Aquatic Training after Joint Immobilization in Rats Promotes Adaptations in Myotendinous Junctions

The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is the muscle-tendon interface and constitutes an integrated mechanical unit to force transmission. Joint immobilization promotes muscle atrophy via disuse, while physical exercise can be used as an adaptative stimulus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the components of the MTJ and their adaptations and the associated elements triggered with aquatic training after joint immobilization. Forty-four male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SD), aquatic training (AT), immobilization (IM), and immobilization/aquatic training (IMAT) groups. The samples were processed to measure fiber area, nuclear fractal dimension, MTJ nuclear density, identification of telocytes, sarcomeres, and MTJ perimeter length. In the AT group, the maintenance of ultrastructure and elements in the MTJ region were observed; the IM group presented muscle atrophy effects with reduced MTJ perimeter; the IMAT group demonstrated that aquatic training after joint immobilization promotes benefits in the muscle fiber area and fractal dimension, in the MTJ region shows longer sarcomeres and MTJ perimeter. We identified the presence of telocytes in the MTJ region in all experimental groups. We concluded that aquatic training is an effective rehabilitation method after joint immobilization due to reduced muscle atrophy and regeneration effects on MTJ in rats.

Nonlinear fault damage zone scaling revealed through analog modeling

Fault damage zones strongly influence fluid flow and seismogenic behavior of faults and are thought to scale linearly with fault displacement until reaching a threshold thickness. Using analog modeling with different frictional layer thicknesses, we investigate damage zone dynamic evolution during normal fault growth. We show that experimental damage zone growth with displacement is not linear but progressively tends toward a threshold thickness, being larger in the thicker models. This threshold thickness increases significantly at fault segment relay zones. As the thickness threshold is approached, the failure mode progressively transitions from dilational shear to isochoric shear. This process affects the whole layer thickness and develops as a consequence of fault segment linkage as inferred in nature when the fault matures. These findings suggest that fault damage zone widths are limited both by different scales of mechanical unit thickness and the evolution of failure modes, ultimately controlled in nature by lithology and deformation conditions.

Automatic Orange Juice Vending Machine

The purpose of this project to construct automatically operated orange juice vending machine. The operation of this machine very easy comparatively to other machine, with good efficiency. The machine cost was less and easy to manufacture. Power consumption is low. We added one rotating wheel which can take orange one by one. The dimensions are 3 ft. height and 1.5 ft. in width and 1.5 ft. length. The two rollers and three blades are used to remove the juice from orange. A DC motors are used to drive the roller and blades and IR sensor sense the coin which we insert in the coin insertion box. The blades are used for the cutting purpose of orange. The two DC motors are used for rotating the blades and roller. In this machine does not required any other equipment to pressing action, for extraction of orange juice. Two blades are fitted parallel to each other and one blade below the parallel blade, due to this pressing action can achieve efficiently. The function of roller in this machine it can extract juice from small pieces of orange which crush by blades. The automatically operated mechanical unit consists of a pair of motors, relays, roller and blades. The gear casing was constructed using 2mm thickness of mild steel sheet. The electronic parts consist the control unit, sensor and relays. The 3 motors are attached with L293D motor driver IC which is controlled by 8051 microcontroller. The sensor is used for the monitoring the PH of juice.

Programmable Syringe Pump for Selective Micro Droplet Deposition

Micro/nanopatterns with micro deposition techniques have been used in various applications such as flexible electronic devices, biosensing, and biological tissue engineering. For depositing a small size of droplets that can be controlled, structured and patterned precisely is a very important process for microfabrication. In this study, we developed a low cost and simple system for fabricating micro/nanostructure by a selective micro deposition process using a syringe pump. This method is an additive fabrication method where selective droplet materials are released through a needle of the syringe pump. By translating the rotating stepper motor into a linear movement of the lead screw, it will press the plunger of the syringe and give a force to the fluid inside the syringe, hence a droplet can be injected out. The syringe pump system consists of a syringe, the mechanical unit, and the controller unit. A stepper motor, the lead screw, and the mechanical components are used for the mechanical unit. Arduino Uno microcontroller is used as the controller unit and can be programmed by the computer through GUI (Graphical User Interface). The input parameters, such as the push or pull of flow direction, flow rate, the droplet volume, and syringe size dimension can be inputted by the user as their desired value via keypad or the computer. The measurement results show that the syringe pump has characteristics: the maximum average error value of the measured volume is 2.5% and the maximum average error value of the measured flow rate is 14%. The benefits of a syringe pump for micro deposition can overcome photolithography weaknesses, which require an etching and stencil process in the manufacture of semiconductors. Combining two or more syringes into one system with different droplet materials can be used as a promising method for 3D microfabrication in the future.

Direct visualization of human myosin II force generation using DNA origami-based thick filaments

The sarcomere, the minimal mechanical unit of muscle, is composed of myosins, which self-assemble into thick filaments that interact with actin-based thin filaments in a highly-structured lattice. This complex imposes a geometric restriction on myosin in force generation. However, how single myosins generate force within the restriction remains elusive and conventional synthetic filaments do not recapitulate the symmetric bipolar filaments in sarcomeres. Here we engineered thick filaments using DNA origami that incorporate human muscle myosin to directly visualize the motion of the heads during force generation in a restricted space. We found that when the head diffuses, it weakly interacts with actin filaments and then strongly binds preferentially to the forward region as a Brownian ratchet. Upon strong binding, the two-step lever-arm swing dominantly halts at the first step and occasionally reverses direction. Our results illustrate the usefulness of our DNA origami-based assay system to dissect the mechanistic details of motor proteins.

A simplified model of a fueldraulic actuation system with application to load estimation

In this work, a simplified model of the compressor variable stator vane fueldraulic actuation system of a jet engine is presented. The actuation system is a sub-assembly of the engine’s hydro-mechanical unit. A unique characteristic of the actuator is an internal cooling flow which prevents the overheating of fuel. It is shown that the effect of the cooling flow is well represented by a static input nonlinearity. The resulting model is of the Hammerstein structure. It is then shown that the model can be used for the estimation of the actuator’s external load. The results are validated using an accurate real system simulator.

Design principles of hair-like structures as biological machines

Hair-like structures are prevalent throughout biology and frequently act to sense or alter interactions with an organism's environment. The overall shape of a hair is simple: a long, filamentous object that protrudes from the surface of an organism. This basic design, however, can confer a wide range of functions, owing largely to the flexibility and large surface area that it usually possesses. From this simple structural basis, small changes in geometry, such as diameter, curvature and inter-hair spacing, can have considerable effects on mechanical properties, allowing functions such as mechanosensing, attachment, movement and protection. Here, we explore how passive features of hair-like structures, both individually and within arrays, enable diverse functions across biology. Understanding the relationships between form and function can provide biologists with an appreciation for the constraints and possibilities on hair-like structures. Additionally, such structures have already been used in biomimetic engineering with applications in sensing, water capture and adhesion. By examining hairs as a functional mechanical unit, geometry and arrangement can be rationally designed to generate new engineering devices and ideas.

IDENTIFICACIÓNPOR FILTRO DE KALMANY CONTROL ADAPTATIVO POR REALIMENTACIÓN DE ESTADOS DE UN PUENTE DE GRÚA

En este artículo, se estudian técnicas de identificación y controlen espacio de estado multivariable a nivel de simulación. Aplicadas a la planta puente de grúa Feedback Digital Pendulum Mechanical Unit, siendo este un sistema mecánico subactuado menor número de entradas que salidas). Realizando identificación multivariable por el método de Kalman y el sistema de control adaptativo por realimentación de estados.