An Automatic Procedure for Overheated Idler Detection in Belt Conveyors Using Fusion of Infrared and RGB Images Acquired during UGV Robot Inspection

Complex mechanical systems used in the mining industry for efficient raw materials extraction require proper maintenance. Especially in a deep underground mine, the regular inspection of machines operating in extremely harsh conditions is challenging, thus, monitoring systems and autonomous inspection robots are becoming more and more popular. In the paper, it is proposed to use a mobile unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) platform equipped with various data acquisition systems for supporting inspection procedures. Although maintenance staff with appropriate experience are able to identify problems almost immediately, due to mentioned harsh conditions such as temperature, humidity, poisonous gas risk, etc., their presence in dangerous areas is limited. Thus, it is recommended to use inspection robots collecting data and appropriate algorithms for their processing. In this paper, the authors propose red-green-blue (RGB) and infrared (IR) image fusion to detect overheated idlers. An original procedure for image processing is proposed, that exploits some characteristic features of conveyors to pre-process the RGB image to minimize non-informative components in the pictures collected by the robot. Then, the authors use this result for IR image processing to improve SNR and finally detect hot spots in IR image. The experiments have been performed on real conveyors operating in industrial conditions.

Transumbilical Repair for Umbilical Hernia: A New Technique

Although there are many reports on surgical repair for umbilical hernia, there is no standard procedure at present. Since 2012, we have performed surgery with transumbilical repair using an original procedure. With this procedure, a longitudinal incision is made in the umbilicus, and the fascial defect is closed. Excess skin is excised at a fixed length. The fascia and dermis are sutured vertically over a length of 15 mm. A total of 424 patients with pediatric umbilical hernia who underwent this procedure between September 2012 and December 2020 were reviewed. The mean operative duration was 52 minutes. All patients were followed up to 6 months after surgery. Postoperative complications included infection in 15 patients and wound granulation in 5 patients. The morphology of the umbilicus is natural and satisfying. We conclude that this procedure is safe and simple and the results are satisfactory.

The Efficient Synthesis of Azasugars from Pentoses

<p>Azasugars [e.g., 1-deoxy-aza-xylopyranose (1) Figure 1] are structural analogues of sugars [e.g., α-D-xylopyranose (2)] where the ring oxygen is substituted by a nitrogen atom. The resemblance of azasugars to their carbohydrate counterparts gives them various biological properties, such as the inhibition of glycosidase and glycosyltransferase enzymes, and as such, these compounds have been in clinical trials for the treatment of AIDS, diabetes,and cancer. Synthetic routes to azasugars have often involved the use of protecting groups, and therefore have generally reduced efficiency by requiring additional steps to apply or remove protecting groups or requiring adjustment of stereochemistry during the synthesis. This thesis presents the first example of a synthesis of four sterochemically different piperidine triols through a four-step methodology minimising the use of protecting groups starting from pentoses. The synthesis of D-xylose derived (3R,4r,5S)-piperidine triol was previously obtained in 40% yield over five steps, but was afforded in 45% overall yield over four steps using the methodology described within this thesis. Next, D-ribose derived (3R,4s,5S)-piperidine triol was obtained in 40% overall yield over four steps, which afforded a vast improvement on the previous most efficient synthetic route obtaining the azasugar in 24% yield over four steps. This four-step three-pot methodology has thus allowed for the synthesis of these piperidine triols in overall yields ranging from 4-69%, surpassing previous total syntheses in efficiency and improving overall atom economy. To further probe the applicability of the methodology, N-alkyl analogues (such as butyl-, phenylethyl-, and hydroxyethyl-analogues) of all four different piperidine triols were synthesised in comparable or greater overall yields compared to literature reports without any required adaptation to the original procedure. Included in these N-alkyl analogues are seven novel azasugars which were obtained in overall yields ranging from 6-35%.</p>

