Calibration

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Calibration

  • good calibration
  • internal calibration
  • linear calibration
  • model calibration
  • multivariate calibration

  • Terms modified by Calibration

  • calibration curve
  • calibration data
  • calibration data set
  • calibration equation
  • calibration graph
  • calibration line
  • calibration method
  • calibration methods
  • calibration model
  • calibration models
  • calibration parameter
  • calibration period
  • calibration point
  • calibration procedure
  • calibration process
  • calibration range
  • calibration sample
  • calibration set
  • calibration standards
  • calibration system
  • calibration techniques
  • calibration tool

  • Selected Abstracts


    THE GRAVITY MODEL: AN ILLUSTRATION OF STRUCTURAL ESTIMATION AS CALIBRATION

    ECONOMIC INQUIRY, Issue 4 2008
    EDWARD J. BALISTRERI
    Dawkins, Srinivasan, and Whalley ("Calibration,"Handbook of Econometrics, 2001) propose that estimation is calibration. We illustrate their point by examining a leading econometric application in the study of international and interregional trade by Anderson and van Wincoop ("Gravity with Gravitas: A Solution to the Border Puzzle,"American Economic Review, 2003). We replicate the econometric process and show it to be a calibration of a general equilibrium model. Our approach offers unique insights into structural estimation, and we highlight the importance of traditional calibration considerations when one uses econometric techniques to calibrate a model for comparative policy analysis. (JEL F10, C13, C60) [source]


    CALIBRATION OF MOLECULAR CLOCKS AND THE BIOGEOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF CRYPTERONIACEAE: A REPLY TO MOYLE

    EVOLUTION, Issue 8 2004
    Elena Conti
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    WELL LOG CALIBRATION OF KOHONEN-CLASSIFIED SEISMIC ATTRIBUTES USING BAYESIAN LOGIC

    JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
    M. T. Taner
    We present a new method for calibrating a classified 3D seismic volume. The classification process employs a Kohonen self-organizing map, a type of unsupervised artificial neural network; the subsequent calibration is performed using one or more suites of well logs. Kohonen self-organizing maps and other unsupervised clustering methods generate classes of data based on the identification of various discriminating features. These methods seek an organization in a dataset and form relational organized clusters. However, these clusters may or may not have any physical analogues in the real world. In order to relate them to the real world, we must develop a calibration method that not only defines the relationship between the clusters and real physical properties, but also provides an estimate of the validity of these relationships. With the development of this relationship, the whole dataset can then be calibrated. The clustering step reduces the multi-dimensional data into logically smaller groups. Each original data point defined by multiple attributes is reduced to a one- or two-dimensional relational group. This establishes some logical clustering and reduces the complexity of the classification problem. Furthermore, calibration should be more successful since it will have to consider less variability in the data. In this paper, we present a simple calibration method that employs Bayesian logic to provide the relationship between cluster centres and the real world. The output will give the most probable calibration between each self-organized map node and wellbore-measured parameters such as lithology, porosity and fluid saturation. The second part of the output comprises the calibration probability. The method is described in detail, and a case study is briefly presented using data acquired in the Orange River Basin, South Africa. The method shows promise as an alternative to current techniques for integrating seismic and log data during reservoir characterization. [source]


    A Study on the Effects of Damage Models and Wavelet Bases for Damage Identification and Calibration in Beams

    COMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 8 2007
    Vikram Pakrashi
    A numerical study has been performed in this article addressing these issues for single and multispan beams with an open crack. The first natural modeshapes of single and multispan beams with an open crack have been simulated considering damage models of different levels of complexity and analyzed for different crack depth ratios and crack positions. Gaussian white noise has been synthetically introduced to the simulated modeshape and the effects of varying signal-to-noise ratio have been studied. A wavelet-based damage identification technique has been found to be simple, efficient, and independent of damage models and wavelet basis functions, once certain conditions regarding the modeshape and the wavelet bases are satisfied. The wavelet-based damage calibration is found to be dependent on a number of factors including damage models and the basis function used in the analysis. A curvature-based calibration is more sensitive than a modeshape-based calibration of the extent of damage. [source]


    A Neuro-Fuzzy Logic for ATIS Stand-Alone Control Systems: Structure, Calibration, and Analyses

    COMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2004
    Yaser E. Hawas
    The scheme logic attempts to optimize the network overall travel time by adjusting the path proportions while guessing the signal phase split decisions. An approximate simulation-based optimization algorithm is devised as an example of the logic operating this scheme. The logic is then replicated by a fuzzy-logic control system. Neural nets are utilized to develop the knowledge base of the fuzzy system and to calibrate the fuzzy set parameters. The neural nets utilize data replicates generated by the approximate simulation-based optimization algorithm. The calibration and effectiveness results of the fuzzy control system are presented. [source]


    Experimental Study and Modelling of Formation and Decay of Active Species in an Oxygen Discharge

    CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 1 2005
    A.-M. Diamy
    Abstract A microwave (2.45 GHz) oxygen discharge (3 hPa, 150 W, 50 mL.min,1) is studied by optical emission spectroscopy of O(5P) (line 777.4 nm) and of the atmospheric system of O2(head-line 759.4 nm). Calibration of the spectral response of the optical setup is used to determine the concentrations of O(5P) and O2(b). The concentration of the O(5P) atoms is in the range 108,109 cm,3 and the concentration of the O2(b) molecules is in the range 1014 , 2 × 1014 cm,3 along the discharge tube. An attempt is made to simulate the experimental results by using coupling the Boltzmann equation, homogeneous energy transfer V-V and V-T, heterogeneous reactions on the walls (energy transfer and recombination of atoms) and a kinetic scheme (electronic transfer and chemical reactions). The Boltzmann equation includes momentum transfer, inelastic and superelastic processes and e-e collisions. V-V and V-T transfer equations are obtained from the SSH theory and the kinetic scheme includes 65 reactions with 17 species [electrons e, ions O, and O2,, fundamental electronic neutral species O(3P), O2, O2(X,v), O3 and excited neutral species O2(a), O2(b), O2(A), O(1D), O(1S), O(5P), O(4d 5Do), O(5s 5So), O(3d 5Do) and O(4s 5So)]. A fair agreement between experimental results and modelling is obtained with the following set of fitting values: , heterogeneous deactivation coefficient for O2(b) , = 2.6 × 10,2; , rate constant of reaction [O(1D) + O(3P) , 2 O(3P)] k34 = 1.4 × 10,11 cm3.s,1; , electron concentration in the range 1010 , 1011 cm,3. Modelling shows that the recombination coefficient for oxygen atoms on the silica wall (range 1.4 × 10,3 , 0.2 × 10,3) is of the same order as the values obtained in a previous paper and that the ratio ([O] / 2 [O2]initial) is about 33,50%. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


    Discrepancy in measuring CD4 expression on T-lymphocytes using fluorescein conjugates in comparison with unimolar CD4-phycoerythrin conjugates,,

    CYTOMETRY, Issue 6 2007
    Lili Wang
    Abstract Background: Numerous methods for quantitative fluorescence calibration (QFC) have been developed to quantify receptor expression on lymphocytes. However, the results from the use of these different QFC methods vary considerably in the literature. To better identify the causes of these discrepancies, we measured CD4 expression using FITC and phycoerythrin (PE) conjugates to stain CYTO-TROLÔ Control Cells and T-lymphocytes in whole blood and isolated cell preparations. We further examined pH of the cellular microenvironment as a cause of discordant results obtained with the FITC conjugate. Methods: Calibration with Quantibrite PE-labeled microspheres and the use of unimolar CD4-PE conjugates provided direct measurement of the antibody bound per cell value (ABC) for CD4 expression on normal T-lymphocytes. Calibration for CD4-FITC monoclonal antibody (Mab) labeled CYTO-TROL Control Cells and normal T-lymphocytes was based on molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome (MESF) as determined by FITC-labeled microspheres traceable to NIST RM 8640. The MESF value for CD4-FITC Mab was determined that enabled the conversion of the MESF values obtained for CYTO-TROL cells to ABC. We investigated the likely pH change in the fluorescein microenvironments within FITC-labeled Mab and cells stained with FITC-labeled Mab using a pH sensitive indicator. Results: The mean ABC value for T-lymphocytes prepared from fresh whole blood using CD4-PE conjugate (48,321) was consistent with previous results, and it was much higher than the mean ABC using CD4-FITC Mab (22,156). The mean ABC value for CYTO-TROL cells using CD4-PE conjugate (43,090) was also higher than that using CD4-FITC conjugate (34,734), although the discrepancy was not as great. Further studies suggested the discrepancy in CYTO-TROL results may be accounted for by the low pH of the membrane microenvironment, but the greater discrepancy in T-lymphocytes could not be fully explained. Conclusion: CD4 expression on fresh normal whole blood samples and CYTO-TROL cells can be consistently quantified in ABC units using Quantibrite PE quantification beads and unimolar CD4-PE conjugates. Quantification with CD4-FITC conjugate is not as consistent, but may be improved by the use of CD4 T-cells as biological calibrators. This approximation is valid only for surface receptors with consensus ABC values measured by different QFC methods serving as biological standards. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    An improved validated ultra high pressure liquid chromatography method for separation of tacrolimus impurities and its tautomers

    DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2010
    Acharya Subasranjan
    Abstract A selective, specific and sensitive ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method was developed for determination of tacrolimus degradation products and tautomers in the preparation of pharmaceuticals. The chromatographic separation was performed on Waters ACQUITY UPLC system and BEH C8 column using gradient elution of mobile phase A (90:10 v/v of 0.1% v/v triflouroacetic acid solution and Acetonitrile) and mobile phase B (90:10 v/v acetonitrile and water) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL min,1. Ultraviolet detection was performed at 210 nm. Tacrolimus, tautomers and impurities were chromatographed with a total run time of 25 min. Calibration showed that the response of impurity was a linear function of concentration over the range 0.3,6 µg mL,1 (r2 , 0.999) and the method was validated over this range for precision, intermediate precision, accuracy, linearity and specificity. For precision study, percentage relative standard deviation of each impurity was < 15% (n = 6). The method was found to be precise, accurate, linear and specific. The proposed method was successfully employed for estimation of tacrolimus impurities in pharmaceutical preparations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Hysteretic models that incorporate strength and stiffness deterioration

    EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2005
    Luis F. Ibarra
    Abstract This paper presents the description, calibration and application of relatively simple hysteretic models that include strength and stiffness deterioration properties, features that are critical for demand predictions as a structural system approaches collapse. Three of the basic hysteretic models used in seismic demand evaluation are modified to include deterioration properties: bilinear, peak-oriented, and pinching. The modified models include most of the sources of deterioration: i.e. various modes of cyclic deterioration and softening of the post-yielding stiffness, and also account for a residual strength after deterioration. The models incorporate an energy-based deterioration parameter that controls four cyclic deterioration modes: basic strength, post-capping strength, unloading stiffness, and accelerated reloading stiffness deterioration. Calibration of the hysteretic models on steel, plywood, and reinforced-concrete components demonstrates that the proposed models are capable of simulating the main characteristics that influence deterioration. An application of a peak-oriented deterioration model in the seismic evaluation of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems is illustrated. The advantages of using deteriorating hysteretic models for obtaining the response of highly inelastic systems are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Determination of glyoxal and methylglyoxal in the serum of diabetic patients by MEKC using stilbenediamine as derivatizing reagent

