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Automated Measurements (automate + measurement)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	70%
Chemistry	20%

Selected Abstracts

Automated Measurement of Facial Expression in Infant,Mother Interaction: A Pilot Study

INFANCY, Issue 3 2009
Daniel S. Messinger
Automated facial measurement using computer vision has the potential to objectively document continuous changes in behavior. To examine emotional expression and communication, we used automated measurements to quantify smile strength, eye constriction, and mouth opening in two 6-month-old infant-mother dyads who each engaged in a face-to-face interaction. Automated measurements showed high associations with anatomically based manual coding (concurrent validity); measurements of smiling showed high associations with mean ratings of positive emotion made by naive observers (construct validity). For both infants and mothers, smile strength and eye constriction (the Duchenne marker) were correlated over time, creating a continuous index of smile intensity. Infant and mother smile activity exhibited changing (nonstationary) local patterns of association, suggesting the dyadic repair and dissolution of states of affective synchrony. The study provides insights into the potential and limitations of automated measurement of facial action. [source]

Comparison of particle sizing techniques in the case of inhalation dry powders

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 12 2001
Cynthia Bosquillon
Abstract The objectives of this work were (i) to validate electrical zone sensing and laser diffraction for the analysis of primary particle size in the case of inhalation dry powders and (ii) to study the influence of the aggregation state of the powder on the sizing techniques. Free-flowing dry powders were prepared by spray-drying with a combination of albumin, lactose, and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. The replacement of lactose by mannitol, the removal of albumin, and the atomization at high relative humidity all increased powder cohesion. Automated measurements were compared with primary particle sizes collected by light and electron microscopy. The mass mode obtained by electrical zone sensing and the mass median diameter measured by laser diffraction following dispersion with compressed air at a pressure of 3 bar or following suspension in water and ultrasonic dispersion at a power of 60 W for 30 s each provided primary particle sizes close to microscopy measurements. However, these conditions only applied in the case of slightly to moderately aggregated powders. For strongly agglomerated powders, an exact measurement of the size was only collected by laser diffraction in the wet state combined with ultrasonic dispersion. Our study underlies how measurement of primary particle size highly depends on both powder material and proper particle dispersion. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:2032,2041, 2001 [source]

Geomechanics and Tunnelling 2/2010

GEOMECHANICS AND TUNNELLING, Issue 1 2010
Article first published online: 24 FEB 2010
Semmering and Koralm tunnels Neue Südbahn, Semmering und Koralm Tunnel F. Bauer: Investment in the Austrian rail network , overview of new and upgrading projects , Investitionen in das österreichische Schienennetz , Überblick Neu- und Ausbauvorhaben G. Gobiet and D. Haas: New Semmering Base Tunnel project , an interdisciplinary challenge , Semmering Basistunnel Neu , eine interdisziplinäre Herausforderung A. Fasching, R. Vanek, Th. Stadlmann, P. Reichl, G. Domberger, G. Forstinger and O. Wagner: New Semmering Base Tunnel , the investigation programme 2008/2009 and the knowledge gained in the areas of geology, hydrogeology and geotechnical engineering , Semmering-Basistunnel Neu , Das Erkundungsprogramm 2008/2009 und die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse auf den Gebieten der Geologie, Hydrogeologie und Geotechnik J. Daller, A. Vigl and O. Wagner: New Semmering Base Tunnel , the current state of tunnel design taking the newest investigation results into account , Semmering-Basistunnel Neu , Aktueller Stand der Tunnelplanung unter Berücksichtigung der neuesten Erkundungsergebnisse R. Bopp, V. Langer, Ch. Neumann and O. Wagner: The ventilation and tunnel safety concept for the New Semmering Base Tunnel , Das Lüftungs- und Tunnelsicherheitskonzept für den Semmering-Basistunnel Neu G. Harer and J. Koinig: Current state of design, investigation and construction work at the Koralm Tunnel , Aktueller Stand der Planungs-, Erkundungs- und Ausführungsarbeiten beim Koralmtunnel P. Schubert, H. Hölzl, P. Sellner and F. Fasching: Geomechanical knowledge gained from the Paierdorf Investigation Tunnel in the section through the Lavanttal main fault zone , Geomechanischer Wissenszuwachs durch den Erkundungstunnel Paierdorf im Abschnitt der Lavanttaler Hauptstörungszone D. Handke, M. Nolden, K. Mussger and A. Steidl: Solution methods for the design and construction of contract KAT 3 , Lösungsansätze für Planung und Bauausführung des Bauloses KAT 3 M. Vill, H. Wagner, A. Schweighofer, H. Huber, W. Pichler and J. Kollegger: New development of a crack-limited invert slab , Neuentwicklung der rissebeschränkten Sohlplatte M. Stopka: Hengsberg Tunnel , the construction contract as seen by the contractor , Hengsbergtunnel , der Bauvertrag aus Sicht des Auftragnehmers T. Schachinger, H. Gaube and G. Krainer: Results from the Untersammelsdorf test field for the planning of the tunnelling work , Erkenntnisse aus dem Versuchsfeld Untersammelsdorf für die Gestaltung der Vortriebsmaßnahmen K. Chmelina and K. Rabensteiner: Improvement of the safety and profitability of tunnel drives through the use of automated measurement and alarm systems , examples in practice , Verbesserung der Sicherheit und Wirtschaftlichkeit von Tunnelvortrieben durch den Einsatz automatisierter Mess- und Alarm-systeme , Ausführungsbeispiele [source]