The Efficient Synthesis of Azasugars from Pentoses

<p>Azasugars [e.g., 1-deoxy-aza-xylopyranose (1) Figure 1] are structural analogues of sugars [e.g., α-D-xylopyranose (2)] where the ring oxygen is substituted by a nitrogen atom. The resemblance of azasugars to their carbohydrate counterparts gives them various biological properties, such as the inhibition of glycosidase and glycosyltransferase enzymes, and as such, these compounds have been in clinical trials for the treatment of AIDS, diabetes,and cancer. Synthetic routes to azasugars have often involved the use of protecting groups, and therefore have generally reduced efficiency by requiring additional steps to apply or remove protecting groups or requiring adjustment of stereochemistry during the synthesis. This thesis presents the first example of a synthesis of four sterochemically different piperidine triols through a four-step methodology minimising the use of protecting groups starting from pentoses. The synthesis of D-xylose derived (3R,4r,5S)-piperidine triol was previously obtained in 40% yield over five steps, but was afforded in 45% overall yield over four steps using the methodology described within this thesis. Next, D-ribose derived (3R,4s,5S)-piperidine triol was obtained in 40% overall yield over four steps, which afforded a vast improvement on the previous most efficient synthetic route obtaining the azasugar in 24% yield over four steps. This four-step three-pot methodology has thus allowed for the synthesis of these piperidine triols in overall yields ranging from 4-69%, surpassing previous total syntheses in efficiency and improving overall atom economy. To further probe the applicability of the methodology, N-alkyl analogues (such as butyl-, phenylethyl-, and hydroxyethyl-analogues) of all four different piperidine triols were synthesised in comparable or greater overall yields compared to literature reports without any required adaptation to the original procedure. Included in these N-alkyl analogues are seven novel azasugars which were obtained in overall yields ranging from 6-35%.</p>

voix du "moi" dans Enfance de Nathalie Sarraute

Si la autobiografía constituye el reino privilegiado del relato en primera persona, Nathalie Sarraute adopta en Enfance(1983) un procedimiento original: el diálogo. En su relato, la alternancia de la primera y la segunda persona del singular permite simular un diálogo entre dos instancias de un mismo “yo”. El presente artículo analizará este desdoblamiento interior orquestado por dos voces narrativas donde afloran las voces implícitas que han marcado el pasado de la autora – las voces de la madre, del padre y de la madrastra, Véra. Toda una polifonía de voces vivas, tan intactas como los recuerdos evocados. If autobiography is the privileged field of the first person narrative, Nathalie Sarraute adopts in Enfance(1983) an original procedure: the dialogue. In her autobiography, the alternation between first and second person singular enable to simulate a dialogue between two instances of the self. This article entitled “Voices of the self in Nathalie Sarraute’s Enfance” aims to analyse this interior duality orchestrated by the two narrative voices where the implicit voices that have shaped the writer’s childhood – voices of the mother, the father and the stepmother Véra – emerge from the past. A polyphony of living voices, as intact as the memories evoked. Si l’autobiographie est le domaine privilégié du récit à la première personne, Nathalie Sarraute adopte dans son autobiographie Enfance (1983) un procédé original: le dialogue. Dans son récit, l’alternance du début à la fin de la première et deuxième personnes du singulier est là pour simuler un dialogue entre deux instances d’un même "moi". Un dédoublement intérieur orchestré par deux voix narratives où se glissent les voix implicites qui ont marqué le passé de l’auteur, à savoir les voix de la mère, du père et de la belle-mère Véra. Tout une polyphonie de voix vivantes, aussi intactes que les souvenirs évoqués.

The Improved Method for Determination of Orotic Acid in Milk by Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography with Optimized Photodiode Array Detection

Ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) with a photodiode array detector (DAD) for simple and rapid determination of orotic acid (OAc) in milk of sheep and cows is described. Milk samples are treated with acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) and then centrifuged at 4 °C. To 1 mL of the obtained supernatant 9 mL of ultrapure water was added. Subsequently, 0.5–6 µL of the resulting solution was injected into the UFLC-DAD system. Separation and quantification of OAc in milk samples was achieved using two Kinetex C18 columns (1.7 µm, 150 mm × 2.1 mm, i.d., 100 Å; Phenomenex) fitted with a pre-column of 4 mm × 2 mm, i.d. (Phenomenex) containing C18 packing material. All separations were performed at a column temperature of 35 °C while the ambient temperature was 21–24 °C. Satisfactory separation of OAc from endogenous species of milk can be achieved using the binary gradient elution program and UV detection at wavelengths 278 nm. Our original procedure resulted in suitable separation and quantification of OAc in milk samples; OAc eluted at 6.44 ± 0.03 min. The total run time of OAc analysis (including re-equilibration) was 27 min. As expected, the OAc peak was absent from the blank when the proposed gradient elution program and UV detection at 278 nm was used. The average recoveries of OAc standards added to milk samples were satisfactory (96.7–105.3%). The low inter-and intra-assay coefficient of variation derived from the measurements of OAc in cow and ovine milk samples (i.e., 0.784%, 1.283% and 0.710%, 1.221%, respectively) and in O-Ac standards (i.e., 0.377% and 0.294%, respectively), as well as high recoveries of OAc added to ovine and cows’ milk (~100%) and the low detection (0.04 ng) and quantification (0.12 ng) limits point to satisfactory accuracy, precision and sensitivity of the reported method. OAc concentrations in ovine milk samples were within the range from 25 to 36 mg/L, while OAc levels in cows’ milk samples was found in the range of 32–36 mg/L. Our original procedure is suitable for routine quantification of OAc in milk of ewes and cows.

