Abstract: Kinematic data wisely correlate vector quantities in
space to scalar parameters in time to assess the degree of symmetry
between the intact limb and the amputated limb with respect to a
normal model derived from the gait of control group participants.
Furthermore, these particular data allow a doctor to preliminarily
evaluate the usefulness of a certain rehabilitation therapy.
Kinetic curves allow the analysis of ground reaction forces (GRFs)
to assess the appropriateness of human motion.
Electromyography (EMG) allows the analysis of the fundamental
lower limb force contributions to quantify the level of gait
asymmetry. However, the use of this technological tool is expensive
and requires patient’s hospitalization. This research work suggests
overcoming the above limitations by applying artificial neural
networks.
Abstract: With demand for primary energy continuously
growing, search for renewable and efficient energy sources has been
high on agenda of our society. One of the most promising energy
sources is biogas technology. Residues coming from dairy industry
and milk processing could be used in biogas production; however,
low efficiency and high cost impede wide application of such
technology. One of the main problems is management and conversion
of organic residues through the anaerobic digestion process which is
characterized by acidic environment due to the low whey pH (
Abstract: In order to investigate the effect of Plant Growth
Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and rhizobium bacteria on grain
yield and some agronomic traits of mungbean (Vigna radiate L.), an
experiment was carried out based on randomized complete block
design with three replications in Malekshahi, Ilam province, Iran
during 2012-2013 cropping season. Experimental treatments
consisted of control treatment, inoculation with rhizobium bacteria,
rhizobium bacteria and Azotobacter, rhizobium bacteria and
Azospirillum, rhizobium bacteria and Pseudomonas, rhizobium
bacteria, Azotobacter and Azospirillum, rhizobium bacteria,
Azotobacter and Pseudomonas, rhizobium bacteria, Azospirillum and
Pseudomonas and rhizobium bacteria, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and
Pseudomonas. The results showed that the effect of PGPR and
rhizobium bacteria were significant affect on grain and its
components in mungbean plant. Grain yield significantly increased
by PGPR and rhizobium bacteria, so that the maximum grain yield
was obtained from rhizobium bacteria + Azospirillum +
Pseudomonas with the amount of 2287 kg.ha-1 as compared to
control treatment. Excessive application of chemical fertilizers causes
environmental and economic problems. That is, the overfertilization
of P and N leads to pollution due to soil erosion and runoff water, so
the use of PGPR and rhizobium bacteria can be justified due to
reduce input costs, increase in grain yield and environmental friendly.
Abstract: Malathion (ML) is a well known pesticide commonly
used in many agricultural and non-agricultural processes. Its toxicity
has been attributed primarily to the accumulation of acetylcholine
(Ach) at nerve junctions, due to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase
(AChE). The aim of the current research was to study the protective
effect of the melissa plant extract against reproductive impairment
induced by malathion in 32 male albino rats, and the biological
experiment was divided into four groups (8 in each) that given
malathion (27 mg/kg; 1/50 of the LD50 for an oral dose) and/or
Melissa officinalis (MO) extract (200mg/kg/day) by gavages
technique. The sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm morphology,
FSH, LH, and testosterone levels had been determined in testes
homogenate at the end of the experiment. It is worthy to report that,
rats treated with melissa extract did not show a significant difference
when compared with the control group, while rats given malathion
alone had significantly lower sperm count, sperm motility, and
significantly higher abnormal sperm numbers, than the untreated
control rats as well as having significantly lower serum FSH, LH, and
testosterone levels compared with the control group. Administrations
of melissa extract restore all mentioned histological parameters
towards the control group and the melissa extract had a strong
positive protective effect against malathion toxicity. Results the of
biological parameters were confirmed by the histological
examination of rat testes and indicated that, both control and melissa
groups showing normal seminiferous tubules, while malathion group
testicular tissues had necrosis, edema in the seminiferous tubules and
degeneration of spermatogonial cells lining the seminiferous tubules
with incomplete spermatogenesis. The use of melissa against
malathion improved the histological picture and showing normal
seminiferous tubules with complete spermatogenesis and almost there
was no histopathological changes could be noted.
