Specific Target Locations Research Articles

Combining classical and component-based TPA for equivalent load identification

The transfer path analysis (TPA) has become a rather standard tool for solving noise and vibration problems, as it helps understanding the mechanisms responsible for the generation and transmission of those quantities. By better understanding the intricate role of multiple sources and propagation paths, it is possible to diagnose and propose effective modifications that would addresses such issues at specific target locations. Although originally an experimental approach, hybrid methods that include modeled sub-systems have been proposed, which allow the assessment of key system features even at stages prior to the construction of full physical prototypes. However, in classical TPA, the operational forces are characteristics of the complete system, which implies that, with each modification in one subsystem, it is necessary to redo all the tests for the correct determination of target functions. For this reason, in recent years, interest has been renewed in the development of faster and simpler techniques for analyzing energy transfer paths, which offer a compromise between workload and accuracy. More specifically, a set of methods called component-based TPA is highlighted, which consists of characterizing the excitation of a source through a set of equivalent forces (or even interface velocities) inherent only to the active subsystem. In this way, the responses at target locations on the passive subsystem could be calculated using these equivalent loads and the dynamics of the complete system, obtained numerically, experimentally or under a hybrid framework. This work presents a critical analysis of the component-based TPA methods and proposes the combined use of these methods with a classical TPA approach in the process of determining equivalent forces of the active subsystem. This set of equivalent forces, combined with the passive subsystem dynamics, allows the prediction of the vibrational behavior of the full assembly at targeted locations, without the need for a full experimental analysis of the assembled system. As the case study presented here consists of a modular academic setup, it allows the qualitative assessment of the method in distinct assembly boundary conditions, in which the subsystems are connected via rigid or flexible joints.

3DLRA: An RFID 3D Indoor Localization Method Based on Deep Learning.

As the core supporting technology of the Internet of Things, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is rapidly popularized in the fields of intelligent transportation, logistics management, industrial automation, and the like, and has great development potential due to its fast and efficient data collection ability. RFID technology is widely used in the field of indoor localization, in which three-dimensional location can obtain more real and specific target location information. Aiming at the existing three-dimensional location scheme based on RFID, this paper proposes a new three-dimensional localization method based on deep learning: combining RFID absolute location with relative location, analyzing the variation characteristics of the received signal strength (RSSI) and Phase, further mining data characteristics by deep learning, and applying the method to the smart library scene. The experimental results show that the method has a higher location accuracy and better system stability.

Design of Missile Mid-Course Guidance for Constrained Impact Angle

This research develops a mid-course guidance law, which enables a constrained impact angle at the engagement, in response to the needs of modern missile design. To achieve this goal and share the workload with the terminal guidance, the mid-course guidance has to regulate the missile to a specific target location and a specific flight angle for a specific “time-to-go.” Therefore, conventional mid-course guidance laws are inadequate in this case. The proposed guidance law achieves this goal by recursively updating the target dynamics for the mid-course guidance, and applying optimal controls with frequently updated control parameters. Simulation results demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of the proposed method. In a simulation case, the interception missile is 100 kilometers away from the target missile, the flight speed of the two missiles are 1200 m/s and 800 m/s, respectively, and the requested impact angle is 150°. The proposed method achieves the positioning error and flight-path-angle error of 791 meters and 0.56°, at the end of mid-course guidance. When working with the previously developed terminal guidance, the miss distance and impact-angle error are 0.002m and 0.001° at the end of the engagement.

