A simple vehicle for the transportation of a humanoid Nao robot

Locomotion and autonomy in humanoid robots is of utmost importance in integrating them into social and community service type roles. However, the limited range and speed of these robots severely limits their ability to be deployed in situations where fast response is necessary. While the ability for a humanoid to drive a vehicle would aide in increasing their overall mobility, the ability to mount and dismount a vehicle designed for human occupants is a non-trivial problem. To address this issue, this paper presents an innovative approach to enabling a humanoid robot to mount and dismount a vehicle by proposing a simple mounting bracket involving no moving parts. In conjunction with a purpose built robotic vehicle, the mounting bracket successfully allowed a humanoid Nao robot to mount, dismount and drive the vehicle.

Optical trapping and transportation of carbon nanotubes made easy by decorating with palladium

Individual carbon nanotubes being substantially smaller than the wavelength of light, are not much responsive to optical manipulation. Here we demonstrate how decorating single-walled carbon nanotubes with palladium particles makes optical trapping and manipulation easier. Palladium decorated nanotubes (Pd/SWNTs) have higher effective dielectric constant and are trapped at much lower laser power level with greater ease. In addition, we report the transportation of Pd/SWNTs using an asymmetric line trap. Using this method carbon nanotubes can be transported in any desired direction with high transportation speed. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Studies on transportation of fish. Pt. 1. Packaging of frozen fish in insulated containers

The paper deals with certain technological aspects of transportation of fish. Frozen fish packed in thermocole insulated plywood box (tea chests) and transported has been found to remain in good condition, for 3 to 4 days. Fish reaching the destination in a thawed state can be stored in crushed ice for a further period of 2-3 days. The effect of initial temperature of frozen fish on the storage life, the maximum storage period for different types of frozen fish packed in the insulated container and the changes in chemical and organoleptic qualities of different varieties of fish under condition of transport are also discussed.

Transportation of fish in India: problems and prospects

India has a long coast line of about 4,800 km along which fish landing centers are scattered. Fish catches are showing an upward trend consequent on rapid mechanization of fishing crafts. Economic utilization of the landed fish is an essential prerequisite for the proper development of Indian fishing and fish processing industries.

Investigations on long distance transportation of fish. 3. Field trials with a dismantlable insulated galvanised iron container

The paper communicates the results of field trials conducted with a dismantlable insulated galvanised iron container designed and fabricated by the first two authors in their laboratory. Different varieties of fishes and different types of packing, namely, fresh iced, chilled iced and frozen were employed in the transportation experiments which were conducted from Kakinada to Howrah, Kakinada to New Delhi and Paradeep to Howrah. In all the experiments the container performed exceedingly well and has still remained in very trim condition.

Investigations on long distance transportation of fish. 4. A comparative study of the performance of expanded polystyrene slabs and multi-layer gunny (jute) fabric as insulants

A comparative study of the insulation efficiencies of expanded polystyrene slabs and multi-layer gunny fabric in long distance transportation of fresh iced fish was made. Used plywood boxes (second hand tea chests) were employed as containers and the experiments conducted between Kakinada and Calcutta. All the three insulants tried, namely, 25.4 mm thick expanded polystyrene slab, four and two layer gunny (jute) fabric, all sealed in 150 gauge polythene sheets, showed comparable insulation efficiencies, considering total bacterial counts, organoleptic qualities and TMA and TVN values of the transported fish as parameters.

Investigations on long distance transportation of fish. 5. Transportation of filleted and round seer fish (Scomberomorus sp.) from Kakinada to Calcutta by rail

Iced seer fish (Scomberomorus sp.) was transported by rail in expanded polystyrene insulated plywood boxes from Kakinada to Calcutta in round and fillet forms. While both withstood the rigors of transportation squarely, the fillets fetched only half the price of round fish in the auction conducted at the Calcutta market.

Transportation of fish - 3. Biochemical changes in fish during transportation in insulated containers

The changes in the biochemistry of different varieties of iced fish during transportation in thermocole lined second hand tea chests from Veraval to Bombay and Delhi are discussed. The moisture increased for all the varieties except for eel and hilsa at Bombay. TMAN and TVN increased in all cases. Maximum increase of TMAN and TVN was observed in seer fish.

Comparative study of traditional and improved containers for transportation of fresh fish

Traditional bamboo basket and expanded polystyrene insulated plywood box (second hand tea-chest) were compared for transportation of iced marine, fresh water and brackish water fishes from Kakinada to Madras by rail. Quality of fish at dispatching and receiving centres was assessed by organoleptic, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and total bacterial count (TBC) tests. Based on the results obtained and the prices fetched, the traditional bamboo basket apart from being cheaper was found to be as good as expanded polystyrene insulated plywood box for short distance transportation of iced fish involving less than 24 hours journey.

