Application of artificial neural network for determination of standard time in machining

The purpose of this article is to present the application of neural network for time per unit determination in small lot production in machining. A set of features considered as input vector and time consumption in manufacturing process was presented and treated as output of the neural net. A neural network was used as a machining model. Sensitivity analysis was made and proper topology of neural network was determined.     

Participatory design of a robot for demonstrating an epileptic seizure

ABSTRACT

We present the methodology and results of participatory design of a robot for presenting an epileptic seizure and a scenario of the educational workshop using this robot. Children with epilepsy encounter stigma and stereotypes and may receive inadequate aid when having an epileptic seizure. The goal of the larger project was to use the prototype device in a series of workshops for improving teachers' actions during an epileptic seizure and their attitudes towards epileptic students. In this paper, we show how various design goals for an educational robot were accomplished to fit the needs of all identified stakeholders, particularly people with epilepsy.

We used a co-design (participatory design) approach through a series of meetings participated by members of the association Polish Association for People Suffering from Epilepsy, students and faculty members of the biomedical engineering and robotics departments, teachers, psychologists and medical specialists (epileptologist, neurologist).

These meetings created an opportunity for a better understanding of the (functional and nonfunctional) requirements and resulting tradeoffs and led the participants to find appropriate solutions. Participation of people with epilepsy in the design process allowed them to deal with the potentially stereotyped representation of themselves. The prototype robot, therefore, combined goals of various stakeholders, such as an accurate presentation of an epileptic seizure, lightweight, ease of use and control, while preserving the dignity of people with epilepsy.

As a result of the co-designing process, an inexpensive robot was created and used in a series of 10 pilot workshops with 217 participants, mainly teachers of primary and middle schools. Teachers improved their understanding of epilepsy and suggested further improvements to the system.     

Preclinical Study of Immunological Isoxazole Derivatives as a Potential Support for Melanoma Chemotherapy

(1) Background: Melanoma is an aggressive neoplasm derived from melanocyte precursors with a high metastatic potential. Responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy for melanoma remain weak, underlining the urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of melanoma. (2) Methods: The viability of NHDF and A375 cell cultures after the administration of the tested isoxazole derivatives was assessed after 24-h and 48-h incubation periods with the test compounds in the MTT test. ROS and NO scavenging analyses, a glycoprotein-P activity analysis, a migration assay, a test of apoptosis, and a multiple-criteria decision analysis were also performed. (3) Results: All compounds that were tested resulted in a slower migration of melanoma neoplastic cells. The mechanism of the antitumor activity of the tested compounds was confirmed—i.e., the pro-apoptotic activity of the compounds in A375 cell cultures. Compound O7K qualified for further research. (4) Conclusions: All the tested compounds inhibited the formation of melanoma metastases and demonstrated the ability to reduce the risk of developing drug resistance in the tumor. The MCDA results showed that O7K showed the strongest antitumor activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of resins with ligands containing guanidinine derivatives. Cu(II) sorption and coordination properties

A new modification direction of acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate and divinylbenzene terpolymers (A, B) are presented. The aminolysis of nitrile groups of the terpolymers using ethylenediamine or hydroxylamine hydrochloride was a first stage of the modification. The resulting amine groups reacted with dicyandiamide (DCDA), cyanamide (CA) and sodium dicyanimide (SDC) in order to obtain the biguanidyl, guanidyl or nitrilguanidyl derivatives in the polymer side chain, respectively. The properties of all obtained resin such as water regain, nitrogen content, amine and carboxyl group concentration and sorption properties towards Cu(II) from nitric acid solutions were determined. The studies of IR spectra of all the resins were performed. Structures of ligand complexes with Cu(II) were studied using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Self-nanoscaling of the soft magnetic phase in bulk SmCo/Fe nanocomposite magnets

Fabrication of bulk nanocomposite materials, which contain a magnetically hard phase and a magnetically soft phase with desired nanoscale morphology and composition distribution has proven to be challenging. Here we demonstrate that SmCo/Fe(Co) hard/soft nanocomposite materials can be produced by distributing the soft magnetic α-Fe(Co) phase particles homogenously in a hard magnetic SmCo phase matrix through a combination of high-energy ball milling and a warm compaction. Severe plastic deformation during the ball milling results in nanoscaling of the soft phase with size reduction from micrometers to ~15 nm. Up to 35% of the soft phase can be incorporated into the composites without coarsening. This process produces fully dense bulk isotropic nanocomposite materials with remarkable energy-product enhancement (up to 300%) owing to effective inter-phase exchange coupling.     

ERAP/HLA-C and KIR Genetic Profile in Couples with Recurrent Implantation Failure

Proper embryo implantation depends on the tolerance of the maternal immune system to the fetus and its foreign paternal antigens. During implantation and early pregnancy, the dominant leukocytes in the uterus are uterine NK cells, expressing killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIRs recognize human leukocyte antigens (HLA-C) on the human trophoblast inherited from the father and mother. The antigenic peptides presented by the HLA are formed via their cleavage by endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2. The aim of this study was to assess the association of combined KIR genes and their HLA-C ligands, as well as ERAP1 and ERAP2 polymorphisms with recurrent implantation failure after in vitro fertilization (RIF). We tested 491 couples who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 322 fertile couples. Genotype CC rs27044 ERAP1 in female with a male’s HLA-C1C1 or HLA-C1C2 protected from RIF (p/p_corr. = 0.005/0.044, OR = 0.343; p/p_corr. = 0.003/0.027, OR = 0.442, respectively). Genotype TT rs30187 ERAP1 in female with a male’s HLA-C1C2 genotype increased the risk of RIF. Summarizing, in the combination of female ERAP1 and an HLA-C partner, the rs30187 C>T and rs27044 C>G polymorphisms play an important role in implantation failure.     

Ab initio based rate theory model of radiation induced amorphization in β-SiC

An ab initio informed rate theory framework for a multicomponent system is developed and used to model radiation induced amorphization in β-SiC. Based on the published modeling and experimental studies we propose three possible energy landscapes (ELs) for defect recombination in SiC. We demonstrate that defect ELs have a dramatic effect on the shape of the dose to amorphization vs. temperature curve and on the critical temperature to amorphization T_cr. In the no-barrier EL model, T_cr is correlated with the mobility of silicon interstitials, while in the recombination and trapping models T_cr is governed by the rate of defect recombination. We conclude that both the defect migration barrier and the defect recombination barrier are key parameters to consider when modeling radiation resistance of SiC, and possibly of other multi-component covalent materials.     

Antioxidant capacity and hydrophilic phytochemicals in commercially grown native Australian fruits

Hydrophilic phytochemicals and antioxidant capacities of eight commercially grown native Australian fruits were determined. Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) contained a 6-fold higher level of total phenolic compounds and quandong (Santalum acuminatum) a 1.9-fold higher level of total phenolic compounds (TP, Folin–Ciocalteu assay) than blueberry (Vaccinum sp., cv. Biloxi). Both fruits displayed superior oxygen radical-scavenging capacity (ORAC-H assay) that was, respectively 4.1-fold and 6.5-fold of that of blueberry. The total reducing capacity (TRC; ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay) of Kakadu plum and quandong exceeded the TRC of blueberry, respectively, 13.1- and 2.3-times. The primary sources of antioxidant capacities in the evaluated fruits were phenolic acids (benzoic and cinnamic) and flavonoids (flavonols, flavanones and anthocyanins) tentatively detected by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–PDA–MS/MS). A high level of vitamin C was recorded for Kakadu plum and Australian citrus fruits. The major organic acids detected were citric and malic acid.