INTEGRATION OF ROBOTIC AND ELECTRO-PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS USING ADVANCED CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION SCHEMES

Modern industrial automation systems are designed by interconnecting various subsystems which work together to perform a process. The thesis project aims to integrate fragmented subsystems into a flexible and reconfigurable system through advanced communication protocols and perform a process to demonstrate the effectiveness of interconnected systems. The system consists of three six-axis robots, one electro-pneumatic robot, and two conveyors connected using EthernetIP communication and hardwired connections. The interconnected system works together to perform machining of a workpiece using advanced control methods of CAD to robot path generation, central control through a PLC, and process control through HMI. Standardized programming blocks and HMI interfaces were developed to make the system highly reconfigurable and flexible for any future projects. The knowledge gained from the project is used to create lab manuals to educate students about communication and control methods for systems integration

Assessment of speech and language delay among 0-3 years old children attending well-baby clinics using Language Evaluation Scale Trivandrum

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of language delay in children aged 0-3 years and to evaluate the association of sociodemographic,perinatal, and home environment factors with language delay. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 children aged0-3 years attending the well-baby clinic or the outpatient department were included in the study, with exclusion of children withsevere illnesses or those with known developmental delays. The parents of the children were asked to fill a risk factor analysisquestionnaire consisting of questions related to the socio-demographic, perinatal factors, and home environment. Children werescreened for developmental delay using Language Evaluation Scale Trivandrum for children aged 0-3 years. Results: Prevalenceof language delay in our study was 13%. Positive home environment was significantly associated with no language delay inchildren (p=0.0481); the association was also seen with the parental habit of reading and the happy nature of children (p<0.05).Language delay was more common in the age group of 13-24 months, and other socio-demographic or perinatal factors did nothave a statistically significant association with language delay. Conclusion: Positive home environment is significantly associatedwith less language delay in children aged 0-3 years. Association of different socio-demographic, perinatal, and home environmentalfactors with language delay needs to be evaluated with further research

INVESTIGATION OF PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS IN TRANSITION METAL DICHALCOGENIDES DURING SYNTHESIS AND POST GROWTH