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 21 2007
    Muhammad A. Mirza
    Abstract An analytical method has been developed for the separation of glyoxal (Go), methylglyoxal (MGo), and dimethylglyoxal (DMGo) by MEKC using stilbenediamine (SD) as derivatizing reagent, separation time 6.5,min, SDS as micellar medium at pH,8, and sodium tetraborate (0.1,M) as buffer. Uncoated fused-silica capillary, effective length 50,cm×75,,m id; applied voltage 20,kV and photodiode array detection, were used. Calibration was linear within 0.02,150,,g/mL with detection limits 3.5,5.8,ng/mL. Go and MGo, observed for diabetic and healthy volunteers, were within 0.098,0.193,,g/mL Go and 0.106,0.245,,g/mL MGo with RSD 1.6,3.5 and 1.7,3.4%, respectively, in diabetics against 0.016,0.046,,g/mL Go and 0.021,0.066,,g/mL MGo with RSDs 1.5,3.5 and 1.4,3.6%, respectively, in healthy volunteers. Go and MGo in diabetics were also measured by standard addition and DMGo as an internal standard. Additives do not contribute significantly to Go and MGo matrix. [source]


    Calibration and deployment of custom-designed bioreporters for protecting biological remediation consortia from toxic shock

    ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
    Siouxsie Wiles
    Summary We have previously described the development of a panel of site-specific lux -based bioreporters from an industrial wastewater treatment system remediating coking effluents. The Pseudomonad strains carry a stable chromosomal copy of the luxCDABE operon from Photorhabdus luminescens and display proportional responses in bioluminescence decay with increasing phenol concentration up to 800 mg l,1. In this work we describe their deployment to provide a strategic sensing network for protecting bacterial communities involved in the biological breakdown of coking effluents. This evaluation demonstrated the utility of strategic placement of reporters around heavy industry treatment systems and the reliability of the reporter strains under normal operational conditions. Mono-phenol or total phenolic variation within the treatment system accounted for >,65,80% of the luminescence response. The reporters exhibited stable luminescence output during normal operations with maximum standard deviations of luminescence over time of c. 5,15% depending on the treatment compartment. Furthermore, deployment of the bioreporters over a 5-month period allowed the determination of an operational range (OR) for each reporter for effluent samples from each compartment. The OR allowed a convenient measure of toxicity effects between treatment compartments and accurately reflected a specific pollution event occurring within compartments of the treatment system. This work demonstrates the utility of genetic modification to provide ecologically relevant bioreporters, extends the sensing capabilities currently obtained through marine derived biosensors and significantly enhances the potential for in situ deployment of reporting agents. [source]


    Pedometric mapping of soil organic matter using a soil map with quantified uncertainty

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010
    B. Kempen
    This paper compares three models that use soil type information from point observations and a soil map to map the topsoil organic matter content for the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. The models differ in how the information on soil type is obtained: model 1 uses soil type as depicted on the soil map for calibration and prediction; model 2 uses soil type as observed in the field for calibration and soil type as depicted on the map for prediction; and model 3 uses observed soil type for calibration and a pedometric soil map with quantified uncertainty for prediction. Calibration of the trend on observed soil type resulted in a much stronger predictive relationship between soil organic matter content and soil type than calibration on mapped soil type. Validation with an independent probability sample showed that model 3 out-performed models 1 and 2 in terms of the mean squared error. However, model 3 over-estimated the prediction error variance and so was too pessimistic about prediction accuracy. Model 2 performed the worst: it had the largest mean squared error and the prediction error variance was strongly under-estimated. Thus validation confirmed that calibration on observed soil type is only valid when the uncertainty about soil type at prediction sites is explicitly accounted for by the model. We conclude that whenever information about the uncertainty of the soil map is available and both soil property and soil type are observed at sampling sites, model 3 can be an improvement over the conventional model 1. [source]


    Calibration of the pass-through magnetometer,II.

    GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2002
    Application
    Summary We describe the experimental procedure we use to calibrate a cryogenic pass-through magnetometer. The procedure is designed to characterize the magnetometer sensitivity as a function of position within the sensing region. Then we extend a theory developed in an earlier paper to cover inexact observations and apply it to the data set. The theory allows the calculation of a smooth, harmonic, internally consistent interpolating function for each of the nine components of the response tensor of the magnetometer. With these functions we can calculate the response to a dipole source in any orientation and position, and predict the magnetometer signal from any kind of specimen. The magnetometer in the paleomagnetic laboratory onboard the research vessel Joides Resolution is the subject of one such experiment and we present the results. The variation with position of sensitivity is displayed in a series of plane slices through the magnetometer. We discover from the calibration model that the X and Z coils are misaligned so that the magnetic centre of the coils is displaced from the geometric centre by approximately 0.7 cm. We synthesize the signal expected from the magnetometer when a variety of simple cores are measured. We find that, unless appropriate corrections are made, changes in magnetization direction can appear as variations in magnetic intensity, and conversely, fluctuations in the magnetization strength can produce apparent swings in declination and inclination. The magnitude of these effects is not small and is certainly worth taking into account in the interpretation of records from this kind of instrument. In a pilot study on data from a core measured with the shipboard magnetometer, we observe some large distortions, particularly in declination, that are attributable to uncorrected instrumental effects. [source]


    Fast free surface multiples attenuation workflow for three-dimensional ocean bottom seismic data

    GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 5 2009
    Bärbel Traub
    ABSTRACT Water multiples can be very strong and contaminate the primary reflections. This can cause problems in the processing flow and the interpretation of the subsurface image. Hence, multiples suppression is an important part of the preprocessing flow. We present a fast workflow for attenuation of free surface related multiples for 2D and 3D ocean bottom seismic data based on the wave equation approach. Included in the workflow are: 1. Calibration of the pressure and vertical velocity components by using wavefield splitting. 2. Data interpolation by using offset projection. 3. Fast Radon transform by using fast fractional Fourier transform. Advantages of this workflow are that it is fast, efficient and the only requirements are the recording of both pressure and vertical particle components at some point below the source in the water column. [source]


