Master of Science

thesisManual Material Handing (MMH) is a common activity for many workers in the workplace. Back compressive force has been described as a leading factor causing back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) associated with lifting. To prevent such injuries, mechanical Lift Assist Devices (LAD) have been developed. To improve device usability and allow more interaction with human body movements, a significant step has been taken towards developing an automatic feedback control system for a hybrid lift assist device. The control system is highly responsive which would likely result in a reduction of required erector spine muscle force during lifting tasks. The control system is based on multiple input and multiple output (MIMO).This design was chosen to control the outputs of Torque (τ) and Speed (ω) generated from a DC motor from the inputs: hip angle, torso angle and HD (Horizontal Distance from L5/S1 to center of load derived from the Force and Center of Pressure (COP) using Flexi Force Sensors in the shoe insole). All the inputs were derived and compared with parameters of human body movement recorded using Vicon Nexus and 8 Bonita cameras. The Utah Back Compressive model was used to estimate the desired torque required by the LAD. The motor is controlled to generate the amount of torque to lift the load and to assist the body to a specified percent assist (0-100%). The design of the control system was achieved using a proper controller and DC motor with a closed loop feedback system. The control system produces reliable and robust performance for a variety of sagittal plane lifting techniques. This was accomplished by deriving the system input parameters from measurable device features and fine tuning the controller and selected DC motor model. These results indicate that a hybrid lifting assist device is feasible and can be programmed to provide variable assistance during lifting tasks

KINETICS AND MECHANISMS OF CRYSTAL GROWTH INHIBITION OF INDOMETHACIN BY MODEL PRECIPITATION INHIBITORS

Supersaturating Drug Delivery Systems (SDDS) could enhance oral bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs (PWSD). Precipitation inhibitors (PIs) in SDDS could maintain supersaturation by inhibiting nucleation, crystal growth, or both. The mechanisms by which these effects are realized are generally unknown. The goal of this dissertation was to explore the mechanisms underpinning the effects of model PIs including hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrins (HP-β-CD), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the crystal growth of indomethacin, a model PWSD. At high degrees of supersaturation (S), the crystal growth kinetics of indomethacin was bulk diffusion-controlled, which was attributed to a high energy form deposited on the seed crystals. At lower S, indomethacin growth kinetics was surface integration-controlled. The effect of HP-β-CD at high S was successfully modeled using the reactive diffusion layer theory. The superior effects of PVP and HPMC as compared to HP-β-CD at high S were attributed to a change in the rate limiting step from bulk diffusion to surface integration largely due to prevention of the high energy form formation. The effects of PIs at low S were attributed to significant retardation of the surface integration rate, a phenomenon that may reflect the adsorption of PIs onto the growing surface. PVP was selected to further understand the relationship between adsorption and crystal growth inhibition. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm model fit the adsorption isotherms of PVP and N-vinylpyrrolidone well. The affinity and extent of adsorption of PVP were significantly higher than those of N-vinylpyrrolidone, which was attributed to cooperative interactions between PVP and indomethacin. The extent of PVP adsorption on a weight-basis was greater for higher molecular weight PVP but less on a molar-basis indicating an increased percentage of loops and tails for higher molecular weight PVPs. PVP significantly inhibited indomethacin crystal growth at high S as compared to N-vinylpyrrolidone, which was attributed to a change in the growth mechanism resulting in a change in the rate limiting step from bulk diffusion to surface integration. Higher molecular weight PVPs were better inhibitors than lower molecular weight PVPs, which was attributed to a greater crystal growth barrier provided by a thicker adsorption layer

User Interaction with Linked Data: An Exploratory Search Approach

NoIt is becoming increasingly popular to expose government and citywide sensor data as linked data. Linked data appears to offer a great potential for exploratory search in supporting smart city goals of helping users to learn and make sense of complex and heterogeneous data. However, there are no systematic user studies to provide an insight of how browsing through linked data can support exploratory search. This paper presents a user study that draws on methodological and empirical underpinning from relevant exploratory search studies. The authors have developed a linked data browser that provides an interface for user browsing through several datasets linked via domain ontologies. In a systematic study that is qualitative and exploratory in nature, they have been able to get an insight on central issues related to exploratory search and browsing through linked data. The study identifies obstacles and challenges related to exploratory search using linked data and draws heuristics for future improvements. The authors also report main problems experienced by users while conducting exploratory search tasks, based on which requirements for algorithmic support to address the observed issues are elicited. The approach and lessons learnt can facilitate future work in browsing of linked data, and points at further issues that have to be addressed

Study and Analysis of Intz water tank with manual and software-based design with base isolation

The seismic response of an overhead water tank, cylindrical, extra-large water storage tank by using triple friction pendulum system is analyzed. Most of the overhead tanks have a fundamental frequency which includes a series of resonance of greatest earthquake ground motions. It is an operative way to reduce the response of an isolation system used for storage of water tanks under a sturdy earthquake. However, it is problematic to implement in preparation with common isolation bearings The research is directed with study of existing studies in the field of seismic behavior of intz water tank. Base isolation is one of the technologies applied to decrease the consequence of earthquake effect. The principle is to separate the base of the overhead water tank from footing ground. The problematic is taken as Intz water tank design to survive water tank against seismic accomplishment. three categories of base are used to analyses and compare overhead first is manual design of intz water tank with fixed base + response by SRSS and second case is intz water tank with fixed base by sap2000 and Third case with is intz water tank with triple friction pendulum on sap2000. The software SAP 2000 are used to assessment fixed and triple friction pendulum base intz water tank. It is primary period in India when overhead water tank is tested with triple friction pendulum isolation are analyzed for seismic zone V. It is initiate from results that deflection and base shear analyzed with triple friction pendulum are lesser than fixed base with outstanding margin and it is determined that study endorses use of triple friction pendulum base isolation for seismic zone V in India

