3D characterization of hot metallic shells during industrial forging

During industrial forging of hot metallic shells, it is necessary to regularly measure the dimensions of the parts, especially the inner and outer diameters and the thickness of the walls. A forging sequence lasts 2 h or more during which the diameter of the shell is regularly measured in order to decide when to stop the forging process. For better working conditions, for the safety of the blacksmiths, and for a faster and more accurate measurement, we have developed a novel system based on two commercially available time of flight laser scanners for the measurement of the diameters of hot cylindrical metallic shells during the forging process. The advantages of using laser scanners are that they can be placed very far from the hot shell, more than 15 m, while at the same time giving an accurate point cloud from which three-dimensional views of the shell can be reconstructed and diameter measurements done. Moreover, more accurate measurement is achieved in less time with the laser system than with the conventional method using a large ruler. The system has been successfully used to measure the diameters of hot cylindrical metallic shells.     

In Vivo Studies of Nanostructure‐Based Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Cancer Therapy

Animal models, particularly rodents, are major translational models for evaluating novel anticancer therapeutics. In this review, different types of nanostructure‐based photosensitizers that have advanced into the in vivo evaluation stage for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer are described. This article focuses on the in vivo efficacies of the nanostructures as delivery agents and as energy transducers for photosensitizers in animal models. These materials are useful in overcoming solubility issues, lack of tumor specificity, and access to tumors deep in healthy tissue. At the end of this article, the opportunities made possible by these multiplexed nanostructure‐based systems are summarized, as well as the considerable challenges associated with obtaining regulatory approval for such materials. The following questions are also addressed: (1) Is there a pressing demand for more nanoparticle materials? (2) What is the prognosis for regulatory approval of nanoparticles to be used in the clinic?     

Generalized eigenvalue minimization for uncertain first-order plus time-delay processes

This paper shows how to apply generalized eigenvalue minimization to processes that can be described by a first-order plus time-delay model with uncertain gain, time constant and delay. An algorithm to transform the uncertain first-order plus time delay model into a state-space model with uncertainty polyhedron is firstly described. The accuracy of the transformation is studied using numerical examples. Then, the uncertainty polyhedron is rewritten as a linear-matrix-inequality constraint and generalized eigenvalue minimization is adopted to calculate a feedback control law. Case studies show that even if uncertainties associated with the first-order plus time delay model are significant, a stable feedback control law can be found. The proposed control is tested by comparing with a robust internal model control. It is also tested by applying it to the temperature control of air-handing units.     

Intelligent Pool Decision System Using Zero-Order Sugeno Fuzzy System

This paper describes the approach of using the zero-order Sugeno fuzzy system to design an intelligent decision system for a game of pool. The decision system consists of three types of playing strategies for a normal game of pool: direct, combination and bank shots. For each of the playing scenario on the pool table, the decision system comes out with one output shot (or best shot): presenting which ball should be chosen and which path should it follow. The system has been tested step-by-step on a real pool game and results are tabulated in the paper. The decision is designed as the brain for a robotic pool system.     

Convolutional neural networks for classification of music-listening EEG: comparing 1D convolutional kernels with 2D kernels and cerebral laterality of musical influence

Neural Computing and Applications - This paper highlights the ability of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) at classifying EEG data listening to different kinds of music without the requirement...     

Effects of Fish Gelatin and Tea Polyphenol Coating on the Spoilage and Degradation of Myofibril in Fish Fillet During Cold Storage

Fish fillet is easily spoiled during storage. Antimicrobial edible coating of gelatin extracted from fish skins and bones and tea polyphenol (TP) was developed to inhibit the spoilage of fish fillet during cold storage. For coating containing 0.4 % TP and 1.2 % gelatin, the pH only slightly increased from 6.17 at day 0 to 6.32 at day 17 of cold storage, while the pH of control coating increased to 6.87 at day 17. Atomic force spectrometry was used to analyse the nanostructure of myofibril, which is the major component of fish muscle. The results showed that the length of myofibril from 0.4 % TP and 1.2 % gelatin group was greater than 15 μm, while the diameter and height were 3.38 and 0.59 μm, respectively, which exhibited the most intact nanostructure after 17 days of cold storage. Meanwhile, matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionisation–time-of-flight mass spectrometry result showed that TP delayed the degradation of myosin light chain 3 and troponin T in myofibril. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) also showed that 0.4 % TP and 1.2 % gelatin coating group had minimal production of spoilage markers, such as 1-octen-3-ol, 2-methyl propanoic acid and dimethyl sulfide. The microbial analysis showed that the aerobic mesophilic/psychrotrophic count, yeasts and moulds of 0.4 % TP and 1.2 % gelatin group were significantly lower than the control group. Therefore, 0.4 % TP and 1.2 % gelatin coating showed the best antimicrobial effect and can be used to maintain the nanostructure of fish fillet and prevent the spoilage during cold storage.     

A systematic approach in appliance disaggregation using k-nearest neighbours and naive Bayes classifiers for energy efficiency

One of the ways to achieve energy efficiency in various residential electrical appliances is with energy usage feedback. Research work done showed that with energy usage feedback, behavioural changes by consumers to reduce electricity consumption contribute significantly to energy efficiency in residential energy usage. In order to improve on the appliance-level energy usage feedback, appliance disaggregation or non-intrusive appliance load monitoring (NIALM) methodology is utilized. NIALM is a methodology used to disaggregate total power consumption into individual electrical appliance power usage. In this paper, the electrical signature features from the publicly available REDD data set are extracted by the combination of identifying the ON or OFF events of appliances and goodness-of-fit (GOF) event detection algorithm. The k-nearest neighbours (k-NN) and naive Bayes classifiers are deployed for appliances’ classification. It is observed that the size of the training sets effects classification accuracy of the classifiers. The novelty of this paper is a systematic approach of NIALM using few training examples with two generic classifiers (k-NN and naive Bayes) and one feature (power) with the combination of ON-OFF based approach and GOF technique for event detection. In this work, we demonstrated that the two trained classifiers are able to classify the individual electrical appliances with satisfactory accuracy level in order to improve on the feedback for energy efficiency.     

A flexible liquid‐metal alloy bandpass filter

This article presents a liquid‐metal Galinstan alloy bandpass filter (BPF) with good flexibility, which is fabricated by an improved soft lithography process. The Galinstan alloy is enclosed in the microfluidic channels of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. Together with the PDMS substrates, the Galinstan alloy based filter features bending, twisting and stretching capabilities along any direction. A second‐order open‐loop resonator filter with 2.4 GHz center frequency and 15% fractional bandwidth was designed and fabricated to verify this concept. Experiments show that frequency response of the filter is almost unaffected in the case of bending of the different radii or twisting, while its center frequency slightly shifts down in the stretching condition. The proposed filter can be used for the flexible and conformal electronics.