A quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of laparascopy and endoscopy virtual reality simulators

The increasing use of virtual reality (VR) simulators in surgical training makes it imperative that definitive studies be performed to assess their training effectiveness. Indeed in this paper we report the meta-analysis of the efficacy of virtual reality simulators in (1) the transference of skills from the simulator training environment to the operating room and (2) their ability to discriminate between the experience levels of its users. The task completion time and the error score were the two study outcomes collated and analyzed in this meta-analysis. Sixteen studies were identified from a computer-based literature search (1996-2004). The meta-analysis of the random-effects model (because of the heterogeneity of the data) revealed that training on virtual reality simulators did lessen the time taken to complete a given surgical task as also clearly differentiate between the experienced and the novice trainees. Meta-analytic studies such as the one reported here would be very helpful in the planning and setting up of surgical training programs and for the establishment of reference ‘learning curves’ for a specific simulator and surgical task. If any such programs already exist they can then indicate the improvements to be made in the simulator used such as providing for more variety in their case scenarios based on the state and/or rate of learning of the trainee.     

Prediction of the effects on dynamic response due to distributed structural modification with additional degrees of freedom

The aim of this study is to investigate means of efficiently assessing the effects of distributed structural modification on the dynamic properties of a complex structure. The dynamic properties of the modified structure can be determined by experimental testing or numerical simulation, both of which are complex, expensive and time-consuming. Assuming that the original dynamic characteristics are already established and that the modification is a relatively simple attachment, the modified dynamic properties may be determined numerically without solving the equations of motion of the full-modified structure. The frequency response functions (FRFs) of the modified structure can be computed by coupling the original FRFs and a delta dynamic stiffness matrix for the modification introduced. The validity of this approach is investigated by applying it to a cantilever beam to which a smaller beam is attached as modification. The original FRFs were obtained experimentally as well as numerically. The delta dynamic stiffness matrix was determined numerically by modeling the attachment and part of the original structure including the attachment points. The FRFs of the modified beam were then computed. Good agreement is obtained by comparing the results to the FRFs of the modified beam determined experimentally as well as by numerical modeling of the complete modified structure.     

An evolutionary lion optimization algorithm‐based image compression technique for biomedical applications

Recently, medical image compression becomes essential to effectively handle large amounts of medical data for storage and communication purposes. Vector quantization (VQ) is a popular image compression technique, and the commonly used VQ model is Linde–Buzo–Gray (LBG) that constructs a local optimal codebook to compress images. The codebook construction was considered as an optimization problem, and a bioinspired algorithm was employed to solve it. This article proposed a VQ codebook construction approach called the L2‐LBG method utilizing the Lion optimization algorithm (LOA) and Lempel Ziv Markov chain Algorithm (LZMA). Once LOA constructed the codebook, LZMA was applied to compress the index table and further increase the compression performance of the LOA. A set of experimentation has been carried out using the benchmark medical images, and a comparative analysis was conducted with Cuckoo Search‐based LBG (CS‐LBG), Firefly‐based LBG (FF‐LBG) and JPEG2000. The compression efficiency of the presented model was validated in terms of compression ratio (CR), compression factor (CF), bit rate, and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR). The proposed L2‐LBG method obtained a higher CR of 0.3425375 and PSNR value of 52.62459 compared to CS‐LBG, FA‐LBG, and JPEG2000 methods. The experimental values revealed that the L2‐LBG process yielded effective compression performance with a better‐quality reconstructed image.     

AHW-BGOA-DNN: a novel deep learning model for epileptic seizure detection

Neural Computing and Applications - “Brain–Computer Interface” (BCI)—a real-life support system provides a way for epileptic patients to improve their quality of life. In...     

