A machine learning approach to detect changes in gait parameters following a fatiguing occupational task

The purpose of this study is to provide a method for classifying non-fatigued vs. fatigued states following manual material handling. A method of template matching pattern recognition for feature extraction ($1 Recognizer) along with the support vector machine model for classification were applied on the kinematics of gait cycles segmented by our stepwise search-based segmentation algorithm. A single inertial measurement unit on the ankle was used, providing a minimally intrusive and inexpensive tool for monitoring. The classifier distinguished between states using distance-based scores from the recogniser and the step duration. The results of fatigue detection showed an accuracy of 90% across data from 20 recruited subjects. This method utilises the minimum amount of data and features from only one low-cost sensor to reliably classify the state of fatigue induced by a realistic manufacturing task using a simple machine learning algorithm that can be extended to real-time fatigue monitoring as a future technology to be employed in the manufacturing facilities.

Practitioner Summary: We examined the use of a wearable sensor for the detection of fatigue-related changes in gait based on a simulated manual material handling task. Classification based on foot acceleration and position trajectories resulted in 90% accuracy. This method provides a practical framework for predicting realistic levels of fatigue.     

A new method to determine the synergistic effects of area ratio and microstructure on the galvanic corrosion of LAS A508/309 L/308 L SS dissimilar metals weld

The synergistic effects of area ratio and microstructure on the galvanic corrosion of A508/309 L/308 L dissimilar metals weld(DMW)are studied by a multi-analytical approach.It was demonstrated that decreasing the anode/cathode surface area ratio obviously enhances the corrosion rate of A508,both locally and globally.Deeper analyses of the AFM results enabled quantitative comparison of the corrosion behaviour of the different surface constituents.It was revealed that in the galvanic interaction of the DMW,the grain refined region corrodes most,followed by the partial grain refined region and base metal matrix of the A508,respectively.The electrochemical localization index(LI)estimation method and AFM analysis both confirmed the presence of a mixed(localized and uniform)corrosion phenomenon occurring on the surface of the A508 anode metal in the galvanic interaction of the dissimilar metals.Finally,the degree of synergism equation was utilized to describe the synergistic effects of anode/cathode area ratio and the microstructure of the samples on the galvanic corrosion of LAS A508/309L/308L SS DMW.     

Adsorption of BSA onto hexagonal mesoporous silicate loaded by APTES and tannin: Isotherm,thermodynamic and kinetic studies

In the present study, hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) was synthesized and modified by tannic acid as a natural poly-phenol and amine (TA-A-HMS) and was applied for the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from aqueous media. To investigate the structure of HMS and TA-A-HMS, SEM, TEM, XRD, BET and FTIR analysis were applied. The effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature on the BSA adsorption were studied. After modification, BET surface area of HMS was reduced from 885?m²/g to 51?m²/g which confirms the presence of tannin and amine groups that inhibit the adsorption of nitrogen molecules. According to the results of equilibrium data, it is shown that Langmuir isotherm with maximum adsorption capacity of 1000?mg/g is the predominant model and adsorption is mono-layer. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies also reveal that adsorption kinetic followed by pseudo-second order model and the adsorption process is exothermic.     

Advanced constitutive modelling for creep-fatigue assessment of high temperature components

Creep-fatigue assessment procedures for the design of high-temperature components should ensure lifetime predictions which are safe but not excessively conservative. Adoption of more accurate assessment procedures than are presently available enable the availability of power plant with greater operating flexibility. Operating flexibility is becoming a key market driver due to the increased interest in the use of intermittent renewable energy sources (e.g. wind, solar) which place focus on a requirement for turbo-machinery to be capable of reduced start-up and shut-down times. This study introduces a creep-fatigue assessment procedure for the design of high-temperature components required for flexible operation. In particular, it considers alloys with high creep-fatigue deformation/damage interaction characteristics such as the advanced martensitic 9–11%Cr steels which are widely used for power plant applications. The procedure takes advantages of advanced constitutive models and implements them in a state-of-the-art mechanical assessment procedure for calculating high-temperature component life times.     

