Improved structured light 3D scanner with application to anthropometric parameter estimation

Obtaining accurate anthropometric body segment parameters in a fast and reliable manner is an essential step in biomechanical analysis of human motion. With advance of computer vision, and reduction in cost of electronic components, building a customized computer-vision based measurement device becomes possible. In the paper a novel structured light pattern for 3D structured light scanner is proposed. During development, accuracy and robustness of the proposed system were tested on artificial objects with known surface configurations, after which measurements were performed on human subjects. Simultaneous measurements with standard structured light pattern were achieved and obtained results compared. Volumetric parameters of both artificial object and human body segment obtained by 3D scanning were compared to the immersion method and were found to be in a good agreement and were used for segment mass estimation. Obtained results are presented and analyzed, and conclusions about system performance with possible improvements are discussed.     

Solubility of potassium ferrate in 12 M alkaline solutions between 20°C and 60°C

The solubility of potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) was measured in aqueous solutions of NaOH and KOH of total concentration 12 M containing various molar ratios of KOH:NaOH in the range 12:0 to 3:9. Several analytical methods were tested for the determination of ferrate concentration. The final method chosen consisted of potentiometric titration of the ferrate sample with an alkaline solution of As₂O₃. The assumption was made that ferrate dissociates in concentrated KOH solutions predominantly to KFeO₄⁻. The solubility constant, S, defined as the product of the molar concentration of the potassium ion, K⁺, and the ferrate anion, KFeO₄⁻, was found to be 0·044 ± 0·006 mol² dm⁻⁶ for 20°C, 0·093 ± 0·004 mol² dm⁻⁶ for 40°C and 0·15 ± 0·09 mol² dm⁻⁶ for 60°C. From these results the heat of dissolution of K₂FeO₄ was calculated as −14·3 kJ mol⁻¹. At 60°C the enhanced decomposition of the ferrate at the higher temperature led to a greater deviation in solubility values compared with data for either 20°C or 40°C.     

Integrated ambient ozone evaluation by passive samplers and clover biomonitoring mini-stations

An ozone monitoring network was set up using passive samplers and biological mini-stations of two clones of white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Regal), NC-R (O(3)-resistant) and NC-S (O(3)-sensitive). This paper reports on a pilot study performed in the period June-October 1999 in the Rome municipal area by using five biomonitoring mini-stations and ozone passive samplers with a new nitrite based design. This combined methodology can be used to obtain information on the biological implications of the injury due to tropospheric ozone. The two techniques can integrate data for the short-medium period and can be placed in different urban and rural sites, proving to be a very useful tool for ozone concentration mapping.     

Biohydrometallurgical/UV production of ferrous sulphate heptahydrate crystals from pyrite present in coal tailings

The objective of this work was to develop a biohydrometallurgical/UV radiation route to produce ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (melanterite) from the pyrite present in coal tailings. The experimental work was carried out with a pyrite concentrate obtained from gravimetric processing of coal tailing. At laboratory scale it was performed the oxidation of pyrite in an aqueous medium in packed bed leaching columns in an oxidising environment with the presence of acidophilic bacteria (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans). The recirculation of the liquor allowed obtaining an iron-rich extract. The conversion of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ was performed using ultraviolet irradiation (UV). Finally, the solution was evaporated allowing the formation of iron sulphate crystals. The results demonstrated that it is possible to produce high purity ferrous sulphate heptahydrate crystals using coal tailings as raw material.     

Low strain rate plasticity of continuously cast carbon steels

By a special plastometric method, the straightening operation of a vertically cast strand of two carbon steels was simulated. The temperature dependence of the low strain rate plasticity of both the steels examined is analogous although caused by very different reasons. As to the plain carbon steel, the amount of ferrite and its location is of prime importance, whereas in the case of eutectoid steel various modes of fracture and the influence of temperature on the relative plasticity of type II MnS inclusions are influencial. To avoid transverse cracking, it seems to be suitable to keep the strand at a rather high temperature (above 900 °C). Temperature cycling seems to be fundamental as to the structural changes taking place in the strand (grain size refining, ferrite fraction if any), whereas analogous influences of straining are more or less inexpressive. Of course, the results obtained are of quality only since the practical and laboratory conditions differ significantly. The knowledge obtained could be applied in regulating the intensity of strand cooling with the aim of lowering the waste portion and improving the surface quality of worked products.     

Use of modified activated carbon for the oxidation of aqueous sulfide

The oxidation of aqueous sulfide promoted by activated carbon (AC) was investigated. Raman, infrared, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance analyses show that AC oxidizes aqueous sulfide to form a complex mixture of polysulfides and sulfur oxide species. This oxidation is strongly promoted by the presence of oxygen surface groups introduced by oxidation of the AC as shown by kinetic measurements. These results are discussed in terms of the similarities the AC have with enzymatic systems, i.e. redox surface groups (e.g. quinone) combined with an efficient electron conduction system.     

In vitro studies and preliminary in vivo evaluation of silicified concentrated collagen hydrogels

Hybrid and nanocomposite silica-collagen materials derived from concentrated collagen hydrogels were evaluated in vitro and in vivo to establish their potentialities for biological dressings. Silicification significantly improved the mechanical and thermal stability of the collagen network within the hybrid systems. Nanocomposites were found to favor the metabolic activity of immobilized human dermal fibroblasts while decreasing the hydrogel contraction. Cell adhesion experiments suggested that in vitro cell behavior was dictated by mechanical properties and surface structure of the scaffold. First-to-date in vivo implantation of bulk hydrogels in subcutaneous sites of rats was performed over the vascular inflammatory period. These materials were colonized and vascularized without inducing strong inflammatory response. These data raise reasonable hope for the future application of silica-collagen biomaterials as biological dressings.     

Polarisation stabilisation of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers by minimally invasive focused electron beam triggered chemistry

Local electron triggered reactions of functional surface adsorbates were used as a maskless, dry, and minimally invasive nanolithography concept to stabilize the polarisation of individual vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) on a wafer in a post-processing step. Using a 30 keV focused electron beam of a scanning electron microscope and injecting volatile organo-metallic (CH(3))(2)Au(tfa) molecules, polarisation gratings were directly written on VCSELs by dissociating the surface adsorbed molecules. The electron triggered adsorbate dissociation resulted in electrically conductive Au-C nano-composite material, with gold nanocrystals embedded in a carbonaceous matrix. A resistivity of 2500 μ?cm was measured at a typical composition of 30 at.% Au. This material proved successful in suppressing polarisation switching when deposited as line gratings with a width of 200 nm, a thickness of 50 nm, and a pitch of 500 nm and 1 μm. Refractive index measurements suggest that the optical attenuation by the deposited Au-C material is much lower than by pure Au thus giving a low emission power penalty while keeping the polarisation stable.