Electric field-induced concentration and capture of DNA onto microtips

Simple, high-yield concentration of DNA is important for high-throughput genetic analysis and disease diagnosis. Glass-based microfilters are popular but the process requires centrifugation steps with cumbersome chemical processes. As an alternative, a concentration method using an electric field has been explored previously, but with limited efficiency. In this paper, electric field-induced concentration and capture of DNA are studied by using high-aspect-ratio microtips coated with a gold layer. The microtips are immersed longitudinally into a solution of 100???L containing ??-phage DNA. After DNA concentration using an electric field, the microtips are withdrawn from the solution. Under AC- and biased AC fields, DNA is concentrated by electrophoresis (EP), dielectrophoresis (DEP), and electroosmotic flow (EOF). To reduce capillary effects in the withdrawal process, the microtips are coated with positively charged poly-l-lysine (PLL). The pattern of captured DNA is analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. DEP attracts DNA molecules at the edges of microtips, where the highest gradient of electric field exists. EP attracts DNA onto the surface of microtips following the vectors of an electric field. EOF generates vortexes that deliver DNA onto microtips. Using this method, 85% of DNA is captured on the PLL-coated microtips after three sequential captures. The concentration mechanism can potentially facilitate rapid and simple preparation of DNA for downstream analysis.     

IR and Raman studies and effect of γ radiation on crystallization of some lead borate glasses containing Al2O3

IR and Raman spectra of glass ceramics based on PbO-Cr₂O₃-B₂O₃glass composition system have been studied. The bands characteristic of BO₃. and BO₄ functional groups are present in all the samples. An incorporation of Al₂O₃(up to 5 mol%) in the initial glass composition considerably changes the glass network structure and relative concentrations of BO₃ and BO₄ groups. The composition 50 PbO-20 Cr₂O₃-25 B₂O₃-5 Al₂O₃(in mol%) reveals a maximum fraction of boron in the BO₄ group. A sample of this composition heat treated at 850° C for 25 h shows a maximum crystallization fraction with Pb₂O · CrO₄ as a prominent crystalline phase. The glasses irradiated with rays inhibit the crystallization into the Pb₂O · CrO₄ phase. They also show relatively smaller thermal conductivity.     

Scanning Auger electron spectroscopy study of the oxide film formed on dendritic and interdendritic regions of C containing Fe3Al intermetallic

The oxide films formed during early stage of oxidation at 800 °C on dendritic and interdendritic regions of the cast Fe–16Al–1C (wt.%) alloy were studied using scanning Auger electron spectroscopy. Microhardness measurement and elemental depth profiles by Auger spectroscopy reveal that the carbide, Fe₃AlC_0.69, is the major constituent of the interdendritic region, while dendrites are predominantly Fe₃Al phase. Between the two, the interdendritic region is found to be more prone to oxidation than the dendritic region, which was attributed to presence of carbides with low-Al content. In spite of the difference in oxide film thickness exhibited by both the phases, they consist of an inner aluminium oxide layer and an outer iron oxide layer.     

A study of global vs. local properties for maleic anhydride modified polypropylene nanocomposites

Nanoindentation of organomodified clay filled maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was investigated. The study aims to identify the relative increase in local stiffness in comparison to the increase in mechanical properties of the bulk in polypropylene-based nanocomposites. Such a study allows one to assess confined material property in addition to increased filler volume at the local scale. A mixture of highly intercalated and well exfoliated clay structures, when dispersed in MAPP matrix, was observed under transmission electron microscopy. The degree of exfoliation was found to increase with clay loading, which was attributed to the higher viscosity and mechanical shear forces during melt compounding. Instrumented indentation was performed on (1) clay aggregate supported by MAPP matrix, (2) clay-matrix boundary, and (3) the MAPP matrix. The clay aggregated region generally showed higher stiffness as compared to the matrix. And, the relative increase in indentation stiffness is substantially higher than the relative increase in tensile and compressive stiffnesses for clay reinforced systems. Polymer chain confinement and topological constraint appeared to be operative to enhance local stiffness in the clay aggregated region. Good correlation was, however, obtained between the change in macroscopic stiffness and the change in highly local indentation stiffness as a result of clay reinforcement.     

Prediction of burning rate of coal in fluidized-bed combustion

A theory has been proposed to evaluate the burning rate of a single carbon particle in a continuously operated coal-fired fluidized bed. Experimental verification was carried out in a laboratory scale 200 mm × 200 mm combustor. The burning rate increases with the increase of the fluidization velocity and the size of the bed material. The predicted data on burning rate agree fairly well with the experimental values. The gas concentration in the bed and freeboard has also been measured and it is seen that the consumption of oxygen mostly takes place in the bed.