2,599 research outputs found
Application of imaging and ultrasound to the quality grading of beef
The results of a study conducted to assist the Department of Agriculture in the task of considering innovative methods for the grading of carcass beef for human consumption is presented. The processing of photographic, television and ultrasound images of the longissimus dorsi muscle at the 12/13th rib cut was undertaken. The results showed that a correlation could be developed between the quality grade of the carcass as determined by a professional grader, and the fat to area ratio of the muscle as determined by image processing techniques. In addition, the use of ultrasound shows the potential for grading of an unsliced carcass or a live animal
In vitro amplification of BVDV field strains isolated in Argentina: effect of cell line and culture conditions
The aim of this work was to study the in vitro amplification of BVDV (Pestivirus, Flaviridae) field isolates from Argentina in MDBK, BoTur and BHK-21 continuous cell lines. Field isolates 99/134 (mucosal disease), 00/693 (mucosal disease), 04P7016 (respiratory disease) and 04/89 (mucosal disease), genotype 1b, were used and compared with the Singer and NADL reference strains, genotype 1a. Additionally, cell lines derived from explants of bovine testis (RD-420), bovine uterus (NCL-1) and porcine kidney (PKZ) were tested as alternative substrates for BVDV propagation in vitro. The effect of cell line, harvest time and infection protocol was evaluated. The viral titers observed depended on the virus and harvest time but not on the infection protocol. We found that MDBK and BoTur cell lines were susceptible to the infection whereas BHK-21 and PKZ were not. NADL viral titers, 00/693 and 04/89, increased from 24 to 48 h p.i. in BoTur cells and then reached a plateau, whereas those of 99/134 and 04P7016 remained constant between 24 and 72 h p.i. BVDV Singer, on the other hand, presented a maximum titer at 24 h p.i. and then decreased. BVDV-NADL titers increased in MDBK and NCL-1 but not in RD-420 between 24 and 48 h p.i., and then decreased at 72 h p.i. These facts lead us to conclude that neither the subgenotypes (1a, 1b) nor the clinical symptoms of the animal from the virus had been isolated seem to affect the virus cell line kinetics of viral replication in vitro. On the other hand, the most homogenous behavior, the most similar replication curves, and highest titers observed in MDBK and NCL-1 seem to indicate that these lines are generally more susceptible to BVDV replication.The aim of this work was to study the in vitro amplification of BVDV (Pestivirus, Flaviridae) field isolates from Argentina in MDBK, BoTur and BHK-21 continuous cell lines. Field isolates 99/134 (mucosal disease), 00/693 (mucosal disease), 04P7016 (respiratory disease) and 04/89 (mucosal disease), genotype 1b, were used and compared with the Singer and NADL reference strains, genotype 1a. Additionally, cell lines derived from explants of bovine testis (RD420), bovine uterus (NCL-1) and porcine kidney (PKZ) were tested as alternative substrates for BVDV propagation in vitro. The effect of cell line, harvest time and infection protocol was evaluated. The viral titers observed depended on the virus and harvest time but not on the infection protocol. We found that MDBK and BoTur cell lines were susceptible to the infection whereas BHK-21 and PKZ were not. NADL viral titers, 00/693 and 04/89, increased from 24 to 48 h p.i. in BoTur cells and then reached a plateau, whereas those of 99/134 and 04P7016 remained constant between 24 and 72 h p.i. BVDV Singer, on the other hand, presented a maximum titer at 24 h p.i. and then decreased. BVDV-NADL titers increased in MDBK and NCL-1 but not in RD-420 between 24 and 48 h p.i., and then decreased at 72 h p.i. These facts lead us to conclude that neither the subgenotypes (1a, 1b) nor the clinical symptoms of the animal from the virus had been isolated seem to affect the virus cell line kinetics of viral replication in vitro. On the other hand, the most homogenous behavior, the most similar replication curves, and highest titers observed in MDBK and NCL-1 seem to indicate that these lines are generally more susceptible to BVDV replication.Fil: Odeón, Anselmo Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Leunda, Maria Rosa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Faverin, Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Boynak, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Vena, M. M.. Biogénesis-Bagó S. A.; ArgentinaFil: Zabal, O.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentin
Hunting for the New Symmetries in Calabi-Yau Jungles
It was proposed that the Calabi-Yau geometry can be intrinsically connected
with some new symmetries, some new algebras. In order to do this it has been
analyzed the graphs constructed from K3-fibre CY_d (d \geq 3) reflexive
polyhedra. The graphs can be naturally get in the frames of Universal
Calabi-Yau algebra (UCYA) and may be decode by universal way with changing of
some restrictions on the generalized Cartan matrices associated with the Dynkin
diagrams that characterize affine Kac-Moody algebras. We propose that these new
Berger graphs can be directly connected with the generalizations of Lie and
Kac-Moody algebras.Comment: 29 pages, 15 figure
Real time control of the ASBGo walker through a physical human–robot interface
Available online 5 November 2013In this work it is presented the development of the conceptual design, implementation and
validation of a Smart walker with an inexpensive integrated interface. This interface is
based on a joystick and it intends to extract the user’s command intentions. Preliminary
sets of experiments were performed which showed the sensibility of the joystick to extract
navigation commands from the user. These signals presented a higher frequency component
that was attenuated by a Benedict–Bordner g–h filter. The resulting interaction signals
are then classified and converted into motor commands through a fuzzy logic controller.