Automated Measurement of Facial Expression in Infant,Mother Interaction: A Pilot Study

Feasibility of surveillance of changes in human fertility and semen quality

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue S2 2000
Baker
To show that male fertility is declining is not simple. Few men volunteer and recruitment bias may lead to over-representation of the subfertile. Semen analysis has errors arising from counting and poorly standardized criteria, which may be overcome by automation. Time to pregnancy (TTP),the number of menstrual cycles taken to conceive,measures fertility and allows male recruitment bias to be estimated. We review automated measurement of sperm concentration, motility and morphology and present a preliminary report on a study to assess a retrospective TTP questionnaire, recruitment bias and feasibility for large-scale surveillance of fertility. [source]

Automated Measurement of Facial Expression in Infant,Mother Interaction: A Pilot Study

Quantification of red blood cell fragmentation by the automated hematology analyzer XE-2100 in patients with living donor liver transplantation

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2005
S. BANNO
Summary The fragmented red cell (FRC) is a useful index for diagnosing and determining the severity of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and other similar conditions, as it is found in peripheral blood in patients with these diseases. The FRC expression rate has conventionally been determined by manual methods using smear samples. However, it is difficult to attain accurate quantification by such methods as they are time consuming and prone to a great margin of error. With cases of living donor liver transplantation, the current study examined the possibility of using a multi-parameter automated hematology analyzer, the XE-2100 (Sysmex Corporation) for FRC quantification. While there was a notable correlation between the manual and automated measurements, the manual measurement resulted in higher values. This suggested remarkable variations in judgment by individuals. The FRC values had a significant correlation with the reticulocyte count, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (P-FDP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) among the test parameters, and this finding was consistent with the clinical progression in patients. The automated method can offer precise measurements in a short time without inter-observer differences, meeting the requirement for standardization. The determination of FRC count (%) by the XE-2100 that enables early diagnoses and monitoring of TTP or TMA will be useful in the clinical field. [source]

Steady-State versus Non-Steady-State QT-RR Relationships in 24-hour Holter Recordings

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
GILLES LANDE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the QT-RR interval relationship in ambulatory ECG recordings with special emphasis on the physiological circumstances under which the QT-RR intervals follow a linear relation. Continuous ECG recordings make it possible to automatically measure QT duration in individual subjects under various physiological circumstances. However, identification of QT prolongation in Holter recordings is hampered by the rate dependence of QT duration. Comparison of QT duration and QT interval rate dependence between different individuals implies that the nature of the QT-RR relationship is defined in ambulatory ECG. Holter recordings were performed in healthy volunteers at baseline and after administration of dofetilide, a Class III antiarrhythmic drug. After dofetilide, beat-to-beat automated QT measurements on Holter tapes were compared with manually measured QT intervals on standard ECGs matched by time. The QT-RR relationship was analyzed at baseline in individual and group data during three different periods: 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime. Data were collected under steady-state or non-steady-state conditions of cycle length and fitted with various correction formulae. Our study demonstrated an excellent agreement between manually and automated measurements. The classic Bazett correction formula did not fit the QT-RR data points in individual or group data. When heart beats were selected for a steady rhythm during the preceding minute, QT-RR intervals fit a linear relationship during the day and night periods, but not during the 24-hour period in both individual and group data. In contrast, in the absence of beat selection, data fit a more complex curvilinear relationship irrespective of the period. Our study provides the basis for comparison of QT interval durations and QT-RR relationships between individuals and between groups of subjects. [source]

An automated method for ,clumped-isotope' measurements on small carbonate samples

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 14 2010
Thomas W. Schmid
Clumped-isotope geochemistry deals with the state of ordering of rare isotopes in molecules, in particular with their tendency to form bonds with other rare isotopes rather than with the most abundant ones. Among its possible applications, carbonate clumped-isotope thermometry is the one that has gained most attention because of the wide potential of applications in many disciplines of earth sciences. Clumped-isotope thermometry allows reconstructing the temperature of formation of carbonate minerals without knowing the isotopic composition of the water from which they were formed. This feature enables new approaches in paleothermometry. The currently published method is, however, limited by sample weight requirements of 10,15,mg and because measurements are performed manually. In this paper we present a new method using an automated sample preparation device coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The method is based on the repeated analysis (n,=,6,8) of 200,µg aliquots of sample material and completely automated measurements. In addition, we propose to use precisely calibrated carbonates spanning a wide range in ,47 instead of heated gases to correct for isotope effects caused by the source of the mass spectrometer, following the principle of equal treatment of the samples and standards. We present data for international standards (NBS 19 and LSVEC) and different carbonates formed at temperatures exceeding 600°C to show that precisions in the range of 10 to 15,ppm (1 SE) can be reached for repeated analyses of a single sample. Finally, we discuss and validate the correction procedure based on high-temperature carbonates instead of heated gases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]