This work is focused on extruded fiber diameter measurement problem. For this purpose a procedure has been proposed. This procedure makes use of numerical methods for image processing, which are described in theoretical part of work. The proposed procedure has been processed into single-purpose software and in the final part is assessed its repeatability and reproducibility.

Within the Master´s Thesis „Repeatability and Reproducibility Improvement of Suspension Components Tests“ is resolution of a problem measurement of the radial elasticity of ball joint with regard for Repeatability and Reproducibility measurement.

This work deals with measurement system analysis in the production of rotary tools. The aim is to carry out literature search on the topic and then do analysis Gage R&R of the measurement system in the company ANAJ Czech s.r.o. and on the basis of the obtained data to recommend appropriate corrective arrangements to improve the current measurement system.

Personality, or behavioural differences among individuals, which are stable both in time and across contexts, is a highly popular topic. Currently there has been an increase of interest in the relationship between personality and repeatability, which is a methodical approach developed to measure the stability of interindividual differences in time. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the personality of rats according to behavioural patterns exhibited under widely used testing procedures in new environment (open field test, hole board test) and to compare, how behavioural traits in these tests mutually correlate and change over time. Each test trial was repeated eight times with different intervals (24 hours, 6 days, 4 weeks). The results suggest that most of the recorded behavioural variability can be explained with three principal axes. The first one is associated with loco-exploratory activity of the subject. The elements of behaviour associated with this axis are the most repeatable. The second axis is mostly associated with time the animal spent in the central part of the arena and the third axis represents the interest in holes in hole board test. These two axes are less repeatable. A significant effect of the identity of the animal was found in all behavioural traits, associated with these...

Implementation of C++ and Matlab based control of University of South Florida's latest wheelchair-mounted robotic arm (USF WMRA-II), which has 9 degrees-of-freedom, was carried out under this Master's thesis research. First, the rotational displacements about the 7 joints of the robotic arm were calibrated. It was followed by setting the control gains of the motors. Then existing high-level programs developed using C++ and Matlab for USF WMRA-I were modified for WMRA-II. The required low-level programs to provide complete kinematics of the joint movements to the controller board of WMRA-II (Galil DMC-2183) were developed using C++. A test GUI was developed using C++ to troubleshoot the control program and to evaluate the operation of the robotic arm. It was found that WMRA-II has higher repeatability, accuracy and manipulability as well as lower power consumption than WMRA-I. Touch-Screen and Spaceball user interfaces were successfully implemented to facilitate people with different disabilities.

A reliable and robust laboratory method is essential for the forensic analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), particularly for low-template samples. Electropherogram peak heights are important to the identification of STR alleles, and these peak heights are prone to error. Since error can be introduced into the process during sample preparation, quantification, amplification, or analysis, validation studies are performed in an attempt to characterize the signal variation associated with the process. While current practices assess aspects of a method, such as sensitivity and reproducibility, the effects of daily laboratory alterations are often not considered. Additionally, samples used in a validation study may be prepared using serial dilutions. Therefore, understanding the extent to which error is propagated through the series and the effect it has on the results could help improve validation practices. This work aimed to assess the effect daily laboratory modifications have on the signal in a forensic electropherogram. Specifically, the variability in signal when different capillary and amplification kit lots were used was evaluated against the variability observed when a single sample was either injected or amplified multiple times. The variability was determined via the examination of peak heights, peak height ratios, stutter, and drop-out. The effect of serially diluting samples was examined via an in silico model of the dilution process, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and capillary injection. The peak heights from simulated serially diluted samples using the concentration of a stock DNA were compared to the peak heights from simulated samples that were quantified after the dilution series was generated and prior to amplification. The different capillary lots and amplifications were found to result in greater variation compared to the multiple injections. Additionally, when the stutter percentages obtained from using multiple kit lots were compared to those obtained using the same kit lot, differences in stutter percentage deviations resulted in different stutter thresholds. Drop-out rates were also different between the samples amplified with one kit versus the same samples amplified with multiple kit lots. Therefore, at a minimum, multiple amplifications should be run on multiple capillary lots during validation. Further, if available, the use of multiple kit lots is recommended, particularly in cases where stutter thresholds or drop-out models are used during interpretation. Creating validation samples via serial dilutions was also found to increase the variation observed in peak height in the simulated samples, suggesting that samples should be quantified post-dilution. In addition to characterizing the variability of several components of DNA analysis, an alternative quantification method was investigated in order to decrease the overall variability associated with the quantification process. This work sought to develop an electrochemical biosensor using a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe chemically adsorbed to a gold electrode. This would allow for the direct quantification of DNA and eliminate the need for qPCR and fluorescent-based oligonucleotide detection systems. The DNA probe was successfully adsorbed to the surface of the gold disk electrode, hybridized to a single-stranded complementary DNA sequence, and detected using square wave voltammetry. Additionally, the ability to control the amount of DNA chemisorbed to the electrode surface was investigated by varying the incubation time in the probe solution. The measured current increased as the incubation time increased from 15 minutes to one hour, after which it plateaued. The use of an electrochemical biosensor is a promising alternative to qPCR for the quantification of DNA, with one hour being the optimal incubation time in the probe solution.