Silencing T-type voltage-gated calcium channel gene reduces the sensitivity of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) to scopoletin

Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) is a major pest that harms crops and vegetables worldwide. Scopoletin is a promising acaricidal compound. Our previous study demonstrated that the acaricidal mechanism of scopoletin may be via disrupting intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and calcium signaling pathway. However, the mechanism underlying the specific target location of scopoletin against T. cinnabarinus remains unclear. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the calcium channel (TcT-VDCC) gene from T. cinnabarinus was cloned and characterized. The TcT-VDCC gene is expressed at all developmental stages of T. cinnabarinus but is highly expressed in the larval and nymphal stages. The TcT-VDCC gene was significantly upregulated after treatment with scopoletin, and the RNAi method was used to feed the dsRNA in T. cinnabarinus to silence the TcT-VDCC gene and reduce its sensitivity to scopoletin. The results showed that the acaricidal mechanism of scopoletin on T. cinnabarinus may be related to TcT-VDCC.

Object-based attention shifts are driven by target location, not object placement

ABSTRACTObject-based attention (OBA) enhances processing within an attended object. We previously showed that OBA shifts crossing the visual field meridians were faster horizontally than vertically: a Shift Direction Anisotropy (SDA). Here we aimed to determine whether the SDA depends upon meridian crossings of object boundaries, target locations, or both. Participants viewed an “L”-shaped object and responded to a target at either cued or non-cued locations offset horizontally or vertically. Meridian crossings or non-crossings of object boundaries and target locations were manipulated across five experiments (Experiments 1–3B). In Experiment 4, the object was removed to confirm that object-based (not space-based) attentional resources drive observation of the SDA. In sum, the SDA emerged only when target locations necessitated shifts that crossed the meridians, regardless of object placement, demonstrating that the SDA is driven by target location relative to the meridians and that OBA processes prioritize specific target locations within an object.

WITHDRAWN: A test of the variability vs. specificity hypotheses in the retention of a motor skill.

Abstract The variability of practice hypothesis suggests that practicing with task variations enhances motor learning (Schmidt, 1975). However, in tasks with only a single criterion goal to be learned, the evidence that variable practice enhances retention of this criterion task compared to constant practice (i.e. practicing without task variations) is somewhat mixed. We seek to address this question in a registered report by pre-registering the hypothesis, using a larger sample size, and using a Bayesian approach to directly quantify the evidence for the hypothesis (instead of conventional null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) using p-values). The proposed study is based on a prior study from Shea and Kohl (1990) examining this issue. Participants will learn a bimanual shuffleboard task where the goal is to slide a virtual puck towards a target. This task requires participants to release the puck at a specified speed consistently to hit the target. Two groups of participants will be tested - the constant group will practice with a specific criterion target location (which requires no variation in the puck speed), whereas the variable group will practice the criterion target location along with 4 additional target locations. Retention and transfer tests will be conducted after a 24-h period to examine learning in both groups, with the primary focus being on the first retention test.

Boundary shapes guide selection of reference points in goal localization.

In this study, we contrasted two hypotheses theorizing the role of the global shape of a boundary in object location memory: People might differentiate reference points based on the global shape extracted from the environment configuration and choose appropriate parts for encoding a specific location, or, alternatively, only the number of reference points provided by a shape might be important for accurate encoding. We designed a location memory task in an immersive virtual environment in order to examine these two hypotheses. Participants first learned four target locations with a circular wall and a landmark array. During testing, participants recalled the locations with either one entire cue or part of one cue removed. Location memory was impaired when the testing cues did not form a circle, but it was not impaired when the testing configuration retained the circular shape. In Experiment 2, the circle formed by a landmark array and the circular wall did not share the same center during learning. Memory performance decreased when either the wall or the landmark array was removed during testing. These results indicated that participants might segment the shape of the circular wall into parts (similar to segmenting a clock face into 12 hours) and encode target locations relative to the differentiated parts. When such segmentation could be recovered from the testing configuration, object location memory was retained. Otherwise, impairment occurred during testing. These findings suggest that although the individual reference points on a boundary are important for encoding specific target locations, the global shape of the boundary nonetheless affects segmentation and the selection of individual reference points.

