Evaluation of Manually Completed Manufacturing Assembly Processes Through a Wearable Force and Motion Sensing System Integrated Into a Glove

The objective of this research is to model the relationship between force, sound, and motion signals in manual assembly environments through a wearable sensor glove and the resultant quality of vehicle connections made on the assembly line. Many tasks in production assembly are still completed manually due to the intuition needed by the associate, complex automation steps, or time constraints. This is largely observed in automotive assembly environments. With the amount of variability in manually completed processes, the possibility for error increases. These processes include hose and electrical connections which can loosen over time after passing initial quality testing, resulting in costly, time-consuming rework and a diminished brand image. It is the intent of this work to utilize multidimensional operator force signatures and movements exhibited to understand the primary forces acting in the direction of the connector locking and additional measured forces acting in other directions. The sensor signals feed into the classification algorithm for rapid postprocessing to enable real-time feedback indicating a completed connection or a connection that needs further investigation. These classifications can later act as a steppingstone for automating manually completed manufacturing processes by implementing the findings into autonomous systems to yield an automatic verification of the process. This research captured data physically exerted by the operator as a means of accountable process quality evaluation where there are limited marketable products and research. The work also introduced a sensor glove system capable of capturing operator applied shear force in a robust and durable way fit for a manufacturing environment. Marketed products and research shear force sensing are extremely limited in breadth, and force sensing gloves are unsuitable for an assembly environment due to cost, measurement capabilities, durability, and/or operator encroachment. The sensing system developed in this research is coupled with a classification algorithm capable of discerning incomplete or rework connections from successful ones demonstrated on an OEM assembly line. The developed sensor glove capable of capturing shear and normal force, acceleration, and gyroscopic information was successfully tested on an OEM assembly line for 250+ vehicles of work. This includes the completion of hard plastic connections, tool usage, and tasks completed outside of the takt. Five classification models using the gathered data yielded accuracies of 91% or above using a 60/40 train/test split. The best performing model, Na¨ıve Bayes, achieved a balanced accuracy of 97.6%

Defense Energy Resilience: Lessons from Ecology

Energy security is a fundamental requirement for national security, and global energy competition threatens to make Department of Defense (DoD) missions increasingly vulnerable to the whims of energy suppliers. DoD’s approach to energy security must accommodate a highly uncertain outlook for energy resource availability. Although U.S. energy security needs are currently met, the shrinking gap between global supply and demand draws the world closer to a point at which competition disrupts social and geopolitical normalizing forces, and conflict becomes likely. While DoD expresses concern over trends that are threatening energy security, Defense planners still operate as if adequate energy supplies will continue to be available without interruption into the extended future. What limited energy-related planning that is currently done addresses only the symptoms of a systemic over-reliance on very few energy resources. This analysis offers key insights into what a shifting energy security environment is, and the paper provides a novel theoretical framework for how the United States can best respond to this ever changing energy security environment.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1343/thumbnail.jp

Magnetohydrodynamic equilibria of a cylindrical plasma with poloidal mass flow and arbitrary cross section shape

The equilibrium of a cylindrical plasma with purely poloidal mass flow and cross section of arbitrary shape is investigated within the framework of the ideal MHD theory. For the system under consideration it is shown that only incompressible flows are possible and, conscequently, the general two dimensional flow equilibrium equations reduce to a single second-order quasilinear partial differential equation for the poloidal magnetic flux function $\psi$, in which four profile functionals of $\psi$ appear. Apart from a singularity occuring when the modulus of Mach number associated with the Alfv\'en velocity for the poloidal magnetic field is unity, this equation is always elliptic and permits the construction of several classes of analytic solutions. Specific exact equlibria for a plasma confined within a perfectly conducting circular cylindrical boundary and having i) a flat current density and ii) a peaked current density are obtained and studied.Comment: Accepted to Plasma Physics & Controlled Fusion, 14 pages, revte

Eotaxin and FGF enhance signaling through an Extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)-dependent pathway in the pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by the inflammation of the esophagus and the infiltration of eosinophils into the esophagus, leading to symptoms such as dysphagia and stricture formation. Systemic immune indicators like eotaxin and fibroblast growth factor were evaluated for possible synergistic pathological effects. Moreover, blood cells, local tissue, and plasma from EoE and control subjects were studied to determine if the localized disease was associated with a systemic effect that correlated with presence of EoE disease.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Real-time polymerase chain reaction from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), immunohistochemistry from local esophageal biopsies, fluid assays on plasma, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting on peripheral blood cells from subjects were used to study the systemic immune indicators in newly diagnosed EoE (n = 35), treated EoE (n = 9), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (n = 8), ulcerative colitis (n = 5), Crohn's disease (n = 5), and healthy controls (n = 8).</p> <p>Result</p> <p>Of the transcripts tested for possible immune indicators, we found extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Bcl-2, bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), and eotaxin levels were highly upregulated in PBMC and associated with disease presence of EoE. Increased FGF detected by immunohistochemistry in esophageal tissues and in PBMC was correlated with low levels of pro-apoptotic factors (Fas, Caspase 8) in PBMC from EoE subjects. Plasma-derived bFGF was shown to be the most elevated and most specific in EoE subjects in comparison to healthy controls and disease control subjects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We describe for the first time a possible mechanism by which increased FGF is associated with inhibiting apoptosis in local esophageal tissues of EoE subjects as compared to controls. Eotaxin and FGF signaling pathways share activation through the ERK pathway; together, they could act to increase eosinophil activation and prolong the half-life of eosinophils in local tissues of the esophagus in EoE subjects.</p

