Prototype Monitoring Research Articles

Monitoring Nuclear Tests

In May 1998, the prototype monitoring systems for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) provided effective and timely reporting on the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests. More detailed analysis of a broad range of imagery and seismic data illustrates evolving capabilities for refining the test site locations and estimating the yields and number of explosions. The results demonstrate that there will be sufficient scientific and technical capabilities to perform global treaty monitoring to very low thresholds once the CTBT monitoring network is fully deployed.

Application of the nuclide identification system SHAMAN in monitoring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

SHAMAN is an expert system for qualitative and quantitative radionuclide identification in gamma spectrometry. SHAMAN requires as input the calibrations, peak search, and fitting results from reliable spectral analysis software, such as SAMPO. SHAMAN uses a comprehensive reference library with 2600 radionuclides and 80 000 gamma-lines, as well as a rule base consisting of sixty inference rules. Identification results are presented both via an interactive graphical interface and in the form of configurable text reports. An organization has been established for monitoring the recent Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. For radionuclide monitoring, 80 stations will be set up around the world. Air-filter gammaspectra will be collected from these stations on a daily basis and they will need to be reliably analyzed with minimum turnaround time. SHAMAN is currently being evaluated within the prototype monitoring system as an automated radionuclide identifier, in parallel with existing radionuclide identification software. In air-filter monitoring, very low concentrations of radionuclides are measured from bulky sources in close geometry and with long counting time. In this case true coincidence summing and self-absorption become important factors. SHAMAN is able to take into account these complicated phenomena, and the results it produces have been found to be very reliable and accurate.

Ovipositional Preferences of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Female Diaprepes abbreviatus L. were presented with immature citrus leaves, mature citrus leaves, and doubled strips of various substances as potential oviposition sites. In both the laboratory and in caged outdoor experiments more egg masses were deposited between freezer paper strips than between mature leaves. No egg masses were deposited between immature leaves. Artificial substrates were preferred in the following order: freezer paper > waxed paper > transparency film. In emergence experiments utilizing freezer paper with the plastic-coated side out as the oviposition substrate, no neonate larvae escaped from 65% of the egg masses. In contrast, larvae easily escaped from egg masses laid between strips of the other substrates tested. In the field, wax paper and freezer paper were preferred as oviposition sites 43:1 and 50:1 over mature leaf pairs, respectively. These data suggest a new prototype monitoring trap for this weevil.

Development of Fiber Optic Radiation Monitor using Plastic Scintillation Fibers.

We have developed a radiation monitor by using plastic scintillation fibers (PSF), which we call the fiber optic radiation monitor. For wide-area radiation monitoring, the detection part needs to be longer, therefore we have produced a prototype monitor by combining the PSF and the silica fiber for optical propagation.In this paper we first explain the characteristics when silica fiber of 100 m long is connected to the PSF. We found that in this case, the position resolution would drop. In order to determine the cause, we observed the aspects of optical pulse propagation. It was found that the light is transmitted through the silica fiber and is detected at fiber end as single photons, and the resolution deteriorated due to the difference in the propagation path of each of photons.We next explain the prototype fiber optic radiation monitor with a detection length of 20 m and a total length of 60 m, and its performance.

Test-sites for earthquake prediction experiments within the Colli Albani region

In this paper we discuss some geochemical data gathered by discrete and continuous monitoring during the 1995–1996 period, carried out for earthquake prediction test-experiments throughout the Colli Albani quiescent volcano, seat of seismicity, selecting some gas discharge sites with peri-volcanic composition. In particular we stressed the results obtained at the continuous geochemical monitoring station (GMS I, BAR site), designed by ING for geochemical surveillance of seismic events. The 12/6/1995 (M=3.6–3.8) Roma earthquake together with the 3/11/1995 (M=3.1) Tivoli earthquake was the most energetic events within the Colli Albani - Roma area, after the beginning of the continuous monitoring (1991) up today: strict correlation between these seismic events and fluid geochemical anomalies in groundwater has been discovered (temperature, Eh, 222Rn, CO 2, NH 3). Separation at depth of a vapour phase, rich in reducing-acidic gases (CO 2, H 2S, etc...), from a hyper-saline brine, within the deep geothermal reservoir is hypothesised to explain the geochemical anomalies: probably the transtensional episodes accompanying the seismic sequences caused an increasing and/or triggering of the phase-separation process and fluid migration, on the regional scale of the Western sector of the Colli Albani, beyond the seismogenic depth (2–4 Km) up to surface. We draw the state of art of GMS II monitoring prototype and the selection criteria of test-sites for earthquake prediction experiments in the Colli Albani region.

