Upper limb tremor suppression in ADL via an orthosis incorporating a controllable double viscous beam actuator

Neuromuscular disorders affect millions of people world-wide. Upper limb tremor is a common symptom, and due to its complex aetiology it is difficult to compensate for except, in particular cases by surgical intervention or drug therapy. Wearable devices that mechanically compensate for limb tremor could benefit a considerable number of patients, but the technology to assist suffers in this way is under-developed. In this paper we propose an innovative orthosis that can dynamically suppress pathological tremor, by applying viscous damping to the affected limb in a controlled manner. The orthosis design utilises a new actuator design based on Magneto-Rheological Fluids that efficiently deliver damping action in response to the instantaneous tremor frequency and amplitude.

Wire beam electrode : a new tool for studying localised corrosion and other heterogeneous electrochemical processes

Heterogeneous electrochemical processes are very common in industry and are important, but difficult topics in electrochemical and corrosion science studies. Traditional electrochemical techniques which employ a conventional one-piece electrode have major limitations in studying heterogeneous electrochemical processes since the one-piece electrode has major difficulties in measuring electrochemical parameters from local areas of the electrode surface. In order to overcome this problem, a multi-piece electrode, namely the wire beam electrode, has been developed. This new electrode enables the measurement of electrochemical parameters from local areas over a working electrode surface and thus it can be used to study heterogeneous electrochemical processes. This paper describes how this new electrode was applied in studying several typical heterogeneous electrochemical processes including water-drop corrosion, corrosion under non-uniform organic films and cathodic protection.

Localized corrosion and inhibition studies using the wire beam electrode in conjunction with the electrochemical noise analysis and the scanning reference electrode techniques

Several new technical developments have been made based on the combined use of the wire beam electrode (WBE), electrochemical noise analysis (ENA) and the scanning reference electrode technique (SRET). These have included: (i) The WBE-R n method- the combined use of the WBE and the noise resistance (Rn) to map the rates and patterns of uniform or localized corrosion; (ii) The WBE-Noise Signatures method- the combined use of the WBE and the noise signature to detect the origination and propagation of localized corrosion; and (iii) The WBE-SRET method- the combined use of the WBE and SRET to investigate localized corrosion from both the metallic and electrolyte phases of a corroding metal surface. This paper presents a brief review on these novel methods and their applications for detecting general and localized corrosion, for mapping the rates of corrosion, and for studying corrosion inhibitors.

Soliton dynamics at an interface between a uniform medium and a nonlinear optical lattice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Hydroxyapatite deposition study through polymeric process on commercially pure Ti surfaces modified by laser beam irradiation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of anatomical location on CT numbers in cone beam computed tomography

Objective: To assess the influence of anatomical location on computed tomography (CT) numbers in mid- and full field of view (FOV) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Study Design: Polypropylene tubes with varying concentrations of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4) solutions (50-1200 mg/mL) were imaged within the incisor, premolar, and molar dental sockets of a human skull phantom. CBCT scans were acquired using the NewTom 3G and NewTom 5G units. The CT numbers of the K2HPO 4 phantoms were measured, and the relationship between CT numbers and K2HPO4 concentration was examined. The measured CT numbers of the K2HPO4 phantoms were compared between anatomical sites. Results: At all six anatomical locations, there was a strong linear relationship between CT numbers and K2HPO4 concentration (R 2 > 0.93). However, the absolute CT numbers varied considerably with the anatomical location. Conclusion: The relationship between CT numbers and object density is not uniform through the dental arch on CBCT scans. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Migração 3-D Kirchhoff-Gaussian-Beam (KGB) pré-empilhamento no domínio da profundidade

