Printing High Viscosity Fluids using Ultrasonic Droplet Generation

A new printing technology based on ultrasonic actuation (~1 MHz) is presented that has the potential to print high viscosity fluids. In this paper, we describe the print-head’s operating principles and construction. Acoustic focusing in the nozzles produces high pressure gradients that help eject the fluid which, under the proper conditions, forms droplets. Two types of models are presented to attempt to predict print-head behavior over a range of conditions. The first model borrows from simple fully developed, laminar flows to estimate printing conditions based on fluid properties, as well as printing pressures. The second model captures the dynamic behavior of the print-head to estimate cavity resonances that lead to acoustic focusing and potentially droplet generation. We report on experiments with several types of fluids that demonstrate the technology’s potential.Mechanical Engineerin

Correlation of multiparametric MRI (PIRADS grading) and apparent diffusion coefficient values in prostate tumor with Gleason score

Background: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of prostate is the radiological investigation of choice for the evaluation of prostatic tumors. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of mpMRI using PIRADS 2.1 grading and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values as a non-invasive investigation in the detection of prostatic tumors and to correlate PIRADS grade and ADC values with Gleason score of prostate cancer (prostate Ca). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients above the age of 50 years presenting with signs and symptoms of prostate Ca were enrolled for the study. All patients were subjected to the mpMRI including ADC values and then all underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies. The post-biopsy Gleason score was correlated with PIRADS grading and ADC values followed by statistical correlation. Results: There was a positive linear association between PIRADS score and serum prostate-specific antigen levels (+0.433) and inverse relationship between mean tumor ADC values and Gleason score with correlation coefficient of −0.846 (P<0.001). There was a positive linear association between the PI-RADS score and Gleason score (correlation coefficient of +0.739 with P<0.001). In addition, the positive predictive value of mpMRI was 78.79%, while the negative predictive value was 84.34%. Conclusion: Our study concludes that mpMRI with PIRADS grading including ADC values assists in targeting the appropriate biopsy site for better characterization of the prostate Ca as it correlates well with the Gleason score

Antimicrobials : a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA)

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance. The overuse of antimicrobials is widely accepted as a major driver of some emerging infections (such as C. difficile), the selection of resistant pathogens in individual patients, and for the continued development of antimicrobial resistance globally. The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and the limited development of new agents available to counteract them have caused an impending crisis with alarming implications, especially with regards to Gram-negative bacteria. An international task force from 79 different countries has joined this project by sharing a document on the rational use of antimicrobials for patients with IAIs. The project has been termed AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections). The authors hope that AGORA, involving many of the world's leading experts, can actively raise awareness in health workers and can improve prescribing behavior in treating IAIs.Peer reviewe

A Mechanics Framework for Modeling Fiber Deformation on Draw Rollers and Freespans

In a fiber spinning process molten polymer is extruded into a fiber. The resulting fiber known as as-spun fiber is relatively weak and shows a large plastic central zone in its constitutive behavior. As a result the fiber deforms substantially without a significant change in load thus making it unsuitable for stress bearing applications. The range of plastic deformation is related to the natural draw ratio. In order to improve the mechanical properties of as spun fibers, fiber spinning is followed by a fiber draw process. With multi stage draw the as-spun fiber is drawn beyond the plastic region in various drawing zones which produces greater orientation of the polymer chains in the axial direction of the fiber thus enhancing mechanical strength characteristics of the fiber. The multistage draw process consists of several rollers each rotating at a speed greater than the one prior to it. The objective of this work is to develop a first approximation to model fiber draw in the multistage drawing process, with and without a draw pin. As the first step the slippage of fibers on rollers was analysed by including centrifugal acceleration and acceleration due to stretching. The draw in a free span is also modelled. Several representative draw processes were examined. It was found draw pin localizes the draw significantly although the resulting mechanical unloading complicates the analysis. Draw in the free span is impossible for isothermal draw processes, and anisothermal draw induces thermal unloading in the system. A comprehensive analysis of various draw processes will be examined.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Karl I. Jacob; Committee Member: Mary Lynn Realff; Committee Member: Rami Haj-Ali; Committee Member: Arun Gokhale; Committee Member: Youjiang Wan

Real-Time FPGA-Based Object Tracker with Automatic Pan-Tilt Features for Smart Video Surveillance Systems

The design of smart video surveillance systems is an active research field among the computer vision community because of their ability to perform automatic scene analysis by selecting and tracking the objects of interest. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of an FPGA-based standalone working prototype system for real-time tracking of an object of interest in live video streams for such systems. In addition to real-time tracking of the object of interest, the implemented system is also capable of providing purposive automatic camera movement (pan-tilt) in the direction determined by movement of the tracked object. The complete system, including camera interface, DDR2 external memory interface controller, designed object tracking VLSI architecture, camera movement controller and display interface, has been implemented on the Xilinx ML510 (Virtex-5 FX130T) FPGA Board. Our proposed, designed and implemented system robustly tracks the target object present in the scene in real time for standard PAL (720 × 576) resolution color video and automatically controls camera movement in the direction determined by the movement of the tracked object

FPGA-Based Real-Time Motion Detection for Automated Video Surveillance Systems

Design of automated video surveillance systems is one of the exigent missions in computer vision community because of their ability to automatically select frames of interest in incoming video streams based on motion detection. This research paper focuses on the real-time hardware implementation of a motion detection algorithm for such vision based automated surveillance systems. A dedicated VLSI architecture has been proposed and designed for clustering-based motion detection scheme. The working prototype of a complete standalone automated video surveillance system, including input camera interface, designed motion detection VLSI architecture, and output display interface, with real-time relevant motion detection capabilities, has been implemented on Xilinx ML510 (Virtex-5 FX130T) FPGA platform. The prototyped system robustly detects the relevant motion in real-time in live PAL (720 × 576) resolution video streams directly coming from the camera

PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS OF RAKTDA (MA 321), AN AYURVEDIC SUPPLEMENT, FOR OPTIMUM MANAGEMENT OF ANAEMIA – A SHORT REVIEW

Despite multiple nutritional programmes and iron supplementation therapies adopted over the past 50 years, Anaemia remains a highly prevalent condition in India. The underlying pathogenesis associated with Anaemia includes not only nutritional deficiencies, but also the issues with optimum absorption, bioavailability of food nutrients, and assimilation of absorbed nutrients. The current review comprises preliminary evidence on Raktda (MA 321), an Ayurvedic supplement for adjuvant or monotherapy use in long term treatment of Anaemia. Raktda has a holistic combination of ingredients including Mandoor Bhasma, Kant Lauh Bhasma, Praval Pishti, Muktashukti Pishti, Giloy Sattva, Yashtimadhu, Shilajit, Amalaki and many other herbs traditionally useful for treating all types of Anaemia and its associated morbidities. The synergy of herbs in Raktda reinstates normal physiology by functioning at five different levels: Agni, Pitta Dosha, Rasa Dhatu, Rakta Dhatu, and Rasayana. A small sample study (n = 16) on Raktda has shown an increase in mean Hb% from 9.231 to 11.046 (paired t-value= 8.5475, SE = 0.212, p&lt;0.0001) - a change of mean by 1.815 points (95% CI = 1.353- 2.278), within a period of 30 days. Another study on Raktda (n = 47) has shown the beneficial effects of Raktda on increasing Hb% (7.16 to 11.13) and other anaemia symptoms such as fatigue, pain in legs, narcolepsy, anorexia, and faintness of skin. The current review outlines the need for conducting large scale investigations on Raktda, which can be used for treating Anaemia in the long run