Principle Of Instrument Research Articles

A novel low-quality Raman hyperspectral image reconstruction method for corn component mapping

Raman imaging used to obtain spatial distribution information of chemical components on the sample surface has been widely applied in the nutritional assessment and quality control of cereal grains. However, obtaining high-quality Raman hyperspectral images of cereal grain based on point scanning is time-consuming due to the limitations of the instrumental imaging principle and Raman hyperspectral images acquired in a short time are low-quality with noise interference, limiting its practical application in the visualization of cereal grain composition. To rapidly and effectively achieve high-quality component distribution mappings of cereal grains based on Raman hyperspectral images, we propose a novel Swin Transformer-based method combining spatial-spectral denoising and image reconstruction (SwinSSID-IR) for low-quality Raman hyperspectral image reconstruction. The novel denoising network named SwinSSID innovatively introduces Swin Transformer blocks (STB) to effectively eliminate noise from raw low-quality Raman hyperspectral images of corn kernels. Next, the super-resolution network named SwinIR rapidly generates high-quality component distribution mappings of corn with exceptional clarity and detail from the denoised low-quality Raman hyperspectral image at characteristic peak. Experimental results show the competitiveness of the proposed method compared with other similar advanced methods and its effective application in non-destructive visual analysis of corn components.

A moral community of a realm of ends: Its (im)possibility in education?

When education only is affected by the instrumental principle and its substantiation vis-à-vis specific normative requirements as narratives, practices and traditions of certain kinds, education merely promotes and preserves such normative requirements rather than altering them. I therefore argue that education should not only be affected by the instrumental principle and its substantiation through certain narratives etc. Education should also embrace the value of moving beyond these so that new ways of thinking can be made possible. This it can do when it engages in the creation of a moral community of a realm of ends. However, even though such a creation is possible in principle, it is not necessarily the case that each and every one will engage in making such a moral community possible or that each and every one will be successful in such a pursuit. It is, nonetheless, a worthy quest, and when people engage in creating such a moral community, they strive to set and pursue morally permissible ends in systematic connection, rather than merely external ends valued in specific circumstances. By doing so, they respect each other as ends-in-themselves rather than as means to some further end, or so I argue.

Laser-Tracing Multi-Station Measurements in a Non-Uniform-Temperature Field

Due to the increasing requirements for the improvement of the accuracy of large coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs), the laser-tracing multi-station measurement technology, as one of the advanced precision measurement technologies, is worth studying in depth in terms of its practical application for the compensation of errors in large CMMs. Since it is difficult to maintain a constant temperature of about 20 °C in the actual workshop under the influence of solar radiation and convective heat transfer, there is a gradient in the spatial temperature distribution, and the overall temperature changes with the influence of external factors with synchronous hysteresis, it is difficult for the actual calibration environment to meet the standard environmental requirements. Therefore, the influence of temperature and other environmental factors on the accuracy of laser ranging and large-scale CMM calibration should not be ignored. In this paper, on the basis of analyzing the temperature distribution and change rule of large CMM measurement space under different working conditions, the radial basis function (RBF) neural network algorithm was used to build a non-uniform-temperature field model, and based on this model and the measurement principle of the laser-tracking instrument, the method of laser tracking and interferometric ranging accuracy enhancement was put forward under a non-uniform-temperature field. Finally, based on the multi-station technique of laser tracing, an accurate solution for the volumetric error of large CMMs under the condition of non −20 °C ambient temperature was realized. Simulation results proved that compared with the traditional temperature-compensation method, the proposed method improved the measurement accuracy of the volumetric error of a large-scale CMM using laser-tracing multi-station technology in a non-uniform-temperature field by 33.5%. This study provides a new approach for improving the accuracy of laser-tracer multi-station measurement systems.