    Development of Cu and Zn Isotope MC-ICP-MS Measurements: Application to Suspended Particulate Matter and Sediments from the Scheldt Estuary

    GEOSTANDARDS & GEOANALYTICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008
    Jérôme C.J. Petit
    isotopes de Cu et Zn; interférences spectrales et non spectrales; fractionnement de masse instrumental; MC-ICP-MS; sédiments The present study evaluates several critical issues related to precision and accuracy of Cu and Zn isotopic measurements with application to estuarine particulate materials. Calibration of reference materials (such as the IRMM 3702 Zn) against the JMC Zn and NIST Cu reference materials were performed in wet and/or dry plasma modes (Aridus I and DSN-100) on a Nu Plasma MC-ICP-MS. Different mass bias correction methods were compared. More than 100 analyses of certified reference materials suggested that the sample-calibrator bracketing correction and the empirical external normalisation methods provide the most reliable corrections, with long term external precisions of 0.06 and 0.07, (2SD), respectively. Investigation of the effect of variable analyte to spike concentration ratios on Zn and Cu isotopic determinations indicated that the accuracy of Cu measurements in dry plasma is very sensitive to the relative Cu and Zn concentrations, with deviations of ,65Cu from ,0.4, (Cu/Zn = 4) to +0.4, (Cu/Zn = 0.2). A quantitative assessment (with instrumental mass bias corrections) of spectral and non-spectral interferences (Ti, Cr, Co, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na) was performed. Titanium and Cr were the most severe interfering constituents, contributing to inaccuracies of ,5.1, and +0.60, on ,68/64Zn, respectively (for 500 ,g l,1 Cu and Zn standard solutions spiked with 1000 ,g l,1 of Ti or Cr). Preliminary isotopic results were obtained on contrasting sediment matrices from the Scheldt estuary. Significant isotopic fractionation of zinc (from 0.21, to 1.13, for ,66Zn) and copper (from ,0.38, to 0.23, for ,65Cu), suggest a control by physical mixing of continental and marine water masses, characterized by distinct Cu and Zn isotopic signatures. These results provide a stepping-stone to further evaluate the use of Cu and Zn isotopes as biogeochemical tracers in estuarine environments. L'étude présentée ici porte sur l'évaluation critique d'un certain nombre de paramètres contrôlant la précision et la justesse des mesures des isotopes de Cu et Zn, dans le cadre d'une application à du matériel particulaire estuarien. Une calibration de matériaux de référence (tels que le Zn IRMM 3702) par rapport aux matériaux de référence JMC Zn et NIST Cu a été effectuée avec des plasmas humides et secs (avec Aridus I et DSN-100) sur un MC-ICP-MS Nu. Différentes méthodes de correction de biais de masse ont été comparées. Plus de 100 analyses de matériaux de référence certifiés ont montré que la correction par l'intercalation d'un calibrateur entre chaque échantillon et la calibration externe empirique fournissaient les corrections les plus fiables, avec des précisions externes sur le long terme de 0.06 et 0.07, (2SD) respectivement. Les effets de la variation des rapports de concentrations entre analyte et spike sur les mesures des rapports isotopiques de Cu et Zn ont montré que la justesse des mesures pour Cu en plasma sec est très tributaire des concentrations relatives de Cu et Zn, avec des déviations de ,65Cu allant de ,0.4, (Cu/Zn = 4) à+0.4, (Cu/Zn = 0.2). Une estimation quantitative des interférences spectrales et non spectrales (Ti, Cr, Co, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na) a été faite. Ti et Cr se sont révélés être les constituants interférents les plus importants pouvant entraîner des erreurs de ,5.1, et +0.60, sur ,68/64Zn respectivement (pour des solutions standards à 500 ,g l,1 de Cu et Zn dopées avec 1000 ,g l,1 de Ti ou Cr). Des données isotopiques préliminaires ont été obtenues sur des matrices sédimentaires très différentes provenant de l'estuaire de Scheldt. Les fractionnements significatifs du zinc (de 0.21,à 1.13, pour ,66Zn) et du cuivre (de ,0.38,à 0.23, pour ,65Cu) suggèrent un contrôle par un processus physique de mélange entre des masses d'eaux continentales et marines ayant des signatures isotopiques de Cu et Zn distinctes. Ces résultats constituent un tremplin vers une utilisation future des isotopes de Cu et Zn comme traceurs biogéochimiques des environnements estuariens. [source]


    Direct Current Plasma Emission Spectrometric Determination of Major, Minor and Trace Elements in Microwave Oven Acid Leachates of Powdered Whole Coal Samples