O Feixe Gaussiano (FG) é uma solução assintótica da equação da elastodinâmica na vizinhança paraxial de um raio central, a qual se aproxima melhor do campo de ondas do que a aproximação de ordem zero da Teoria do Raio. A regularidade do FG na descrição do campo de ondas, assim como a sua elevada precisão em algumas regiões singulares do meio de propagação, proporciona uma forte alternativa na solução de problemas de modelagem e imageamento sísmicos. Nesta Tese, apresenta-se um novo procedimento de migração sísmica pré-empilhamento em profundidade com amplitudes verdadeiras, que combina a flexibilidade da migração tipo Kirchhoff e a robustez da migração baseada na utilização de Feixes Gaussianos para a representação do campo de ondas. O algoritmo de migração proposto é constituído por dois processos de empilhamento: o primeiro é o empilhamento de feixes (“beam stack”) aplicado a subconjuntos de dados sísmicos multiplicados por uma função peso definida de modo que o operador de empilhamento tenha a mesma forma da integral de superposição de Feixes Gaussianos; o segundo empilhamento corresponde à migração Kirchhoff tendo como entrada os dados resultantes do primeiro empilhamento. Pelo exposto justifica-se a denominação migração Kirchhoff-Gaussian-Beam (KGB). As principais características que diferenciam a migração KGB, durante a realização do primeiro empilhamento, de outros métodos de migração que também utilizam a teoria dos Feixes Gaussianos, são o uso da primeira zona de Fresnel projetada para limitar a largura do feixe e a utilização, no empilhamento do feixe, de uma aproximação de segunda ordem do tempo de trânsito de reflexão. Como exemplos são apresentadas aplicações a dados sintéticos para modelos bidimensionais (2-D) e tridimensionais (3-D), correspondentes aos modelos Marmousi e domo de sal da SEG/EAGE, respectivamente.

Análise do efeito da discretização do modelo de velocidades nas migrações Kirchhoff e Kirchhoff-Gaussian- Beam 2D pré-empilhamento em profundidade

O Feixe Gaussiano (FG) é uma solução assintótica da equação da elastodinâmica na vizinhança paraxial de um raio central, a qual se aproxima melhor do campo de ondas do que a aproximação de ordem zero da Teoria do Raio. A regularidade do FG na descrição do campo de ondas, assim como a sua elevada precisão em algumas regiões singulares do meio de propagação, proporciona uma forte alternativa no imageamento sísmicos. Nesta dissertação, apresenta-se um novo procedimento de migração sísmica pré-empilhamento em profundidade com amplitudes verdadeiras, que combina a flexibilidade da migração tipo Kirchhoff e a robustez da migração baseada na utilização de Feixes Gaussianos para a representação do campo de ondas. O algoritmo de migração proposto é constituído por dois processos de empilhamento: o primeiro é o empilhamento de feixes (“beam stack”) aplicado a subconjuntos de dados sísmicos multiplicados por uma função peso definida de modo que o operador de empilhamento tenha a mesma forma da integral de superposição de Feixes Gaussianos; o segundo empilhamento corresponde à migração Kirchhoff tendo como entrada os dados resultantes do primeiro empilhamento. Pelo exposto justifica-se a denominação migração Kirchhoff-Gaussian-Beam (KGB).Afim de comparar os métodos Kirchhoff e KGB com respeito à sensibilidade em relação ao comprimento da discretização, aplicamos no conjunto de dados conhecido como Marmousi 2-D quatro grids de velocidade, ou seja, 60m, 80m 100m e 150m. Como resultado, temos que ambos os métodos apresentam uma imagem muito melhor para o menor intervalo de discretização da malha de velocidade. O espectro de amplitude das seções migradas nos fornece o conteúdo de frequência espacial das seções das imagens obtidas.

Effects of laser beam energy on the pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding of thin sheet corrosion resistant materials

The aim of this study was to value the possibility to join, for pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding, thin foils lap joints for sealing components in corrosive environment. Experimental investigations were carried out using a pulsed neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser weld to examine the influence of the pulse energy in the characteristics of the weld fillet. The pulse energy was varied from 1.0 to 2.5 J at increments of 0.25 J with a 4 ms pulse duration. The base materials used for this study were AISI 316L stainless steel and Ni-based alloys foils with 100 mu m thickness. The welds were analyzed by electronic and optical microscopy, tensile shear tests and micro hardness. The results indicate that pulse energy control is of considerable importance to thin foil weld quality because it can generate good mechanical properties and reduce discontinuities in weld joints. The ultimate tensile strength of the welded joints increased at first and then decreased as the pulse energy increased. In all the specimens, fracture occurred in the top foil heat-affected zone next to the fusion line. The microhardness was almost uniform across the parent metal, HAZ and weld metal. A slight increase in the fusion zone and heat-affected zone compared to those measured in the base metal was observed. This is related to the microstructural refinement in the fusion zone, induced by rapid cooling of the laser welding. The process appeared to be very sensitive to the gap between couples.

