It is hypothesized that the uncertainty of the Synchrony® model from the rotation of a geometrically asymmetrical single fiducial shall be non-zero during the motion tracking. To validate this hypothesis, the uncertainty was measured for a Synchrony® model built for a respiratory motion phantom oriented at different yaw angles on a Cyberknife® treatment table. A Mini-ball Cube with three cylindrical GoldMark™ (1mmx5mm Au) numbered fiducials was placed inside a respiratory phantom and used for all tests. The fiducial with the least artifact interference was selected for the motion tracking. A 2cm periodic, longitudinal, linear motion of the Mini-ball cube was executed and tested for yaw rotational angles, 0° – 90°. The test was repeated over 3 nonconsecutive days. The uncertainty increased with the yaw angle with the most noticeable changes seen between20° and 60° yaw, where uncertainty increased from 23.5% to 57.9%. A similar test was performed using a spherical Gold Anchor™ fiducial. The uncertainties found when using the Gold Anchor™ were statistically lower than those found when using the GoldMark™ fiducial for all angles of rotation. For the first time, it is found that Synchrony® model uncertainty depends on fiducial geometry. In addition, this research has shown that tracking target rotation using a single fiducial can be accomplished with the Synchrony® model uncertainty as it is displayed on the treatment console. The results of this research could lead to decreased acute toxicity effects related to multiple fiducials. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (Masters Diploma (Food Technology))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town,1993 / This study is based on the Hazard Analysis in the Wet Milling of maize for the production of starch at the Bellville plant of African Products. Wet milling of maize is a highly specific and completely integrated system developed to separate the major components of the kernel as completely as possible. Many microbiological problems existed in the process at this plant which could not be solved over the years. Microbial analyses were done throughout the plant and high microbial counts were obtained at various sampling points. In applying HACCP, the following major hazards were identified: The presence of Faecal Streptococci, Sraphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Faecal coliforms, Fusarium, Dip/odia, Aspergillus, Penicillium and various Yeast strains. The follOWing Critical Control Points (CCP's) were identified in the wet milling process: Maize trucks, in-process water, steeping, storage tanks, Reineveld, wet mlxmg boxes, Laidlaw, drying and bagging off point. The follOWing were done as part of the HACCP plan: i) modifications of the plant were suggested, ii) different sanitation programmes were evaluated, iii) monitoring of cep's, and iv) training of personnel. In general, a regular sanitation programme need to be exercised in the wet-milling plant to prevent a build up of microbial populations at various sampling points. High S02 levels can be maintained throughout the plant to achieve this. The final starch will then be used for Industrial starch. Criteria to monitor the CCP's were suggested. Hazard Analysis is an effective method to improve the quality of the final product.

A general scheme for time-delay control systems is presented so that with particular choice of system elements and loop gain many of the existing time-delay systems can be recovered. The effects of imperfections in the system model for time-delay systems are described and analysed. Sensitivity expressions are obtained and their relationship with the structure of time-delay systems are explored. Sensitivity Analysis for a time-delay system is extended to Adaptive Control of time-delay systems. An adaptive control system for Smith's Predictor and an LOP Optimal Control scheme are investigated analytically and by simulation. Delay-free optimal control methods are extended to systems with delay for LQP and parametric optimisation. For parametric optimal control, we explore, in particular, cases where deliberate mismatch leads to improvement, and the improvement of delay-free systems by addition of delay is also investigated. Various cases of LQP are discussed and the sub-optimality of published schemes, induced by mismatch is exposed. The method is also extended to time-varying systems with time-delay.