Engineering Cell Surface Function with DNA Origami

A specific and reversible method is reported to engineer cell‐membrane function by embedding DNA‐origami nanodevices onto the cell surface. Robust membrane functionalization across epithelial, mesenchymal, and nonadherent immune cells is achieved with DNA nanoplatforms that enable functions including the construction of higher‐order DNA assemblies at the cell surface and programed cell–cell adhesion between homotypic and heterotypic cells via sequence‐specific DNA hybridization. It is anticipated that integration of DNA‐origami nanodevices can transform the cell membrane into an engineered material that can mimic, manipulate, and measure biophysical and biochemical function within the plasma membrane of living cells.     

Advances in Antimicrobial Microneedle Patches for Combating Infections

Skin infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi are difficult to treat by conventional topical administration because of poor drug penetration across the stratum corneum. This results in low bioavailability of drugs to the infection site, as well as the lack of prolonged release. Emerging antimicrobial transdermal and ocular microneedle patches have become promising medical devices for the delivery of various antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral therapeutics. In the present review, skin anatomy and its barriers along with skin infection are discussed. Potential strategies for designing antimicrobial microneedles and their targeted therapy are outlined. Finally, biosensing microneedle patches associated with personalized drug therapy and selective toxicity toward specific microbial species are discussed.     

An analytical investigation of elastic–plastic behaviors of 3D warp and woof auxetic structures

International Journal of Mechanics and Materials in Design - The present paper was conducted to calculate Young's modulus and Negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) of a warp and woof (WAW) 3D...     

A Novel Auto-Annotation Technique for Aspect Level Sentiment Analysis

In machine learning, sentiment analysis is a technique to find and analyze the sentiments hidden in the text. For sentiment analysis, annotated data is a basic requirement. Generally, this data is manually annotated. Manual annotation is time consuming, costly and laborious process. To overcome these resource constraints this research has proposed a fully automated annotation technique for aspect level sentiment analysis. Dataset is created from the reviews of ten most popular songs on YouTube. Reviews of five aspects—voice, video, music, lyrics and song, are extracted. An N-Gram based technique is proposed. Complete dataset consists of 369436 reviews that took 173.53 s to annotate using the proposed technique while this dataset might have taken approximately 2.07 million seconds (575 h) if it was annotated manually. For the validation of the proposed technique, a sub-dataset—Voice, is annotated manually as well as with the proposed technique. Cohen's Kappa statistics is used to evaluate the degree of agreement between the two annotations. The high Kappa value (i.e., 0.9571%) shows the high level of agreement between the two. This validates that the quality of annotation of the proposed technique is as good as manual annotation even with far less computational cost. This research also contributes in consolidating the guidelines for the manual annotation process.     

Effect of size on the dynamic behaviors of atomic force microscopes

Microsystem Technologies - Accurate mathematical modeling and simulation of cantilever dynamics are crucial to design and fabrication of the atomic force microscope (AFM). Thickness of AFM...     

Printing Reconfigurable Bundles of Dielectric Elastomer Fibers

Active soft materials that change shape on demand are of interest for a myriad of applications, including soft robotics, biomedical devices, and adaptive systems. Despite recent advances, the ability to rapidly design and fabricate active matter in complex, reconfigurable layouts remains challenging. Here, the 3D printing of core-sheath-shell dielectric elastomer fibers (DEF) and fiber bundles with programmable actuation is reported. Complex shape morphing responses are achieved by printing individually addressable fibers within 3D architectures, including vertical coils and fiber bundles. These DEF devices exhibit resonance frequencies up to 700 Hz and lifetimes exceeding 2.6 million cycles. The multimaterial, multicore-shell 3D printing method opens new avenues for creating active soft matter with fast programable actuation.