A prototype radonmeter for seismic surveillance

A new 222Rn monitoring prototype has been designed, assembled and tested at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica (ING) specifically addressed to seismic surveillance tasks, exploiting environmental monitoring, etc. It operates with an a scintillation technique (photomultiplier + Lucas Cell) coupled with a water input system, that lets continuous dehumidified gas flow, stripped from groundwater under monitoring. Several laboratory tests have been carried out to check the stability and versatility of the system; moreover statistical tests have been accomplished on several data sets obtained with an 241Am radioactive standard source, to check stability of the photomultiplier. A customised water flow system has been developed to perform both the highest efficiency and lowest influence of external noise parameters. This new prototype is very cheap and will be integrated within the new multiparametric geochemical monitoring system GMS II, that is currently being developed at ING, specifically designed for geochemical surveillance of seismic events.

Implementing Monitoring and Zooming in a Heterogeneous Distributed Jet Engine Simulation

The NASA Numerical Propulsion System Simulation project explores the use of computer simulation to facilitate the design of new jet engines. Several key issues raised in this research are being examined in an NPSS-related research project: zooming, monitoring and control, and support for heterogeneity. The design and implementation of a distributed simulation executive that addresses each of these issues is described. In this work, the strategy of zooming, which allows codes that model at different levels of fidelity to be integrated within a single simulation, is applied to the fan component of a turbofan propulsion system. A prototype monitoring and control system provides continuous updates on the progress of the simulation and a platform for experimenting with active control techniques. An inter connection system provides a transparent means of connecting the heterogeneous systems that comprise the prototype.

New analysis and performance of a wall-current monitor

A new wall-current monitor has been developed in order to reinforce the beam-monitoring system in the PF 2.5-GeV linac for the KEK B-Factory. A prototype monitor was tested for its performance and characteristics. The experimental results in terms of both bench tests and beam tests by single-bunch electron beams were analyzed on the basis of equivalent-circuit models. The frequency response of the monitor agreed well with a lumped equivalent-circuit model for both time- and frequency-domain measurements. The position dependence and its frequency characteristics of the monitor also agreed well with a distributed equivalent-circuit model for both time- and frequency-domain measurements. The rise time of the monitor was about 3 ns, which indicated a poor response for short-pulse beams (< 1 ns). The reason could be attributed to the stray inductance of the ceramic solid resistor and not very good frequency response of the ferrite core.

Laser monitoring of chest wall displacement.

We developed a prototype laser monitor, consisting of a single laser sensor, to observe chest wall displacement during respiration. With this monitor, respiratory waveforms are expressed as an anterioposterior motion of the chest wall. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics and performance of this prototype. Performance was assessed: 1) under static conditions; 2) using a lung model ventilated in both conventional and high frequency oscillation (HFOV) modes; and 3) during spontaneous breathing in normal adults. In vitro, the monitor performed well both under static conditions and during mechanical ventilation. Reliable "respiratory" wave forms, with no frequency-dependent change in the relationship between displacement and volume, were produced during both conventional ventilation and HFOV at 15 Hz. In vivo, abdominal displacement, measured in the midline, was linearly correlated with the tidal volume signal integrated from flow. The waveforms produced by the monitor were adequate for monitoring respiration and for calculating respiratory timing variables. While a single laser sensor is unlikely to be sufficient for monitoring respiration in spontaneously breathing subjects, the performance of the prototype monitor was sufficiently impressive to encourage further development and further study of this type of truly noninvasive respiratory monitor.