Abstract: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an ancient fruit of great medical interest and rich source of antioxidants. Pesticides as dimethoate play a crucial role in the occurrence many diseases in plants, animal and human. Therefore the ability of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) to alleviate hepatotoxicity induced by organophosphate pesticide dimethoate was investigated. Albino male rats were divided randomly into 4 groups and kept at 7 animals per group in an environmentally controlled condition for 6 weeks. The first group was served as a control group (basal diet), the second group fed on basal diet supplemented with 5% freeze dried pomegranate seeds, the third group fed on 20 ppm dimethoate contaminated diet and the last group fed on dimethoate contaminated diet supplemented with 5% freeze dried pomegranate seeds. The results revealed that administration of dimethoate caused high significant increased in liver functions: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities as well as lipid peroxide (malonaldhyde, MDA); on the other hand high significant decreased on glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), albumin and total protein were observed. However addition of 5% freeze dried pomegranate seeds significantly improved all previously mentioned parameters. These results indicate the dimethoate induced hepatotoxicity and highlight the protective effect of pomegranate seeds as a potential protective agent against dimethoate induced hepatotoxicity. This may be attributed to the powerful antioxidants (polyphenols, total phenols, and total flavonoids) which present in high levels in pomegranate as well as improving the immunity by activation of antioxidant enzymes GSH and GPx.
Abstract: In healthy humans, the cortical brain rhythm shows
specific mu (~6-14 Hz) and beta (~18-24 Hz) band patterns in the
cases of both real and imaginary motor movements. As cerebellar
ataxia is associated with impairment of precise motor movement
control as well as motor imagery, ataxia is an ideal model system in
which to study the role of the cerebellocortical circuit in rhythm
control. We hypothesize that the EEG characteristics of ataxic patients
differ from those of controls during the performance of a
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) task. Ataxia and control subjects
showed a similar distribution of mu power during cued relaxation.
During cued motor imagery, however, the ataxia group showed
significant spatial distribution of the response, while the control group
showed the expected decrease in mu-band power (localized to the
motor cortex).
Abstract: Currently, biological control programs in greenhouse
crops involve the use, at the same time, several natural enemies
during the crop cycle. Also, large number of plant species grown in
greenhouses, among them, the used cultivars are also wide. However,
the cultivar effects on entomophagous species efficacy (predators and
parasitoids) have been scarcely studied. A new method had been
developed, using the factitious prey or host Ephestia kuehniella. It
allow us to evaluate, under greenhouse or controlled conditions
(semi-field), the cultivar effects on the entomophagous species
effectiveness. The work was carried out in greenhouse tomato crop. It
has been found the biological and ecological activities of predatory
species (Nesidiocoris tenuis) and egg-parasitoid (Trichogramma
achaeae) can be well represented with the use of the factitious prey
or host; being better in the former than the latter. The data found in
the trial are shown and discussed. The developed method could be
applied to evaluate new plant materials before making available to
farmers as commercial varieties, at low costs and easy use.
Abstract: This paper presents a 3D guidance scheme for
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The proposed guidance scheme
is based on the sliding mode approach using nonlinear sliding
manifolds. Generalized 3D kinematic equations are considered
here during the design process to cater for the coupling between
longitudinal and lateral motions. Sliding mode based guidance
scheme is then derived for the multiple-input multiple-output
(MIMO) system using the proposed nonlinear manifolds. Instead of
traditional sliding surfaces, nonlinear sliding surfaces are proposed
here for performance and stability in all flight conditions. In the
reaching phase control inputs, the bang-bang terms with signum
functions are accompanied with proportional terms in order to reduce
the chattering amplitudes. The Proposed 3D guidance scheme is
implemented on a 6-degrees-of-freedom (6-dof) simulation of a UAV
and simulation results are presented here for different 3D trajectories
with and without disturbances.
