similar accuracy, the ANN model is more sensitive to a larger number of variables. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the reasons for cost deviation in reconstruction projects and provides a decision support tool to quantify that deviation.

P190: Audit of the sonographic estimation of fetal weight based on fetal abdominal circumference

To determine if estimated fetal weight was within ± 10% of the actual birthweight and to determine if the margin of error was dependent on actual birthweight or gestation. This audit was performed prospectively. Sixty-four fetuses were identified who had an ultrasound scan within one week of delivery. The notes were reviewed for the gestation, abdominal circumference, measurement to birth interval and the actual birthweight. The abdominal circumference was used to calculate the estimated fetal weight using the Campbell and Wilkin equation as per department protocol. The percentage difference between estimated and actual birth weight, the mean and standard deviation (SD) was calculated. There was an overestimation of the actual birthweight in 83% of cases. In this study 45% of estimated fetal weight deviated more than 10% from the actual weight. Fetuses of birthweight less than 2.500 gms comprised 45% of these cases. In this sub-group of fetuses (< 2500 gms) the estimated fetal weight deviated by more than 10% in 62% of cases and the mean (± SD) percent deviations from the actual birthweight was 19 ± 10.5%. There was no difference in percentage error according to gestation, measurement to delivery interval or sonographic abdominal circumference. There is marked overestimation of the actual birthweight based only on the ultrasound abdominal circumference with the greatest percentage error at fetal weight less than 2500 gms. Usage of the ellipse technique of measurement and combination of abdominal circumference with femur length in the Hadlock equation may decrease the deviation.

Thoughts on William Rehg's Insight and Solidarity

William Rehg's booklnsight and Solidarity1 is an important piece of careful scholarship and will make the work of understanding some of the most com? plex and argumentatively dense aspects of Habermas's work a good deal easier for those who follow him. It offers not just expositions of Habermas's posi? tions but careful consideration of some of the most interesting and provocative theses which challenge it. Rehg carefully teases out responses that demonstrate that discourse ethics can accommodate the best insights of many of its chal? lengers while remedying their shortfalls. Among the most interesting discussions in the book are his reconcept ualization of the discussion of the priority of the right over the good provoked by communitarians like Maclntyre and Sandel and his reflections on how dis? course ethics can respond to Charles Taylor's work on authenticity, subjec? tivity, and identity. His discussion of how particular moral decisions can be informed by universal norms is made especially helpful by his explication and development of Habermas's distinction between discourses of justification and discourses of application. His response to the charge that Habermas's discourse ethic posits a rational subject disconnected from history, desire, or the bonds constitutive of particularity, recapitulating the shortcomings of the Kantian moral agent, give rise to his account of insight and the way relations of social solidarity are implicated in it. This in turn leads to his critique of the inad? equacies that he sees remaining in Habermas's theory and to his provocative, and in my view ultimately worrisome reformulation of the concept of insight. It is this reformulation and its relationship to the determination of the norms which serve as a standard for criticizing the way the actual deviates from the ideal that will be the focus of my remarks. I will argue that even before Rehg

ACCURACY OF FIRST ORDER LEVELLING IN GREECE

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the accuracy of levelling along the lines of the First Order Levelling Network of Greece as deduced from the misclosures of its loops. Actual standard deviation of the standardized circuit misclosures significantly larger than 1reveals correlation of the individual height differences between consecutive bench marks along a given levelling line accompanied by various other systematic effects. Correlation also exists between forward and backward levelling runs. The detection of correlations neither leads to their source nor eliminates them. However, especially for a high degree of correlation, the investigation of their causes, and their inclusion in the network adjustment may be helpful for the analysis and an improvement of the results.

The impact of low levels of amorphous material (

During the manufacture of tablets for registration stability studies, it was observed that blends manufactured using milled active frequently failed the blend content uniformity criteria (actual relative standard deviation (RSD) of 4–15%) at the prelubrication stage, whereas unmilled active batches were consistently giving very good blend uniformity results (RSD<3.5%). The addition of magnesium stearate dramatically improved the blending characteristics of the milled batches, suggesting that milling had altered the surface properties. A hypothesis was presented that amorphous material was created during the milling of the active batches, which subsequently recrystallised over a short period of time e.g. days/hours. Following recrystallisation the batches did not exhibit the same physical properties as the unmilled actives, and this resulted in the drug product batches failing to meet their pre-lubrication acceptance criteria for blend content uniformity. This paper describes the results of a laboratory scale study to investigate this hypothesis and therefore explain the processing issues that were observed during the manufacture of the registration stability batches with milled active batches.

Ship Stability Monitoring by Motion Frequency Analysis

This paper describes a methodology to implement and operate an onboard expert system to be applied on real time ship stability computation. The system comprises a data acquisition system associated to a software based tool on a PC computer. Such instruments measure roll motions and process the acquired data to give information on actual ship stability, such as an alarm when the actual stability deviation exceed a predetermined limit value: Ship stability is computed by means of an FFT algorithm associated to further filtering based in the frequency domain analysis of ship motions associated to sea state parameters.

Degeneracies whenT=0two body matrix elements are set equal to zero and Regge’s6jsymmetry relations

The effects of setting all T=0 two body interaction matrix elements equal to a constant (or zero) in shell model calculations (designated as $<T=0>=0$) are investigated. Despite the apparent severity of such a procedure, one gets fairly reasonable spectra. We find that using $<T=0>=0$ in single j shell calculations degeneracies appear e.g. the $I={1/2} ^{-}$ and ${13/2}^{-}$ states in $^{43}$Sc are at the same excitation energies; likewise the I=$3_{2}^{+}$,$7_{2}^{+}$,9$^{+}_{1}$ and 10$^{+}_{1}$ states in $^{44}$Ti. The above degeneracies involve the vanishing of certain 6j and 9j symbols. The symmetry relations of Regge are used to explain why these vanishings are not accidental. Thus for these states the actual deviation from degeneracy are good indicators of the effects of the T=0 matrix elements. A further indicator of the effects of the T=0 interaction in an even - even nucleus is to compare the energies of states with odd angular momentum with those that are even.

Predicting performance of annual safety outcomes

A control chart system was developed in an earlier paper to identify the occurrence of actual risk changes or deviation from the expected levels of road crash fatalities during the course of a year. This paper discusses the development of a prediction method for estimating number of fatalities during a year. The method then provides a mechanism for estimating the likelihood of meeting a pre-set target or any other outcome. At any point of time in a year, the attainability of a target for the year, depends not only on safety outcomes during the remainder of the year but also on outcomes up to that point in the year. High week to week variability would indicate that it can be difficult to achieve the intended maximum goal. The control charts developed earlier, indicate if the current trend differs from the expected trend or that required to achieve the target. This paper determines the probability of achieving the target given the past outcomes of the year. It also determines the level of outcome for the year based on the past trend and in the absence of any special programmes. The paper discusses the New Zealand application as an example.

THE QUALITY SURVEY ON MEDICAL SERVICE BY USING KANO TWO-DIMENTIONAL MODEL

ABSTRACT This study conducts Kano two-dimentional quality to medical service field. The Kano questionnaire is designed to determine two-dimentional quality factors, which is different from traditional method using expectation and actual deviations (application of P.Z.B. model). From the interviews and literature reviews, we choose the key quality items of medical service and determine two-dimentional quality factors based on the sampling from groups of doctors, nurses, and patients. We also compare the opinions deviations among groups on Kano quality characters in order to find out Kano quality factors as reference for medical management improving service quality satisfaction.