206 research outputs found
An Improvement of Quality Inspection of Stampings with a 3D Scanning Equipment
Tato práce se zaměřuje na návrh možnosti zlepšení kontroly kvality tvarově složitých výlisků ve společnosti Honeywell Aerospace Olomouc s.r.o., pomocí rychle se rozvíjející technologie 3D skenování, s přispěním vyhodnocování dat pomocí vybraných základních statistických metod řízení kvality. Teoretická část se věnuje představení vybraných základních statistických metod kvality a základních pojmů a parametrů technologie 3D skenování. Praktická část pak představení organizace HAO, analýze současné situace kontroly kvality výlisků a návrhu na zlepšení.This work focuses on the design of possibility of improving the quality inspection of complex shape pressings in Honeywell Aerospace Olomouc s.r.o., using rapidly evolving technology of 3D scanning, with the contribution of data evaluation using selected basic statistical methods of quality control. The theoretical part deals with the description of selected basic statistical methods of quality and of basic concepts and parameters of 3D scanning technology. The practical part describes HAO organization, analysis of the current situation of quality inspection of pressings and proposal for improvement.639 - Katedra managementu kvalityvýborn
Path following for FEEC BUT advertising robot
Úkol této práce je implementovat do podvozku reklamního robotu FEKT v Brně (FEKTBOT) modul, umožňující pohyb po předem definované trase. Je potřeba kvalitně snímat intenzitu magnetického pole z magnetické pásky, kterou je realizována trasa robota. Dále je potřeba zajistit bezpečnost osob pohybujících se v okolí robota.The goal of this work is to implement modul into chassis of advertising robot FEKT in Brno (FEKTBOT), which allows moving along predefined route. It requires precisely scanning intensity of magnetic field from magnetic tape, from which is realized robot route. Additionally it is necessary to secure sefety of people around robot.
Determining ‘Age at Death’ for Forensic Purposes using Human Bone by a Laboratory-based Analytical Method
Determination of age-at-death (AAD) is an important and frequent requirement in contemporary forensic science and in the reconstruction of past populations and societies from their remains. Its estimation is relatively straightforward and accurate (±3 years) for immature skeletons by using morphological features and reference tables within the context of forensic anthropology. However, after skeletal maturity (>35 yrs) estimates become inaccurate, particularly in the legal context. In line with the general migration of all the forensic sciences from reliance upon empirical criteria to those which are more evidence-based, AAD determination should rely more-and-more upon more quantitative methods. We explore here whether well-known changes in the biomechanical properties of bone and the properties of bone matrix, which have been seen to change with age even after skeletal maturity in a traceable manner, can be used to provide a reliable estimate of AAD. This method charts a combination of physical characteristics some of which are measured at a macroscopic level (wet & dry apparent density, porosity, organic/mineral/water fractions, collagen thermal degradation properties, ash content) and others at the microscopic level (Ca/P ratios, osteonal and matrix microhardness, image analysis of sections). This method produced successful age estimates on a cohort of 12 donors of age 53–85 yr (7 male, 5 female), where the age of the individual could be approximated within less than ±1 yr. This represents a vastly improved level of accuracy than currently extant age estimation techniques. It also presents: (1) a greater level of reliability and objectivity as the results are not dependent on the experience and expertise of the observer, as is so often the case in forensic skeletal age estimation methods; (2) it is purely laboratory-based analytical technique which can be carried out by someone with technical skills and not the specialised forensic anthropology experience; (3) it can be applied worldwide following stringent laboratory protocols. As such, this technique contributes significantly to improving age estimation and therefore identification methods for forensic and other purposes
The post-mortem resilience of facial creases and the possibility for use in identification of the dead
The post-mortem resilience of facial creases was studied using donated bodies in order to establish the
efficacy of crease analysis for identification of the dead. Creases were studied on normal (pre-embalmed)
and bloated (embalmed) cadavers at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) to
establish whether facial bloating would affect facial crease visibility. Embalming was chosen to simulate
the effects produced by post-mortem bloating. The results suggested that creases are resilient and
changes were only detected for creases located on the periphery of the face, particularly at areas where
the skin is thick, such as at the cheeks. Two new creases not previously classified were identified; these
creases were called the vertical superciliary arch line and the lateral nose crease. This research suggests
that facial creases may be resilient enough after death to be utilised for human identification
Endocortical bone loss in osteoporosis: The role of bone surface availability
Age-related bone loss and postmenopausal osteoporosis are disorders of bone
remodelling, in which less bone is reformed than resorbed. Yet, this
dysregulation of bone remodelling does not occur equally in all bone regions.