Photothermal Radiometry is a common thermal property measurement technique which is used to measure the properties of layered materials. Photothermal Radiometry uses a modulated laser to heat a sample, in which the thermal response can be used to determine the thermal properties of layers in the sample. The motivation for this work is to provide a better understanding of the accuracy and the repeatability of the Photothermal Radiometry measurement technique. Through this work the sensitivity of results to input uncertainties will be determined. Additionally, using numerical simulations the overall uncertainty on a theoretical measurement will be determined. The repeatability of Photothermal Radiometry measurements is tested with the use of a proton irradiated zirconium carbide sample. Due to the proton irradiation this sample contains two layers with a thermal resistance between the layers. This sample has been independently measured by three different researchers, in three different countries and the results are compared to determine the repeatability of Photothermal Radiometry measurements. Finally, from sensitivity and uncertainty analysis experimental procedures and suggestions are provided to reduce the uncertainty in experimentally measured results.

The calibration of modern internal combustion engines requires ever improving measurement data quality such that they comply with increasingly stringent emissions legislation. This study establishes methodology and a software tool to improve the quality of steady-state emissions measurements from engine dynamometer tests. Literature shows state of the art instrumentation are necessary to monitor the cycle-by-cycle variations that significantly alter emissions measurements. Test methodologies that consider emissions formation mechanisms invariably focus on thermal transients and preconditioning of internal surfaces. This work sought data quality improvements using three principle approaches. An adapted steady-state identifier to more reliably indicate when the test conditions reached steady-state; engine preconditioning to reduce the influence of the prior day’s operating conditions on the measurements; and test point ordering to reduce measurement deviation. Selection of an improved steady-state indicator was identified using correlations in test data. It was shown by repeating forty steady-state test points that a more robust steady-state indicator has the potential to reduce the measurement deviation of particulate number by 6%, unburned hydrocarbons by 24%, carbon monoxide by 10% and oxides of nitrogen by 29%. The variation of emissions measurements from those normally observed at a repeat baseline test point were significantly influenced by varying the preconditioning power. Preconditioning at the baseline operating condition converged emissions measurements with the mean of those typically observed. Changing the sequence of steady-state test points caused significant differences in the measured engine performance. Examining the causes of measurement deviation allowed an optimised test point sequencing method to be developed. A 30% reduction in measurement deviation of a targeted engine response (particulate number emissions) was obtained using the developed test methodology. This was achieved by selecting an appropriate steady-state indicator and sequencing test points. The benefits of preconditioning were deemed short-lived and impractical to apply in every-day engine testing although the principles were considered when developing the sequencing methodology.

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