A versatile and reconfigurable microassembly workstation

In this paper, a versatile and reconfigurable microassembly workstation designed and realized as a research tool for investigation of the problems in microassembly and micromanipulation processes and recent developments on mechanical and control structure of the system with respect to the previous workstation are presented. These developments include: (i) addition of a manipulator system to realize more complicated assembly and manipulation tasks, (ii) addition of extra DOF for the vision system and sample holder stages in order to make the system more versatile (iii) a new optical microscope as the vision system in order to visualize the microworld and determine the position and orientation of micro components to be assembled or manipulated, (iv) a modular control system hardware which allows handling more DOF. In addition several experiments using the workstation are presented in different modes of operation like tele-operated, semiautomated and fully automated by means of visual based schemes

Çok Yönlü ve Tekrar Yapılandırılabilir Mikro Montaj İş İstasyonu

Bu makalede, mikro montaj ve mikro manipülasyon süreçlerindeki sorunların incelenmesi amacıyla bir araştırma aracı olarak tasarlanan ve geliştirilen çok yönlü ve tekrar yapılandırılabilir mikro montaj iş istasyonu ve yine aynı grup tarafından geliştirilen bir önceki sistem üzerinde mekanik ve denetim yapıları açısından yapılan geliştirmeler sunulmaktadır. Bu geliştirmeler; (i) daha karmaşık montaj ve manipülasyon işlemlerinin gerçekleştirilebilmesi için ek bir manipülatör modülünün eklenmesi, (ii) sistemi daha yetenekli kılabilmek için görü sistemi ve numune taşıyıcı platformlarına ek hareket serbestlik derecesi eklenmesi (iii) mikro dünyanın görüntülenmesi ve montajı yapılacak veya manipüle edilecek parçaların konum ve yönelimlerinin belirlenebilmesi amacıyla görü sistemi olarak yeni bir optik mikroskobun eklenmesi (iv) daha fazla serbestlik derecesinin denetimini sağlayabilmek amacıyla varolan sistemin daha modüler bir denetim sistemi donanımı ile değiştirilmesi gibi unsurları içermektedir. Ayrıca sistemde kumandalı, yarı otomatik ve görü bazlı yöntemler aracılığı ile tamamen otomatik çalışma modlarında yapılan deney sonuçları da sunulmaktadır

A nationwide multicentre study in Turkey for establishing reference intervals of haematological parameters with novel use of a panel of whole blood

IntroductionA nationwide multicentre study was conducted to establish well-defined reference intervals (RIs) of haematological parameters for the Turkish population in consideration of sources of variation in reference values (RVs). Materials and methodsK2-EDTA whole blood samples (total of 3363) were collected from 12 laboratories. Sera were also collected for measurements of iron, UIBC, TIBC, and ferritin for use in the latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method. The blood samples were analysed within 2 hours in each laboratory using Cell Dyn and Ruby (Abbott), LH780 (Beckman Coulter), or XT-2000i (Sysmex). A panel of freshly prepared blood from 40 healthy volunteers was measured in common to assess any analyser-dependent bias in the measurements. The SD ratio (SDR) based on ANOVA was used to judge the need for partitioning RVs. RIs were computed by the parametric method with/without applying the LAVE method. ResultsAnalyser-dependent bias was found for basophils (Bas), MCHC, RDW and MPV from the panel test results and thus those RIs were derived for each manufacturer. RIs were determined from all volunteers’ results for WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, MCV, MCH and platelets. Gender-specific RIs were required for RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit, iron, UIBC and ferritin. Region-specific RIs were required for RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit, UIBC, and TIBC. ConclusionsWith the novel use of a freshly prepared blood panel, manufacturer-specific RIs’ were derived for Bas, Bas%, MCHC, RDW and MPV. Regional differences in RIs were observed among the 7 regions of Turkey, which may be attributed to nutritional or environmental factors, including altitude

