Development of an automated system for adaptive post-weld treatment and quality inspection of linear welds

High-frequency mechanical impact (HFMI) treatment is a well-documented post-weld treatment to improve the fatigue life of welds. Treatment of the weld toe must be performed by a skilled operator due to the curved and inconsistent nature of the weld toe to ensure an acceptable quality. However, the process is characterised by noise and vibrations; hence, manual treatment should be avoided for extended periods of time. This work proposes an automated system for applying robotised 3D scanning to perform post-weld treatment and quality inspection of linear welds. A 3D scan of the weld is applied to locally determine the gradient and curvature across the weld surface to locate the weld toe. Based on the weld toe position, an adaptive robotic treatment trajectory is generated that accurately follows the curvature of the weld toe and adapts tool orientation to the weld profile. The 3D scan is reiterated after the treatment, and the surface gradient and curvature are further applied to extract the quantitative measures of the treatment, such as weld toe radius, indentation depth, and groove deviation and width. The adaptive robotic treatment is compared experimentally to manual and linear robotic treatment. This is done by treating 600-mm weld toe of each treatment type and evaluating the quantitative measures using the developed system. The results showed that the developed system reduced the overall treatment variance by respectively 26.6% and 31.9%. Additionally, a mean weld toe deviation of 0.09 mm was achieved; thus, improving process stability yet minimising human involvement.

Empowering Nurses to Meet Challenges and Lead Palliative Care for Achieving Triple Billion Targets

Objectives: Nurses provide care to patients in all contexts and at all stages of their lives. Their contributions are crucial to meeting global goals like Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG) which present challenges and opportunity to improve nursing services including rehabilitation and palliative care. This study identifies challenges for empowering nurses to lead palliative care and achieve triple billion targets’. Determine reasons for challenges to empower nurses. Recommends strategies to overcome challenges in order to empower nurses to lead palliative care and achieve triple billion targets’. Materials and methods: Multiple brainstorming sessions were conducted through the Zoom platform among the three authors to ‘identify challenges for empowering nurses to lead palliative care and achieve triple billion targets’ and recommend strategies to overcome those challenges. Narrative literature review was conducted and experts’ opinions were elicited. Identified aspects were discussed in further brainstorming sessions. Result: Challenges and reasons for empowering nurses to lead palliative care and achieve triple billion targets’ were identified and strategies to overcome those challenges were recommended. Conclusion: Equitable, competent and compassionate palliative care is a primary tool to relieve serious health-related suffering. There is a pressing necessity to provide available, accessible, acceptable, quality, and cost-effective palliative nursing care. WHO proposed the triple billion targets to improve the health of billions where palliative care is an essential element that can be achieved only with proper identification of challenges and meticulous planning and implementation of strategies to overcome those challenges.

Multiple Dependent State Sampling Inspection Plan for Lindley Distributed Quality Characteristic

This article develops multiple dependent state (MDS) sampling inspection plans based on the mean of lifetime quality characteristic that follows non-normal distributions viz., exponential and Lindley distribution. In this plan, the lot quality is measured by the lot mean (𝜇). We have estimated the optimal plan parameters of the proposed technique by non-linear optimization approaches considering acceptable quality level and rejection quality level. We have compared the sample size between the MDS sampling inspection plan and the single sampling inspection plan for the variable. Finally, we have taken two examples to illustrate the proposed technique.

Design of Radio Over Plastic Optical Fibre for Broadband Indoor Access Network

Indoor wireless traffic increases exponentially. Radio over fibre technology has been used to provide broadband services in the access network. Plastic Optical Fibre (POF) has been considered as a promising waveguide to be used as backhaul link for indoor access network. The RoF system uses an improved POF cable as a backhaul. A photonic antenna is developed by integrating a microstrip patch antenna with an opto-electronic converter. A standard inset fed microstrip patch antenna used for the wireless transmission and reception is designed using CST software tool. A RoF communication system based on the developed POF is designed and simulated using Optisystem software tool. The Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the system in terms of Quality factor is evaluated. A maximum achievable POF cable length of 117 m for an On-Off Keying (OOK) transmission data rate of 1 Gbps with an acceptable Quality factor of 7.0 is obtained. When the developed RoF system was used to transmit 10 Gbps and 50 Gbps data, the achievable cable lengths reduced to 80 m and 63 m, respectively. Keywords— Plastic Optical Fibre, RoF, photonic antenna, and modal dispersion

Assessment of the perception of quality in mexican municipal sports services

The objective of the present investigation was to assess the perception quality of municipal sports services of the city of Allende, Nuevo León, Mexico. For the analysis of the data the statistical software SPSS v.24 was used. The instrument used was SERVQUAL, adapted to the Mexican sports context, which consists of 22 items grouped into 5 dimensions (tangible, empathy, reliability, responsiveness and safety). The sample of this study was 100 subjects, in a range of 16 to 60 years, of which 57 (51.6%) belong to the male gender and 43 (48.4%) to the female gender. The descriptive and correlation analyzes of the sample were carried out. Among the results obtained, the study presents acceptable quality values for said municipal complex. In conclusion, the evaluation, monitoring of the objectives and indicators of the municipal sports services are of vital importance to perform an adequate follow-up of the expectations, perception and satisfaction of its users, which will make municipal sports management more efficient.

