Modeling and parametric optimization of 3D tendon-sheath actuator system for upper limb soft exosuit

This paper presents an analysis of parametric characterization of a motor driven tendon-sheath actuator system for use in upper limb augmentation for applications such as rehabilitation, therapy, and industrial automation. The double tendon sheath system, which uses two sets of cables (agonist and antagonist side) guided through a sheath, is considered to produce smooth and natural-looking movements of the arm. The exoskeleton is equipped with a single motor capable of controlling both the flexion and extension motions. One of the key challenges in the implementation of a double tendon sheath system is the possibility of slack in the tendon, which can impact the overall performance of the system. To address this issue, a robust mathematical model is developed and a comprehensive parametric study is carried out to determine the most effective strategies for overcoming the problem of slack and improving the transmission. The study suggests that incorporating a series spring into the system's tendon leads to a universally applicable design, eliminating the need for individual customization. The results also show that the slack in the tendon can be effectively controlled by changing the pretension, spring constant, and size and geometry of spool mounted on the axle of motor

Design consideration of dual axial flux motor for electric vehicle applications

Vehicle dynamic depends on the power rating as it tallies the required initial acceleration and overall performance. If the vehicle motor operational characteristics provides high torque at constant power, the power rating of the machine can be reduced. Besides, extended constant power range can also recover more kinetic energy during regenerative braking. Therefore, a motor with extended constant power and torque is advantageous for EV and HEV traction application. However, in order to obtain high torque at constant power range, the motors must be specially designed. Thus an Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) with dual magnetic circuit is introduced as application specific motor for battery operated electric vehicle. Finite element analysis is carried out for the proposed structure. For the designed value of 1 kW machine it is able to produce 2.5 Nm torque at 150 rpm with a regeneration capability of close to 300V

Case Report: Persistent erectile dysfunction in a man with prolactinoma [v1; ref status: indexed, http://f1000r.es/4qj]

Erectile dysfunction has been explored as a condition secondary to elevated prolactin; however, the mechanisms by which elevated prolactin levels cause erectile dysfunction have not yet been clearly established. We here present a patient with a history of prolactinoma who suffered from persistent erectile dysfunction despite testosterone supplementation and pharmacological and surgical treatment for the prolactinoma.  Patients who have had both prolactinemia and erectile dysfunction have been reported in the literature, but we find no report of a patient with persistent erectile dysfunction in the setting of testosterone supplementation and persistent hyperprolactinemia refractory to treatment. This case provides evidence supporting the idea that suppression of erectile function occurs in both the central and peripheral nervous systems independent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

Payback Period and Life Cycle Emissions of a Commercial Solar Carport with a Virtual Case Study

The solar carport is a significant technology-oriented infrastructural concept for facilitating electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS). The EVCS predominantly utilise the onsite solar photovoltaic energy for the charging of EVs. Moreover, EVCS can act as multipurpose CS to enable Grid to Vehicle (G2V) and Vehicle to Grid(V2G). Photovoltaic Electric vehicle charging station (PEVCS) can feed both EVs, traditional consumer loads, and can also feed power to the grid. Thus, enabling PEVCs across the various organisations and institutions can meet the local as well as dynamic demands incurred during charging of EVs. In this paper, a detailed economic and system analysis for the PEVCS is carried out using PVSyst and Helioscope for the area planning and shadow analysis. The normalised results of PEVCS is analysed along with the payback period and life cycle emissions are calculated for a virtual case study in Taylor’s University. At the end of the 25th year, based on the analysis, the overall payback and revenue for 25 years is 2,653.6 kMYR will be generated by selling energy at 0.58 MYR / kWh

Design and Sizing of Mobile Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant to Support Rapid Charging for Electric Vehicles

Existing DC fast-charging stations are experiencing power quality issues such as high harmonics in the line current, poor power factor in the input supply, and overloading of distribution transformers, due to the dynamic behavior of charging patterns when it is connected to the power grid. Most of the recent works involve the usage of renewable energy sources to mitigate the issues on the distribution grid. In order to design a mobile plug and play DC fast charging station, solar energy is the best and viable solution to carry out. In this paper, plug and play solar photovoltaic power plant to charge electric vehicles (EVs) is proposed and modelled using MATLAB/Simulink software. The proposed system can act as a mobile power plant. The controller allows the system to charge the battery, whenever there is abundant solar energy. Incoming EVs will be charged directly from the system battery where the charger acts as a rapid charging system. The proposed system can meet the concept of Solar Photovoltaic Rapid Charging Stations (SPRCS), which shows that 80% of charge can be fed to an EV in 10.25 min

Inhibiting Plasmodium falciparum growth and heme detoxification pathway using heme-binding DNA aptamers

The human parasite Plasmodium falciparum enzymatically digests hemoglobin during its intra-erythrocytic developmental stages in acidic food vacuole compartments. The released heme is rapidly detoxified by polymerization into the chemically inert pigment, hemozoin. Several heme-binding anti-malarial compounds, such as chloroquine, efficiently inhibit this process, and this is believed to be the predominant mechanism by which these drugs induce parasite toxicity. In an effort to expand the biochemical tools available for exploration of this pathogen's basic biology, we chose this heme-detoxification pathway as a model system for exploring the suitability of DNA aptamers for modulating this essential parasite biochemical pathway. In this report, we demonstrate that heme-binding DNA aptamers efficiently inhibit in vitro hemozoin formation catalyzed by either a model lipid system or parasite-derived extracts just as or more potently than chloroquine. Furthermore, when parasites are grown in red cells loaded with heme-binding aptamers, their growth is significantly inhibited relative to parasites exposed to non-heme-binding DNA oligonucleotides. Both the timing of parasite-induced toxicity and the concentration of heme-binding aptamer required for inducing toxicity correlate well with the uptake of red cell cytosolic components by the parasite, and the requirement for compounds with similar in vitro hemozoin inhibitory potency to preconcentrate within the parasite before observing toxicity. Thus, these heme-binding aptamers recapitulate the in vitro hemozoin inhibition activity and induce parasite toxicity in a manner consistent with inhibition of this pathway. Altogether, these data demonstrate that aptamers can be versatile tools with applicability in functionally dissecting important P. falciparum-specific pathways both in vitro and in vivo