Over half a decade into the adoption of IFRS 9: a systematic literature review

PurposeIn 2018, the International Financial Reporting Standard 9-Financial Instruments became mandatory, effectively changing the underlying accounting principles of financial instruments. This paper systematically reviews the academic literature on the implementation effects of IFRS 9, providing a coherent picture of the state of the empirical literature on IFRS 9.Design/methodology/approachThe study thrives on a systematic review approach by analyzing existing academic studies along the following three broad categories: adoption and implementation, impact on financial reporting, and risk management and provisioning. The study concludes by providing research prospects to fill the identified gaps.FindingsWe document data-related issues, forecasting uncertainties and the interaction of IFRS 9 with other regulatory standards as implementation challenges encountered. Also, we observe cross-country heterogeneity in reporting quality. Furthermore, contrary to pre-implementation expectations, we find improvement in risk management. This suggests that despite the complexities of the new regulatory standard on financial instruments, it appears to be more successful in achieving the intended objective of enhancing better market discipline and transparency rather than being a regulatory overreach.Originality/valueAs the literature on IFRS 9 is burgeoning, we provide state-of-the-art guidance and direction for researchers with a keen interest in the economic significance and implications of IFRS 9 adoption. The study identifies gaps in the literature that require further research, specifically, IFRS 9 adoption and firm’s hedging activities, IFRS 9 implications on non-financial firms. Lastly, existing studies are mostly focused on Europe and underscore the need for more research in under-researched jurisdictions, particularly in Asia and Africa. Also, to standard setters, policymakers and practitioners, we provide some insight to aid the formulation and application of standards.

A comprehensive review of redefining agricultural economics for sustainable development: Overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities in a changing world

This paper critically examines the evolving field of agricultural economics and its imperative to transition towards sustainable development. Traditional agricultural practices have often been associated with environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social inequities. This paper reviews the current state of agricultural economics, identifies key challenges, and proposes a framework for redefining the discipline to align with the principles of sustainable development. It provides a comprehensive overview of the topic, demonstrating a clear understanding of the issues and challenges in agricultural economics. It offers valuable insights into the role of agricultural economics in promoting sustainable development and provides a well-structured framework for redefining the discipline to meet the needs of the future. The study highlights the evolving role of agricultural economics in achieving sustainable development, with a focus on both challenges and opportunities. The methods involve a thorough literature review, analyzing principles of sustainable agriculture, economic instruments, technological innovations, and social dimensions. Case studies from diverse regions illustrate successful implementations of sustainable practices. The findings underscore the significance of agroecology, economic incentives, and market mechanisms in promoting sustainable agriculture. Precision agriculture and biotechnology emerge as pivotal technologies, but ethical considerations are paramount. Social dimensions, including rural development and gender equity, play crucial roles in achieving sustainability. The review identifies barriers to adoption and proposes future research directions to advance the field. Overall, the review advocates for a paradigm shift in agricultural economics, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and sustainable approach to address global challenges and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Design of an Optical Physics Virtual Simulation System Based on Unreal Engine 5

In response to challenges in traditional offline experiments in optical physics, such as high trial-and-error costs, expensive equipment, limited design parameters, and restricted explanations of instrument structures and principles, this paper proposes a design method for an optical physics virtual simulation system based on Unreal Engine 5. The method employs a generic design architecture to partition system units and utilizes technologies like pixel streaming, rendering engines, and physics engines to implement the design of the virtual simulation system. This system covers the entire experimental process, including video learning, instrument adjustment, phenomenon observation, data measurement and recording, and grade inquiry. The proposed design method enhances the immersive experience of experiments, reduces the hardware performance requirements for users, and allows access and utilization across multiple platforms. It efficiently facilitates physics teaching through simulated experiments, thereby effectively improving the quality of experimental teaching. Finally, through a comparison with existing virtual simulation systems, it is demonstrated that the system can save approximately 94.76% of the average CPU usage and provide better immersion and user experience advantages.

Politological View on Free Primary Education in the DRC

As most of the developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is known as singular about the delay in the field of education on the one hand and the free primary education on the other hand, whence the levels of education and training of its people are getting retrogressed day by day. The daily voices to decry not only the steep drop in the level of education, but also the cost of quality and effective teaching, which falls over the heads of the parents in schools, with the consequence that we are seeing the rise of illiteracy compared with the rate of population increase. For this purpose, it is not enough that the constitutional and legal provisions are of the free primary education a shot principle of international and regional legal instruments, we need to clear the State of affairs and the relationship between these provisions and the effectiveness of this free issue itself of the right to education.

Practical guidelines for the use of scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM).

Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) has emerged as a transformative technology for electrochemical materials characterisation and the study of single entities, garnering global adoption by numerous research groups. While details on the instrumentation and operational principles of SECCM are readily available, the growing need for practical guidelines, troubleshooting strategies, and a systematic overview of applications and trends has become increasingly evident. This tutorial review addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive guide to the practical application of SECCM. The review begins with a discussion of recent developments and trends in the application of SECCM, before providing systematic approaches to (and the associated troubleshooting associated with) instrumental set up, probe fabrication, substrate preparation and the deployment of environmental (e.g., atmosphere and humidity) control. Serving as an invaluable resource, this tutorial review aims to equip researchers and practitioners entering the field with a comprehensive guide to essential considerations for conducting successful SECCM experiments.