Heat flux distribution with lower hybrid current drive in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

Lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) considerably affects the heat flux distribution. This study analyzed the lower divertor target plate (LDTP) with different LHCD powers and frequencies in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). The analysis provided a detailed explanation of the heat flux at specific times (i.e., transformation of magnetic field configuration, LHCD starting and operating periods) and specific target locations (i.e., original strike point and second peak heat flux area). The average heat flux, average peak heat flux, and maximum peak heat flux during operation of different LHCD powers and frequencies were determined and compared. The sizes of the heat fluxes at the specific target locations were compared at different LHCD powers and frequencies. In addition to the heat flux distribution under different LHCD powers and frequencies, the heat flux distributions in electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) + LHCD and in LHCD only were investigated to study the effect of ECRH on heat flux distribution. Detailed analyses of the heat flux distribution under different conditions were conducted to provide a reference for actual engineering applications.

Cross-sectional nanoprobing sample preparation on sub-micron device with fast laser grooving technique

Cross-sectional sample preparation is one of the most important failure analysis (FA) techniques in the semiconductor industry. It was commonly used for film stack critical dimension measurement, defect identification, electrical fault isolation and etc. However, cross-sectional sample preparation to a specific target location on a sub-micron device is very challenging and time-consuming. This is because of mechanical polishing easily caused metal smear, delamination, film peel-off, micro-cracked and etc. This paper focused on cross-sectional nanoprobing (XNP) sample preparation improvement in quality and quantity. A laser blast to deprocess or create a groove at near to target location before conventional mechanical polishing and focus ion beam (FIB) fine milling. The proposed technique not only reduces the sample preparation time to the sub-micron target location but also prevent mechanical damages that caused by mechanical polishing technique.

Spatiotemporal control of cargo delivery performed by programmable self-propelled Janus droplets

Self-propelled droplets capable of transporting cargo to specific target locations are desired tools for many future applications. Here we propose a class of active droplets with programmable delivery time that are attracted or repelled by certain obstacle geometries. These droplets consist of a water/ethanol mixture and are dispersed in an oil/surfactant solution. Owing to a mass exchange between fluid phases during self-propulsion, the initially homogeneous droplets spontaneously de-mix and evolve into characteristic Janus droplets. Cargo molecules, like DNA, can be separated into the trailing ethanol-rich droplet and are carried to their target location “like in a backpack”. The delayed onset of phase separation provides a handle to control the time frame of delivery, while long-ranged hydrodynamic interactions and short-ranged wetting forces are exploited to achieve the desired spatial specificity with respect to obstacle geometry and surface chemistry.

Effects of 2D and 3D image views on hand movement trajectories in the surgeon’s peri-personal space in a computer controlled simulator environment

In image-guided surgical tasks, the precision and timing of hand movements depend on the effectiveness of visual cues relative to specific target areas in the surgeons peri-personal space. Two-dimensional (2D) image views of real-world movements are known to negatively affect both constrained (with tool) and unconstrained(no tool) hand movements compared with direct action viewing. Task conditions where virtual 3D would generate and advantage for surgical eye-hand coordination are unclear. Here, we compared effects of 2D and 3D image views on the precision and timing of surgical hand movement trajectories in a simulator environment. Eight novices had to pick and place a small cube on target areas across different trajectory segments in the surgeons peri-personal space, with the dominant hand, with and without a tool, under conditions of: (1) direct (2) 2D fisheye camera and (3) virtual 3D viewing (headmounted). Significant effects of the location of trajectories in the surgeons peri-personal space on movement times and precision were found. Subjects were faster and more precise across specific target locations, depending on the viewing modality.

Gold Nanoparticle Approach to the Selective Delivery of Gene Silencing in Cancer-The Case for Combined Delivery?

