Shape-It-Up: Hand gesture based creative expression of 3D shapes using intelligent generalized cylinders

We present a novel interaction system, “Shape-It-Up”, for creative expression of 3D shapes through the naturalistic integration of human hand gestures with a modeling scheme dubbed intelligent generalized cylinders (IGC). To achieve this naturalistic integration, we propose a novel paradigm of shape–gesture–context interplay (SGCI) wherein the interpretation of gestures in the spatial context of a 3D shape directly deduces the designer’s intent and the subsequent modeling operations. Our key contributions towards SGCI are threefold. Firstly, we introduce a novel representation (IGC) of generalized cylinders as a function of the spatial hand gestures (postures and motion) during the creation process. This representation allows for fast creation of shapes while retaining their aesthetic features like symmetry and smoothness. Secondly, we define the spatial contexts of IGCs as proximity functions of their representational components, namely cross-sections and the skeleton with respect to the hands. Finally, we define a natural association of modification and manipulation of the IGCs by combining the hand gestures with the spatial context. Using SGCI, we implement intuitive hand-driven shape modifications through skeletal bending, sectional deformation and sectional scaling schemes. The implemented prototype involves human skeletal tracking and hand posture classification using the depth data provided by a low-cost depth sensing camera (Kinect?). With Shape-It-Up, our goal is to make the designer an integral part of the shape modeling process during early design, in contrast to the case for current CAD tools which segregate 3D sweep geometries into procedural 2D inputs in a non-intuitive and onerous process requiring extensive training. We conclusively demonstrate the modeling of a wide variety of 3D shapes within a few seconds.     

Magnetic properties of sulfate glasses doped with transition metal ions

Magnetic susceptibility measurements on ZnSO₄K₂SO₄ glasses containing high concentrations of Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ or Ni²⁺ ions suggest the presence of weak ferromagnetic interaction.     

A multicenter community study on the efficacy of double-fortified salt

BACKGROUND: Iron and iodine deficiencies affect more than 30% of the world's population. Typical Indian diets contain adequate amounts of iron, but the bioavailability is poor. This serious limiting factor is caused by low intake of meat products rich in heme iron and intake of phytates in staple foods in the Indian diet, which inhibits iron absorption. OBJECTIVE: To test the stability of double-fortified salt (DFS) during storage and to assess its efficacy in improving the iron and iodine status of the communities. METHODS: The stability of both iodized salt and DFS during storage for a 2-year period was determined. The bioefficacy of DFS was assessed in communities covering three states of the country for a period of 1 year. This was a multicenter, single-blind trial covering seven clusters. The experimental group used DFS and the control group used iodized salt. The salts were used in all meals prepared for family members, but determination of hemoglobin by the cyanmethemoglobin method was performed in only two or three members per family, and not in children under 10 years of age (n = 393 and 436 in the experimental and control groups, respectively). The family size was usually four or five, with a male: female ratio of 1:1, consisting of two parents with two or three children. Hemoglobin was measured at baseline, 6 months (midpoint), and 12 months (endpoint). Urinary iodine was measured in only one cluster at baseline and endpoint. All the participants were dewormed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. RESULTS: The iron and iodine in the DFS were stable during storage for 2 years. Over a period of 1 year, there was an increase of 1.98 g/dL of hemoglobin in the experimental group and 0.77 g/dL of hemoglobin in the control group; the latter increase may have been due to deworming. The median urinary iodine changed from 200 microg/dL at baseline to 205 microg/dL at the end of the study in the experimental group and from 225 microg/dL to 220 microg/dL in the control group. There was a statistically significant (p < .05) improvement in the median urinary iodine status of subjects who were iodine deficient (urinary iodine < 100 microg/L) in both the experimental and the control groups, a result showing that DFS was as efficient as iodized salt in increasing urinary iodine from a deficient to sufficient status. There was a statistically significant increase (p < .05) in hemoglobin in all seven clusters in the experimental group compared with the control. CONCLUSIONS: The iron and iodine in the DFS are stable in storage for 2 years. The DFS has proved beneficial in the delivery of bioavailable iron and iodine.     

Amino‐functionalised mesoporous silica microspheres for immobilisation of Candida antarctica lipase B – application towards greener production of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid

In the present study, amino‐functionalised mesoporous silica microspheres were utilised as support for the covalent immobilisation of Candida antarctica lipase B (CaLB) for the subsequent production of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF). Under the optimised operating conditions of pH 6.5, particle/enzyme ratio of 1.25:1.0 and glutaraldehyde concentration of 4 mM, a maximum CaLB immobilisation yield of 82.4% on silica microspheres was obtained in 12.25 h. The immobilised CaLB was used for the synthesis of alkyl esters, which were utilised along with hydrogen peroxide for FDCA synthesis. The biocatalytic conversion of 30 mM DFF dictated a 77–79% FDCA in 48 h at 30°C; where the turnover number and turnover frequency of immobilised CaLB were 6220.73 mol mol⁻¹ and 129.59 h⁻¹, respectively, for ethyl acetate, against 6297.65 mol mol⁻¹ and 131.2 h⁻¹, respectively, for ethyl butyrate. Upon examining the operational stability, the immobilised CaLB exhibited high stability till five cycles of FDCA production.Inspec keywords: mesoporous materials, organic compounds, biotechnology, silicon compounds, renewable materials, catalysis, catalysts, enzymes, thermal stability, biofuelOther keywords: FDCA production, amino‐functionalised mesoporous silica microspheres, greener production, 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid, covalent immobilisation, 2,5‐diformylfuran, CaLB immobilisation, Candida antarctica lipase B immobilisation, ethyl butyrate, time 48.0 hour, temperature 30.0 degC, time 12.25 hour     

