scholarly journals Pneuma: entrepreneurial science in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic - a tale of industrialisation and international cooperation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-25
Author(s):  
José Manuel Mendonça ◽  
Nuno Cruz ◽  
Daniel Vasconcelos ◽  
Carla Sá-Couto ◽  
António P. Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Engineering Knowledge ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Fast Prototyping ◽  
Market Launch ◽  
Product Engineering ◽  
Short Time

When the COVID-19 pandemic hits Portugal in early March 2020, medical doctors, engineers and researchers, with the encouragement of the Northern Region Health Administration, teamed up to develop and build, locally and in a short time, a ventilator that might eventually be used in extreme emergency situations in the hospitals of northern Portugal. This letter tells you the story of Pneuma, a low-cost emergency ventilator designed and built under harsh isolation constraints, that gave birth to derivative designs in Brazil and Morocco, has been industrialized with 200 units being produced and is now looking forward to the certification as a medical device that will possibly support a go-to-market launch. Open intellectual property (IP), multidisciplinarity teamwork, fast prototyping and product engineering have shortened to a few months an otherwise quite longer idea-to-product route, clearly demonstrating that when scientific and engineering knowledge hold hands great challenges can be successfully faced.

Low-Cost Hardware Implementation of Human Blood Identification Device Using Feed-Forward Artificial Neural Network on FPGA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizki Eka Putri ◽  
Denny Darlis
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Image Resolution ◽  
Blood Type ◽  
Feed Forward ◽  
Testing Facility ◽  
System Input ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Short Time

This article was under review for ICELTICS 2018 -- In the medical world there is still service dissatisfaction caused by lack of blood type testing facility. If the number of tested blood arise, a lot of problems will occur so that electronic devices are needed to determine the blood type accurately and in short time. In this research we implemented an Artificial Neural Network on Xilinx Spartan 3S1000 Field Programable Gate Array using XSA-3S Board to identify the blood type. This research uses blood sample image as system input. VHSIC Hardware Discription Language is the language to describe the algorithm. The algorithm used is feed-forward propagation of backpropagation neural network. There are 3 layers used in design, they are input, hidden1, and output. At hidden1layer has two neurons. In this study the accuracy of detection obtained are 92%, 92%, 92%, 90% and 86% for 32x32, 48x48, 64x64, 80x80, and 96x96 pixel blood image resolution, respectively.

Robust Test Method of TSOP PEMs for Space Application

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasunobu Iwai ◽  
Koichi Shinozaki ◽  
Daiki Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Reliability Evaluation ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Thermal Shock Test ◽  
Space Application ◽  
Space Applications ◽  
Limit Test ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Short Time

Abstract Compared with space parts, consumer parts are highly functional, low cost, compact and lightweight. Therefore, their increased usage in space applications is expected. Prior testing and evaluation on space applicability are necessary because consumer parts do not have quality guarantees for space application [1]. However, in the conventional reliability evaluation method, the test takes a long time, and the problem is that the robustness of the target sample can’t be evaluated in a short time. In this report, we apply to the latest TSOP PEM (Thin Small Outline Package Plastic Encapsulated Microcircuit) an evaluation method that combines preconditioning and HALT (Highly Accelerated Limit Test), which is a test method that causes failures in a short time under very severe environmental conditions. We show that this method can evaluate the robustness of TSOP PEMs including solder connections in a short time. In addition, the validity of this evaluation method for TSOP PEM is shown by comparing with the evaluation results of thermal shock test and life test, which are conventional reliability evaluation methods.

scholarly journals Is obligation the proper policy to increase immunization coverage? A comparison of 16 OECD countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Thomas ◽  
L Charrier ◽  
M Bo ◽  
C M Zotti
Keyword(s):  
Action Plan ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Compulsory Vaccination ◽  
Measles Vaccination ◽  
Global Estimates ◽  
Coverage Rates ◽  
Mandatory Vaccination ◽  
Short Time

