1. |
- Singh Rupal, Baltej, et al.
(author)
-
Lower-limb exoskeletons : Research trends and regulatory guidelines in medical and non-medical applications
- 2017
-
In: International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems. - : Sage Publications. - 1729-8806 .- 1729-8814. ; 14:6, s. 1-27
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With the recent progress in personal care robots, interest in wearable exoskeletons has been increasing due to the demand for assistive technologies generally and specifically to meet the concerns in the increasing ageing society. Despite this global trend, research focus has been on load augmentation for soldiers/workers, assisting trauma patients, paraplegics, spinal cord injured persons and for rehabilitation purposes. Barring the military-focused activities, most of the work to date has focused on medical applications. However, there is a need to shift attention towards the growing needs of elderly people, that is, by realizing assistive exoskeletons that can help them to stay independent and maintain a good quality of life. Therefore, the present article covers the rapidly evolving area of wearable exoskeletons in a holistic manner, for both medical and non-medical applications, so that relevant current developments and future issues can be addressed; this includes how the physical assistance/rehabilitation/compensation can be provided to supplement capabilities in a natural manner. Regulatory guidelines, important for realizing new markets for these emerging technologies, are also explored in this work. For these, emerging international safety requirements are presented for non-medical and medical exoskeleton applications, so that the central requirement of close human–robot interactions can be adequately addressed for the intended tasks to be carried out. An example case study on developing and commercializing wearable exoskeletons to help support living activities of healthy elderly persons is presented to highlight the main issues in non-medical mobility exoskeletons. This also paves the way for the potential future trends to use exoskeletons as physical assistant robots, as covered by the recently published safety standard ISO 13482, to help elderly people perform their activities of daily living.
|
|
2. |
-
Adaptive Mobile Robotics : Proceedings Of The 15th International Conference On Climbing And Walking Robots And The Support Technologies For Mobile Machines, Baltimore, USA, 23–26 July 2012
- 2012
-
Editorial proceedings (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This book provides state-of-the-art scientific and engineering research findings and developments in the area of mobile robotics and associated support technologies. The book contains peer reviewed articles presented at the CLAWAR 2012 conference. Robots are no longer confined to industrial manufacturing environments. A great deal of interest is invested in the use of robots outside the factory environment. The CLAWAR conference series, established as a high profile international event, acts as a platform for dissemination of research and development findings and supports such a trend to address the current interest in mobile robotics to meet the needs of mankind in various sectors of the society. These include personal care, public health, services in the domestic, public and industrial environments. The editors of the book have extensive research experience and publications in the area of robotics in general and in mobile robotics specifically, and their experience is reflected in editing the contents of the book.
|
|
3. |
- Andersson, Mikael Svante, et al.
(author)
-
Magnetic properties of nanoparticle compacts with controlled broadening of the particle size distribution
- 2017
-
In: Physical Review B. - 2469-9950 .- 2469-9969. ; 95:18
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Binary random compacts with different proportions of small (volume V) and large (volume 2V) essentially bare maghemite nanoparticles are used to investigate the effect of controllably broadening the particle size distribution on the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticle assemblies with strong dipolar interaction. A series of eight random mixtures of highly uniform 9.0- and 11.5-nm-diameter maghemite particles prepared by thermal decomposition is studied. In spite of the severely broadened size distributions in the mixed samples, well-defined superspin glass transition temperatures are observed across the series, their values increasing linearly with the weight fraction of large particles.
|
|
4. |
|
|
5. |
- Andersson, Mikael Svante, et al.
(author)
-
Particle size-dependent superspin glass behavior in random compacts of monodisperse maghemite nanoparticles
- 2016
-
In: Materials Research Express. - : IOP Publishing. - 2053-1591. ; 3:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dense random assemblies made from highly monodisperse gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 6.2 to 11.5 nm have been investigated by DC and AC magnetometry. It is found that all assemblies undergo superspin glass phase transitions. The superspin glass phase transition temperature is strongly dependent on the particle size and the nature of the interparticle interaction. However the transition from superparamagnet to superspin glass, as evidenced by the shape of the ac-susceptibility curves and the dynamic critical exponents associated with the transition, is similar in all systems.
|
|
6. |
- Andersson, Mikael Svante, et al.
(author)
-
Size-dependent surface effects in maghemite nanoparticles and its impact on interparticle interactions in dense assemblies
- 2015
-
In: Nanotechnology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0957-4484 .- 1361-6528. ; 26:47
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The question of the dominant interparticle magnetic interaction type in random closely packed assemblies of different diameter (6.2-11.5 nm) bare maghemite nanoparticles (NPs) is addressed. Single-particle magnetic properties such as particle anisotropy and exchange bias field are first of all studied in dilute (reference) systems of these same NPs, where interparticle interactions are neglible. Substantial surface spin disorder is revealed in all particles except the smallest, viz. for diameters d = 8-11.5 nm but not for d = 6.2-6.3 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis points to a crystallographic origin of this effect. The study of closely packed assemblies of the d >= 8 nm particles observes collective (superspin) freezing that clearly appears to be governed by interparticle dipole interactions. However, the dense assemblies of the smallest particles exhibit freezing temperatures that are higher than expected from a simple (dipole) extrapolation of the corresponding temperatures found in the d >= 8 nm assemblies. It is suggested that the nature of the dominant interparticle interaction in these smaller particle assemblies is superexchange, whereby the lack of significant surface spin disorder allows this mechanism to become important at the level of interacting superspins.
|
|
7. |
- Bandyopadhyay, Sulalit, et al.