    GEOSTANDARDS & GEOANALYTICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2005
    Sandro Fadda
    DCP-AES; échantillons de charbon; four à micro-ondes; éléments facilement ionisables; effets de matrice. Major concentrations of Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, Na2O and K2O, minor levels of TiO2, P2O5 and thirty petrologically, geochemically and environmentally significant trace elements have been determined in microwave oven acid leachates of whole powdered coal samples by direct current plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES). A single sample preparation procedure was suitable for all the determinations with no additional dilution step for major elements solution. Dried samples (0.5 g) were treated in low-pressure PFA digestion vessels with HF/HCl/HNO3/HClO4 acids to quantitatively extract the analytes from the bulk material, while leaving the major part of organic matrix as a residue. The major constituents of geological samples, in particular the easily ionised elements (EIEs) such as alkali and alkaline earths, may complicate the instrumental determinations in DCP-AES because of differential enhancements of elemental emission intensities and stray light interferences. Taking account of these factors, the coal matrix is considered to have very low major oxide totals as compared to many other common geo-environmental and related materials (rocks, sediments, soil, ashes etc.). The sample size employed here, while yielding a relatively concentrated solution to cover a wide range of elemental determinations, provided a sample matrix that significantly diminished interferences for DCP measurements. The need for closely matching the unknowns and calibrators was eliminated except for overall acidity and an excess quantity of caesium for EIE buffering. Calibration of the spectrometer was accomplished by simple aqueous single element solutions as high concentration calibrators in addition to a reagent blank as a low concentration calibrator. Two point working curves were established to allow for the maximum concentrations of each element expected in the unknowns. The precision of determinations under routine conditions as well as the reproducibility of the leaching and precision of instrumental measurements have been evaluated. Relative standard deviations (RSD) were of 1,2% for those elements whose concentrations in solid samples were well above the limits of quantification. Method detection limits in the buffered solutions were also evaluated. To evaluate the accuracy of the microwave oven-DCP method a suite of eight certified coal reference materials of differing rank, were analysed with good agreement with the certified and/or available published data. Results are presented for the uncertified major oxides in the AR series reference materials. Les concentrations en éléments majeurs: Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, Na2O et K2O, en éléments mineurs TiO2, P2O5 et en 30 éléments en trace dont le comportement est important en Pétrologie, en Géochimie et en Environnement, ont été analysées par spectrométrie d'émission atomique à plasma à courant direct (DCP-AES), dans des lessivages acides effectués dans un four à micro-ondes sur des échantillons de charbon mis en poudre. Ce mode préparatoire unique est adaptéà toutes les déterminations sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'effectuer une dilution supplémentaire pour l'analyse des éléments majeurs. Les échantillons préalablement desséchés (0.5 g) sont traités dans les pots de PFA de basse pression, avec un mélange d'acides HF/HCl/HNO3/HClO4, afin d'extraire quantitativement les analytes du matériel géologique, tout en laissant la plus grande part de la matrice organique sous forme résiduelle. Les constituants majeurs de ces échantillons géologiques, en particulier les éléments facilement ionisables (EIEs) tels que les alcalins et les alcalino-terreux, peuvent compliquer l'analyse en DCP-AES à cause des rendements variables des intensités d'émission élémentaires et des interférences de raies de lumière. Mais là dessus, la matrice de charbon se révèle être bien plus pauvre en oxydes majeurs que les autres matériaux géologiques, environnementaux ou de type proche (roches, sédiments, sols, cendres). La taille d'échantillon retenue ici, tout en fournissant une solution relativement concentrée qui permet la détermination de beaucoup d'éléments, fournit une matrice qui diminue significativement les interférences lors de la mesure par DCP-AES. Le besoin d'avoir les solutions d'échantillons et les solutions de calibration avec des matrices très proches est donc éliminé, mis à part pour l'acidité totale et la quantité excessive de Césium pour tamponner les EIE. La calibration du spectromètre est faite avec des solutions mono- élémentaires aqueuses, pour déterminer les points de concentrations élevées et avec le blanc de réactifs pour le point de concentration basse. Les courbes de calibrations sont déterminées avec 2 points, pour autoriser l'analyse de concentrations maximales pour chaque élément dans les échantillons inconnus. La précision des déterminations en conditions de routine ainsi que la reproductibilité de l'opération de lessivage et la précision instrumentale des analyses ont étéévaluées. Les déviations standards relatives (RSD) sont de 1,2% pour tout élément dont les concentrations dans le solide sont au dessus des limites de quantification. Les limites de détection de la méthode dans les solutions tamponnées ont aussi étéévaluées. Enfin, pour évaluer la justesse de cette méthode "micro-ondes - DCP" huit charbons certifiés matériaux de référence de différents types ont été analysés, et sont en bon accord avec les données certifiées ou seulement disponibles publiées. Les données sur un certain nombre d'oxydes d'éléments majeurs actuellement non certifiés sont présentées pour les matériaux de référence AR. [source]


    Accurate U-Pb Age and Trace Element Determinations of Zircon by Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

    GEOSTANDARDS & GEOANALYTICAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2004
    Honglin Yuan
    LA-ICP-MS; laser excimer; zircon; géochronologie; éléments en trace Various zircons of Proterozoic to Oligocene ages (1060-31 Ma) were analysed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Calibration was performed using Harvard reference zircon 91500 or Australian National University reference zircon TEMORA 1 as external calibrant. The results agree with those obtained by SIMS within 2s error. Twenty-four trace and rare earth elements (P, Ti, Cr, Y, Nb, fourteen REE, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th and U) were analysed on four fragments of zircon 91500. NIST SRM 610 was used as the reference material and 29Si was used as internal calibrant. Based on determinations of four fragments, this zircon shows significant intra-and inter-fragment variations in the range from 10% to 85% on a scale of 120 ,m, with the variation of REE concentrations up to 38.7%, although the chondrite-normalised REE distributions are very similar. In contrast, the determined age values for zircon 91500 agree with TIMS data and are homogeneous within 8.7 Ma (2s). A two-stage ablation strategy was developed for optimising U-Pb age determinations with satisfactory trace element and REE results. The first cycle of ablation was used to collect data for age determination only, which was followed by continuous ablation on the same spot to determine REE and trace element concentrations. Based on this procedure, it was possible to measure zircon ages as low as 30.37 0.39 Ma (MSWD = 1.4; 2s). Other examples for older zircons are also given. Différents zircons d'âges variant du Protérozoïque à l'Oligocène (1060-31 Ma) ont été analysés par spectrométrie avec source à plasma induit et ablation laser. La calibration a été faite en utilisant le zircon 91500 de référence de Harvard ou le zircon TEMORA 1 de référence de l'Université Nationale Australienne comme calibrant externe. Les résultats sont en accord avec ceux obtenus par SIMS aux erreurs analytiques près (2s). Vingt-quatre éléments en trace et Terres Rares (P, Ti, Cr, Y, Nb, quatorze ETR, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th et U) ont été analysés sur quatre fragments du zircon 91500. Le standard SRM 610 de NIST a été utilisé comme matériau de référence et 29Si comme calibrant interne. À partir des déterminations faites sur ces quatre fragments, ce zircon montre des variations intra et inter fragments de l'ordre de 10%à 85%à une échelle de 120 ,m, avec des variations des concentrations de Terres Rares allant jusquà 38.7%, bien que le spectre de Terres Rares normalisé aux chondrites reste très constant. Au contraire, les âges déterminés pour le zircon 91500 sont en accord avec les résultats de TIMS et sont homogènes à 8.7 Ma près (2s). Une stratégie d'ablation en deux étapes a été développée pour optimiser les déterminations d'âges U-Pb, et avoir des résultats de Terres Rares et d'éléments en trace satisfaisants. Le premier cycle d'ablation était utilisé pour collecter les données nécessaires à la détermination de l'âge seulement et était suivi d'un cycle d'ablation continue sur le même spot, pour déterminer les concentrations en Terres Rares et en éléments en trace. Grâce à cette procédure, il a été possible de mesurer des âges sur zircons aussi récents que 30.37 0.39 Ma (MSWD = 1.4; 2s). D'autres exemples sur des zircons plus vieux sont aussi donnés. [source]