Loss of bone is more pronounced near and at the endocortex, leading to cortical
wall thinning and medullary cavity expansion, a process sometimes referred to
as "trabecularisation" or "cancellisation". Cortical wall thinning is of
primary concern in osteoporosis due to the strong deterioration of bone
mechanical properties that it is associated with. In this paper, we examine the
possibility that the non-uniformity of microscopic bone surface availability
could explain the non-uniformity of bone loss in osteoporosis. We use a
computational model of bone remodelling in which microscopic bone surface
availability influences bone turnover rate and simulate the evolution of the
bone volume fraction profile across the midshaft of a long bone. We find that
bone loss is accelerated near the endocortical wall where the specific surface
is highest. Over time, this leads to a substantial reduction of cortical wall
thickness from the endosteum. The associated expansion of the medullary cavity
can be made to match experimentally observed cross-sectional data from the
Melbourne Femur Collection. Finally, we calculate the redistribution of the
mechanical stresses in this evolving bone structure and show that mechanical
load becomes critically transferred to the periosteal cortical bone.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. V2: minor stylistic improvements in
text/figures; more accurately referenced subsection "Internal mechanical
stress distribution"; some improved remarks in the Discussion sectio
Examination of the TIGIT-CD226-CD112-CD155 Immune Checkpoint Network During a Healthy Pregnancy
Background: The importance of immune checkpoint molecules is well known in tumor and transplantation immunology; however, much less information is available regarding human pregnancy. Despite the significant amount of information about the TIGIT and CD226 immune checkpoint receptors in immune therapies, very little research has been conducted to study the possible
role of these surface molecules and their ligands (CD112 and CD155) during the three trimesters of pregnancy. Methods: From peripheral blood, immune cell subpopulations were studied, and the surface expression of immune checkpoint molecules was analyzed by flow cytometry. Soluble immune checkpoint molecule levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Notable changes were observed regarding the percentage of monocyte subpopulation and the expression of CD226 receptor by CD4+ T and NKT cells. Elevated granzyme B content by the intermediate and non-classical monocytes was assessed as pregnancy proceeded. Furthermore, we revealed an important relationship between the CD226 surface expression by NKT cells and the serum CD226 level in the third trimester of
pregnancy. Conclusions: Our results confirm the importance of immune checkpoint molecules in immunoregulation during pregnancy. CD226 seems to be a significant regulator, especially in the case of CD4+ T and NKT cells, contributing to the maternal immune tolerance in the late phase of pregnancy
Examination of the TIGIT, CD226, CD112, and CD155 Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Women Diagnosed with Early-Onset Preeclampsia
Early-onset preeclampsia is a common obstetrical disease with a potential genetic back-
ground and is characterized by the predominance of Th1 immune response. However, although many
studies investigated the immunological environment in preeclamptic patients, no information is
available about the potential role of the TIGIT/CD226/CD112/CD155 immune checkpoint pathway.
A total of 37 pregnant women diagnosed with early-onset preeclampsia and 36 control women with
appropriately matched gestational age were enrolled in this study. From venous blood, mononu-
clear cells were isolated and stored in the freezer. Using multicolor flow cytometry T-, NK cell and
monocyte subpopulations were determined. After characterization of the immune cell subsets, TIGIT,
CD226, CD112, and CD155 surface expression and intracellular granzyme B content were determined
by flow cytometer. Significantly decreased CD226 expression and increased CD112 and CD155 sur-
face expression were detected in almost all investigated T-cell, NK cell, and monocyte subpopulations
in women diagnosed with preeclampsia compared to the healthy group. Furthermore, reduced
TIGIT and granzyme B expression were measured only in preeclamptic CD8+ T cells compared to
healthy pregnant women. A decreased level of the activatory receptor CD226 in effector lymphocytes
accompanied with an elevated surface presence of the CD112 and CD155 ligands in monocytes could
promote the TIGIT/CD112 and/or TIGIT/CD155 ligation, which mediates inhibitory signals. We
assume that the inhibition of the immune response via this immune checkpoint pathway might
contribute to compensate for the Th1 predominance during early-onset preeclampsia
Morphometric analysis of the canal system of cortical bone: an experimental study in the rabbit femur carried out with standard histology and micro-CT
The osteonal pattern of cortical bone is gradually built around
the intracortical vessels by the progression of the cutting cones
(secondary remodelling); therefore, the central canal size can
be used as index of the remodelling activity. An experimental
model in the rabbit femur was used to investigate, through
central canal morphometry and frequency distribution analysis,
the remodelling activity, comparing the middle of the
diaphysis (mid-shaft) with the extremity (distal-shaft) and at
the same level sectors and layers of the cortex in transversal
sections. The study documented a higher density of canals in
the mid-shaft than in the distal-shaft and a higher remodelling
in the distal-shaft. There were no significant differences between
dorsal, ventral, medial and lateral sectors at both midshaft
and distal-shaft levels, while the number of canals was
higher in the sub-periosteal layers than in the sub-endosteal. A
lower threshold of 40 lm2 was observed in the central canal
area. Sealed osteons in the midshaft were 22.43% of the total
number of osteons of the central canal area between 40 and
200 lm2 and 0.44% of those of the distal-shaft. Micro-CT
allowed a 3D reconstruction of the vascular canal system,
which confirmed the branched network pattern rather than the
trim architecture of the traditional representation. Some aspects
like the lower threshold of the central canal size and the
sealed osteons documented the plasticity of the system and its
capacity for adaptation to changes in the haemodynamic
conditions
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