Gene therapy arises as a great promise for cancer therapeutics due to its potential to silence genes involved in tumor development. In fact, there are some pivotal gene drivers that suffer critical alterations leading to cell transformation and ultimately to tumor growth. In this vein, gene silencing has been proposed as an active tool to selectively silence these molecular triggers of cancer, thus improving treatment. However, naked nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) sequences are reported to have a short lifetime in the body, promptly degraded by circulating enzymes, which in turn speed up elimination and decrease the therapeutic potential of these drugs. The use of nanoparticles for the effective delivery of these silencers to the specific target locations has allowed researchers to overcome this issue. Particularly, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used as attractive vehicles for the target-specific delivery of gene-silencing moieties, alone or in combination with other drugs. We shall discuss current trends in AuNP-based delivery of gene-silencing tools, considering the promising road ahead without overlooking existing concerns for their translation to clinics.

New technologies of molecular engineering and screening for cell signaling studies.

New technologies of molecular engineering and screening for cell signaling studies.

Nanodrawing of Aligned Single Carbon Nanotubes with a Nanopen.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are considered pivotal components for molecular electronics. Techniques for SWCNT lithography today lack simplicity, flexibility, and speed of direct, oriented deposition at specific target locations. In this paper SWCNTs are directly drawn and placed with chemical identification and demonstrated orientation using fountain pen nanolithography (FPN) under ambient conditions. Placement across specific electrical contacts with such alignment is demonstrated and characterized. The fundamental basis of the drawing process with alignment has potential applications for other related systems such as inorganic nanotubes, polymers, and biological molecules.

Testing the co-existence of two timing strategies for motor control in a unique task: The synchronisation spatial-tapping task

The control of rhythmic action sequences may involve two distinct timing strategies, i.e., event-based and emergent timing, which are usually revealed through finger-tapping and circle-drawing tasks, respectively. There is a lively debate concerning the possibility of coexistence of the two modes of timing for the execution of a single task. If one considers emergent timing as simply an absence of explicit representation of a time interval, then by definition, the two modes of timing cannot coexist. However, if one considers that emergent timing engages control of another motor parameter, e.g., a control of movement through space rather than time, then the possibility of coexistence needs to be reassessed. In the present study, we designed a hybrid of finger-tapping and circle-drawing tasks for which the demands for space and time control were present at the same time in order to reassess the coexistence hypothesis. Seventy-eight participants performed a spatial-tapping task in which finger taps were to be produced in synchrony with a regular metronome to 6 visual targets presented around a virtual circle. The metronome set ten distinct tempi (1100–300ms). Using autocorrelation analyses on timing variables, we show that motor timing was event-based at slow tempi and emergent at faster tempi. Through an analysis of the trajectory, we confirm that an increase in the spatial control of movement took place congruently with a switch from event-based to emergent timing modes. At these fast tempi, timing and spatial errors were correlated but only at the specific target location for which a dynamical anchor point was revealed. Hence, we conclude that the coding of emergent timing has a spatial nature from which emerge timing regularities. This spatio-temporal strategy insures the performance of sequential motor actions when cognitive effort is too high for the use of pure event-based timing strategies.

Multivalley effective mass theory simulation of donors in silicon

Last year, Salfi et al. made the first direct measurements of a donor wave function and found extremely good theoretical agreement with atomistic tight-binding [Salfi et al., Nat. Mater. 13, 605 (2014)]. Here, we show that multi-valley effective mass theory, applied properly, does achieve close agreement with tight-binding and hence gives reliable predictions. To demonstrate this, we variationally solve the coupled six-valley Shindo-Nara equations, including silicon's full Bloch functions. Surprisingly, we find that including the full Bloch functions necessitates a tetrahedral, rather than spherical, donor central cell correction to accurately reproduce the experimental energy spectrum of a phosphorus impurity in silicon. We cross-validate this method against atomistic tight-binding calculations, showing that the two theories agree well for the calculation of donor-donor tunnel coupling. Further, we benchmark our results by performing a statistical uncertainty analysis, confirming that derived quantities such as the wave function profile and tunnel couplings are robust with respect to variational energy fluctuations. Finally, we apply this method to exhaustively enumerate the tunnel coupling for all donor-donor configurations within a large search volume, demonstrating conclusively that the tunnel coupling has no spatially stable regions. Though this instability is problematic for reliably coupling donor pairs for two-qubit operations, we identify specific target locations where donor qubits can be placed with scanning tunneling microscopy technology to achieve reliably large tunnel couplings.

