Building block method: a bottom-up modular synthesis methodology for distributed compliant mechanisms

Synthesizing topologies of compliant mechanisms are based on rigid-link kinematic designs or completely automated optimization techniques. These designs yield mechanisms that match the kinematic specifications as a whole, but seldom yield user insight on how each constituent member contributes towards the overall mechanism performance. This paper reviews recent developments in building block based design of compliant mechanisms. A key aspect of such a methodology is formulating a representation of compliance at a (i) single unique point of interest in terms of geometric quantities such as ellipses and vectors, and (ii) relative compliance between distinct input(s) and output(s) in terms of load flow. This geometric representation provides a direct mapping between the mechanism geometry and their behavior, and is used to characterize simple deformable members that form a library of building blocks. The design space spanned by the building block library guides the decomposition of a given problem specification into tractable sub-problems that can be each solved from an entry in the library. The effectiveness of this geometric representation aids user insight in design, and enables discovery of trends and guidelines to obtain practical conceptual designs

Visual Tracking Based on Human Feature Extraction from Surveillance Video for Human Recognition

A multimodal human identification system based on face and body recognition may be made available for effective biometric authentication. The outcomes are achieved by extracting facial recognition characteristics using several extraction techniques, including Eigen-face and Principle Component Analysis (PCA). Systems for authenticating people using their bodies and faces are implemented using artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic optimization techniques as classifiers. Through feature fusion and scores fusion, the biometric systems for the human body and face are merged to create a single multimodal biometric system. Human bodies may be identified with astonishing accuracy and effectiveness thanks to the SDK for the Kinect sensor. To identify people, biometrics aims to mimic the pattern recognition process. In comparison to traditional authentication methods based on secrets and tokens, it is a more dependable and safe option. Human physiological and behavioral traits are used by biometric technologies to identify people automatically. These characteristics must fulfill many criteria, especially those that relate to universality, efficacy, and applicability

Liquid Biopsies in Cancer Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Prognosis

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Liquid biopsies, comprising the noninvasive analysis of circulating tumor-derived material (the ‘tumor circulome’), represent an innovative tool in precision oncology to overcome current limitations associated with tissue biopsies. Within the tumor circulome, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the only components the clinical application of which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Extracellular vesicles (EVs), circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA), and tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) are relatively new tumor circulome constituents with promising potential at each stage of cancer management. Here, we discuss the clinical applications of each element of the tumor circulome and the prevailing factors that currently limit their implementation in clinical practice. We also detail the most recent technological developments in the field, which demonstrate potential in improving the clinical value of liquid biopsies

Concept of ‘Snehasaro Ayam Purushaha’ and its assessment through examination of Akshi and Karna

Shareera is considered as the essence of Sneha. Also the importance of Snehabhava for proper functioning of the Shareera is well known. A proper functioning of Jataragni, Dhatwagni and Dhatu Parinama results in optimal amount of Snehabhava in the Shareera. Functioning of Jataragni can be assessed by examination of Purisha, assessing Jarana Shakti etc., whereas for assessing the functioning of Dhatwagni and the condition of other internal environment, we need to have a close examination of other Shareera Malas, where in Mutra Pareeksha is considered to be an excellent choice. But due to practical difficulties it is impossible to conduct the same on a daily basis on all the patients. This paper aims at a complete literary review in understanding the concept of Shareera and Kleda and showing importance of the examination of other Malayanas like Akshi and Karna for understanding the overall condition of the Shareera. For the same, regular examinations in the Eye and ENT OPDs like general eye examination, otoscopy etc. and investigations like tear osmolarity can be used judiciously. These examinations can give a general idea about the functioning of Dhatwagni and thus the status of Sneha in Shareera, which can further be used for selection and administration of treatment modalities

Molecular and thermal studies of carbon fiber precursor polymers with low thermal-oxidative stabilization characteristics