Resin cure monitoring system based on nondestructive dielectric spectrometry

An on-line indirect cure monitoring prototype system is described based on dielectric spectrometric measurements (frequency dependences of the dielectric modulus and/or dielectric permittivity and/or dielectric loss factor and/or relaxation spectrum). A key block of the system is the Dielectric Spectrometer. Model DS 7056-C interfaced with a standard PC. A variation of the dielectric frequency spectra during the cure process for two epoxy systems based on araldite resins LY556 and LY561-1 are considered as an illustration of capabilities of the described hardware and software.

A tool for visualizing the execution of interactions on a loosely‐coupled distributed system

AbstractThe paper describes in detail the implementation of INMON, a prototype monitor for recording and displaying interaction networks. The interaction network is designed to show the interrelationships between significant events that occur during the processing of an interaction on a loosely‐coupled distributed system. By being directed at analysing what happens in an interaction, this approach is fundamentally different from other graphical representations that show what happens during the execution of a single program on a distributed system. Examples are given of interaction networks recorded by INMON. The approach is based on very general models of a distributed system and of an interaction, and could be widely applied. We conclude by summarizing what is needed to provide facilities within any operating system for recording interaction networks.

CIMOSA model creation and execution for a casting process and a manufacturing cell

The main benefit of CIMOSA is the on-line execution of enterprise models by its Integrating Infrastructure. After eight years of paper work, CIMOSA has achieved its first demonstration of model execution through the rapid prototyping environment called McCIM. McCIM has been developed in the scope of the Esprit Project VOICE. The project consortium uses McCIM to validate and improve CIMOSA architectural concepts and in particular to rapid prototype monitoring applications for its industrial partners.

The electronic detection of fine grain in large grained electrical steels

It has been shown that a low ac magnetising field of several kHz imposed in the rolling direction gives rise to a field at 90° due to domain wall motion. This field is present at a very much reduced level in fine grain material. A prototype monitoring apparatus which clearly indicates the presence and position of fine grain has been built using this principle.

Symmetrical deflection for future IDTV/HDTV receivers

The concept and advantages of the symmetrical scanning principle are described, and practical results gained from an HDTV (high-definition television) prototype monitor are discussed. It is shown that, by using sinusoidal deflection, it is possible to design TV chassis for high line rates. Power consumption, yoke temperature, and radiation are drastically reduced. Integration of all deflection parts and the use of a standard yoke for high line frequencies lead to TV receivers with reduced costs and better performance. For the production of TV receivers using CRTs (cathode ray tubes) with a wide deflection angle (110 degrees ) and line rates above 32 kHz, there seems to be no alternative to sinusoidal deflection.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

An impedance cardiography system: a new design.

An IBM compatible impedance cardiac output monitoring prototype system has been developed for use at the bedside on patients in the ICU, CCU, ER, Cath. Lab, and OR, etc. This impedance cardiographic (ICG) system, whose operation is completely technician-free, provides a continuous display with digital results and four channel color waveforms on an Enhanced Graphics Display screen. The software is written in C language with several special segments in assembly code where speed is essential. In this prototype system, a real-time algorithm was introduced to modify the ensemble averaging technique so that it averages nonperiodic signals such as: ECG, dZ/dT, delta Z, etc. Also, a real-time algorithm was developed to adaptively detect R spikes from conventional ECG signals. A signal preprocessor was developed to process signals digitally before any further work is done. This procedure reduces muscle noise, 60 Hz interference, and ventilatory movement. A special digital filter was designed to cope with the cases in which pacemakers are used. A special algorithm was also developed to further reduce the ventilation artifacts so that a period of apnea is unnecessary during the performance of the measurements. An anatomically specified electrode configuration has been defined enabling precise and reproducible positioning of the electrodes--hopefully leading to electrode standardization. At the present time, this prototype system has been compared with standard hand calculation and correlated with the clinical "gold standard," the Swan-Ganz thermodilution cardiac output. Using 144 sets of data from 10 healthy volunteers, 4 critically ill patients, and 8 healthy exercising volunteers, calculations of cardiac output were made using our system and the standard hand calculation of stroke volume, based upon Kubicek's equation; there was a relatively high and stable correlation: r = 0.93, p less than 0.005 (healthy); r = 0.94, p less than 0.002 (ill), r = 0.95, p less than 0.002 (exercise). From 20 patients at two different hospitals all with Swan-Ganz catheters in their hearts, 65 correlation studies between our system and the standard thermodilution technique were performed; the results were encouraging in terms of accuracy and consistency (r1 = 0.84, p less than 0.01, n = 10 CCU patients), and (r2 = 0.93, p less than 0.01, n = ICU patients). These results along with a growing body of data from other investigators indicate that this noninvasive and technician-free system for measuring cardiac output could have a significant role in patient care.

