Cutting tool tracking and recognition based on infrared and visual imaging systems using principal component analysis (PCA) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) combined with neural networks

The implementation of computerised condition monitoring systems for the detection cutting tools’ correct installation and fault diagnosis is of a high importance in modern manufacturing industries. The primary function of a condition monitoring system is to check the existence of the tool before starting any machining process and ensure its health during operation. The aim of this study is to assess the detection of the existence of the tool in the spindle and its health (i.e. normal or broken) using infrared and vision systems as a non-contact methodology. The application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) combined with neural networks are investigated using both types of data in order to establish an effective and reliable novel software program for tool tracking and health recognition. Infrared and visual cameras are used to locate and track the cutting tool during the machining process using a suitable analysis and image processing algorithms. The capabilities of PCA and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) combined with neural networks are investigated in recognising the tool’s condition by comparing the characteristics of the tool to those of known conditions in the training set. The experimental results have shown high performance when using the infrared data in comparison to visual images for the selected image and signal processing algorithms

Influence of Test Procedures on the Thermomechanical Properties of a 55NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

Over the past few decades, binary NiTi shape memory alloys have received attention due to their unique mechanical characteristics, leading to their potential use in low-temperature, solid-state actuator applications. However, prior to using these materials for such applications, the physical response of these systems to mechanical and thermal stimuli must be thoroughly understood and modeled to aid designers in developing SMA-enabled systems. Even though shape memory alloys have been around for almost five decades, very little effort has been made to standardize testing procedures. Although some standards for measuring the transformation temperatures of SMA s are available, no real standards exist for determining the various mechanical and thermomechanical properties that govern the usefulness of these unique materials. Consequently, this study involved testing a 55NiTi alloy using a variety of different test methodologies. All samples tested were taken from the same heat and batch to remove the influence of sample pedigree on the observed results. When the material was tested under constant-stress, thermal-cycle conditions, variations in the characteristic material responses were observed, depending on test methodology. The transformation strain and irreversible strain were impacted more than the transformation temperatures, which only showed an affect with regard to applied external stress. In some cases, test methodology altered the transformation strain by 0.005-0.01mm/mm, which translates into a difference in work output capability of approximately 2 J/cu cm (290 in!lbf/cu in). These results indicate the need for the development of testing standards so that meaningful data can be generated and successfully incorporated into viable models and hardware. The use of consistent testing procedures is also important when comparing results from one research organization to another. To this end, differences in the observed responses will be presented, contrasted and rationalized, in hopes of eventually developing standardized testing procedures for shape memory alloys

Vascular variations of the kidney, retrospective analysis of computed tomography images of ninety-one laparoscopic donor nephrectomies, and comparison of computed tomography images with perioperative findings

Background: In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine the variations of kidney arteries and veins in kidney donor patients who underwent preoperative, computed tomography angiography (CTA).Materials and methods: We analysed kidney CTA findings of 91 donor nephrectomy patients operated from July 2016 through December 2017. Demographics, vascular diameters, abnormalities, numbers, branching variations, routing variations of arteries, and veins were assessed according to CTA images. We also compared the radiological findings with perioperative findings. Two radiologists evaluated CTA images, and the same surgical team performed all donor nephrectomies by laparoscopic approach.Results: Ninety-one of the 96 patients involved to study. Forty-six (50.5%) patients were female. Thirty-five (38.4%) of 91 cases had accessory arteries. Seven (7.6%) right, 1 (1.1%) left and 8 (8.7%) bilateral double hilar artery was observed on CTA. No statistically significant difference was observed in the evaluation of the side of accessory/polar arteries (p > 0.05), and in the evaluation of the distribution of arterial/venous variations according to perioperative findings (p > 0.05). However, in the evaluation of CTA images, we found that the diameter of the kidney artery and vein differed according to gender and side.Conclusions: The knowledge of the vascular variations of the kidney is essential for surgeons performing kidney transplantation. It is also essential for urologist and vascular surgeons. Incompatible with the literature, the right kidney has more vascular variations and, one kidney artery is found in the majority of Turkish kidneydonor patients

Effects of training on the thermomechanical behavior of NiTiHf and NiTiZr high temperature shape memory alloys