(author)
-
Growing gold nanostructures for shape-selective cellular uptake
- 2018
-
In: Nanoscale Research Letters. - : SpringerOpen. - 1931-7573 .- 1556-276X. ; 13
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With development in the synthesis of shape- and size-dependent gold (Au) nanostructures (NSs) and their applications in nanomedicine, one of the biggest challenges is to understand the interaction of these shapes with cancer cells. Herein, we study the interaction of Au NSs of five different shapes with glioblastoma-astrocytoma cells. Three different shapes (nanorods, tetrahexahedra, and bipyramids), possessing tunable optical properties, have been synthesized by a single-step seed-mediated growth approach employing binary surfactant mixtures of CTAB and a secondary surfactant By the use of two-step seed-mediated approach, we obtained new NSs, named nanomakura (Makura is a Japanese word used for pillow) which is reported for the first time here. Spherical Au nanoparticles were prepared by the Turkevich method. To study NS-cell interactions, we functionalized the NSs using thiolated PEG followed by 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid. The influence of shape and concentration of NSs on the cytotoxicity were assessed with a LIVE/DEAD assay in glioblastoma-astrocytoma cells. Furthermore, the time-dependent uptake of nanomakura was studied with TEM. Our results indicate that unlike the other shapes studied here, the nanomakura were taken up both via receptor-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Thus, from our library of different NSs with similar surface functionality, the shape is found to be an important parameter for cellular uptake.
|
|
8. |
- Bandyopadhyay, Sulalit, et al.
(author)
-
Synthesis and in vitro cellular interactions of superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles with a crystalline gold shell
- 2014
-
In: Applied Surface Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-4332 .- 1873-5584. ; 316, s. 171-178
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fe@Au core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit multiple functionalities enabling their effective use in applications such as medical imaging and drug delivery. In this work, a novel synthetic method was developed and optimized for the synthesis of highly stable, monodisperse Fe@Au NPs of average diameter similar to 24 nm exhibiting magneto-plasmonic characteristics. Fe@Au NPs were characterized by a wide range of experimental techniques, including scanning (transmission) electron microscopy (S(T)EM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The formed particles comprise an amorphous iron core with a crystalline Au shell of tunable thickness, and retain the superparamagnetic properties at room temperature after formation of a crystalline Au shell. After surface modification, PEGylated Fe@Au NPs were used for in vitro studies on olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and human neural stem cells (hNSCs). No adverse effects of the Fe@Au particles were observed post-labeling, both cell types retaining normal morphology, viability, proliferation, and motility. It can be concluded that no appreciable toxic effects on both cell types, coupled with multifunctionality and chemical stability make them ideal candidates for therapeutic as well as diagnostic applications.
|
|
9. |
- Chevalier, Jean-Luc, et al.
(author)
-
Smart-ECO - Developing a Construction Sector Vision and Related Requirements for Sustainable Eco-buildings
- 2008
-
In: Durability of Building Materials & Components 11. - Istanbul : Istanbul Technical University. - 9789755613253 - 9789755613291 ; , s. 1671-1677
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The EU project Smart-ECO brings together experienced organizations spanning the full range of stakeholders covering the area of sustainable building. These include universities, R&D organizations, companies developing, supplying and using innovative technologies, consultants, users, government and policy makers. Smart-ECO uses this core partnership together with a wider stakeholder group community to focus on global issues of sustainable building to identify and evaluate priorities for current and future RTD activities. Activities and policies are due to be mapped to identify gaps and to focus future efforts. Innovative technologies, as well as improvements of the construction process, and their introduction into the building sector will be considered in relation to sustainable development, life performance, ambient intelligence, and other relevant stakeholder concerns.The project focuses on routes and means to enable the uptake of efficient technological and non-technological innovation that in turn enable the building and construction sector to meet the requirement for sustainable building. The current situation and the vision of a more sustainable built environment sets the frame for the appreciation of the long term effectiveness of Eco-buildings and innovative technologies, especially renewable energy systems. Together, the vision and relevant EC policies will serve as a reference framework for the analysis of life performance aspects of innovative technologies applied to realise more energy efficient and more sustainable buildings.This paper presents and discusses the process of establishing a reliable vision for sustainable buildings and related performance requirements.
|
|
10. |
|
|