Some Guiding Principles for a "Simple" Correlative Light Electron Microscopy Experiment.

In recent years, Correlative Multimodal Imaging (CMI) has become an "en vogue" technique and a bit of a buzzword. It entails combining information from different imaging modalities to extract more information from a sample that would otherwise not be possible from each individual technique. The best established CMI technology is correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), which applies light and electron microscopy on the exact same sample/structure. In general, it entails the detection of fluorescently tagged proteins or structures by light microscopy and subsequently their relative intracellular localization is determined with nanometer resolution using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Here, we describe the different steps involved in a "simple" CLEM approach. We describe the overall workflow, instrumentation, and basic principles of sample preparation for a CLEM experiment exploiting stable expression of fluorescent proteins.

Recent Contributions of Mass Spectrometry-Based "Omics" in the Studies of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most heterogeneous groups of cancer. As every biotype of BC is unique and presents a particular "omic" signature, they are increasingly characterized nowadays with novel mass spectrometry (MS) strategies. BC therapeutic approaches are primarily based on the two features of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and estrogen receptor (ER) positivity. Various strategic MS implementations are reported in studies of BC also involving data independent acquisitions (DIAs) of MS which report novel differential proteomic, lipidomic, proteogenomic, phosphoproteomic, and metabolomic characterizations associated with the disease and its therapeutics. Recently many "omic" studies have aimed to identify distinct subsidiary biotypes for diagnosis, prognosis, and targets of treatment. Along with these, drug-induced-resistance phenotypes are characterized by "omic" changes. These identifying aspects of the disease may influence treatment outcomes in the near future. Drug quantifications and characterizations are also done regularly and have implications in therapeutic monitoring and in drug efficacy assessments. We report these studies, mentioning their implications toward the understanding of BC. We briefly provide the MS instrumentation principles that are adopted in such studies as an overview with a brief outlook on DIA-MS strategies. In all of these, we have chosen a model cancer for its revelations through MS-based "omics".

Design and Force Control Analysis of a Novel Waist Massage Instrument

Background: There is a shortage of rehabilitation doctors and treatment equipment for patients with lumbar spondylosis. Therefore, a waist massage instrument (WMI) is designed to help patients alleviate lumbar pain. Objective: The objective of this study is to design a new WMI with the advantages of simple structure, lightweight, and function of effective force control, and to verify its function of palmar push, palmar press, and palmar vibration based on the on-off control, PID control, and fuzzy-PID control. Methods: Firstly, the movement characteristics of the Chinese massage manipulation are analyzed to clarify the design principle of the massage instrument. Then, a new WMI composed of massage head, vibration exciter, and actuator is designed to simulate the three massage manipulations. Next, the electric control system and control methods of on-off, PID, and fuzzy-PID controllers are introduced to realize the force control of WMI. Finally, the force control experiments of WMI are carried out to verify the function of the palmar press, palmar push, and palmar vibration based on the on-off control, PID control, and fuzzy-PID control, respectively. Results: The experimental results indicate that the proposed WMI can implement the massage manipulations of palmar push, palmar press, and palmar vibration well, and has good force control ability after using fuzzy-PID control. Conclusion: The newly designed WMI is effective in providing palmar push, palmar press, and palmar vibration massage manipulations for patients with lumbar spondylosis, and the fuzzy-PID controller improves the force control ability of the instrument. The WMI has the potential to be used as an effective treatment for lumbar pain.

Laparoscopy Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pet Animals

Laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery have become increasingly popular in veterinary medicine as they offer numerous benefits over traditional surgical techniques. This paper provides an overview of the basic principles of laparoscopy, the equipment and surgical instruments required, anesthesia and patient considerations, insufflation techniques, and specific laparoscopic procedures in veterinary medicine, such as biopsy, cystotomy, enterotomy, cryptorchidectomy, and gastropexy. Methods: Published peer-reviewed reports were used to write this short review paper. Results: The use of laparoscopy is enormously beneficial over open surgery. Published literature suggests using laparoscopy to reduce blood loss. Laparoscopy which is a minimally invasive surgery provide better visualization, less pain and scarring, faster recovery times, and fewer complications than traditional open surgery. Conclusion: The uses of laparoscopy in veterinary medicine are growing and continue to advance, offering new techniques and applications that will benefit both veterinarians and pet owners.