Triangular plasty of left atrium in correction of mitral failure

Objective. Studying of possibilities of procedure of the left atrium triangular plasty while doing correction of mitral failure, coexisted with left atriomegaly. Materials and methods. There were analyzed results of surgical treatment of 330 patients, suffering mitral failure in combination with left atriomegaly, who were operated in Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery in period from 1 Jan 2005 to 1 Jan 2021 yr. The main group have consisted of 143 patients, to whom correction of mitral failure together with original procedure of triangular plasty of left atrium was performed. The control group have consisted of 187 patients, to whom correction of mitral failure was done only, although they suffered concurrent left atriomegaly. Results. Of 143 patients operated in the main group 3 died (lethality have constituted 2.1%). Dynamics of echocardiographic indices on the treatment stages was following: definitely-systolic index of left ventricle – (69.1 ± 12.1) ml/m2 before the operation, (59.3 ± 8.5) ml/m2 postoperatively, (48.4 ± 9.5) ml/m2 in late period; the left ventricle ejection fraction – 0.51 ± 0.05 preoperatively, 0.54 ± 0.05 postoperatively 0.56 ± 0.04 in late period. The left atrium diameter dynamics was following: (65.8 ± 4.1) mm preoperatively, (52.3 ± 2.1) mm postoperatively, and (53.5 ± 2.2) mm in late period. Of 187 оperated patients of control group 6 have died, (lethality have constituted 3.2%). Dynamics of echocardiographic indices on the treatment stages was following: definitely-systolic index of left ventricle – (68.3 ± 11.3) ml/m2 before the operation, (60.4 ± 9.3) ml/m2 postoperatively, (52.7 ± 7.2) ml/m2 in late period; the left ventricle ejection fraction – 0.52 ± 0.05 preoperatively, 0.53 ± 0.05 postoperatively, 0.5 ± 0.04 in late period. Diameter of left atrium: (66.5 ± 3.7) mm preoperatively, (63.5 ± 2.3) mm postoperatively, (71.5 ± 2.4) mm in late period. Conclusion. Triangular plasty of left atrium is a low-traumatic and effective procedure, leading to significant improvement in its morphometry and accompanied by low risk of hospital lethality.

Concrete Cracks Detection and Monitoring Using Deep Learning-Based Multiresolution Analysis

In this paper, we propose a new methodology for crack detection and monitoring in concrete structures. This approach is based on a multiresolution analysis of a sample or a specimen of concrete material subjected to several types of solicitation. The image obtained by ultrasonic investigation and processed by a customized wavelet is analyzed at various scales in order to detect internal cracks and crack initiation. The ultimate objective of this work is to propose an automatic crack type identification scheme based on convolutional neural networks (CNN). In this context, crack propagation can be monitored without access to the concrete surface and the goal is to detect cracks before they are visible. This is achieved through the combination of two major data analysis tools which are wavelets and deep learning. This original procedure is shown to yield a high accuracy close to 90%. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed CNN architectures, we also used an open access database, SDNET2018, for the automatic detection of external cracks.

Dimensional (Parametric) Synthesis of the Hexapod-Type Parallel Mechanism with Reconfigurable Design

The study provides a solution to a dimensional synthesis problem for a hexapod-type reconfigurable parallel mechanism, which can change its configuration to realize different trajectories of its output link while having a single drive. The work presents an original procedure to find the dimensions of some mechanism’s links and their initial configuration to reproduce these trajectories. After describing the mechanism, the paper examines kinematic relations representing the basis for the subsequent synthesis algorithm. Next, the obtained expressions are extended and provide a system of equations to be solved. The structure of this equation system allows it to be solved effectively by numerical methods, which is demonstrated with an example. The proposed algorithm of dimensional synthesis does not require solving the optimization problems, in contrast to the familiar methods of dimensional synthesis of parallel mechanisms. Further, the suggested approach to the synthesis problem allows finding solution in a fast and computationally efficient manner.