Effect of Frying Temperature and Time on Thermophysical Properties and Quality Attributes of Deep-Fat Fried Plantain (Dodo)

This study investigated the effect of the processing conditions (frying temperature and time) on the thermophysical properties and product quality attributes of deep-fat fried plantain (dodo). The plantain were deep-fried at various frying temperatures (150-190 °C) and time intervals (120-240 sec). The thermophysical properties determined include specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and density. The product quality attributes were moisture content, oil content and colour. The specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and density of the deep-fat fried plantain ranged from 2.68 to 2.33 kJ/kgK, 0.37 to 0.33 W/mK, 1.12 to 1.36 x10-7 m2/s and 1049.50 to 1257.00 kg/m3, respectively. The quality attributes of dodo varied from 0.24 to 0.65 abs, 30.37 to 43.40% and 9.96 to 14.25% for colour, It was observed that the specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and moisture content of the deep-fat fried plantain were significantly reduced as frying temperature and time increased. The colour and fat content of dodo were found to increase with increased temperature and time of frying. Outcome of the study resulted in the development of dodo with high acceptable quality characteristics. Therefore, generated data will be useful in choice of processing conditions for plantain and development of fryer.

AN EFFICIENT ADAPTATION OF UHD VIDEO STREAMING OVER INTERNET

The main challenge of multimedia applications is how to transmission the Ultra-High Definition (UHD) video streaming in real time over the internet. The real time video streaming suffer from difficulties to be flexible and efficiency cause the wide variation of the available internet bandwidth. To avoid the problems that introduces with internet, in this work the HEVC with required video network adaptive streaming are proposed and tested using different six levels of three UHD video (4K, FHD, 720p, 4CIF, CIF and QCIF). From different experiments that applied find the optimal configuration of H.265 encoding features for six levels to obtain the required PSNR with range (32-38 dB). The important part in this project is a controller that worked incorporate with the encoder (H.265) to obtain the video streaming adaptation on the available bandwidth of the channel. The controller continuously reads the status of channel buffer, then choosing the proper level of video to be transmitted over the channel. The work architecture is content two parts: First, the H.265 codec that apply on the three raw videos with optimal parameters configuration to compress them and get videos with lower bit rate and acceptable quality. Second, the compressed videos, based to controller.....

The importance of selecting the correct site to apply spinal manipulation when treating spinal pain: Myth or reality? A systematic review

The concept that spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) outcomes are optimized when the treatment is aimed at a clinically relevant joint is commonly assumed and central to teaching and clinical use (candidate sites). This systematic review investigated whether clinical effects are superior when this is the case compared to SMT applied elsewhere (non-candidate sites). Eligible study designs were randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of spinal manipulation applied to candidate versus non-candidate sites for spinal pain. We obtained data from four different databases. Risk of bias was assessed using an adjusted Cochrane risk of bias tool, adding four items for study quality. We extracted between-group differences for any reported outcome or, when not reported, calculated effect sizes from the within-group changes. We compared outcomes for SMT applied at a ‘relevant’ site to SMT applied elsewhere. We prioritized methodologically robust studies when interpreting results. Ten studies, all of acceptable quality, were included that reported 33 between-group differences—five compared treatments within the same spinal region and five at different spinal regions. None of the nine studies with low or moderate risk of bias reported statistically significant between-group differences for any outcome. The tenth study reported a small effect on pain (1.2/10, 95%CI − 1.9 to − 0.5) but had a high risk of bias. None of the nine articles of low or moderate risk of bias and acceptable quality reported that “clinically-relevant” SMT has a superior outcome on any outcome compared to “not clinically-relevant” SMT. This finding contrasts with ideas held in educational programs and clinical practice that emphasize the importance of joint-specific application of SMT.

Patient, carer, and staff perceptions of robotics in motor rehabilitation: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis

Background In recent years, robotic rehabilitation devices have often been used for motor training. However, to date, no systematic reviews of qualitative studies exploring the end-user experiences of robotic devices in motor rehabilitation have been published. The aim of this study was to review end-users’ (patients, carers and healthcare professionals) experiences with robotic devices in motor rehabilitation, by conducting a systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis of qualitative studies concerning the users’ experiences with such robotic devices. Methods Qualitative studies and mixed-methods studies with a qualitative element were eligible for inclusion. Nine electronic databases were searched from inception to August 2020, supplemented with internet searches and forward and backward citation tracking from the included studies and review articles. Data were synthesised thematically following the Thomas and Harden approach. The CASP Qualitative Checklist was used to assess the quality of the included studies of this review. Results The search strategy identified a total of 13,556 citations and after removing duplicates and excluding citations based on title and abstract, and full text screening, 30 studies were included. All studies were considered of acceptable quality. We developed six analytical themes: logistic barriers; technological challenges; appeal and engagement; supportive interactions and relationships; benefits for physical, psychological, and social function(ing); and expanding and sustaining therapeutic options. Conclusions Despite experiencing technological and logistic challenges, participants found robotic devices acceptable, useful and beneficial (physically, psychologically, and socially), as well as fun and interesting. Having supportive relationships with significant others and positive therapeutic relationships with healthcare staff were considered the foundation for successful rehabilitation and recovery.

The Contribution of Geological Maps and Mapping to Industrial Scale Design

The aim of this work is to highlight the contribution of geological maps and mapping to industrial scale design. To achieve this goal, the site selection of a new quarry area is used as an example. For the development of a new quarry, the materials to be mined must meet specific requirements, mainly acceptable quality, adequate reserves, environmental restrictions, and economic viability. Geological maps of various scales were used in all stages of this research project. Initially, geological surveillance maps (1:50,000), which formed the basis for the sampling, were used. Finally, this research project was completed with the detailed mapping of two candidate areas for the development of the new quarry.