Effects of Process-Induced Voids on the Properties of Fibre Reinforced Composites

It is well known that voids have detrimental effects on the performance of composites. This study aims to provide a practical method for predicting the effects of process induced voids on the properties of composites. Representative volume elements (RVE) for carbon fibre/epoxy composites of various fibre volume fractions and void contents are created, and the moduli and strengths are derived by finite element analysis (FEA). Regression models are fitted to the FEA data for predicting composite properties including tensile, compressive and shear. The strengths of composite laminates including tensile strength and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) are calculated with the aid of the developed models. The model predictions are compared with various experimental data and good agreement is found. The outcome from this study provides a useful optimisation and robust design tool for realising affordable composite products when process induced voids are taken into account

A Framework Plan for Preservation and Growth in Creswell, Harford County, Maryland

Final project for URSP688D: Recent Developments in Urban Studies; Scenario Planning Workshop (Spring 2019). University of Maryland, College Park.HarfordNEXT, the county’s 2016 Masterplan, calls for a comprehensive analysis of facilities needed to serve Creswell and asserts that future development must be compatible with the preservation of Creswell’s rural character. This mandate is the basis for the present study, conducted under the auspices of the University of Maryland’s PALS program in the spring semester of 2019. The HarfordNEXT language about the Creswell study is also the basis for five of this report’s goals: Conserve Farming; Protect the Environment; Preserve Rural Character; Minimize Traffic Impacts; Maintain Adequate Infrastructure. In addition to these goals, the team added two others: Provide Additional Housing; Ensure Positive Fiscal Impact. This course examined TDR (transfer of development rights) using CommunityViz software, and also conducted scenario planning using transportation and fiscal models. The appendix document was a collaborative effort, with the following courses completing the background reports for sewer and water infrastructure, environmental impacts, and public services in the Creswell area: ENCE422 Project Cost Accounting and Economics, LARC642 Graduate Studio III, LAW577B Environmental Legal Clinic, and URSP640 Growth Management and Environmental Planning.Harford Count

HIF drives lipid deposition and cancer in ccRCC via repression of fatty acid metabolism

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is histologically defined by its lipid and glycogen-rich cytoplasmic deposits. Alterations in the VHL tumor suppressor stabilizing the hypoxiainducible factors (HIFs) are the most prevalent molecular features of clear cell tumors. The significance of lipid deposition remains undefined. We describe the mechanism of lipid deposition in ccRCC by identifying the rate-limiting component of mitochondrial fatty acid transport, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), as a direct HIF target gene. CPT1A is repressed by HIF1 and HIF2, reducing fatty acid transport into the mitochondria, and forcing fatty acids to lipid droplets for storage. Droplet formation occurs independent of lipid source, but only when CPT1A is repressed. Functionally, repression of CPT1A is critical for tumor formation, as elevated CPT1A expression limits tumor growth. In human tumors, CPT1A expression and activity are decreased versus normal kidney; and poor patient outcome associates with lower expression of CPT1A in tumors in TCGA. Together, our studies identify HIF control of fatty acid metabolism as essential for ccRCC tumorigenesis

Genome-Wide Association Study in Bipolar Patients Stratified by Co-Morbidity

Bipolar disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder with high heritability. Co-morbid conditions are common and might define latent subgroups of patients that are more homogeneous with respect to genetic risk factors.In the Caucasian GAIN bipolar disorder sample of 1000 cases and 1034 controls, we tested the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with patient subgroups defined by co-morbidity.). All three associations were found under the recessive genetic model. Bipolar disorder with low probability of co-morbid conditions did not show significant associations.Conceptualizing bipolar disorder as a heterogeneous disorder with regard to co-morbid conditions might facilitate the identification of genetic risk alleles. Rare variants might contribute to the susceptibility to bipolar disorder

Knowledge transfer & exchange through social networks: building foundations for a community of practice within tobacco control

BACKGROUND: Health services and population health innovations advance when knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) occurs among researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and consumers using high-quality evidence. However, few KTE models have been evaluated in practice. Communities of practice (CoP) – voluntary, self-organizing, and focused groups of individuals and organizations – may provide one option. This paper outlines an approach to lay the foundation for a CoP within the area of Web-assisted tobacco interventions (WATI). The objectives of the study were to provide a data-driven foundation to inform decisions about organizing a CoP within the geographically diverse, multi-disciplinary WATI group using evaluation and social network methodologies. METHODS: A single-group design was employed using a survey of expectations, knowledge, and interpersonal WATI-related relationships administered prior to a meeting of the WATI group followed by a 3-week post-meeting Web survey to assess short-term impact on learning and networking outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 27 WATI attendees (85%) from diverse disciplinary and practice backgrounds completed the baseline survey, with 21 (91%) of those participants completing the three-week follow-up. Participants had modest expectations of the meeting at baseline. A social network map produced from the data illustrated a centralized, yet sparse network comprising of interdisciplinary teams with little trans-sectoral collaboration. Three-week follow-up survey results showed that participants had made new network connections and had actively engaged in KTE activities with WATI members outside their original network. CONCLUSION: Data illustrating both the shape and size of the WATI network as well as member's interests and commitment to KTE, when shared and used to frame action steps, can positively influence the motivation to collaborate and create communities of practice. Guiding KTE planning through blending data and theory can create more informed transdisciplinary and trans-sectoral collaboration environments