[eng] The effects of constant load thermal cycles (training) on the thermomechanical behavior of nanoprecipitation strengthened Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20 (NiTiHf) and Ni50.3Ti29.7Zr20 (NiTiZr) high temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs) were compared. Thermomechanical properties were determined as a function of the number of training cycles, which consisted of up to 2000 isobaric thermal cycles at 300 MPa, between lower and upper cycle temperatures of 35 and 300 °C, respectively. In addition, the stability of the trained alloys was determined after exposure to thermal treatments at temperatures above the upper cycle training temperature. Training at 300 MPa significantly improved the actuation strain capability of the NiTiHf HTSMA at low stresses (i.e., 50 MPa) and resulted in a two-way shape memory strain (TWSMS) up to 1.9%, but essentially had no effect on the 300 MPa response. Training had less notable benefits in the case of the NiTiZr, producing negligible TWSMS, and resulting in a decrease in actuation strain capability at 300 MPa with repeated cycling. The benefits of training to the NiTiHf HTSMA were maintained after aging at 400 °C but were lost after exposure to 500 °C and above. Since training was not notably beneficial to the NiTiZr alloy and resulted in a loss in strain capability at 300 MPa, the high temperature annealing treatment actually recovered strain capability in the alloy under high stresses. Thesuperior TWSM response of the NiTiHf HTSMA as compared to the NiTiZr, was attributed to the highermelting temperature, and thus the lower homologous operating temperature of the former, when bothalloys were tested over the same temperature range

Cell-phone traces reveal infection-associated behavioral change

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked DownloadEpidemic preparedness depends on our ability to predict the trajectory of an epidemic and the human behavior that drives spread in the event of an outbreak. Changes to behavior during an outbreak limit the reliability of syndromic surveillance using large-scale data sources, such as online social media or search behavior, which could otherwise supplement healthcare-based outbreak-prediction methods. Here, we measure behavior change reflected in mobile-phone call-detail records (CDRs), a source of passively collected real-time behavioral information, using an anonymously linked dataset of cell-phone users and their date of influenza-like illness diagnosis during the 2009 H1N1v pandemic. We demonstrate that mobile-phone use during illness differs measurably from routine behavior: Diagnosed individuals exhibit less movement than normal (1.1 to 1.4 fewer unique tower locations; [Formula: see text]), on average, in the 2 to 4 d around diagnosis and place fewer calls (2.3 to 3.3 fewer calls; [Formula: see text]) while spending longer on the phone (41- to 66-s average increase; [Formula: see text]) than usual on the day following diagnosis. The results suggest that anonymously linked CDRs and health data may be sufficiently granular to augment epidemic surveillance efforts and that infectious disease-modeling efforts lacking explicit behavior-change mechanisms need to be revisited. Keywords: call detail records; disease; influenza; outbreak; surveillance.Alan Turing Institute Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/N510129/1 UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council UK (MRC) European Commission National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions at the University of Brist

Intrabiliary rupture of liver hydatid cyst: a case report and review of the literature

Herein, we report a 66 year old woman who was diagnosed to have intrabiliary rupture of liver hydatid cyst with demonstrative computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography findings, with a review of the literature

Dynamics of microRNAs in bull spermatozoa

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and thus play important roles in mammalian development. However, the comprehensive lists of microRNAs, as well as, molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression during gamete and embryo development are poorly defined. The objectives of this study were to determine microRNAs in bull sperm and predict their functions. METHODS: To accomplish our objectives we isolated miRNAs from sperm of high and low fertility bulls, conducted microRNA microarray experiments and validated expression of a panel of microRNAs using real time RT-PCR. Bioinformatic approaches were carried out to identify regulated targets. RESULTS: We demonstrated that an abundance of microRNAs were present in bovine spermatozoa, however, only seven were differentially expressed; hsa-aga-3155, -8197, -6727, -11796, -14189, -6125, -13659. The abundance of miRNAs in the spermatozoa and the differential expression in sperm from high vs. low fertility bulls suggests that the miRNAs possibly play important functions in the regulating mechanisms of bovine spermatozoa. CONCLUSION: Identification of specific microRNAs expressed in spermatozoa of bulls with different fertility phenotypes will help better understand mammalian gametogenesis and early development