The empirical study gives support to the strong mediating role of a customer-focused culture. The key determinants of perceived service quality are epitomized in the 'golden triangle' of Visionary Leadership, Customer Focus and Quality People. Visionary leadership does not exert direct effect on people but transmits its influence through the establishment of a customer-focused culture. Contrary to the findings from previous studies, the relationship between process management and perceived service quality does not fall into place. / This paper presents the results of an empirical assessment of a Total-Quality-Management-for-Service (TQMS) model. The model integrates the traditional TQM literature and service quality management literature, showing the impact of both strategic and operational factors on perceived service quality. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the theoretical causal ordering, using data collected from 90 service companies and 900 customer interviews. The constructs were found to be highly reliable and valid. The results provide strong empirical evidence in support of the TQMS model, specifying the relationships among TQM practices. / This study contributes to theory building by identifying the TQM constructs relevant to the service setting. Introducing perceived service quality as a performance measure extends the traditional TQM theory by providing insights on how internal organizational practices can influence externally-based outcome. From the practical standpoint, managers could use the results obtained to make better decisions in evaluating quality program implementation. It is evident that the prevalence of a customer-focused culture is a pivotal factor which determines the ultimate success of TQM. This culture factor also acts as a mediator transmitting the effect of leadership on employee behavior, and eventually on perceived service quality. / Choy Lee-man. / "January 2002." / Adviser: T. S. Lee. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-01, Section: A, page: 0258. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-152). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

by Wong Hoi-tay. / Summary in Chinese on endpapers. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Includes bibliographies.

This thesis contains a study of improvement and application of strain measurement technique using neutron diffraction. A dedicated neutron strain scanner - ENGIN, funded by Ee. has been developed at ISIS. It has two radial collimators, allowing for the first time, measurements taken simultaneously at two orthogonal directions; uses Pawley refinement permitting both whole pattern and individual peak profile analysis and its positioner allow's specimens weighing 250 kg to be placed with an accuracy of 100 um. Strain measurement using neutron diffraction has been investigated under two extreme circumstances: very shallow (within 1 mm near surface) and very deep in materials (hundred of mm). Near-surface measurement requires both the accurate determination of the effective measurement position associated with precise location of specimen, calculation of centroid and correction for an anomalous near-surface effect. The strain measurements on a shot-peened surface in titanium alloy were carried out using the methodology mentioned above. The result is comparable to that obtained from X-ray diffraction. The latter was exploited by studying the effect of wavelength-dependent attenuation in materials. Experiments and theoretical analysis on aluminium and iron show that the effect is small for a strain scanner using radial collimator and time-of-flight technique. However, the reduction of the diffraction peak intensity, as a function of the amount of material in the beam path, reveals that great care should be taken when measuring texture as a function of depth in materials. The neutron diffraction technique was applied to several sets of engineering strain measurements. Firstly, 3-D residual stresses surrounding a cold expanded hole in a high strength aluminium alloy plate were measured. The result agrees well with that from modified Sachs' method after taking the effect of gauge volume averaging into account. Second, measurements of strain distributions in a Q-joint under zero and 30 kN load have been carried out, which provides a confirmation of the excellence of the joint design as the fastener system has completely shielded the fastener hole from deleterious tensile strains under operational loading. Finally, calibration strain measurement for an energy dispersive neutron transmission spectrometer was performed for the first time and it is found that the transmission spectrometer is feasible for strain and phase transformation measurement.

The aim of the work described in this thesis was to improve NCR's decision making process for progressing software products through the development cycle. The first chapter briefly describes the software development process at NCR, detailing documentation review and software testing techniques. The objectives and reasons for investigating software reliability models as a tool in the decision making process are outlined. There follows a short review of software reliability models, with the Littlewood and Verrall Bayesian model considered in detail. The difficulties in using this model to obtain estimates for model parameters and time to next failure are described. These estimation difficulties exist using the model on good datasets, in this case simulated failure data, and the difficulties are compounded when used with real failure data. The problems of collecting and recording failure data are outlined, highlighting the inadequacies of these collected data, and real failure data are analysed. Software reliability models are used in an attempt to quantify the reliability of real software products. The thesis concludes by summarising the problems encountered when using reliability models to measure software products and suggests future research into metrics that are required in this area of software engineering.

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Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries / Department: Computer Science.

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