Fracture Toughness of Veneering Ceramics for Fused to Metal (PFM) and Zirconia Dental Restorative Materials

Veneering ceramics designed to be used with modern zirconia framework restorations have been reported to fracture occasionally in vivo. The fracture toughness of such veneering ceramics was measured and compared to that of conventional feldspathic porcelain veneering ceramics for metal framework restorations. The fracture toughness of the leucite free veneer was measured to be 0.73 MPa m ± 0.02 MPa m, which is less than that for the porcelain fused to metal (PFM) veneering ceramic: 1.10 MPa ± 0.2 MPa. (Uncertainties are one standard deviation unless otherwise noted.) The surface crack in flexure (SCF) method was suitable for both materials, but precrack identification was difficult for the leucite containing feldspathic porcelain PFM veneer.     

Magnetic and dielectric studies of barium hexaferrite (BaFe 12 O 19 ) ceramic synthesized by chemical route

Barium hexaferrite BaFe12O19 (BHF) ceramic was synthesized by chemical route on sintering at 1050 °C for 12 h. The synthesized material was characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM and TEM analysis. Metal oxide stretching frequencies corresponding to Fe-O, Ba-O, and Fe-O-Fe bands are confirmed by FTIR studies. The hexagonal nature of the BHF ceramic was confirmed by TEM analysis and Rietveld refinement with space group P63/mmc. The particle size observed by TEM is 175 nm. The root means square and average roughness were found to be 61.048 nm and 44.025 nm respectively. The M-T and M-H hysteresis loop indicates temperature dependent ferromagnetic behavior of BHF ceramic. The temperature and frequency dependent dielectric properties were explained by Maxwell-Wagner theory. The value of dielectric constant (ε′) for BHF ceramic was found to be 22× 103 at 100 Hz and 483 K.     

Electronic spectra of VO2+ in some tutton salts

Optical absorption spectra of VO²⁺ in ammonium magnesium sulphate hexahydrate, potassium magnesium sulphate hexahydrate and potassium zinc sulphate hexahydrate single crystals have been studied. The observed bands in all three crystals have been attributed to the VO²⁺ ion in C_4v symmetry. The octahedral and tetragonal field parameters and the molecular orbital coefficients have been evaluated.     

Chemically reactive and radiative flow of ferro-aluminum (AA7075) hybrid nanofluid past a stretching cylinder

The present investigation throws light on the heat transfer behavior of hybridized (ferro-aluminum alloy [AA7075]) nanofluid. In addition to that, influences of thermal radiation, magnetic effect, and chemical reaction are also considered for the exploration. Here, the flow is deliberated due to a porous stretching cylinder. The equations that portray the fluid flow are transfused to simple ordinary differential equations by applying similarity elements. Then, the procured equations have been solved by adopting the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg 4th–5th order tool. The extracted solution are exported to plot graphs for velocity, thermal, and solutal profiles with the concerned parameters, and using these plots, the discussion has been produced for the behavior of all flow fields. The behavior of the thermal profile shows substantial enhancement with an increase in the solid volume fraction of hybrid nanofluid. The velocity and concentration panel de-escalates for larger values of Reynolds number. A significant discussion on the skin friction drag, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number has been produced.     

Deep Learning Based Process Analytics Model for Predicting Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Process analytics is one of the popular research domains that advanced in the recent years. Process analytics encompasses identification, monitoring, and improvement of the processes through knowledge extraction from historical data. The evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Electronic Health Records (EHRs) revolutionized the medical practice. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a syndrome characterized by the lack of insulin secretion. If not diagnosed and managed at early stages, it may produce severe outcomes and at times, death too. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) are the most common, long-term and life-threatening diseases caused by T2DM. Therefore, it becomes inevitable to predict the risks of CKD and CHD in T2DM patients. The current research article presents automated Deep Learning (DL)-based Deep Neural Network (DNN) with Adagrad Optimization Algorithm i.e., DNN-AGOA model to predict CKD and CHD risks in T2DM patients. The paper proposes a risk prediction model for T2DM patients who may develop CKD or CHD. This model helps in alarming both T2DM patients and clinicians in advance. At first, the proposed DNN-AGOA model performs data preprocessing to improve the quality of data and make it compatible for further processing. Besides, a Deep Neural Network (DNN) is employed for feature extraction, after which sigmoid function is used for classification. Further, Adagrad optimizer is applied to improve the performance of DNN model. For experimental validation, benchmark medical datasets were used and the results were validated under several dimensions. The proposed model achieved a maximum precision of 93.99%, recall of 94.63%, specificity of 73.34%, accuracy of 92.58%, and F-score of 94.22%. The results attained through experimentation established that the proposed DNN-AGOA model has good prediction capability over other methods.