Experimental investigation of ethanol diesel dual fuel DI diesel engine

This paper investigates the combustion and performance characteristics of an ethanol – diesel dual fuel direct injection diesel engine. An air-cooled constant speed single cylinder diesel engine was operated with dual fuel mode in which ethanol was injected in the inlet manifold and diesel was injected inside the cylinder. An electronic fuel injection system operated by LabView software was used to inject the ethanol. Virtual instrumentation principle was used to generate output pulses for triggering ethanol injection. Diesel fuel was injected by conventional mechanical fuel injection system. The engine was loaded by an eddy current dynamometer. A piezoelectric pressure pickup with charge amplifier connected to PC based data acquistion system recorded cylinder pressure data at every crank angle interval. A crank angle degree marker measures the crank angle position for every crank angle. Tests were conducted on the engine in diesel and ethanol – diesel dual fuel mode. The cylinder pressure traces were used to calculate the heat release rates and combustion parameters. Optimum ethanol quantity was injected at every operating point. An AVL five-gas analyzer was used to measure the different exhaust pollutants. The smoke emission was measured by an AVL smoke meter in Hatridge equivalent percentage. Experimental results show that 40% of diesel can be replaced by ethanol at full load and there was 5.5% reduction in specific energy consumption. Also it was found that 32% reduction in smoke level (Opacity) and 25% reduction in NOx emissions at full load operating condition. It was also observed that the engine was running smoothly without knocking.

Spinolaminar locking plates improve fixation strength compared to pedicle screws: a biomechanical analysis.

Pedicle screw loosening is a significant complication of posterior spinal fixation, particularly among osteoporotic patients and in deformity constructs. In orthopedic trauma surgery, locking plates and screws have revolutionized the fixation of osteoporotic fractures. We have combined the traumatology principle of fixed-angle locking plate fixation with the spine principles of segmental instrumentation. A novel spinolaminar locking plate was designed based on morphometric studies of human thoracolumbar vertebrae. The plates were fixed to cadaveric human lumbar spines and connected to form 1-level L1-L2 or L4-L5 constructs and compared to similar pedicle screw constructs. Pure moment testing was performed to assess range of motion before and after 30,000 cycles of cyclic fatigue. Post-fatigue fixture pullout strength was assessed by applying a continuous axial tensile force oriented to the principal axis of the pedicle until pullout was observed. Spinolaminar plate fixation resulted in superior pullout strength compared to pedicle screws (1,065 ± 400N vs. 714 ± 284N, p = 0.028). Spinolaminar plates performed equivalently to pedicle screws in range of motion reduction during flexion/extension and axial rotation. Pedicle screws outperformed the spinolaminar plates in lateral bending. Finally, no spinolaminar constructs failed during cyclic fatigue testing, whereas one pedicle screw construct did. The spinolaminar locking plate maintained adequate fixation post-fatigue, particularly in flexion/extension and axial rotation compared to pedicle screws. Moreover, spinolaminar plates were superior to pedicle screw fixation with respect to cyclic fatiguing and pullout strength. The spinolaminar plates offer a viable option for posterior lumbar instrumentation in the adult spine.

Purposive Action Under Conditions of Unpredictability: Lessons from Development Practice and Some Suggestions

The commentary addresses, with constructive suggestions, the tension between common beliefs that development knowledge is not predictive and the general requirement that it be used to support instrumental action (using devices such as the log frame or theories of change that embody ideas that X will lead to Y). I suggest that this tension is best resolved differently from much current practice, which tends to fudge the issue. I draw two central implications: first, that stakeholders to a possible development intervention decide formally, before proceeding, whether the context and knowledge of it suggest that it is wise to proceed instrumentally or not; second, that a positive aspect of the ‘fudge’ is that a significant share of development interventions, whilst organized according to instrumental principles (such as the log frame or theories of change), in fact lack suitable knowledge and so are, in reality, non-instrumental. In such contexts, development professionals, in fact, have well-developed but informal methods for acting ‘non-instrumentally’.