Additionally, the detection of possible falls and instability of the user was also one of the
aims integrated onto the overall system architecture. Results have shown that the resultant
movement of the walker was constant and safe without bumps. Short enquiries to the
users have provided positive feedback about the device maneuverability in terms of easiness
to use.This work is financed by FEDER Funds and through "Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade'' COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT - "Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia'' under the Project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674. Work supported by Portuguese Science Foundation (grant SFRH/BD/76097/2011)
Assistive mobility devices focusing on smart walkers : classification and review
In an aging society it is extremely important to develop devices, which can support and aid the elderly in their daily life. This demands means and tools that extend independent living and promote improved health.
Thus, the goal of this article is to review the state of the art in the robotic technology for mobility assistive devices for people with mobility disabilities. The important role that robotics can play in mobility assistive devices is presented, as well as the identification and survey of mobility assistive devices subsystems with a particular focus on the walkers technology. The advances in the walkers’ field have been enormous and have shown a great potential on helping people with mobility disabilities. Thus it is presented a review of the available literature of walkers and are discussed major advances that have been made and limitations to be overcome
Tackling Fuel Poverty in London
The challenge of economic and health inequalities caused by fuel poverty are rooted in the rise in fuel costs which have strong implications affecting the cost of living. Fuel costs and rising inflation due to economic and political reasons threaten individuals and families who are already struggling financially, putting them in/at risk of fuel poverty. The UK is one of the first countries to define the challenge of households living in fuel poverty prompting necessary actions, policies and interventions.
This study presents the results of an empirical investigation following direct enquires to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and all of London boroughs via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on retrofit interventions, including an overview of financial incentives and planning assessments with an aim to increase the number of home energy upgrades since April 2021.
London adopted its own action plan in 2018 to renew its focus and alleviate more than 350,000 households in fuel poverty (GLA, 2018). The assessment and indicator for fuel poverty has changed over time, from the Low Income High Cost (LIHC) to Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator in 2021. However, identifying households in fuel poverty remains challenging and some indicators are somewhat disconnected from what is happening on the ground. The findings suggest that there is a need to establish tools and methodologies that are connected to the national and local context. Fuel poverty is affecting people’s health and well-being, particularly those already facing socio-economic and health inequalities. After the COVID pandemic, a political awareness of fuel poverty is found in the Mayoral manifesto, however the Fuel Poverty Action Plan does not have binding targets and is not regularly updated. Current Fuel Poverty Partnership Tasks are focusing on awareness and communication or the urgent support to households already affected, but not in tackling the root causes of fuel poverty in upgrading fuel poor homes.
The uptake on retrofits from 2021 is still low and far from reaching 100k homes and the net zero target in 2030 is approaching fast. The study concludes that while LILEE is decreasing other indicators are increasing with rising energy prices. The London Building Stock Model is not widely used by boroughs, and it only maps the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating which is not sufficient to identify households in fuel poverty. Most schemes such as Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) do not specifically target fuel poverty but have a wider scope of retrofit towards net zero. The Mayor of London should explore a new indicator tool by crossing data from LBSM with socio-economic data to identify fuel poor households more accurately. The indicator could potentially include geographical location, building typology (age, etc), socio-economic / demographics, leading to action plan and retrofit strategies
Review and classification of human gait training and rehabilitation devices
The number of people with reduced mobility capabilities increases every year.
This reduction arises mainly due to spinal cord injuries; strokes which caused hemiparesis;
or due to an advanced age. This decrease in mobility is a factor that influences
both their quality of life and their dependence of others in daily life.
Thus, it becomes necessary to find means and tools to prevent, compensate, improve
or help to restore and increase the mobility of the affected people. The main
expectation is that such means help to recover or ameliorate their independence in
their daily life. Traditional training employs a treadmill with a support-weight system.
This training is based on the principle of repetition of all the physical movements
of a gait and has shown to produce good results in terms of rehabilitation of
patients. However, this therapy requires two or more therapists in assisting patients
during walking, to hold and adjust the patient’s lower limbs to correctly produce the
desired gait. Thus, it requires a substantial commitment and effort of the therapists
[1], and it is very expensive in terms of human resources. This leads to a boost on
the population healthcare and assistive services demand and, thus an increase in the
need for care givers.
Assistive mobility robotic devices for gait training of disabled patients in treadmills
and in the ground are one successful alternative. Other alternatives include
devices that allow a broader training of patients, in different ground types, and the
repetition of gait movements in uphill, downhill and trip.
This paper reviews state of the art training gait devices focusing on passive and
active devices. Passive devices rely on the principle of Gravity-Balancing in that
they try to reduce or eliminate the effects of gravity during walking. Active devices
are usually classified according to three different approaches: (i) treadmillexoskeleton
based devices, (ii) robotic manipulators generating different types of
gait patterns, and (iii) mobilite devices. In this review, several examples of current
devices are presented
Multivariate analysis of walker-assisted ambulation
In an aging society it is extremely important to
develop devices which can support and aid the elderly in their
daily life. Walkers play an important role, due to the large
number of potential users, its simplicity and their ambulatory
potential. However, there are no clinical evidences that prove the
efficacy of such devices, mainly rollators that present forearm
supports. In this context, the authors aim to propose a protocol
for an innovative gait analysis that addresses some benefits and
limitations of these devices on the rehabilitation process, by
addressing a multivariate analysis of spatiotemporal and
kinematic gait parameters assessed during normal and assisted
ambulation with a walker with forearm supports. For the 3Dreconstruction
of the body segments it was used a movement
analysis system. Results showed that the effects of assisted gait
can be explained through support, energy consumption, posture
and balance characteristics. These results are very satisfactory
since aspects regarding these characteristics enhance the
rehabilitation potential of the use of walkers with forearm
supports. These results will be used to advance towards an active
robotic walker that will provide for safety and natural
manoeuvrability and offer a certain degree of intelligence in
assistance and decision-making
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