    On Constraining Pilot Point Calibration with Regularization in PEST

    GROUND WATER, Issue 6 2009
    Michael N. Fienen
    Ground water model calibration has made great advances in recent years with practical tools such as PEST being instrumental for making the latest techniques available to practitioners. As models and calibration tools get more sophisticated, however, the power of these tools can be misapplied, resulting in poor parameter estimates and/or nonoptimally calibrated models that do not suit their intended purpose. Here, we focus on an increasingly common technique for calibrating highly parameterized numerical models,pilot point parameterization with Tikhonov regularization. Pilot points are a popular method for spatially parameterizing complex hydrogeologic systems; however, additional flexibility offered by pilot points can become problematic if not constrained by Tikhonov regularization. The objective of this work is to explain and illustrate the specific roles played by control variables in the PEST software for Tikhonov regularization applied to pilot points. A recent study encountered difficulties implementing this approach, but through examination of that analysis, insight into underlying sources of potential misapplication can be gained and some guidelines for overcoming them developed. [source]


    Use of Observations below Detection Limit for Model Calibration

    GROUND WATER, Issue 2 2009
    Michael LeFrancois
    Censored (nondetect) values occur when chemical concentrations in water samples are near or below the level that can be measured by an analysis method. It is common to either delete or substitute values for nondetect observations for use in model calibration, but this practice can bias the estimated parameter values and the model predictions. A more realistic representation of the system is obtained from the calibration if we include such observations in a manner reflecting that we know only the value is below the detection limit. Consequently, we propose use of the censored-residual approach to including nondetect values as observations for calibration. In this approach, residuals are calculated as the detection limit minus the simulated value when the simulated value exceeds the detection limit, and the residual is assigned a value of zero when the simulated value is below the detection limit. The new censored-residual approach is particularly advantageous when calibrating transport models to low concentration data. [source]


    The Value of Subsidence Data in Ground Water Model Calibration

    GROUND WATER, Issue 4 2008
    Tingting Yan
    The accurate estimation of aquifer parameters such as transmissivity and specific storage is often an important objective during a ground water modeling investigation or aquifer resource evaluation. Parameter estimation is often accomplished with changes in hydraulic head data as the key and most abundant type of observation. The availability and accessibility of global positioning system and interferometric synthetic aperture radar data in heavily pumped alluvial basins can provide important subsidence observations that can greatly aid parameter estimation. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the value of spatial and temporal subsidence data for automatically estimating parameters with and without observation error using UCODE-2005 and MODFLOW-2000. A synthetic conceptual model (24 separate cases) containing seven transmissivity zones and three zones each for elastic and inelastic skeletal specific storage was used to simulate subsidence and drawdown in an aquifer with variably thick interbeds with delayed drainage. Five pumping wells of variable rates were used to stress the system for up to 15 years. Calibration results indicate that (1) the inverse of the square of the observation values is a reasonable way to weight the observations, (2) spatially abundant subsidence data typically produce superior parameter estimates under constant pumping even with observation error, (3) only a small number of subsidence observations are required to achieve accurate parameter estimates, and (4) for seasonal pumping, accurate parameter estimates for elastic skeletal specific storage values are largely dependent on the quantity of temporal observational data and less on the quantity of available spatial data. [source]


    Simulating daily soil water under foothills fescue grazing with the soil and water assessment tool model (Alberta, Canada)

    HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 15 2004
    Emmanuel Mapfumo
    Abstract Grazing is common in the foothills fescue grasslands and may influence the seasonal soil-water patterns, which in turn determine range productivity. Hydrological modelling using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) is becoming widely adopted throughout North America especially for simulation of stream flow and runoff in small and large basins. Although applications of the SWAT model have been wide, little attention has been paid to the model's ability to simulate soil-water patterns in small watersheds. Thus a daily profile of soil water was simulated with SWAT using data collected from the Stavely Range Sub-station in the foothills of south-western Alberta, Canada. Three small watersheds were established using a combination of natural and artificial barriers in 1996,97. The watersheds were subjected to no grazing (control), heavy grazing (2·4 animal unit months (AUM) per hectare) or very heavy grazing (4·8 AUM ha,1). Soil-water measurements were conducted at four slope positions within each watershed (upper, middle, lower and 5 m close to the collector drain), every 2 weeks annually from 1998 to 2000 using a downhole CPN 503 neutron moisture meter. Calibration of the model was conducted using 1998 soil-water data and resulted in Nash,Sutcliffe coefficient (EF or R2) and regression coefficient of determination (r2) values of 0·77 and 0·85, respectively. Model graphical and statistical evaluation was conducted using the soil-water data collected in 1999 and 2000. During the evaluation period, soil water was simulated reasonably with an overall EF of 0·70, r2 of 0·72 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 18·01. The model had a general tendency to overpredict soil water under relatively dry soil conditions, but to underpredict soil water under wet conditions. Sensitivity analysis indicated that absolute relative sensitivity indices of input parameters in soil-water simulation were in the following order; available water capacity > bulk density > runoff curve number > fraction of field capacity (FFCB) > saturated hydraulic conductivity. Thus these data were critical inputs to ensure reasonable simulation of soil-water patterns. Overall, the model performed satisfactorily in simulating soil-water patterns in all three watersheds with a daily time-step and indicates a great potential for monitoring soil-water resources in small watersheds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Calibration of a discrete element model for intact rock up to its peak strength

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2010
    Yuannian Wang
    Abstract When three dimensional, bonded discrete element models (DEMs) are deployed to model intact rock, a basic question is how to determine the micro parameters that control macro properties of the modeled rock. After briefly describing the authors' DEM code, this paper describes algorithms to calibrate the model's micro parameters against standard laboratory tests, such as uniaxial and triaxial tests. Sensitivity analysis is used to identify the deformability micro parameters by obtaining relationships between microscopic and macroscopic deformability properties. The strength model parameters are identified by a global optimization process aimed at minimizing the difference between computed and experimental failure envelopes. When applied to the experimental results of Lac du Bonnet granite, this calibration process produced a good agreement between simulated and experimental results for both deformability and strength properties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Phenological data series of cherry tree flowering in Kyoto, Japan, and its application to reconstruction of springtime temperatures since the 9th century

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
    Yasuyuki Aono
    Abstract Changes in springtime temperature in Kyoto, Japan, since the 9th century were reconstructed, using the phenological data series for cherry tree (Prunus jamasakura), deduced from old diaries and chronicles. Phenological data for 732 years was made available by combining data from previous studies. The full-flowering date of cherry trees fluctuates in accordance with temperature conditions during February and March. Full-flowering dates were closely related to the March mean temperature by means of a temperature accumulation index, in which plant growth is considered to be an exponential function of temperature. Calibration enabled accurate estimation of temperatures in the instrumental period, after 1880; the root mean square error (RMSE) of temperature estimates was determined to be within 0.1 °C, after smoothing by local linear regression over time spans of 31 years. The results suggested the existence of four cold periods, 1330,1350, 1520,1550, 1670,1700, and 1825,1830, during which periods the estimated March mean temperature was 4,5 °C, about 3,4 °C lower than the present normal temperature. These cold periods coincided with the less extreme periods, known as the Wolf, Spoerer, Maunder, and Dalton minima, in the long-term solar variation cycle, which has a periodicity of 150,250 years. The sunspot cycle length, a short-term solar variation cycle, was also compared with the temperature estimates, with the result that a time lag of about 15 years was detected in the climatic temperature response to short-term solar variation. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source]


    Preliminary reconstructions of spring precipitation in southwestern Turkey from tree-ring width

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
    Ramzi Touchan
    Abstract Two reconstructions of spring (May,June) precipitation have been developed for southwestern Turkey. The first reconstruction (1776,1998) was developed from principal components of nine chronologies of Cedrus libani, Juniperus excelsa, Pinus brutia, and Pinus nigra. The second reconstruction (1339,1998) was derived from principal components of three J. excelsa chronologies. Calibration and verification statistics of both reconstructions indicate reasonably accurate reconstruction of spring precipitation for southwestern Turkey, and show clear evidence of multi-year to decadal variations in spring precipitation. The longest period of reconstructed spring drought, defined as consecutive years with less than 80% of normal May,June precipitation, was 4 years (1476,79). Only one drought event of this duration has occurred during the last six centuries. Monte Carlo analysis indicates a less than 33% probability that southwestern Turkey has experienced spring drought longer than 5 years in the past 660 years. Apart from the 1476,79 extended dry period, spring droughts of 3 years in length have only occurred from 1700 to the present. The longest reconstructed wet period, defined as consecutive years with more than 120% of normal May,June precipitation, was 4 years (1532,35). The absence of extended spring drought during the 16th and 17th centuries and the occurrence of extended wet spring periods during these centuries suggest a possible regime shift in climate. Preliminary analysis of links between large-scale climatic variation and these climate reconstructions shows that there is a relationship between extremes in spring precipitation and anomalous atmospheric circulation in the region. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society. [source]


    Modelling near-infrared signals for on-line monitoring in cheese manufacture

    JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS, Issue 2 2002
    B. J. A. Mertens
    Abstract This paper considers the analysis of a continuously monitored near-infrared reflectance signal at a single wavelength for the calibration of a process parameter in an application to food engineering for quality control. We describe how we may summarize the information in the observed signals by postulating an explicit statistical model on the signal. An exploratory data analysis may then be carried out on the profile summaries to evaluate whether and how the functional data provide information on the parameter which we would like to calibrate. From a conceptual point of view, such an approach is not dissimilar to principal component regression methods which use an intermediate decomposition through which information is summarised for calibration of a response. The paper demonstrates how the approach leads to important insights into the manner in which the functional data provide the required information on the desired outcome variable, in the context of the practical application in quality control which is discussed and by using a designed experiment. Calculations are implemented through the Gibbs sampler. Calibration of the prediction equation takes place through meta-analysis of the summarized profile data in order to take the uncertainty inherent in the summaries into account. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Homogenous enzyme immunoassay for cyclosporine in whole blood using the EMIT®2000 cyclosporine specific assay with the COBAS MIRA-plus analyzer

