A Digital Planimeter for Industrial Applications

A system suitable for industrial applications is proposed for the measurement of the area of irregular shapes by scanning the moving object by a photocell-array resulting in a train of pulses each representing 1 cm2, which are totaled and displayed. The measured accuracy of the system is demonstrated to be better than 0.5 percent, typically 0.2 percent, and this is shown to be in good agreement with theoretical analysis of the error.     

Fuzzy production control with limited resources and response delay

This paper attempts to study the possibility of using fuzzy control in production-inventory systems that contain variable processes with fixed capacity. The average processing rate that builds up the inventory is equal to the average delivery rate that consumes the inventory so that the system needs no-control action on the basis of averages. However, the inherent randomness in both consumption and replenishment of inventory gives rise to random variations in inventory level that needs to be controlled. Attempt is thus made to develop a fuzzy control system (FCS) to control the effects of randomness in such production systems. Effects of various parameters of the FCS on various performance measures are investigated so that a FCS may be developed for specific situations. It is shown how limited resources on production capacity and the delay due to processing time frustrate the efforts of designing an effective FCS although some benefits can still be achieved. The question of how frequently the fuzzy inference engine (FIE) should observe the system and process the inputs is also studied. Finally it is shown how a little extra production capacity makes the FCS very effective. The investigations provide an understanding and methodology that can be used to design FCS for any situation and, although we have considered two products, it can easily be extended to more than two products.     

New applications of clique separator decomposition for the Maximum Weight Stable Set problem

Graph decompositions such as decomposition by clique separators and modular decomposition are of crucial importance for designing efficient graph algorithms. Clique separators in graphs were used by Tarjan as a divide-and-conquer approach for solving various problems such as the Maximum Weight Stable Set (MWS) problem, Colouring and Minimum Fill-in. The basic tool is a decomposition tree of the graph whose leaves have no clique separator (so-called atoms), and the problem can be solved efficiently on the graph if it is efficiently solvable on its atoms. We give new examples where the clique separator decomposition works well for the MWS problem; our results improve and extend various recently published results. In particular, we describe the atom structure for some new classes of graphs whose atoms are P₅-free (the P₅ is the induced path with five vertices) and obtain new polynomial time results for the MWS problem. The complexity of this problem on the class of P₅-free graphs is still unknown.     

A multi-level abstraction and modeling in video databases

In this paper, we propose a multi-level abstraction mechanism for capturing the spatial and temporal semantics associated with various objects in an input image or in a sequence of video frames. This abstraction can manifest itself effectively in conceptualizing events and views in multimedia data as perceived by individual users. The objective is to provide an efficient mechanism for handling content-based queries, with the minimum amount of processing performed on raw data during query evaluation. We introduce a multi-level architecture for video data management at different levels of abstraction. The architecture facilitates a multi-level indexing/searching mechanism. At the finest level of granularity, video data can be indexed based on mere appearance of objects and faces. For management of information at higher levels of abstractions, an object-oriented paradigm is proposed which is capable of supporting domain specific views.     

An intelligent fault detection approach based on reinforcement learning system in wireless sensor network

The Journal of Supercomputing - The Internet of Things (IoT) has developed a well-defined infrastructure due to commercializing novel technologies. IoT networks enable smart devices to compile...     

Interaction of Matrix Cracking and Delamination in Cross-ply Laminates: Simulations with Stochastic Cohesive Zone Elements

Two main damage mechanisms of laminates—matrix cracking and inter-ply delaminationare closely linked together (Joshi and Sun 1). This paper is focussed on interaction between matrix cracking and delamination failure mechanisms in CFRP cross-ply laminates under quasi-static tensile loading. In the first part of the work, a transverse crack is introduced in 90o layers of the cross-ply laminate [01/904/01], and the stresses and strains that arise due to tensile loading are analyzed. In the second part, the cohesive zone modelling approach where the constitutive behaviour of the cohesive elements is governed by traction-displacement relationship is employed to deal with the problem of delamination initiation from the matrix crack introduced in the 90o layers of the laminate specimen. Additionally, the effect of microstructural randomness, exhibited by CFRP laminates on the damage behaviour of these laminates is also accounted for in simulations. This effect is studied in numerical finite-element simulations by introducing stochastic cohesive zone elements. The proposed damage modelling effectively simulated the interaction between the matrix crack and delamination and the variations in the stresses, damage and crack lengths of the laminate specimen due to the microstructural randomness.     