Abstract Issue Globally, between 2016 and 2018, low vaccination coverage rates led to an increase of measles cases and related deaths. The WHO European Region reported a total of 83540 measles cases and 74 deaths in 2018, versus the 5273 cases and 13 deaths in 2016, with WHO global estimates reporting 333445 cases. In order to contrast these outbreaks, the European Vaccine Action Plan 2015-2020 states that the ideal immunization coverage for measles must be 95%. Although, this rate is not reached and maintained everywhere, thus one debated solution is to adopt compulsory vaccination plans rather than recommended. Our aim is to analyse if compulsory policies may increase coverage. Description Between 2014 and 2018 3 countries (Italy, France and California) changed their measles vaccination policies from recommended to compulsory to fight low immunization. In order to describe the effects of this action, we compared their measles coverage rates in 2014 and 2018 together with other 12 OECD countries rates who adopt both recommendation and obligation, evaluating the trend variations. Data were collected from OECD's, WHO's and Ministries of Health's documents. Results After the introduction of obligation, California (91% in 2014; 95% in 2018) and Italy (87% to 94%) coverage rates increased, while France's reduced (91% to 90%). Of other mandatory countries, only Australia showed an increase (94% to 95%); totally, 37.5% mandatory countries showed an increase among the analysed ones. Through the same period, 50% of analysed countries with recommendation maintained rates over 95%, 10% increased, while 40% remained below 95%. Lessons Even if mandatory vaccinations can lead to a sharp increase of coverage in a short time in response to emergency situations, the causes and solutions of hesitancy are more complex than law enforcement. Some countries without obligation show rates constantly above 95% throughout the years, demonstrating that other measures can be taken to fight low immunization. Key messages Apart from estimates coming from WHO and OECD, it is difficult to find extensive and official information about the application and the effectiveness of vaccination policies in different countries. Low immunization coverage rates rely on different causes (information, religion, personal beliefs, trust), thus the application of mandatory vaccination alone is not sufficient to fight hesitancy.

scholarly journals Superior Antireflection Coating for a Silicon Cell with a Micronanohybrid Structure

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsi-Chien Liu ◽  
Gou-Jen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cell ◽  
Silicon Solar Cell ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Antireflection Coating ◽  
Light Spectrum ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Liquid Diffusion ◽  
Pyramid Structure ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Structure Array

The object of this paper is to develop a high antireflection silicon solar cell. A novel two-stage metal-assisted etching (MAE) method is proposed for the fabrication of an antireflective layer of a micronanohybrid structure array. The processing time for the etching on an N-type high-resistance (NH) silicon wafer can be controlled to around 5 min. The resulting micronanohybrid structure array can achieve an average reflectivity of 1.21% for a light spectrum of 200–1000 nm. A P-N junction on the fabricated micronanohybrid structure array is formed using a low-cost liquid diffusion source. A high antireflection silicon solar cell with an average efficiency of 13.1% can be achieved. Compared with a conventional pyramid structure solar cell, the shorted circuit current of the proposed solar cell is increased by 73%. The major advantage of the two-stage MAE process is that a high antireflective silicon substrate can be fabricated cost-effectively in a relatively short time. The proposed method is feasible for the mass production of low-cost solar cells.

scholarly journals Tracking the Evolution of Riverbed Morphology on the Basis of UAV Photogrammetry

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 829
Author(s):  
Teresa Gracchi ◽  
Guglielmo Rossi ◽  
Carlo Tacconi Stefanelli ◽  
Luca Tanteri ◽  
Rolando Pozzani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Vegetation Coverage ◽  
Detection Analysis ◽  
Digital Terrain ◽  
Fluvial Dynamics ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
One Year ◽  
Short Time

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry has recently become a widespread technique to investigate and monitor the evolution of different types of natural processes. Fluvial geomorphology is one of such fields of application where UAV potentially assumes a key role, since it allows for overcoming the intrinsic limits of satellite and airborne-based optical imagery on one side, and in situ traditional investigations on the other. The main purpose of this paper was to obtain extensive products (digital terrain models (DTMs), orthophotos, and 3D models) in a short time, with low costs and at a high resolution, in order to verify the capability of this technique to analyze the active geomorphic processes on a 12 km long stretch of the French–Italian Roia River at both large and small scales. Two surveys, one year apart from each other, were carried out over the study area and a change detection analysis was performed on the basis of the comparison of the obtained DTMs to point out and characterize both the possible morphologic variations related to fluvial dynamics and modifications in vegetation coverage. The results highlight how the understanding of different fluvial processes may be improved by appropriately exploiting UAV-based products, which can thus represent a low-cost and non-invasive tool to crucially support decisionmakers involved in land management practices.

