3-DOF Parallel robotics System for Foot Drop therapy using Arduino

This paper discusses a robotic system used for physical therapy for foot drop case, caused by brain stroke. This device provides most exercises practiced by patient for treatment at any time or any place without going to the rehabilitation center located in hospitals. The robotics system designed according to the mechanism of parallel robot and controlled by computer or microcontroller (Arduino). This robot allows the patient to do the exercise without any need for any knowledge about computer or programing. The developed robot system show a good potential to be developed and distributed for large number of physical therapy clinics with low cost and good reliability. Keywords: 3DOF Robot, Parallel Robot, Foot Drop Physical Therapy, Arduino

Practical Investigation of Effectiveness of Direct Solar-Powered Air Heater

Solar energy is clean and available, and its use doesn\u27t hurt the environment. Heating conditioned homes and offices in wintertime deduct a large part of the amount of fuel consumed for these purposes. The use of solar radiation to heat the air proved its feasibility and usefulness and is in the research and development process and takes many forms. One of the primary types of solar air heaters is solar air heater of a transparent collector. In this study, a transparent collector solar air heater was designed and manufactured with an area of 1 m2. An aluminum plate was used to be the heating source; it takes its heat from the solar radiation. The tests results confirm the validity of this solar air heater type. The temperature of the heated air increased about 101% of the ambient air. The aluminum plate has proven to work as a source of heat

The Mathematical Description of End Mill Cutters and Effective Radius of Tool Geometry on Multi-Axis Milling

The mathematical modeling and detailed algorithms are derived in this paperto describe the geometrical shape of end mill cutters for multi-axis milling machining.Details of the geometry analysis techniques are presented to understand the effectivecutting shape. Three types of cutters are taken in the present paper. Finally, theprocedures of finding the instantaneous cutting profile and local geometry analysis arediscussed. The techniques presented in this paper can be used to eliminate errors ofmilling tool path generation in the area of simultaneous multi-axis NC complex surfacemachining

Pick-interval scallop heightestimation using three types of geometrical end mill cutters on CNC milling machine

This research presents the theoretical model, simulation and experimental verification to predict the magnitude of scallop height using 3 and 5-axis milling machine, where the effect of geometrical shape of the workpiece relative to the effect of geometrical shape of the tools had been studied, taking into consideration three different types of milling tools (Ball, Flat and Torus) corresponding to the type of machines that had been used to calculate the scallop height (h) in each point. Also, four different types of surfaces shape (Horizontal, Concave, Inclined and Convex) surface had been utilized to study the effect of these shapes on the value of scallop height. Besides, the effect of cutting direction in each plane had been studied in both types of milling operation (three and five axis milling machine). Finally, the value of stepover had been changed so as to acquaint the effect of this parameter on the magnitude of scallop height on both types of milling operation. It was established that the scallop height is most influenced by the step over, cutting direction, geometrical shape of the cutter and inclination angle of the plane. The results also show that in 5-axis machining by utilizing different cutters, the angle of inclination of the tool axis was most affects the value of scallop height. It was also concluded that Torus cutter is better than other two cutters (Ball and Flat end mill cutters)

Low Vitamin D Serum Levels May Be a Modifiable Risk Factor for Obesity and Cognitive Impairment in Middle-Age Egyptian Women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the levels of serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) among obese Egyptian females and search possible association with cognitive functions and insulin resistance.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study included 2 groups, Group-1(cases) consists of 120 obese females and Group-2 (controls) consists of 30 non-obese females. The included females were subjected to full clinical examination, anthropometric measurements and Kendrick Battery for evaluation of cognitive functions (short term memory and attention). Evaluation of serum Vitamin D, Parathyroid hormone, C-peptide and fasting blood glucose were done. The obese group was put on a balanced low caloric diet (900-1000 K Calories/day) for 2 months, where reevaluation was performed.RESULTS: Comparing obese group with non-obese control group revealed significant lower mean level of serum vitamin D associated with significant lower cognitive functions test and higher fasting blood glucose. After 2 months of low caloric diet, a significant increase in the serum level of vitamin D, accompanied with improvement in cognitive functions and decrease in fasting blood glucose and improved insulin resistance was seen. A correlation is found between vitamin D serum level and cognitive functions.CONCLUSION: A lower vitamin D serum level could be a modifiable risk factor for obesity, insulin resistance and cognitive impairment in middle age females

Sleep Deficiency is a Modifiable Risk Factor for Obesity and Cognitive Impairment and Associated with Elevated Visfatin

AIM: To study the interaction between sleep deprivation, obesity and cognitive functions, and the effect of following a balanced low caloric diet and increasing sleep duration on those variables.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety two obese females with mean age 47.00 ± 2.00 years and body mass index (BMI) 36.14 ± 3.00 kg/m² were divided into 3 groups according to their sleeping hours. They followed balanced low-caloric diet and were instructed to increase sleeping hours. Full clinical examination, 24 hours dietary intake recall, anthropometric measurements, mini mental state test, questionnaire for subjective sleep and life style evaluation were performed at baseline and after 2 months. Serum visfatin, fasting blood glucose and C-peptide were assessed; Modified homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated.RESULTS: About one third of our sample slept less than 6 hours daily, group (1), all patients had elevated visfatin serum level (33.87 ± 2.8 ng/ml) with the highest level in group (1). At base line, group (1) showed the highest BMI, lowest cognitive functions, highest visfatin level and highest insulin resistance (P < 0.05). After 2 months of intervention, improvement was recorded in all variables, with the best improvement in group (1) after extending sleep duration (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Sleep deprivation may be a modifiable risk factor for obesity, cognitive impairment and visfatin elevation

Biochemical Assessment of Bone Health in Working Obese Egyptian Females with Metabolic Syndrome; the Effect of Weight Loss by Natural Dietary Therapies

AIM: To investigate the relation between bone parameters and the metabolic syndrome criteria, before and after the administration of two different natural dietary supplements in middle aged working obese Egyptian women suffering from metabolic syndrome (MetS).SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty eight middle aged obese female volunteers suffering from metabolic syndrome were divided into two groups. During the first period, group (A) consumed a low caloric diet and nutritional supplement consisting of doum flour biscuits, while group (B) consumed whole meal wheat flour biscuit with the same instructions. During the second period, both supplements were omitted. Assessment of blood pressure, relevant anthropometric parameters, lipid accumulation product, fasting blood glucose, uric acid, 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25 (OH) D), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase were performed.RESULTS: Data showed that although both supplements improved the MetS criteria and the bone health parameters, the supplement containing the doum flour proved to be more effective.CONCLUSION: These results confirm the benefit of doum in improving bone health parameter [25 (OH) D/PTH axis] in the MetS patients, beside the MetS criteria. So, we can conclude that natural effective supplements lead towards the optimization of biochemical parameters in favor of a healthy outcome