MO‐AB‐210‐00: Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging Quality Control and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy Hands‐On Workshop

The goal of this ultrasound hands‐on workshop is to demonstrate advancements in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and to demonstrate quality control (QC) testing in diagnostic ultrasound.HIFU is a therapeutic modality that uses ultrasound waves as carriers of energy. HIFU is used to focus a beam of ultrasound energy into a small volume at specific target locations within the body. The focused beam causes localized high temperatures and produces a well‐defined regions of necrosis. This completely non‐invasive technology has great potential for tumor ablation and targeted drug delivery. At the workshop, attendees will see configurations, applications, and hands‐on demonstrations with on‐site instructors at separate stations.The involvement of medical physicists in diagnostic ultrasound imaging service is increasing due to QC and accreditation requirements. At the workshop, an array of ultrasound testing phantoms and ultrasound scanners will be provided for attendees to learn diagnostic ultrasound QC in a hands‐on environment with live demonstrations of the techniques.Target audience: Medical physicists and other medical professionals in diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology with interest in high‐intensity focused ultrasound and in diagnostic ultrasound QC.Learning Objectives: Learn ultrasound physics and safety for HIFU applications through live demonstrations Get an overview of the state‐of‐the art in HIFU technologies and equipment Gain familiarity with common elements of a quality control program for diagnostic ultrasound imaging Identify QC tools available for testing diagnostic ultrasound systems and learn how to use these tools List of supporting vendors for HIFU and diagnostic ultrasound QC hands‐on workshop: Philips Healthcare Alpinion Medical Systems Verasonics, Inc Zonare Medical Systems, Inc Computerized Imaging Reference Systems (CIRS), Inc. GAMMEX, Inc., Cablon Medical BV Steffen Sammet: NIH/NCI grant 5R25CA132822, NIH/NINDS grant 5R25NS080949 and Philips Healthcare research grant C32

MO‐AB‐210‐03: Workshop

The goal of this ultrasound hands‐on workshop is to demonstrate advancements in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and to demonstrate quality control (QC) testing in diagnostic ultrasound.HIFU is a therapeutic modality that uses ultrasound waves as carriers of energy. HIFU is used to focus a beam of ultrasound energy into a small volume at specific target locations within the body. The focused beam causes localized high temperatures and produces a well‐defined regions of necrosis. This completely non‐invasive technology has great potential for tumor ablation and targeted drug delivery. At the workshop, attendees will see configurations, applications, and hands‐on demonstrations with on‐site instructors at separate stations.The involvement of medical physicists in diagnostic ultrasound imaging service is increasing due to QC and accreditation requirements. At the workshop, an array of ultrasound testing phantoms and ultrasound scanners will be provided for attendees to learn diagnostic ultrasound QC in a hands‐on environment with live demonstrations of the techniques.Target audience: Medical physicists and other medical professionals in diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology with interest in high‐intensity focused ultrasound and in diagnostic ultrasound QC.Learning Objectives: Learn ultrasound physics and safety for HIFU applications through live demonstrations Get an overview of the state‐of‐the art in HIFU technologies and equipment Gain familiarity with common elements of a quality control program for diagnostic ultrasound imaging Identify QC tools available for testing diagnostic ultrasound systems and learn how to use these tools List of supporting vendors for HIFU and diagnostic ultrasound QC hands‐on workshop: Philips Healthcare Alpinion Medical Systems Verasonics, Inc Zonare Medical Systems, Inc Computerized Imaging Reference Systems (CIRS), Inc. GAMMEX, Inc., Cablon Medical BV Steffen Sammet: NIH/NCI grant 5R25CA132822, NIH/NINDS grant 5R25NS080949 and Philips Healthcare research grant C32

