Depth determination method for a trailer-truck test-bed

A camera is considered as a good sensing device to obtain visual information from its surrounding environment. In a three dimensional space, a camera has a two dimensional plane. Projection of an object on this plane creates a two dimensional projection and loses information of the third dimension. A single projection is not enough to retrieve the lost third dimensional information about the object. Thus it makes it difficult to use a single camera as a sensing instrument. In this project, we have developed a method that determines the three dimensional information using a single camera. The method utilizes an assumption of the camera being in motion, allowing it to take projections on unaligned camera planes at different positions. A mathematical comparison of these projections gives us a deterministic value of depth of the surroundings from these camera planes --Abstract, page iii

SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION

The basic objective is to construct a Transfer function of the given system. Closed loop system identification and validation are important components in dynamic system modeling. In this report a comprehensive literature survey is compiled on System Identification with a specific focus on closed loop system identification and issues of identification experiment design and model validation. This is followed by simulated experiment on a known Non-Linear system. The identified model structure can be compared with various mathematical models like ARX model, ARMAX model & OE model

Experimental and Numerical Studies of Slurry-Based Coextrusion Deposition of Continuous Carbon Fiber Micro-Batteries to Additively Manufacture 3D Structural Battery Composites

Carbon Fiber Structural Battery Composites Have Recently Attracted Growing Interests Due to their Potentials of Simultaneously Carrying Mechanical Loads and Storing Electrical Energy for Lightweight Application. in This Study, We Present a Slurry-Based Coextrusion Deposition Method to Additively Manufacture 3D Structural Battery Composites from Carbon Fiber Micro-Batteries. Cathode Slurry is Coextruded Together with Solid Polymer Electrolyte-Coated Carbon Fibers in a Single Deposition. a Network of Carbon Fiber Micro-Batteries is Achieved within the Fabricated Structural Battery Composites. Electrochemical Tests Show a Stable Charge-Discharge Performance Up to 100 Cycles. the Rheological Behavior of the Cathode Slurry is Found to Govern the Coextrusion Process and the Obtained Electrochemical-Mechanical Properties. the Rheological Measurements Are First Used to Identify Printability Windows in Terms of Solid Loadings and Binder Contents in the Cathode Slurry. Increasing Binder Contents Improve the Mechanical Properties, with Maximum 1.1 GPa and 124 GPa Obtained for Tensile Strength and Modulus, Respectively, But Lowers the Obtained Electrochemical Performance. Lowering Solid Loadings Improves Printability, Simultaneously Increasing Electrochemical Capacity (By 106%) and Tensile Modulus (By 108%) and Strength (By 40%). Further Microstructural Characterization Shows that Residual Voids Play a Major Role in the Obtained Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties. a Meso-Scale Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation is Used to Understand Void Formation during the Coextrusion Process. the Cathode Slurry Rheology Mainly Affects Degree of Impregnation. the Findings Help Understand the Effects of the Cathode Slurry on 3D Printing and How to Further Improve Multifunctional Performance for Electrically Powered Structural Systems Where Lightweight Materials Are in Strong Demands

A study on sexual risk behaviors of long-distance truck drivers in central India

Background: The sexual behavior of trucking populations has been associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV in India and elsewhere in the world. The objective of the study was to describe the Health seeking and sexual risks behaviors among the long distance truck drivers and to estimate the prevalence of STI symptoms in the long distance truck driver. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted on the Long Distance truck drivers plying on national highway passing through Bhopal state Highway, who halted at road side group of “Dhabas” (road side hotels) at 3 exits ways of Bhopal City M.P (India). A total of 309 truck drivers approached over a period of 90 days. Out of these 251 consented for the study. Result: The study revealed that 49 % of the long distance truck driver had CSW exposure in last 6 months. The prevalence of STI symptoms was found to be 21.51 % among the long distance truck drivers. The Truck Driver who had exposure with CSW more than five times in the last 6 months were found to be more careless regarding using condoms while having intercourse with the CSW’s. Conclusion: Effort like availability of condoms in the high risk group settings is required. Dhabas should be made to function as a sentinel centre for promoting awareness for HIV/AIDS and STIs.

Retrospective and Prospective Study to Analyse Outcome of Surgical Management of Patients Treated for Multisegmental Lumbar Canal Stenosis

