The Burkard Volumetric Spore Trap is a common and efficient instrument used to collect outdoor air samples. In North America, two slide counting methods have been widely used by aerobiologists: the single longitudinal traverse method and the twelve transverse traverse method. The purpose of this study was to compare the two counting methods by assessing fungal spore concentrations of ascospores...

Future planetary explorations will require surface traverses of unprecedented frequency, length, and duration. As a result, there is need for exploration support tools to maximize productivity, scientific return, and safety. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is currently developing such a system, called the Surface Exploration Traverse Analysis and Navigation Tool (SEXTANT). The goal of...

The present study focuses on development of mechanical characteristics in ultrasonic vibration assisted friction stir welding (UAFSW) AA 2014-T651 weldment using graph theory algorithm and utility concept. A set UAFSW experiments were carried out plain taper threaded cylindrical tool pin profile weldments at different levels rotation speed traverse experimental results for the tensile strength,...

When a simple real-valued estimation of distribution algorithm (EDA) with Gaussian model and maximum likelihood estimation of parameters is used, it converges prematurely even on the slope of the fitness function. The simplest way of preventing premature convergence by multiplying the variance estimate by a constant factor k each generation is studied. Recent works have shown that when increasi...

This paper reports a statistical analysis of the laser wood cutting process. The laser cutting of wood is a multi-factor process and correct combination of the parameters involved is needed to achieve high quality and optimum process efficiency. In this paper a design of experiments and statistical modelling approach is used to investigate the significant process parameters by consideration of ...

plicated processes on the wheel surf ace along the wheel width. In order to make these processes clear, the experimental analysis of traverse grinding was conducted by widely changing the speed ratio, Kv, the setting depth of wheel, ‡TMT, and the number of total steps, m, (the ratio of the wheel width over the traverse feed per one revolution of the workpiece). The following results were obtain...