Implementation of a Rig Test for Rotor/Stator Interaction of Low-Pressure Compressor Blades and Comparison of Experimental Results With Numerical Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Pacyna ◽  
Alexandre Bertret ◽  
Alain Derclaye ◽  
Luc Papeleux ◽  
Jean-Philippe Ponthot
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Angular Speed ◽  
Compressor Blades ◽  
Abradable Coating ◽  
Rotor Stator Interaction ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Numerical Tool ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Pressure Compressor

Abstract To investigate the contact phenomenon between the blade tip and the abradable coated casing, a rig test was designed and built. This rig test fills the following constraints: simplification of the low-pressure compressor environment but realistic mechanical conditions, ability to test several designs in short time, at low cost and repeatability. The rig test gives the opportunity to investigate the behavior of different blade designs regarding the sought phenomenon, to refine and mature the phenomenon comprehension and to get data for the numerical tool validation. The numerical tool considers a 3D finite elements model of low-pressure compressor blades with a surrounding rigid casing combined with a specialized model to take into account the effects of the wear of the abradable coating on the blade dynamics. Numerical results are in good agreement with tests in terms of: critical angular speed, blade dynamics and wear pattern on the abradable coated casing.

scholarly journals Hobbit: Providing Fall Detection and Prevention for the Elderly in the Real World

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Bajones ◽  
David Fischinger ◽  
Astrid Weiss ◽  
Daniel Wolf ◽  
Markus Vincze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fall Detection ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Service Robot ◽  
Emergency Situations

We present the robot developed within the Hobbit project, a socially assistive service robot aiming at the challenge of enabling prolonged independent living of elderly people in their own homes. We present the second prototype (Hobbit PT2) in terms of hardware and functionality improvements following first user studies. Our main contribution lies within the description of all components developed within the Hobbit project, leading to autonomous operation of 371 days during field trials in Austria, Greece, and Sweden. In these field trials, we studied how 18 elderly users (aged 75 years and older) lived with the autonomously interacting service robot over multiple weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a multifunctional, low-cost service robot equipped with a manipulator was studied and evaluated for several weeks under real-world conditions. We show that Hobbit’s adaptive approach towards the user increasingly eased the interaction between the users and Hobbit. We provide lessons learned regarding the need for adaptive behavior coordination, support during emergency situations, and clear communication of robotic actions and their consequences for fellow researchers who are developing an autonomous, low-cost service robot designed to interact with their users in domestic contexts. Our trials show the necessity to move out into actual user homes, as only there can we encounter issues such as misinterpretation of actions during unscripted human-robot interaction.

Design, Implementation and Characterization of a Low-Cost Stair-Climbing and Obstacle Dodging Robot for Emergency Situations

2020 ◽  
pp. 236-247
Author(s):  
Rafaela Villalpando-Hernandez ◽  
Cesar Vargas-Rosales ◽  
Rene Diaz-M. ◽  
J. C. Armendariz-Nuñez ◽  
E. E. Castañeda-Hernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Stair Climbing ◽  
Emergency Situations

scholarly journals An Application of Integrated 3D Technologies for Replicas in Cultural Heritage

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balletti ◽  
Ballarin
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Survey Analysis ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Data Acquisition And Processing ◽  
Short Time

In recent decades, 3D acquisition by laser scanning or digital photogrammetry has become one of the standard methods of documenting cultural heritage, because it permits one to analyze the shape, geometry, and location of any artefact without necessarily coming into contact with it. The recording of three-dimensional metrical data of an asset allows one to preserve and monitor, but also to understand and explain the history and cultural heritage shared. In essence, it constitutes a digital archive of the state of an artefact, which can be used for various purposes, be remodeled, or kept safely stored. With the introduction of 3D printing, digital data can once again take on material form and become physical objects from the corresponding mathematical models in a relatively short time and often at low cost. This possibility has led to a different consideration of the concept of virtual data, no longer necessarily linked to simple visual fruition. The importance of creating high-resolution physical copies has been reassessed in light of different types of events that increasingly threaten the protection of cultural heritage. The aim of this research is to analyze the critical issues in the production process of the replicas, focusing on potential problems in data acquisition and processing and on the accuracy of the resulting 3D printing. The metric precision of the printed model with 3D technology are fundamental for everything concerning geomatics and must be related to the same characteristics of the digital model obtained through the survey analysis.

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