Robot Vision beyond 2000

The work in the Construction Robotics Unit at City University has progressed through prototyping a wallbuilding robot and a wall-climbing robot, to now employing computer vision in feedback systems. Vision has already been considered for assessing the visual quality of the component bricks to be built into a wall, and in locating the position of the wall-climbing robot when it is inspecting a large building. With this machine vision experience, new tasks are being considered. One is the inspection of large storage tanks or ships, and another is the restoration of large painted structures such as steel bridges. That work should start to yield fruit 'Beyond 2000'. Specifically, work is now underway to consider automating the paint stripping operation for a robot cleaning a steel bridge. The aim is to have a green operation, by collecting the removed paint and spent blast material. Also, by having a robot manipulate the heavy sand- or water- blasting equipment, the operators can be safe i..

Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Some Linaria Species From Turkey

The species of Linaria have been used as tonic, antiscorbutic, laxative, antidiabetic, and diuretic, as well as for the treatment of wounds, hemorrhoid and vascular disorders in Turkey. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of different extracts from Linaria grandifloro Desf., L. genistifolia subsp. confertiflora (Boiss.) Davis, L. aucheri Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) and two isolates (linariin and antirrinoside) from L. aucheri were studied using carrageenan- and PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema, and p-benzoquinone induced writhing reflex tests in mice. Our findings showed that oral administration of L. aucheri ethyl acetate extract (LA-EtOAc) and L. aucheri 20% aqueous extract, LA-MeOH:H2O(8:2), as well as antirrinoside significantly inhibited TPA-induced ear edema in mice. The remaining extracts and linariin did not show any anti-inflammatory activity on carrageenan-, PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema models. Moreover, LA-MeOH:H2O (8:2) and antirrinoside displayed significant antinociceptive activity by p-benzoquninone-induced writhing reflex in mice.WoSScopu