MO‐AB‐210‐02: Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy‐Hands On Workshop

The goal of this ultrasound hands‐on workshop is to demonstrate advancements in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and to demonstrate quality control (QC) testing in diagnostic ultrasound.HIFU is a therapeutic modality that uses ultrasound waves as carriers of energy. HIFU is used to focus a beam of ultrasound energy into a small volume at specific target locations within the body. The focused beam causes localized high temperatures and produces a well‐defined regions of necrosis. This completely non‐invasive technology has great potential for tumor ablation and targeted drug delivery. At the workshop, attendees will see configurations, applications, and hands‐on demonstrations with on‐site instructors at separate stations.The involvement of medical physicists in diagnostic ultrasound imaging service is increasing due to QC and accreditation requirements. At the workshop, an array of ultrasound testing phantoms and ultrasound scanners will be provided for attendees to learn diagnostic ultrasound QC in a hands‐on environment with live demonstrations of the techniques.Target audience: Medical physicists and other medical professionals in diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology with interest in high‐intensity focused ultrasound and in diagnostic ultrasound QC.Learning Objectives: Learn ultrasound physics and safety for HIFU applications through live demonstrations Get an overview of the state‐of‐the art in HIFU technologies and equipment Gain familiarity with common elements of a quality control program for diagnostic ultrasound imaging Identify QC tools available for testing diagnostic ultrasound systems and learn how to use these tools List of supporting vendors for HIFU and diagnostic ultrasound QC hands‐on workshop: Philips Healthcare Alpinion Medical Systems Verasonics, Inc Zonare Medical Systems, Inc Computerized Imaging Reference Systems (CIRS), Inc. GAMMEX, Inc., Cablon Medical BV Steffen Sammet: NIH/NCI grant 5R25CA132822, NIH/NINDS grant 5R25NS080949 and Philips Healthcare research grant C32

MO‐AB‐210‐01: Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy‐Hands On Workshop

The goal of this ultrasound hands‐on workshop is to demonstrate advancements in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and to demonstrate quality control (QC) testing in diagnostic ultrasound.HIFU is a therapeutic modality that uses ultrasound waves as carriers of energy. HIFU is used to focus a beam of ultrasound energy into a small volume at specific target locations within the body. The focused beam causes localized high temperatures and produces a well‐defined regions of necrosis. This completely non‐invasive technology has great potential for tumor ablation and targeted drug delivery. At the workshop, attendees will see configurations, applications, and hands‐on demonstrations with on‐site instructors at separate stations.The involvement of medical physicists in diagnostic ultrasound imaging service is increasing due to QC and accreditation requirements. At the workshop, an array of ultrasound testing phantoms and ultrasound scanners will be provided for attendees to learn diagnostic ultrasound QC in a hands‐on environment with live demonstrations of the techniques.Target audience: Medical physicists and other medical professionals in diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology with interest in high‐intensity focused ultrasound and in diagnostic ultrasound QC.Learning Objectives: Learn ultrasound physics and safety for HIFU applications through live demonstrations Get an overview of the state‐of‐the art in HIFU technologies and equipment Gain familiarity with common elements of a quality control program for diagnostic ultrasound imaging Identify QC tools available for testing diagnostic ultrasound systems and learn how to use these tools List of supporting vendors for HIFU and diagnostic ultrasound QC hands‐on workshop: Philips Healthcare Alpinion Medical Systems Verasonics, Inc Zonare Medical Systems, Inc Computerized Imaging Reference Systems (CIRS), Inc. GAMMEX, Inc., Cablon Medical BV Steffen Sammet: NIH/NCI grant 5R25CA132822, NIH/NINDS grant 5R25NS080949 and Philips Healthcare research grant C32