Towards Sensing Information Systems

Recent advances in the field of pervasive computing, including the approaches and technologies related to Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) are changing the way we perceive computing capability. Although the scientific communities have already started to discuss about the visionary concepts that will exploit these advances, such as Sensing and Liquid Enterprise, the truly smart and interoperable CPS networks are still confined to the ‘valley of death’ - between prototyping and mass-production. In this position paper, we propose the concept of Sensing Information System, a novel paradigm that will facilitate the transformation of CPS to Cyber Physical Ecosystems - borderless technical environments in which the devices will become capable to sense, perceive, decide and act, based on the external, common behavioural and context models. A case study is used to demonstrating the use of Sensing Information Systems for extended clinical workflows

MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMISATION OF LASER CUTTING USING CUCKOO SEARCH ALGORITHM

Determining of optimal laser cutting conditions for improving cut quality characteristics is of great importance in process planning. This paper presents multi-objective optimisation of the CO2 laser cutting process considering three cut quality characteristics such as surface roughness, heat affected zone (HAZ) and kerf width. It combines an experimental design by using Taguchi’s method, modelling the relationships between the laser cutting factors (laser power, cutting speed, assist gas pressure and focus position) and cut quality characteristics by artificial neural networks (ANNs), formulation of the multiobjective optimisation problem using weighting sum method, and solving it by the novel meta-heuristic cuckoo search algorithm (CSA). The objective is to obtain optimal cutting conditions dependent on the importance order of the cut quality characteristics for each of four different case studies presented in this paper. The case studies considered in this study are: minimisation of cut quality characteristics with equal priority, minimisation of cut quality characteristics with priority given to surface roughness, minimisation of cut quality characteristics with priority given to HAZ, and minimisation of cut quality characteristics with priority given to kerf width. The results indicate that the applied CSA for solving the multi-objective optimisation problem is effective, and that the proposed approach can be used for selecting the optimal laser cutting factors for specific production requirements

The Influence of Nanomaterial Calcium Phosphate/poly-(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) on Proliferation and Adherence of HeLa Cells

Nanomaterials are nowadays widely used in various fields of biomedicine. Before the application of biomaterials they have to be tested and fulfill some criteria. The first tests that should be performed after synthesis of some new nanomaterial with potential application in biomedical fields are biocompatibility tests. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of nanomaterial calcium phosphate/poly-(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (CP/PLGA) on proliferation and adherence of HeLa cells in culture. For both proliferation and adherence examination, cells were treated with suspension of nanomaterial CP/PLGA at concentrations 5, 50 and 500 µg/mL, made in cell culture medium. There were four different types of treatment: (1) cells incubated with CP/PLGA for 3 days; (2) cells incubated with CP/PLGA for 6 days; (3) cells incubated first with CP/PLGA for 3 days and then for the next 3 days with medium and (4) cells incubated first with medium for 3 days and then for the next 3 days with CP/PLGA. Three days after incubation of HeLa cells with different concentrations of CP/PLGA nanoparticles’ suspension, the concentration of 5 µg/mL had mild inhibitory effect on proliferation. Increasing CP/PLGA concentration, there was stimulatory effect on cells’ proliferation. With prolonged incubation period, this dose dependence is lost. The highest adherence of HeLa cells was observed when cells were incubated with the highest examined concentration of CP/PLGA suspension, in both 3-day and 6-day incubation period. Based on the results obtained in our study, we can conclude that the effect of the suspension of nanomaterial CP/PLGA on proliferation and adherence of HeLa cells depends on the duration of incubation with the cells as well as the material concentration and type of the treatment

Pollution data tracking in the Western Balkan countries: A state-of-the-art review

As part of the FP6 Program, a project named WEB-ENV 'Development of environ- mental guidelines for the region of Western Balkans' dealt with the state of the environment in the region of the West Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The parameters which were observed were air and water quality, solid waste pollution, soil degradation, and state of biodiversity. The results are presented as an extended mapping exercise identifying major environmental problems in each country. This paper outlines the comparative analysis of the parameters observed in the project and their respective resources. This paper also presents the impact of some polluters on the environmental condition of the countries surrounding Western Balkans. The analysis of data proves that certain areas have insufficient parameters especially in the field of ground water quality and soil degradation. Another problem in the comparative analysis was discrepancy of year of data collection. In order to get a better understanding of the environmental issue in the region it has been determined that it is necessary to provide comprehensive data monitoring via regional projects on the territory of the Western Balkans

Geometrical Model Creation Methods for Human Humerus Bone and Modified Cloverleaf Plate

631-639In the field of orthopaedic surgery, for the treatment of bone fractures orthopaedic surgeons use external and internal fixation methods, or combination of these two techniques. Geometrical 3D models of internal fixation implants and human bones are being created by various computer based methods and technical features. These methods include application of computer visualisation techniques like Medical Imaging, Computer-Aided Design, Finite Element Analysis, etc. This paper introduces newly developed methods for the creation of surface model of human humerus and parametric model of the modified cloverleaf plate. The geometrical properties and shape of the parametric model can be customized to match the morphology of humerus bone of the specific patient, by the application of parameter values acquired from medical images (X-Ray or Computerized Tomography). Such implant models can improve pre, intra, and post operative procedures in ortophedic surgery