Transportation of fish - 1. A preliminary study on insulated containers and their efficacy in long distance transportation

Polythene lined thermocole insulated plywood boxes (second-hand tea chests) could be successfully used for transport of fresh iced fish. It was found that a minimum of 25 mm thermocole insulation was necessary during summer (April to June) and 15 mm during winter (Nov. to March). By using these insulated boxes the initial fish to ice ratio could be brought down to 1:0.75 and still further to 1:0.5 at the height of winter in Jan. and Feb. These second-hand tea chests are robust and are able to stand a minimum of 5 trips to and fro. The moulded polystyrene boxes are not suited for long distance transport. Another redeeming feature in the entire operation was that there was practically no loss of fish due to spoilage in transit. 100% of the fish transported was in acceptable condition and could be marketed. In the non-insulated boxes used by the trade, the loss due to spoilage ranged from 10% to 25%, and this could be completely eliminated by the use of these insulated boxes.

Investigations on long distance transportation of fish 1. Transportation of frozen fish from Cochin to Calcutta

Oil Sardine (Sardinella longiceps), mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), cat fish (Arius sp.), threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) and ribbon fish (Trichurus sp.) were frozen in glazed/unglazed blocks, packed in expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulated plywood boxes with and without additional ice and despatched in uninsulated parcel vans of trains from Cochin to Calcutta. The consignments reached the destination in excellent condition and were readily disposed off.

Studies on the transportation of live clams

Live clams (Villorita cyprinoides) collected from their natural beds were packed in different ways like dry pack, tray pack, in oxygenated water (wet pack) and depurated samples in wet pack. It was found that the packaging in l kg lots in 200 gauge polythene bags with oxygen at a temperature of 20°C could keep them live for 4 days. In tray pack without oxygen and water they can be kept alive for 3 days at 20°C. Temperature seems to be the critical factor in the transportation of live clams. At room temperature both dry and wet pack can be kept for 24 h only. Depuration technique does not appear to be useful in prolonging the storage life of clams in live condition as percentage mortality is more at 48 h both at 20°C and room temperature compared to the non-depurated samples.

Bulk packages for storage and transportation of salted and dried fish

The effect of bulk packaging on the storage of salted and dried fish was studied at ambient conditions. Four different packaging systems were tried, among which gusseted type high density polyethylene woven sacks having either circular loom or traditional loom laminated with 100 gauge low density polyethylene were found to be best suited for dry fish packaging as they could withstand the hazards of handling, transportation and storage.

XBP 1-deficiency abrogates neointimal lesion of injured vessels via cross talk with the PDGF signaling

Objective: Smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation play an essential role in neointimal formation after vascular injury. In this study, we intended to investigate whether the X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) was involved in these processes.

Approach and Results: In vivo studies on femoral artery injury models revealed that vascular injury triggered an immediate upregulation of XBP1 expression and splicing in vascular SMCs and that XBP1 deficiency in SMCs significantly abrogated neointimal formation in the injured vessels. In vitro studies indicated that platelet-derived growth factor-BB triggered XBP1 splicing in SMCs via the interaction between platelet-derived growth factor receptor β and the inositol-requiring enzyme 1α. The spliced XBP1 (XBP1s) increased SMC migration via PI3K/Akt activation and proliferation via downregulating calponin h1 (CNN1). XBP1s directed the transcription of mir-1274B that targeted CNN1 mRNA degradation. Proteomic analysis of culture media revealed that XBP1s decreased transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family proteins secretion via transcriptional suppression. TGF-β3 but not TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 attenuated XBP1s-induced CNN1 decrease and SMC proliferation.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that XBP1 is crucial for SMC proliferation via modulating the platelet-derived growth factor/TGF-β pathways, leading to neointimal formation.

Evaluation of Stress Reducing Capacity of Selected Anaesthetics for the Live Transportation of Green Chromide Etroplus suratensis

Transport of live aquatic organisms which is more than a century old, perhaps started in the 1870's (Norris et al, 1960). Live fish transportation is an essential practice in aquaculture particularly in rural areas of developing countries representing the only means of supplying fry to small scale aqua culturists (Taylor and Ross, 1988). Very often, large numbers of fry, fingerlings, juveniles and adult fish are being transported from the hatchery to fish farms, fish farms to market, processors and consumers. Live fish command large economic importance in the fresh fish market than dead and iced fish. Medina Pizzali (2001) observed that live fish in the Kolkata market was usually sold at higher prices than dead fish and most consumers were prepared to pay premium prices for live fish, which is considered as the best guarantee of freshness, quality, and intrinsic characteristics of its flesh (better texture and delicate flavour) in comparison with fresh/chilled seafood. Various government and private agencies undertake transport of live fish for commercial live fish market or for artificial propagation of game