The dynamic behavior of a cantilever beam coupled to a non-ideal unbalanced motor through numerical and experimental analysis

An excitation force that is not influenced by the system state is said to be an ideal energy source. In real situations, a direct and feedback coupling between the excitation source and the system must always exist at a certain level. This manifestation of the law of conservation of energy is known as the Sommerfeld effect. In the case of obtaining a mathematical model for such a system, additional equations are usually necessary to describe the vibration sources with limited power and its coupling with the mechanical system. In this work, a cantilever beam and a non-ideal DC motor fixed to its free end are analyzed. The motor has an unbalanced mass that provides excitation to the system which is proportional to the current applied to the motor. During the coast up operation of the motor, if the drive power is increased slowly, making the excitation frequency pass through the first natural frequency of the beam, the DC motor speed will remain the same until it suddenly jumps to a much higher value (simultaneously its amplitude jumps to a much lower value) upon exceeding a critical input power. It was found that the Sommerfeld effect depends on some system parameters and the motor operational procedures. These parameters are explored to avoid the resonance capture in the Sommerfeld effect. Numerical simulations and experimental tests are used to help gather insight of this dynamic behavior. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A complete CMOS UWB timed-array transmitter with a 3D Vivaldi antenna array for electronic high-resolution beam spatial scanning

We present a new Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Timed- Array Transmitter System with Beamforming capability for high-resolution remote acquisition of vital signals. The system consists of four identical channels, where each is formed of a serial topology with three modules: programmable delay circuit (PDC or τ), a novel UWB 5th Gaussian Derivative order pulse generator circuit (PG), and a planar Vivaldi antenna. The circuit was designed using 0.18μm CMOS standard process and the planar antenna array was designed with filmconductor on Rogers RO3206 substrate. Spice simulations results showed the pulse generation with 104 mVpp amplitude and 500 ps width. The power consumption is 543 μW, and energy consumption 0.27 pJ per pulse using a 2V power supply at a pulse repetition rate (PRR) of 100 MHz. Electromagnetic simulations results, using CST Microwave (MW) Studio 2011, showed the main lobe radiation with a gain maximum of 13.2 dB, 35.5º x 36.7º angular width, and a beam steering between 17º and -11º for azimuthal (θ) angles and 17º and -18º for elevation (φ) angles at the center frequency of 6 GHz

Parity violating asymmetry in the electron deuteron quasielastic scattering, strange vector and axial vector form factors and beam normal spin asymmetries

In dieser Arbeit wurde die paritätsverletzende Asymmetrie in derrnquasielastischen Elektron-Deuteron-Streuung bei Q^2=0.23 (GeV/c)^2 mitrneinem longitudinal polarisierten Elektronstrahl bei einer Energie von 315rnMeV bestimmt. Die Messung erfolgte unter Rückwärtswinkeln. Der Detektor überdeckte einen polaren Streuwinkelbereichrnzwischen 140 und 150 deg. Das Target bestand aus flüssigemrnDeuterium in einer Targetzelle mit einer Länge von 23.4 cm. Dierngemessene paritätsverletzende Asymmetrie beträgt A_{PV}^d = (-20.11 pm 0.87_{stat} pm 1.03_{syst}), wobei der erste Fehler den statistischenrnFehlereitrag und der zweite den systematischen Fehlerbeitrag beschreibt. Ausrnder Kombination dieser Messung mit Messungen der paritätsverletzendenrnAsymmetrie in der elastischen Elektron-Proton-Streuung bei gleichem Q^2rnsowohl bei Vorwärts- als auch bei Rückwärtsmessungen können diernVektor-Strange-Formfaktoren sowie der effektive isovektorielle und isoskalarernVektorstrom des Protons, der die elektroschwachen radiativen Anapolkorrekturenrnenthält, bestimmt werden. Diese Arbeit umfasst ausserdem die Bestimmungrnder Asymmetrien bei einem transversal polarisierten Elektronstrahl sowohl beirneinem Proton- als auch einem Deuterontarget unter Rückwärtswinkeln beirnImpulsüberträgen von Q^2=0.10 (GeV/c)^2, Q^2=0.23 (GeV/c)^2rnund Q^2=0.35 (GeV/c)^2. Die im Experiment beobachteten Asymmetrien werdenrnmit theoretischen Berechnungen verglichen, welche den Imaginärteil der Zweiphoton-Austauschamplitude beinhalten.

Improving 4D plan quality for PBS-based liver tumour treatments by combining online image guided beam gating with rescanning.