Analisis Kebijakan Kualifikasi Kesehatan Dan Standar Pengawakan Terhadap Kinerja Awak Kapal Bedasarkan Penerapan MLC 2006

Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 is a standard level of manning when establishing, approving or revising the level of manning, the competent authority is obliged to pay attention to the need for working hours or minimize excess working hours, as well as the principles of applicable international instruments, in particular from the International Maritime Organization regarding the level of manning. The purpose of this study is to analyze health qualification policies and manning standards for crew performance based on the application of MLC 2006 in PT. Dhama Lautan Utama Semarang Branch. The method used in this study was descriptive qualitative where the sample used was 6 people. The data analysis technique uses the SWOT analysis method using the calculation process of IFAS (Internal Strategy Factor Analysis), EFAS (External Strategy Factor Analysis) and SWOT Analysis diagram using a likert model scale. Based on the results of the analysis, it shows that there are internal and external influences on health qualification policies and manning standards on the performance of ship crews based on the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in PT. Dharma Lautan Utama, Semarang branch. Using SWOT IFAS and EFAS analysis in the calculation of external factors, the value is 0.667 internal while internal factors of 1,063 have a higher value than opportunity-threat. This shows that the optimization of strenght and opportunity in the development of corporate strategy.

A simulation study of cooperative and autonomous vehicles (CAV) considering courtesy, ethics, and fairness.

Autonomous vehicles (AV) can be programmed to act cooperatively. Previous research on cooperative and autonomous vehicles (CAV) suggests they can substantially improve traffic system operations in terms of mobility and safety. However, these studies do not explicitly take each vehicle's potential gain/loss into consideration and ignore their individual levels of willingness to cooperate. They do not account for ethics and fairness either. In this study, several cooperation/courtesy strategies are proposed to address the above issues. These strategies are grouped into two categories based on non-instrumental and instrumental principles. Non-instrumental strategies make courtesy/cooperation decisions based on some courtesy proxies and a user-specified courtesy level, while instrumental strategies are based only on courtesy proxies related to local traffic performance. Also, a new CAV behavior modeling framework is proposed based on our previous work on cooperative car-following and merging (CCM) control. With such a framework, the proposed courtesy strategies can be easily implemented. The proposed framework and courtesy strategies are coded in SUMO microscopic traffic simulator. They are evaluated considering different levels of traffic demand on a freeway corridor consisting of a work zone and three weaving areas of different types. Interesting findings are drawn from the simulation results, one of which is that the instrumental Local Utilitarianism strategy performs the best in terms of mobility, safety, and fairness. In the future, auction-based strategies can be considered to model how CAV make decisions.

The Internal Morality of Criminal Law.

According to a popular picture, criminal law lives up to the demands of its internal morality when its norms have counterparts with the same content in morality-when it conforms to what we call the mirror principle. This article argues that the popular picture must be redrawn by relying on a second principle, which we call the instrumental principle. Criminal law conforms to the instrumental principle when the existence of its norms helps to prevent or ameliorate moral wrongdoing. Our argument is that the instrumental principle forms part of the internal morality of criminal law, and supplies a justification for criminal laws that depart from the mirror principle. We further suggest that criminal law's internal morality is asymmetrical: though departures from the mirror principle are sometimes justified by the instrumental principle, departures from the latter are not justified by the former.

A Guide to Flow Cytometry: Components, Basic Principles, Experimental Design, and Cancer Research Applications.

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a state-of-the-art technique for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of cells and other particles' physical and biological properties. These cells are suspended within a high-velocity fluid stream and pass through a laser beam in single file. The main principle of the FCM instrument is the light scattering and fluorescence emission upon the interaction of the fluorescent particle with the laser beam. It also allows for the physical sorting of particles depending on different parameters. A flow cytometer comprises different components, including fluidic, optics, and electronics systems. This article briefly explains the mechanism of all components of a flow cytometer to clarify the FCM technique's general principles, provides some useful guidelines for the proper design of FCM panels, and highlights some general applications and important applications in cancer research. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Characterization of factors influencing absorbance measurements in LED-based colorimeters

Homemade colorimeters using simple parts are excellent in undergraduate teaching labs as they allow students to learn instrument components and principles behind absorbance measurements. However, the absorbance values measured from such instruments often differ from those determined by commercial spectrophotometers. This work provides a step-by-step calculation of absorbance, taking into account the properties of each component. Using a Si-photodiode detector and a light-dependent resistor, we show how the absorbance measurements depend on the spectral irradiance of the light source, the absorption spectrum of the sample, and the responsivity of the detectors. The provided calculation can help undergraduate students visualize how these factors contribute to optical measurements. It can serve as an experiment to introduce concepts of instrumentation and analysis of its performance.