Nanopatterned UV curable hydrogels for biomedical applications

With an increasing use of emerging patterning technologies such as UV-NIL in biotechnological applications there is at the same time a raising demand for new material for such applications. Here we present a PEG based precursor mixed with a photoinitiator to make it UV sensitive as a new material aimed at biotechnological applications. Using HSQ patterned quartz stamps we observed excellent pattern replication indicating good flow properties of the resist. We were able to obtain imprints with <20 nm residual layer. The PEG based resist has hydrogel properties and it swelling in water was observed by AFM.     

Capsular tension segment in a case of microspherophakia

BackgroundA child with microspherophakia is described who was managed with scleral fixation of the loose capsular bag using Ahmed capsular tension segment and the small capsular bag was expanded using a standard capsular tension ring.MethodsThe child presented initially with lenticular myopia and concomitant glaucoma for which he was treated with peripheral iridotomy alone. The IOP remained uncontrolled after iridotomy procedure. Therefore, bimanual clear lens aspiration was performed; standard capsular tension ring was implanted ‘in the bag’ and Ahmed capsular tension segment was sutured to the sclera to stabilize the capsular complex. Foldable acrylic IOL was then injected into the bag.ResultsPostoperatively, the child had an unaided acuity of 20/30 on ETDRS. The IOL was centered well and the capsular bag had expanded due to the effect of CTR.ConclusionsThis ‘dual support’ technique takes advantage of using both CTR and CTS to overcome the generalized zonulopathy found in cases of microspherophakia. It effectively counteracts lenticular myopia, treats glaucoma, strengthens the capsular bag and does not entail the future risk of IOL-bag dislocation.     

Synthesis and material properties of elastomeric high molecular weight polycycloacetals derived from diglycerol and meso-erythritol

Copolymerizing glutaraldehyde with tetraols such as diglycerol, meso-erythritol, and pentaerythritol is particularly effective for forming very high molecular weight polycycloacetals (M_n up to 65,000 g/mol) with elastomeric properties and up to 70% biorenewable content by weight. Altering the tetraol monomer feed ratio provides control over the polycycloacetal's tensile properties. The polymerizations are high-yielding, readily scalable, and employ commercially available starting materials that are used without further purification. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48780.     

Quantitation and Risk Assessment of Chemical Adulterants in Milk Using UHPLC Coupled to Photodiode Array and Differential Refractive Index Detectors

Milk can be adulterated illegitimately with formaldehyde, melamine, urea, and sugars for preservation, protein content enhancement, and taste improvement, respectively. In the present study, formaldehyde, melamine, urea, and sugars (fructose, glucose, lactose, sucrose) were analyzed using ultra-fast high performance liquid chromatography in 30 fresh and pasteurized milk samples. Satisfactory chromatographic retention and peak shape investigated and method has been validated by means of recovery experiments in samples spiked at two levels. Average recoveries ranged between 95–105 % with excellent precision; RSD lower than 5 % was achieved. Among the tested samples, formaldehyde was detected in all samples while seven and 20 samples were positive for melamine and sucrose, respectively. Monitoring of these adulterants in milk could help to reduce the human health hazards. Exposure to formaldehyde, melamine, and urea from consumption of milk was estimated, and these were less than 3.3, 1, and 700 μg/mL, respectively, which is an oral reference dose suggested by the World Health Organization and US Food and Drug Administration.