INTRODUCTION: Low Back Pain is one the most leading cause of disability adjusted life years (DALYs) globally just after Ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and lower respiratory infection. Numerous studies are being done to evaluate the aetiology and management of these malady. Lumbar canal stenosis describes a condition in which there is diminished space available for the neural and Vascular elements in the lumbar Spine secondary to degenerative changes in the spinal canal. When symptomatic, this cause a variable clinical syndrome of gluteal and /or lower extremity pain and /or which may occur with or without back pain. Symptomatic Lumbar spinal stenosis has certain characteristic provocative and palliative features. Provocative feature include upright exercise such as walking or positionally- induced neurogenic claudication. Palliative features commonly include symptomatic relief with forward flexion, sitting and/or recumbency. Our study was as an effort to address the management of these epidemic. AIM OF THE STUDY: This is Retrospective and prospective study to analyse the surgical management of patients with multi-segmental lumbar canal stenosis. 1. To analyse surgical intervention in the management of multi-segmental lumbar canal stenosis. 2. To assess the neurological and functional outcome of surgical procedure done. MATERIALS AND METHODS: STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective and Prospective analytical study. Patients satisfying inclusion criteria were included in the study after obtaining written informed consent. 25 patients with multisegmental lumbar canal stenosis were recruited and under went surgical intervention. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adult patient with back pain, sciatica, neurogenic claudication. Radiograph of lumbo-sacral spine with instability/deformity. MRI finding suggestive of lumbar canal stenosis, absolute stenosis (mid sagittal diameter of the canal < 10cm), Relative stenosis (mid sagittal diameter of the canal 10mm - 13mm). Multiple level canal stenosis (two or more level). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Congenital lumbar canal stenosis. MRI suggestive of Lumbar Canal stenosis but patient symtomatically normal. Preoperative evaluation: Patient history and neurological examination.Preoperative clinical evaluation of the patients was made by Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score Visual analogue score for back pain and neurogenic Claudication (VAS).Radiography of the lumbosacral spine: Standard Anteroposterior View, Lateral View, Dynamic Flexion-extension lateral view, MRI of lumbosacral spine. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: For all the procedure, patient under Endotracheal tube General Anaesthesia with knee chest position in Hall’s Frame. Thorough standard Posterior Midline Approach.Patients were randomly distributed among two expert surgical team, in which one team exclusively did IBF and other did exclusively PLF 12 patients in Group A had decompression with anterior interbody fusion (IBF) and --- patients in Group B had Decompression with Posterolateral fusion (PLF). Pre-op protocol were same for all the patients including Pre-op Neurology charting, Modified JOA score, VAS. Both the group were followed up similarly. RESULTS: In our study population the Pre op modified JOA score was 8.76 it improved to in the last follow up. Demographically Male gender group had mean Pre op modified JOA of 9.71 with mean improvement of 13.64 in the last follow. Male group had the mean recovery rate of 75.64%. In female group had mean preop modified JOA of 7.54 with mean improvement of 13.27 in the last follow up. Recovery rate observed in female group was 76.25%. In the group with Decompression Posterior stabilization with Anterior Reconstruction with fusion prep JOA was 14.75 in 12 months follow up the where as it was 13.46 in the group with Decompression with Posterolateral fusion.In our series of 25 patients mean Pre-op VAS was 7.4 and it reduced to mean post op VAS of 1.06. Demographically Male group had Pre-op VAS of 7.2 and it reduced to 0.85 in the last follow up. In female group Pre-op VAS was 7.54 and it reduced to 1.27 in the last follow up.In group with Decompression with instrumented interbody fusion Pre-op VAS was 8.0, which reduced to mean of 0.58 in the last follow up. In the group with Decompression with posterolateral fusion Pre-op VAS was 7.53 which was reduced to mean of 1.38 in the last followup. In 2wks, 1 month and 3 months follow up post operatively patients with instrumented interbody fusion had lower score when compared to patients with only posterolateral fusion. DISCUSSION: Ganz [et. al.] (1990) in their series of 33 patients 86% show good outcome. Nath [et. al.] (2012) reported 64% patients with excellent and 28% showed good outcome at one year follow up in series of 32 patient. In our series, at one year of follow up (Modified JOA score) In Group A (IBF) 66.6 % had excellent outcome while in group B 76.92% patients had excellent outcome. In sum, 72% (n=18) had “excellent” clinical outcome and 28% responded with “good” clinical outcome. Which is statistically significant as measured by paired T Test with P value < 0.05. Group A (IBF) had earlier functional recovery when compare to Group B alone which was evident by VAS at 2wks, 1 month and 3rd month and Modified JOA score. At One year follow up all had similar VAS and Modified JOA, these comparable results were supported by statistical test in form of ANOVA one way test which was insignificant statistically. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of multisegmental lumbar canal stenosis yields better result than conservative management. Adequate Decompression laminectomy with instrumental stabilisation of the effected segment is a key to pain relief.Decompression with extended posterolateral fusion with anterior reconstruction with cage heals early with improved functional outcome and it helps in early mobilisation

Effects of Zirconia Doping on Additively Manufactured Alumina Ceramics by Laser Direct Deposition

The ability to additively manufacture functional alumina ceramics has the potential to lower manufacturing costs and development time for complex components. In this study, the doping effects of zirconia on laser direct deposited alumina ceramics were investigated. The microstructure of the printed samples was analyzed in terms of grain size and composition distribution. The addition of zirconia was found to accumulate along alumina grain boundaries and resulted in significant grain refinement. The zirconia doping largely reduced crack formation during processing compared to that of pure alumina samples. In the case of 10 wt% zirconia, cracking during deposition was nearly completely eliminated, but meanwhile porosity was increased. Through grain refinement and crack reduction in 10 wt% zirconia samples, bending strength was shown to increase by nearly four times the value obtained with pure alumina. Fracture toughness was also shown to increase by 1.5 times with addition of 5 wt% zirconia, which was attributed to the crack interaction with zirconia doped grain boundary and stress induced tetragonal to monoclinic transformation of zirconia. These findings indicated the potentials of dopants during laser direct deposition of ceramics and can further be used to tailor the properties of additively manufactured ceramic components