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are promising candidates for use in beyond-Moore electronics, photovoltaics, sensing, and energy storage devices. The highly anisotropic crystal structure of TMDCs is characterized by chemically active edge sites and relatively inert basal plane layers, which are bonded to each other by weak van der Waals forces. To tailor TMDCs’ electronic, chemical and optical properties for different applications, careful control of their crystallographic orientation, composition, and layer thickness is required. While the commercialization of electronic devices requires uniform TMDC growth over large areas, enhancement of catalytic activity necessitates that as many edge sites as possible are exposed to the surface. To ensure optimal operation of TMDC-based transistors, engineering the interface with different contact metals (including at elevated temperatures and in the presence of surface oxides) is important to reduce the resulting contact resistance across the interface. Furthermore, the presence of other metals can influence the final morphology of TMDC crystallites during their synthesis and alter their resulting properties. In all these cases, to obtain optimal optoelectronic and catalytic properties, understanding the role of metal/TMDC interfaces in controlling the properties and performance of these materials is crucial. The first part of this dissertation discusses experiments in which MoS2 crystals with different crystallographic surface orientations are interfaced with other materials (Li, Ge or Ag). It then proceeds to explore – using data obtained from in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) – the interfacial phase transformations that occur during interface formation. Reactions across horizontally aligned MoS2 layers are compared with vertically aligned MoS2 layers (i.e., predominantly edge sites exposed). An important finding is that the edge sites feature a native surface oxide that prevents the reaction between Ge and MoS2, but the same oxide is not sufficient to prevent the reactive Li species from reducing MoS2 to Mo metal. Ag shows very little reaction with either of the samples. The material with exposed basal planes features surface defects (vacancies, steps, ledges etc.) that act as sites for the onset of interfacial transformations, which occur readily with Ge and Li. Using the Ni-MoS2 system, further investigations were performed on the influence of elevated temperatures on interfacial reactions. Overall, the results show that MoS2 orientation affects the extent of interfacial reaction in the case of some contact materials, but not in others; furthermore, the varied chemistry of different MoS2 surfaces likely contributes to these differences. Next, the influence of Ni on the growth of crystalline MoS2 is investigated using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An amorphous MoS2 precursor is annealed on different substrates – including on Ni films of varying thicknesses – to nucleate and grow polycrystalline MoS2. The results indicate that Ni assists lateral growth of MoS2 crystals, as they end up being approximately 10 times larger than those without Ni. Other transition metals (Fe, Cu and Co) were also examined, but only Ni caused a significant change in the MoS2 crystallite size. Based on in situ TEM observations and other ex situ results, it is postulated that this result is due to Ni atoms or NiSx clusters increasing the mobility of Mo and S atoms at the MoS2 edge planes, which enables faster edge growth rates. In the third section, knowledge gained from the fundamental in situ studies of the Ni-MoS2 system is used to selectively pattern MoS2 growth during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) onto Si substrates featuring 300 nm SiO2 on their surface. Growth of MoS2 on thin (~2 nm) patterned Ni films but not on the surrounding SiO2/Si substrate was observed. Au thin films were also used to seed growth of MoS2 crystals, but once nucleated, MoS2 crystals preferred to grow over the SiO2/Si substrate. Utilizing the different interactions of MoS2 with these different materials during growth, crystalline MoS2 was selectively grown over Ni regions which in turn were contacted by Au regions. This configuration was utilized to demonstrate fabrication of transistor structures. Further studies are needed to explore the effects of Ni dopants on the electronic properties of patterned devices. Overall, this dissertation elucidates the dynamic structural and phase evolution of MoS2 crystals both during synthesis, as well as upon interfacing the as-grown crystallites with different materials. The combination of in situ and ex situ measurements provide important observations of the dynamic phase transformations during and after growth. These results help to fill a knowledge gap that exists regarding the engineering of TMDC materials: prior work has provided understanding of the atomic-scale structure of active TMDCs for catalysis and optoelectronic applications, but the best pathways to synthesize and engineer these materials are not always clear. These findings provide a basis for future engineering of TMDC crystal size and morphology via addition of different transition metals as well as stabilization of phases across TMDC heterointerfaces. This phase engineering could be important for a range of applications, including catalysis and next-generation electronic and optical devices.Ph.D

Bis(3-bromo­methyl-2-meth­oxy-1-naphth­yl)methane

The title compound, C25H22Br2O2, crystallizes with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. In each independent mol­ecule, the two naphthalene ring systems are nearly perpendicular to one another, with dihedral angles of 85.6 (1) and 86.2 (1)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by C—H⋯π inter­actions, and inter- and intra­molecular C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds

Angiomyofibroblastoma: Imaging and histopathology of a rare benign mesenchymal tumor

Angiomyofibroblastomas, aggressive angiomyxomas and cellular angiofibromas are rare mesenchymal tumours with many overlapping radiological, histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Amongst these tumours angiomyofibroblastoma is relatively benign mesenchymal tumour with very low chances of recurrence. It is clinically confused with bartholin gland cyst due to its well demarcated and smooth appearance. Due to overlapping histopathological features its very difficult even for experienced pathologists to differentiate between these mesenchymal tumours. Earlier desmin reactivity was thought to be specific for angiomyofibroblastoma but recently many aggressive angiomyxomas have also been found to be positive for desmin. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in diagnosis and ruling out more sinister malignancies. A well demarcated lesion with characteristic histopathological appearance of alternating hypo and hypercellular edematous regions with abundant blood vessels and stromal cells with dispersed chromatin is usually seen in angiomyofibroblastoma. Immunohistochemistry may further help in diagnosis. We here report a case of vaginal angiomyofibroblastoma. The diagnosis was made on the basis of imaging and was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry.Keywords: Histopathology and immunohistochemistry; imaging; mesenchymal tumours; vaginal angiomyofibroblastom

To Compare the Efficacy of Oral Deflazacort, Oral Prednisolone and Inhaled Budesonide in the Treatment of Salbutamol Refractory Acute Asthma in Children