Abstract: The relationship between eigenstructure (eigenvalues
and eigenvectors) and latent structure (latent roots and latent vectors)
is established. In control theory eigenstructure is associated with
the state space description of a dynamic multi-variable system and
a latent structure is associated with its matrix fraction description.
Beginning with block controller and block observer state space forms
and moving on to any general state space form, we develop the
identities that relate eigenvectors and latent vectors in either direction.
Numerical examples illustrate this result. A brief discussion of the
potential of these identities in linear control system design follows.
Additionally, we present a consequent result: a quick and easy
method to solve the polynomial eigenvalue problem for regular matrix
polynomials.
Abstract: Among all FACTS devices, the unified power flow
controller (UPFC) is considered to be the most versatile device.
This is due to its capability to control all the transmission system
parameters (impedance, voltage magnitude, and phase angle). With
the growing interest in UPFC, the attention to develop a mathematical
model has increased. Several models were introduced for UPFC in
literature for different type of studies in power systems. In this paper
a novel comparison study between two dynamic models of UPFC
with their proposed control strategies.
Abstract: Male factor infertility due to endocrine disturbances
such as abnormalities in prolactin levels are encountered in a
significant proportion. This case control study was carried out to
determine the effects of prolactin on the male reproductive tract,
using 200 male white rats. The rats were maintained as the control
group (G1), hypoprolactinaemic group (G2), 3 hyperprolactinaemic
groups induced using oral largactil (G3), low dose fluphenazine (G4)
and high dose fluphenazine (G5). After 100 days, rats were subjected
to serum prolactin (PRL) level measurements and for basic seminal
fluid analysis (BSA). The difference between serum PRL
concentrations of rats in G2, G3, G4 and G5 as compared to the
control group were highly significant by Student’s t-test (p
Abstract: Lightning protection systems (LPS) for wind power
generation is becoming an important public issue. A serious damage
of blades, accidents where low-voltage and control circuit
breakdowns are frequently occur in many wind farms. A grounding
system is one of the most important components required for
appropriate LPSs in wind turbines WTs. Proper design of a wind
turbine grounding system is demanding and several factors for the
proper and effective implementation must taken into account. In this
paper proposed procedure of proper design of grounding systems for
a wind turbine was introduced. This procedure depends on measuring
of ground current of simulated wind farm under lightning taking into
consideration the soil ionization. The procedure also includes the
Ground Potential Rise (GPR) and the voltage distributions at ground
surface level and Touch potential. In particular, the contribution of
mitigating techniques, such as rings, rods and the proposed design
were investigated.
Abstract: In order to evaluate the performance of a unified power
flow controller (UPFC), mathematical models for steady state and
dynamic analysis are to be developed. The steady state model is
mainly concerned with the incorporation of the UPFC in load flow
studies. Several load flow models for UPFC have been introduced
in literature, and one of the most reliable models is the decoupled
UPFC model. In spite of UPFC decoupled load flow model simplicity,
it is more robust compared to other UPFC load flow models and it
contains unique capabilities. Some shortcoming such as additional
set of nonlinear equations are to be solved separately after the load
flow solution is obtained. The aim of this study is to investigate the
different control strategies that can be realized in the decoupled load
flow model (individual control and combined control), and the impact
of the location of the UPFC in the network on its control parameters.
Abstract: Lead (Pb) poisoning is one of the most common and
preventable environmental health problems. There are different
sources of environmental pollution with lead as lead alkyl additives
in petrol and manufacturing processes. Pb in the atmosphere can be
deposited in urban soils, and may then be re-suspended to re-enter the
atmosphere. This could increase human exposure to Pb and cause
long-term health effects. Thus, monitoring Pb pollution is considered
one of the major tasks in controlling pollution. Scalp hair can be
utilized for the determination of lead (Pb) concentration. It provides a
lasting record of metal intakes of weeks or even months, and for most
metals, their accumulation in hair reflects their accumulation in the
whole body. This work was conducted to investigate the
concentration of lead in male scalp hair of Cairo (residential-traffic
and residential-industrial) and rural residents after twenty years of
phasing out of leaded gasoline. Results indicated that the mean
concentration of lead in hair of residential-traffic (9.7552 μg/g ±0.71)
and residential-industrial (12.3288 μg/g ±1.13) was significantly
higher than that in rural residents (4.7327 μg/g ±0.67). The mean
concentration of lead in hair of resident’s industrial areas was the
highest among Cairo residents and not the traffic areas as it was
before phasing out of leaded gasoline. Twenty years of phasing out of
leaded gasoline in Cairo has greatly improved the lead pollution
among residents of traffic areas, but industrial areas residents were
still suffering from lead pollution, which needs more efforts to
control the sources of lead pollution.