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 6 2001
    Shigeki Kimura
    Abstract We describe the evaluation of the EMIT®2000 cyclosporine specific assay kit, an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay for cyclosporine in whole blood, with a COBAS MIRA-plus analyzer. The enzyme used for the assay was glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49 G6PDH) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides; the monoclonal antibody is fairly specific for cyclosporine, and is not reactive with most metabolites. The assay principle is based on competitive immunoassay with G6PDH-labeled cyclosporine and cyclosporine in sample to the anticyclosporine mouse monoclonal antibody binding site. The within-assay coefficient of variation (CV) of this method was 2.7,4.2% (n = 10) at the levels of 56.2,339.7 ,g/L. Day-to-day CVs ranged from 4.2,8.1% at the levels of 47.2,350.2 ,g/L. The within-day CVs ranged from 2.0,6.4% at the levels of 43.3,330.5 ,g/L. The functional detection limit was 24.9 ,g/L. Samples treated with pretreatment reagent were stable at least 5 hr. Calibration was stable at least 10 days. The analytical recovery was 81,109%. The correlation between values obtained with the EMIT®2000 cyclosporine specific assay kit (y) and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) (TDxFLx) (x) was: y = 0.880x , 13.053 ,g/L (r = 0.984, Sy/x = 15.968, n = 71) with a mean difference of 31.42 ± 19.89 ,g/L ((TDxFLx , EMIT®2000) ± SD); for the FPIA (AxSYM) (x): y = 0.989 , 4.144 ,g/L (r = 0.981, Sy/x = 17.478, n = 71) with a mean difference of 5.56 ± 17.38 ,g/L ((AxSYM , EMIT®2000) ± SD); and for the radioimmunoassay (RIA, CYCLO-Trac SP) (x): y = 0.893 , 6.764 ,g/L (r = 0.993, Sy/x = 10.582, n = 71) with a mean difference of 22.18 ± 14.98 ,g/L ((RIA , EMIT®2000) ± SD) using the Bland-Altman technique. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:319,323, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Kinematic Calibration and Pose Measurement of a Medical Parallel Manipulator by Optical Position Sensors

    JOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS (FORMERLY JOURNAL OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS), Issue 4 2003
    Shaoping Bai
    In the applications of parallel manipulators, kinematic calibration is required to eliminate the errors resulting from the manufacturing and assembly of both base and tools. In this paper, a calibration method of base and tool transformation is developed by virtue of optical position sensors. An error model for calibration is constructed using differential geometry method. The pose error is obtained based on pose measurement results of OPTOTRAK 3020, a commercial 3D position measurement system. An iterative least squares procedure is used to identify the error parameters in the base and tool transformations. Simulation and experiment results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method for transformation matrices calibration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


    Calibration of a measuring robot: Experimental results on a 5 DOF structure

    JOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS (FORMERLY JOURNAL OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS), Issue 5 2001
    Alberto Omodei
    An original method for the static calibration of robots using the pose matching approach is presented. Three algorithms for the identification of the structural parameters are investigated. The procedure includes a methodology to automatically remove the unnecessary parameters for the robot under analysis. After a theoretical introduction, the methodology is practically applied to an actual 5 DOF measuring robot used in a shoe manufactory industry. The accuracy of the robot is increased up to its repeatability. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source]


    Energy density of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the Bay of Biscay

    JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
    J. Dubreuil
    The energy density (ED) of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the Bay of Biscay was determined by direct calorimetry and its evolution with size, age and season was investigated. The water content and energy density varied seasonally following opposite trends. The ED g,1 of wet mass (MW) was highest at the end of the feeding season (autumn: c. 8 kJ g,1MW) and lowest in late winter (c. 6 kJ g,1MW). In winter, the fish lost mass, which was partially replaced by water, and the energy density decreased. These variations in water content and organic matter content may have implications on the buoyancy of the fish. The water content was the major driver of the energy density variations for a MW basis. A significant linear relationship was established between ED g,1 (y) and the per cent dry mass (MD; x): y =,4·937 + 0·411x. In the light of the current literature, this relationship seemed to be not only species specific but also ecosystem specific. Calibration and validation of fish bioenergetics models require energy content measurements on fish samples collected at sea. The present study provides a first reference for the energetics of E. encrasicolus in the Bay of Biscay. [source]


    LC,ESI-MS/MS analysis for the quantification of morphine, codeine, morphine-3-,- D -glucuronide, morphine-6-,- D -glucuronide, and codeine-6-,- D -glucuronide in human urine

    JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 11 2005
    Constance M. Murphy
    Abstract A liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantification of the opiates morphine, codeine, and their metabolites morphine-3-,- D -glucuronide (M-3-G), morphine-6-,- D -glucuronide (M-6-G) and codeine-6-,- D -glucuronide (C-6-G) in human urine has been developed and validated. Identification and quantification were based on the following transitions: 286 to 201 and 229 for morphine, 300 to 215 and 243 for codeine, 644 to 468 for M-3-G, 462 to 286 for M-6-G, and 476 to 300 for C-6-G. Calibration by linear regression analysis utilized deuterated internal standards and a weighting factor of 1/X. The method was accurate and precise across a linear dynamic range of 25.0 to 4000.0 ng/ml. Pretreatment of urine specimens using solid phase extraction was sufficient to limit matrix suppression to less than 40% for all five analytes. The method proved to be suitable for the quantification of morphine, codeine, and their metabolites in urine specimens collected from opioid-dependent participants enrolled in a methadone maintenance program. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]