Evaluation of local isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes for the management of black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is considered to be one of the serious polyphagous pests that spend a large part of its life in the soil environment, where many microorganisms live including entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae). EPNs have been long used for suppressing the soil-dwelling insects like cutworms and are successful biological control agent against A. ipsilon larvae. In the present study, the efficacy of local EPNs isolates against the fourth larval instar of A. ipsilon was evaluated at different concentrations (10, 25, 50, 100 IJs/larva/Petri dish and 25, 50, 100 IJs/cm2 soil) in two different experiment environments including filter papers in Petri dishes and soil in plastic containers under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1 °C. Larval mortalities of A. ipsilon were recorded first, second, third, and fourth day post inoculation where the mortality rates increased by increasing the concentrations. The maximum mortality rate (100%) was reached within 2 days after inoculation, inoculating the Heterorhabditis bacteriophora FLH-4-H and H. indica 216-H isolates at concentrations of 50 and 100 IJs/cm2, in the plastic container experiment. The highest mortality rate (90%) was obtained by Steinernema carpocapsae E76-S isolate at a concentration of 100 IJs/larva/Petri on the fourth day after inoculation, in the Petri dish experiment. The lethal concentration values (LC50 and LC90) of the A. ipsilon larval population were 52 IJs and 129 IJs, respectively, for S. feltiae E76-S isolate in the Petri dish tests. In the plastic container experiment, the lowest LC50 and LC90 values found to be 17 IJs and 23 IJs, respectively, for H. bacteriophora FLH-4-H isolate. The results showed that all indigenous EPN isolates had good potentials in the management of A. ipsilon

An Alternative Treatment Method for Defective Pseudoarthrosis; Evaluation of Eight Patients Treated with Artelon + Kryptonite

Pseudoarthrosis with bone loss is one of the most challenging orthopaedic problems for surgeons. Bone loss usually leads to technical difficulties during surgery due to instability in the fracture area.Eight patients with pseudoarthrosis of different long bones were operated on by the same surgeon. The median age was 53 years (25–61), and the median time period after the index operation was 21 months (12–72 months).Radiographic union was achieved in all patients in 3.62 months (2–5 months). Efficient healing with new bone formation was observed in all of the patients. The result of the current case series is promising.This treatment method can be used for the treatment of defective pseudoarthrosis without increasing morbidity. Long-term follow-up and larger case series are needed for evidence of the adequacy and reliability of this method of treatment

SU mikro montaj istasyonu gerçek zamanlı kontrol mimarisi

Günümüzde mikro montaj mikro elektronikten biyolojiye birçok alanda kullanılmaktadır ve kullanımı günden güne yaygınlaşmaktadır. Mikro hassasiyette çalışan sistemlerin geliştirilmesi günümüzde önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Mikro montaj sistemlerinin önemli bir unsuru gerçek zamanlı kontrollerinin koştuğu platformlar ve bu platformlarda oluşturan algoritmalardır. Bu makale mikron ve daha küçük parçaların yüksek hassasiyetli manipülasyon ve montaj işlemlerini gerçekleştirebilmek amacıyla geliştirilen Mikro Montaj İş İstasyonunun yazılımsal ve donanımsal yapısını anlatmaktadır. Hassas hareket kontrolü için kullanılan bilgisayar mimarisinde işlemcideki çekirdeklerin nasıl kullanıldığından ve gerçek zamanlı kontrol uygulayabilmek için Linux tabanlı işletim sisteminde hangi iş parçacıklarının hangi çekirdeklere atanarak koştuğundan bahsedilmektedir

Design and development of workstation for microparts manipulation and assembly

In this paper, microassembly system design issues are discussed with requirements, constraints and necessities for the development of an assembly platform, and these issues are shown over a versatile and reconfigurable microassembly workstation which is designed and realized as a research tool for investigation of the problems in microassembly and micromanipulation tasks. First prototype of a workstation and the development of a second prototype with enhancements on mechanical and control structure of the system are presented with details on the configuration of the systems. In addition, several experiments using a workstation are presented both on the first and the second prototypes in different modes of operation such as tele-operated, semi-automated and fully automated by means of visual feedback