Abstract: Osteoporosis is a common multifactorial disease with
a strong genetic component characterized by reduced bone mass and
increased risk of fractures. Genetic factors play an important role in
the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. The aim of our study was to
identify the genotype and allele distribution of T245G polymorphism
in OPG gene in Slovak postmenopausal women. A total of 200
unrelated Slovak postmenopausal women with diagnosed
osteoporosis and 200 normal controls were genotyped for T245G
(rs3134069) polymorphism of OPG gene. Genotyping was performed
using the Custom Taqman®SNP Genotyping assays. Genotypes and
alleles frequencies showed no significant differences (p=0.5551;
p=0.6022). The results of the present study confirm the importance of
T245G polymorphism in OPG gene in the pathogenesis of
osteoporosis.
Abstract: Attractive and creative advertisement displays are
often in high demand as they are known to have profound impact on
the commercial market. In the fast advancement of technology,
advertising trend has taken a great leap in attracting more and more
demanding consumers. A low-cost and low-power consumption
flipping advertisement board has been developed in this paper. The
design of the electrical circuit and the controller of the advertisement
board are presented. A microcontroller, a Darlington Pair driver and a
unipolar stepper motor were used to operate the electrical flipping
advertisement board. The proposed system has been implemented
and the hardware has been tested to demonstrate the capability of
displaying multiple advertisements in a panel.
Abstract: This paper presents development of the light-weight manipulator with series elastic actuation for medical telediagnostics (USG examination). General structure of realized impedance control algorithm was shown. It was described how to perform force measurements based mainly on elasticity of manipulator links.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a new maintenance model
for a partially observable system subject to two failure modes,
namely a catastrophic failure and a failure due to the system
degradation. The system is subject to condition monitoring and the
degradation process is described by a hidden Markov model. A
cost-optimal Bayesian control policy is developed for maintaining
the system. The control problem is formulated in the semi-Markov
decision process framework. An effective computational algorithm is
developed, illustrated by a numerical example.
Abstract: Control of a semi-batch polymerization reactor using
an adaptive radial basis function (RBF) neural network method is
investigated in this paper. A neural network inverse model is used to
estimate the valve position of the reactor; this method can identify the
controlled system with the RBF neural network identifier. The
weights of the adaptive PID controller are timely adjusted based on
the identification of the plant and self-learning capability of RBFNN.
A PID controller is used in the feedback control to regulate the actual
temperature by compensating the neural network inverse model
output. Simulation results show that the proposed control has strong
adaptability, robustness and satisfactory control performance and the
nonlinear system is achieved.
Abstract: This paper presents the findings of an experimental investigation of important machining parameters for the horizontal boring tool modified to mouth with a horizontal lathe machine to bore an overlength workpiece. In order to verify a usability of a modified tool, design of experiment based on Taguchi method is performed. The parameters investigated are spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut and length of workpiece. Taguchi L9 orthogonal array is selected for four factors three level parameters in order to minimize surface roughness (Ra and Rz) of S45C steel tubes. Signal to noise ratio analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) is performed to study an effect of said parameters and to optimize the machine setting for best surface finish. The controlled factors with most effect are depth of cut, spindle speed, length of workpiece, and feed rate in order. The confirmation test is performed to test the optimal setting obtained from Taguchi method and the result is satisfactory.