Performance Based Plastic Design of Concentrically Braced Frame attuned with Indian Standard code and its Seismic Performance Evaluation

In the Performance Based Plastic design method, the failure is predetermined; making it famous throughout the world. But due to lack of proper guidelines and simple stepwise methodology, it is not quite popular in India. In this paper, stepwise design procedure of Performance Based Plastic Design of Concentrically Braced frame attuned with the Indian Standard code has been presented. The comparative seismic performance evaluation of a six storey concentrically braced frame designed using the displacement based Performance Based Plastic Design (PBPD) method and currently used force based Limit State Design (LSD) method has also been carried out by nonlinear static pushover analysis and time history analysis under three different ground motions. Results show that Performance Based Plastic Design method is superior to the current design in terms of displacement and acceleration response. Also total collapse of the frame is prevented in the PBPD frame

Understanding social influence using network analysis and machine learning

Thesis (S.M. in Technology and Policy)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-62).If we are to enact better policy, fight crime and decrease poverty, we will need better computational models of how society works. In order to make computational social science a useful reality, we will need generative models of how social influence sprouts at the interpersonal level and how it leads to emergent social behavior. In this thesis, I take steps at understanding the predictors and conduits of social influence by analyzing real-life data, and I use the findings to create a high-accuracy prediction model of individuals' future behavior. The funf dataset which comprises detailed high-frequency data gathered from 25 mobile phone-based signals from 130 people over a period of 15 months, will be used to test the hypothesis that people who interact more with each other have a greater ability to influence each other. Various metrics of interaction will be investigated such as self-reported friendships, call and SMS logs and Bluetooth co-location signals. The Burt Network Constraint of each pair of participants is calculated as a measure of not only the direct interaction between two participants but also the indirect friendships through intermediate neighbors that form closed triads with both the participants being assessed. To measure influence, the results of the live funf intervention will be used where behavior change of each participant to be more physically active was rewarded, with the reward being calculated live. There were three variants of the reward structure: one where each participant was rewarded for her own behavior change without seeing that of anybody else (the control), one where each participant was paired up with two 'buddies' whose behavior change she could see live but she was still rewarded based on her own behavior, and one where each participant who was paired with two others was paid based on their behavior change that she could see live. As a metric for social influence, it will be considered how the change in slope and average physical activity levels of one person follows the change in slope and average physical activity levels of the buddy who saw her data and/or was rewarded based on her performance. Finally, a linear regression model that uses the various types of direction and indirect network interactions will be created to predict the behavior change of one participant based on her closeness with her buddy. In addition to explaining and demonstrating the causes of social influence with unprecedented detail using network analysis and machine learning, I will discuss the larger topic of using such a technology-driven approach to changing behavior instead of the traditional policy-driven approach. The advantages of the technology-driven approach will be highlighted and the potential political-economic pitfalls of implementing such a novel approach will also be addressed. Since technology-driven approaches to changing individual behavior can have serious negative consequences for democracy and the free-market, I will introduce a novel dimension to the discussion of how to protect individuals from the state and from powerful private organizations. Hence, I will describe how transparency policies and civic engagement technologies can further this goal of 'watching the watchers'.by Dhaval D.K. Adjodah.S.M.in Technology and Polic

Unusual presentation: fracture neck femur in 18 months old child

An 18 months old child was brought to the emergency department with alleged history of trauma due to hit by two wheeler and sustained injury over right hip. Child was not able to move the right lower limb. Physical examination of child revealed contusion over right hip region and injury over perineal region. There was no active vaginal bleeding. Rest of the systemic examination was normal. Routine blood was normal. On X-ray of pelvis with both hip showed fracture of neck femur on right side without any pelvic injury. Patient was treated with hip spica cast and complete bed rest for 1 month. After 1 month of the treatment, on follow-up the patient was able to weight bear and fractured was united on X-ray

Evaluation of the Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Cassia Occidentalis Leaves in Neutrophil Adhesion Test in Rats

Evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Cassia occidentalis leaves in neutrophil adhesion test in Rats. The effect of oral administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia occidentalis leaves on neutrophil has been studied and is compared with control group on rats. The differential leukocyte count (DLC) was performed by fixing the blood smears and staining with leucofine and percent neutrophils in each sample was determined. After the initial counts, blood samples were incubated with 80 mg/ml of nylon fibers for 10 min at 37ºC. Supplementation with hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia occidentalis leaves significantly decreased neutrophil adhesion. The results indicate that the leaf of Cassia occidentalis is endowed with protected neutrophil adhesion. These effects could conclude that Cassia occidentalis has an antiasthmatic property. Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, Neutrophil adhesion, analysis of varianc

Energy Conservation and Energy Saving Techniques apply on a Small Scale Cold Storage through Energy Audit

ABSTRACT Energy is now a costly and scare commodity in everywhere. S