Development of an in-line blood-glucose monitor

The development of a practical electrochemical system for in-line blood-glucose monitoring requires the combination of several modifications to achieve reliability. The prototype monitor described includes stopped-flow dialysis, a carbon-fibre pre-electrolysis cell, an immobilized glucose-oxidase reactor and a membrane-coated electrode used with square-wave amperometry. Under microprocessor control, the system is well suited for routine monitoring applications with minimal user interaction. Good precision (RSD of 3–4% ) is achieved over extended use. The linear response range for blood glucose is 1–20 mM.

On-line direct potentiometry of residual water in organic solvents using the proton isoconcentration technique

A laboratory prototype monitor, based on direct potentiometry, has been designed and constructed for the determination of residual water in organic solvents using the proton isoconcentration technique (PICT). In the monitor, a sample stream is bled off and mixed with a buffer before passing through a cell containing a pH glass electrode, a reference electrode and an automatic temperature compensation probe. The instrument is calibrated with standard solutions containing water in the same solvent, the useful (i.e., sensitive) water range being 0–10%m/m water. The system is controlled by a program running on a general purpose minicomputer. Results obtained for residual water in methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, ethane-1,2-diol, propanone and butan-2-one show PICT to be sensitive, accurate and reproducible with an average response time of 7–10 min.

On-line direct potentiometry of residual water in organic solvents using cells without a liquid junction under proton isoconcentration conditions

A laboratory prototype monitor, based on direct potentiometry, was applied to the determination of residual water in organic solvents using cells without a liquid junction under proton isoconcentration conditions. In the monitor, a sample stream is bled off and mixed with a buffer before passing through a cell containing a pH glass electrode, a solid-state chloride electrode and an automatic temperature compensation probe. The instrument is calibrated with standard solutions containing water in the same solvent. The system is controlled by a program running on a general-purpose minicomputer. Results obtained for residual water in methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol are accurate, reproducible and sensitive with an average response time of 5 min, and are superior to those obtained with the same monitor using cells with a liquid junction.

High flux photon beam monitor

We have designed two photon beam position monitors for use on our X-ray storage ring beamlines. In both designs, a pair of tungsten blades, separated by a predetermined gap, intercepts a small fraction of the incoming beam. Due to photoemission, an electrical signal is generated which is proportional to the amount of beam intercepted. The thermal load deposited in the blade is transferred by a heat pipe to a heat exchanger outside the vacuum chamber. A prototype monitor with gap adjustment capability was fabricated and tested at a UV beamline. The results show that the generated electrical signal is a good measurement of the photon beam position. In the following sections, design features and test results are discussed.

Performance and Applications of Room Temperature Silicon Passivated Ion-Implanted X-Ray Detectors

Silicon detectors exhibiting reverse currents of less than 1 nA cm-2/100 μm at 20°C have been manufactured in a reproducible way using photo-engraving and ion-implantation techniques. For use as X-ray detectors only aluminium and epoxies are used for the mount in order to avoid any parasitic fluorescence. Typical energy resolution at 20°C is 1.3 keV at 10-20 keV for 10 mm2 active area detectors. The main contribution to the performance is the temperature stability. Applications developped are a system for X-ray fluorescence analysis of metal ores and a prototype for environmental monitoring using 16 multiplexed Si detectors with an overall resolution of 1.8 keV in the 10-20 KeV region for the total 400 mm2 area.