This paper introduces torque-controlled concentric tube robots that are first explored in this field. Currently, integrated actuation mechanisms exhibit challenges in controlling forces at the end-effector. Capstan actuation system featured with its low backlash and reversibility is well-posed to control torque and forces. A 3D model catheter of the proposed torque-controlled approach with an integrated capstan mechanism was created using SolidWorks Software.
Wearable sensors have made an impact on healthcare and medicine by enabling out-of-clinic health monitoring and prediction of pathological events. Further advancements made in wearable sensors and analysis of multimodal signals have been reflected in emotion recognition studies which utilize peripheral including pulse rate, peripheral temperature, and electrodermal activity. The present paper reports on the advantages of applying decision trees and ensemble classifiers for emotion recognition systems using the multimodal physiological signals K-EmoCon dataset. The results indicate that Random Forest performed best compared to the other decision tree classifiers tested, with correctly classified instances up to 74.44% for arousal and up to 80.61% for valence. The use of Random Forest as base classifier for the meta-learner Decorate resulted in 76.16% - accuracy for arousal and 80.20% for valence. This suggests that decision trees and ensemble classification combined with multimodal bio-signals may be a useful model for emotion recognition using imbalanced datasets.
Investigating the anatomical and functional characteristics of fetal brain at different gestational ages helps in understanding the process and helps in detecting pathogenic interventions/abnormalities and further treatments at early stage. This work aims to provide a review of non-invasive fetal electrocardiography(NI-fECG) to analyze fetal brain and neural development at different gestational ages(GA). Results showed that autonomic nervous system(ANS) maturation can be analyzed based on the relationship between fetal heart rate variability(fHRV) and GA where increased fHRV can be observed as GA advances. Maternal-fetal coupling is also an important parameter to study the fetal wellbeing. Based on studies, it was concluded that multivariate approaches provide specific and sensitive scores as different aspects of autonomic control are reflected in different HRV parameters. As NI-fECG is a cost and easily accessible system than other techniques, further exploration of this technique could improve the obstetricians judgement, especially during prematurity.
T cells organize the response of the adaptive immune system; their activation is triggered by antigen-presenting cells. T cells' activation is modulated by two main signaling molecules on APCs surfaces, with recent studies implicating cellular forces in T cell activation. In this work, co-culture and biomimetic models were established. We first disrupted the cytoskeleton of mature dendritic cells (mDC) with cytochalasin B and observed reduced T cell proliferation. We then attempted to mimic mDC and T cell interactions using polyacrylamide (PA) gels with defined stiffness corresponding to mDC (0.2 - 25 kPa), and different ratios of immobilized anti-CD3 (aCD3) and anti-CD28 (aCD28) antibodies. The results showed T cell proliferation was triggered by both aCD3 and aCD28 in a stiffness-dependent manner, with cells cultured on aCD3 gels had significantly higher proliferation. Overall, our biosystem allows distinguishing the impact of biophysical and biochemical signals of APC and T cell interactions in vitro.
The non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) extraction from maternal abdominal signals is one of the most promising modern fetal monitoring techniques. However, the non-invasive fECG signal is heavily contaminated with noise and overlaps with other prominent signals like the maternal ECG. In this work we propose a novel approach in non-invasive fECG extraction using the swarm decomposition (SWD) to isolate the fetal components from the abdominal signal. Accompanied with the use of higher-order statistics (HOS) for R peak detection, the application of the proposed method to the Abdominal and Direct Fetal ECG PhysioNet Database resulted in fetal R peak detection sensitivity of 99.8% and a positive predictability of 99.8%. Our results demonstrate the applicability of SWD and its potentiality in extracting fECG of high morphological quality with more deep decomposition levels, in order to connect the extracted structural characteristics of the fECG with the health status of the fetus.
Previous studies showed inconsistent results with the effects of KT on muscle activity and dynamics of lower limbs. In these studies, no unified method nor exercise was defined. The effects of KT is important to validate on healthy individuals to validate the KT as a treatment to lower limbs and joints injuries for both sports and normal people populations. Even though the KT tape was invented in 1970s and had been used extensively since then, the studies to support its effectiveness initiated in 2008. In this study, we will investigate the effects of KT on muscle activity and dynamics of ankle and knee joints during 40degrees knee flexion. The assessment of changes is done using joint position test (JPT), which is considered a clinical measurement for assessing proprioception. In addition, the squatting exercise is a routine activity that is performed by healthy people in daily routine, not only in sports.
Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising thermally driven separation process, particularly for high salinity brines. However, it relatively high energy consumption, compared to RO, is considered as one of its main drawbacks. A major portion of energy consumption in MD systems goes to heating the circulating high saline feed. Challenges such as temperature polarization and the need for repeated replacement of the corroded coils in the thermal heaters, are raised from the same problem. The integration of self-heating (electro-thermal) membranes inside the MD module provide localized heating effect, which helps in eliminating the preceding mentioned challenges. Because of their high specific surface area, high chemical stability and reasonable microporous structure, carbon based materials such as CNTs are investigated in this study. The performance of electrically conductive MWCNT based membranes as self-heating (electro-thermal) membranes is studied. Here, CNT/PVDF composite membranes were fabricated using simple tape casting technique on different substrates
Date (phoenix dactylifera) fruits contain a high amount of monosaccharides (fructose and glucose). These naturally occurring simple sugar forms are easily assimilated by human metabolism. The extraction of these sugars from date fruit is showing potential as an appropriate and superior alternative to the commercial refined-sugar. The conventional date syrup extraction process has many challenges, such as low sugar recovery and low extraction efficiency. This study reports the production of liquid date sugar using the sub-critical water extraction technique. A maximum product yield of 29.3% was obtained at the optimal operating conditions of 140 ?C temperature, 20 min of extraction time, feed-to-solvent ratio of 15%, and 400 rpm agitation speed. This work defines a new technique for the fruit sugar extraction from dates which could be either used directly or further processed into soluble solid sugar product by an appropriate drying process.
Cu-doped TiO2 was prepared by a simple sol-gel process, where Pt nanoparticles were subsequently photodeposited for improved photocatalytic activity. Reduced graphene oxide was then impregnated onto the Pt/Cu-TiO2 to form the final photocatalytic nanocomposite. The properties of the graphene-impregnated Pt/Cu-TiO2 photocatalyst were characterized by a number of analytical and spectroscopic methods, including XRD, Raman, DRS, PL, TEM, STEM-EDX, BET, TPD, and FT-IR. The photocatalytic reduction of gaseous CO2 and liquid CO2 in the absence of a reductant and under UV light was investigated. The rate of product formation was found to be higher with liquid CO2 than with gaseous CO2. This is one of the very few studies performed on the photoreduction of liquid CO2.
steady-state simulation of the supercritical extraction of glucose and fructose from date palm fruit using supercritical carbon dioxide and water as a co-solvent has been studied using Aspen-Plus Software. The simulation was run at temperatures ranging from 32 to 84C, pressures of 254 to 308 bar, and carbon dioxide mass flow rates of 5000 to 31000 kg/h. The results indicate that the amount of glucose extracted increases as the extraction pressure is increased, while the amount of fructose extracted decreases as the extraction pressure is increased. The amount of sugar extracted was unaffected by increasing the extraction temperature. The amount of sugar extracted increased as the rate of supercritical carbon dioxide increased. The maximum amount of glucose and fructose extracted was obtained at a pressure of 308 bar, a temperature of 65C, and a carbon dioxide mass flow rate of 31000 kg/h.