Pencil beam scanned (PBS) proton therapy has many advantages over conventional radiotherapy, but its effectiveness for treating mobile tumours remains questionable. Gating dose delivery to the breathing pattern is a well-developed method in conventional radiotherapy for mitigating tumour-motion, but its clinical efficiency for PBS proton therapy is not yet well documented. In this study, the dosimetric benefits and the treatment efficiency of beam gating for PBS proton therapy has been comprehensively evaluated. A series of dedicated 4D dose calculations (4DDC) have been performed on 9 different 4DCT(MRI) liver data sets, which give realistic 4DCT extracting motion information from 4DMRI. The value of 4DCT(MRI) is its capability of providing not only patient geometries and deformable breathing characteristics, but also includes variations in the breathing patterns between breathing cycles. In order to monitor target motion and derive a gating signal, we simulate time-resolved beams' eye view (BEV) x-ray images as an online motion surrogate. 4DDCs have been performed using three amplitude-based gating window sizes (10/5/3 mm) with motion surrogates derived from either pre-implanted fiducial markers or the diaphragm. In addition, gating has also been simulated in combination with up to 19 times rescanning using either volumetric or layered approaches. The quality of the resulting 4DDC plans has been quantified in terms of the plan homogeneity index (HI), total treatment time and duty cycle. Results show that neither beam gating nor rescanning alone can fully retrieve the plan homogeneity of the static reference plan. Especially for variable breathing patterns, reductions of the effective duty cycle to as low as 10% have been observed with the smallest gating rescanning window (3 mm), implying that gating on its own for such cases would result in much longer treatment times. In addition, when rescanning is applied on its own, large differences between volumetric and layered rescanning have been observed as a function of increasing number of re-scans. However, once gating and rescanning is combined, HI to within 2% of the static plan could be achieved in the clinical target volume, with only moderately prolonged treatment times, irrespective of the rescanning strategy used. Moreover, these results are independent of the motion surrogate used. In conclusion, our results suggest image guided beam gating, combined with rescanning, is a feasible, effective and efficient motion mitigation approach for PBS-based liver tumour treatments.

Single beam survey data and links to sea-bottom video files off Helgoland

Kelp forests represent a major habitat type in coastal waters worldwide and their structure and distribution is predicted to change due to global warming. Despite their ecological and economical importance, there is still a lack of reliable spatial information on their abundance and distribution. In recent years, various hydroacoustic mapping techniques for sublittoral environments evolved. However, in turbid coastal waters, such as off the island of Helgoland (Germany, North Sea), the kelp vegetation is present in shallow water depths normally excluded from hydroacoustic surveys. In this study, single beam survey data consisting of the two seafloor parameters roughness and hardness were obtained with RoxAnn from water depth between 2 and 18 m. Our primary aim was to reliably detect the kelp forest habitat with different densities and distinguish it from other vegetated zones. Five habitat classes were identified using underwater-video and were applied for classification of acoustic signatures. Subsequently, spatial prediction maps were produced via two classification approaches: Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and manual classification routine (MC). LDA was able to distinguish dense kelp forest from other habitats (i.e. mixed seaweed vegetation, sand, and barren bedrock), but no variances in kelp density. In contrast, MC also provided information on medium dense kelp distribution which is characterized by intermediate roughness and hardness values evoked by reduced kelp abundances. The prediction maps reach accordance levels of 62% (LDA) and 68% (MC). The presence of vegetation (kelp and mixed seaweed vegetation) was determined with higher prediction abilities of 75% (LDA) and 76% (MC). Since the different habitat classes reveal acoustic signatures that strongly overlap, the manual classification method was more appropriate for separating different kelp forest densities and low-lying vegetation. It became evident that the occurrence of kelp in this area is not simply linked to water depth. Moreover, this study shows that the two seafloor parameters collected with RoxAnn are suitable indicators for the discrimination of different densely vegetated seafloor habitats in shallow environments.

Multibeam bathymetry of Timmiarmiut and Skjoldungen-Fjord, Southeast-Greenland

During an expedition with the topsail-schooner ACTIV in July 2014, parts of the Timmiarmiut-Fjord and nearly the entire Skjoldungen-Fjord in Southeast-Greenland have been mapped using a temporarily installed Seabeam-1050 multibeam echosounder. In addition, at 11 positions in the fjords, depth profiles of temperature, conductivity, salinity and sound velocity have been measured with a CTD.