In this investigation, terpolymers, copolymers, and homopolymer of acrylonitrile with dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide (DMAPA), itaconic acid (IA) viz., poly(acrylonitrile‐ran‐3‐dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide‐ran‐itaconic acid) [P(AN‐DMAPP‐IA)], poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐3, dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide) [P(AN‐DMAPP)] were synthesized with varying amounts of comonomers using solution polymerization process. The chemical structure, composition, bonding network were determined employing infrared, 1H and, 13‐carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. Molecular characteristics of as‐synthesized polymers such as different kinds of average molecular weights, molecular weight distribution were estimated applying solution viscometry and size exclusion chromatography. The influence of comonomers (DMPAA, IA) on the thermal stabilization characteristics of acrylonitrile terpolymers in comparison with copolymers and homopolymers of acrylonitrile were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hyphenated thermal techniques (thermal gravimetry coupled with differential thermal analyzer).The DSC curves of P(AN‐DMAPP‐IA) exhibit a distinct broader bimodal peaks with thermal exotherm initiating at as low as 165 °C, and followed by two peaks with temperature difference of 42 °C, releasing the evolved heat at a release rate of 0.7–0.11 J g−1s−1over 10 min as compared to 1.2, 7.5 J g−1s−1 in 4.5, 2 min as observed in P(AN‐DMAPP), polyacrylonitrile, respectively. The thermal stability of P(AN‐DMAPP‐IA) and P(AN‐DMAPP), as evidenced by TGA‐DTA was found to be higher than PAN homopolymers. Specific heat capacity measurements confirmed the DSC results. Bulk densities of P(AN‐DMAPP‐IA) were in the range 0.31–0.35 g/cc. These results confirm the low‐temperature stabilization characteristics and suitability of P(AN‐DMAPP‐IA) as low cost carbon fiber precursor polymer

SENSORIMOTOR CONTROL OF THE KNEE IN MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES

Evidence suggests that the female predisposition to knee injuries may be related to sensorimotor control (Hewett et al., 2005). The purpose of this study was to compare the quadriceps and hamstrings muscle control strategies of male and female athletes using an established method of testing muscle control (Williams et al., 2003)

Bubbling and bistability in two parameter discrete systems

We present a graphical analysis of the mechanisms underlying the occurrences of bubbling sequences and bistability regions in the bifurcation scenario of a special class of one dimensional two parameter maps. The main result of the analysis is that whether it is bubbling or bistability is decided by the sign of the third derivative at the inflection point of the map function.Comment: LaTeX v2.09, 14 pages with 4 PNG figure

Pindi and Bidalaka - A Review

Ocular Therapeutics can be broadly divided into two i.e., either in the form of Kriyakalpa (local therapeutics) or systemic therapeutics. Kriya Kalpas are the Topical ocular Therapeutics indicated in various Netra Rogas which has several advantages over oral administration of medicines as it provides more time for bio availability. Contemporary sciences also make use of transdermal absorption of medicines and are considered as an efficient method of drug delivery. As Pindi and Bidalaka are the modified forms of Lepa Kalpana, same route is followed by these two also. In this article probable mode of action and importance of Pindi and Bidalaka will be discussed

Power-dependent nonlinear optical behaviours of ponceau bs chromophore at 532 nm via z-scan technique

This paper reports on the power-dependent nonlinear optical (NLO) attributes for both nonlinear refractive index, n2 and nonlinear absorption coefficient, β of Ponceau BS (PBS) chromophore, a synthetic organic compound that falls under azo family. Single-beam Z-scan technique was utilized for the nonlinear measurement. Dominant absorption peak is observed in the visible region due to the high conjugation of diazene functional group absorption. The existence of vital vibrational bonds e.g. the azo bond (1576 cm−1) was confirmed via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) of delocalized electrons is responsible for the quick nonlinear response of the sample under intense laser excitation. Response from the closed and open aperture Z-scan technique indicates that PBS chromophore exhibits self-defocusing effects with negative sign of n2 and reverse saturable absorption (RSA) in the order of 10−9 and 10−4 respectively. The real and imaginary components of third order susceptibility, χ3 are relatively high in the order of 10−8 and 10-5 respectively under different laser powers (0.12, 0.14, 0.16, 0.18 & 0.20 W). In short, PBS chromophore shows promising features and can be considered as a potential candidate for various NLO applications under low-power laser operation