Abstract Background: A 22-month open-label randomized comparative study was conducted at tertiary care centre attached to medical college in metropolitan city in Maharashtra from Dec 2011 to Oct 2013, aiming to compare the effectiveness of three corticosteroid treatments - oral deflazacort, oral prednisolone, and inhaled budesonide in managing salbutamol-refractory asthma in children aged 1-14 years. Methods: 90 afebrile children were equally allocated to the different treatment arms. Treatment arm A received oral Deflazacort (1mg/kg/day alternate day), treatment arm B received oral prednisolone (1mg/kg/day), and treatment arm C received budesonide inhaler (100 mcg/puff twice a day) for seven days, along with salbutamol inhalations twice a day. The primary outcome measured was the change in FEV1 and PEFR as a percentage of the predicted value from baseline, and secondary outcomes included changes in FVC, wheeze frequency, VCD, and FEV1/FVC. Results: Wheeze varied across treatment arms on day 3 (A: 16.3%, B: 26.7%, C: 70.0%), day 7 (A: 10.0%, B: 0.0%, C: 10.0%), and day 28 (A: 16.7%, B: 0.0%, C: 16.7%). Mean PEFR values on days 1, 3, 7, and 28 were 140.67, 180, 202.67, 216.67 for Treatment Arm A; 141.43, 190, 203, 221 for Treatment Arm B; and 151.00, 179.33, 187.33, 202.00 for Treatment Arm C, respectively. FEV1 and FEV1/FVC scores showed no significant differences across the three treatment arms. Conclusion: In treating salbutamol-refractory asthma in children, all three medications displayed comparable efficacy, aiding clinicians in treatment selection and improving outcomes. Future research should prioritize long-term effects and safety for optimal management

Parental Perception Of Improvement In Prelinguistic Skills In Kids With Autism In Two Months Of Goal Directed Cognitive Approach

The study aimed to assess the parental perception of improvement in prelinguistic skills in children with Autism Spectrum disorder [ASD] after 1 and 2 months of Goal Directed Cognitive Approach. This was assessed by a questionnaire filled by parents of 26 consecutive ASD kids at a neurodevelopmental center. Parents were asked to rate these skills on a Likert scale of 1-5 before and after 1 month and 2 months of GDCA to check for any improvement. 69% of ASD kids were boys. Mean age at presentation was 2.6 years. The children were subjected to GDCA for an average duration of 13.7 months. Of these, 11.5% had seizures and 34.6 % had hyperactivity as a comorbidity. The average duration of sustained eye to eye contact at the time of presentation was 5.96 sec, which improved to 10.3 sec after 1 month ( p-0.0002) and further improved to 12.14 seconds at 2 months (p-0.005). Improvements in turn taking at 1 month( p-0.005) and after 2 months (p-0.002) and purposeful noises after 2 months of GDCA (p-0.003) and imitation after first month of treatment (p-0.0001) were significant. Responding and joint attention did not show any significant change with 2 months of therapy. Therefore, children with autism do improve significantly in eye contact, turn taking, imitation, purposeful noises with 2 months of GDCA. Long term follow up is required to assess responding and joint attention

Prevalence of obesity in students with specific learning disorder in a metropolitan city of India

Background: Obesity is common in urban school children. Learning disability (LD) prevalence is also growing, primarily in cities. Objective: The objective of this study is to find the prevalence of obesity in students with specific LD (SLD). Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study carried out at a tertiary care center attached to a medical college in Maharashtra, after obtaining permission from the institutional ethics committee. Consecutive 150 students with SLD between the ages of 8 and 18 years were studied over 18 months. Obesity was classified as per body mass index. Descriptive statistics and subgroup analysis were done by unpaired t-test. Results: Prevalence of obesity in students with SLD was 22.7% without genderpredisposition and family history correlation. Of total students with SLD, 44 (29.3%) had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without any association with the obesity. Conclusions: Family history, ADHD, gender, other medical conditions, and drug history have no correlation with regard to obesity in SLD. There is a further requirement of research with large population control size