Multimodular System Research Articles

EARLY EXPERIENCE OF ROBOTIC INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR WITH THE NEW HUGO RAS SYSTEM IN EUROPE

Abstract Introduction Less than 1 year ago, the new robotic system Hugo RAS (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was approved for general surgery. It introduced the novelty of utilizing independent robotic arms in a multimodular system, providing versatility for performing increasingly complex surgeries that require different angles. Results A total of 42 inguinal hernia repairs were performed using the HUGO system in 25 patients, including 17 bilateral inguinal hernias and 8 unilateral hernias. The average docking time was 5.4 minutes (range: 4.3–7.8 minutes). The average console time was 67.9 minutes for bilateral repairs and 31.3 minutes for unilateral repairs. The average total procedure time was 113.1 minutes for bilateral repairs and 52.2 minutes for unilateral repairs. Conclusions The HUGO RAS system is safe, reproducible, and suitable for complex hernias. We have introduced an alternative guide setup for this surgery. Our series represents the first patient series in Europe and the second worldwide.

Conditional expression of NanoLuc luciferase through a multimodular system offers rapid detection of antimalarial drug activity

Conditional gene expression is a powerful tool to investigate putative vaccine and drug targets, especially in a haploid organism such as Plasmodium falciparum. Inducible systems based on regulation of either transcription, translation, protein or mRNA stability, among others, allow switching on an off the expression of any desired gene causing specific gain or loss of function phenotypes. However, those systems can be cumbersome involving the construction of large plasmids and generation of multiple transgenic parasite lines. In addition, the dynamic range of regulation achieved is not predictable for each individual gene and can be insufficient to generate detectable phenotypes when the genes of interest are silenced. Here, we combined up to three distinct inducible systems to regulate the expression of a single gene. Expression of the reporter NanoLuc luciferase was regulated over 40-fold, which correlates to the regulation achieved by each individual system multiplied by each other. We applied the conditionally expressed NanoLuc to evaluate the effect of fast-acting antimalarials such as chloroquine and artesunate as well as of slower-acting ones such as atovaquone. The conditionally expressed reporter allowed faster and more reliable detection of toxicity to the parasite, which correlated to the expected action of each compound. Bioluminescence achieved by the expression of this inducible highly sensitive reporter is therefore a promising tool to investigate the temporal effect of potential new antimalarials. This single plasmid combination system might also prove useful to achieve sufficient regulation of genes of interest to produce loss-of-function phenotypes.

Charge Resonance and Photoinduced Charge Transfer in Bis(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl-tetracyanobutadiene)-diketopyrrolopyrrole Multimodular System.

Intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) or charge resonance is often observed in redox-active systems encompassed of two identical electroactive groups, where one of the groups is either oxidized or reduced and serves as a model system to improve our fundamental understanding of charge transfer. This property has been explored in the present study in a multimodular push-pull system carrying two N,N-dimethylaminophenyl-tetracyanobutadiene (DMA-TCBD) entities covalently linked to the opposite ends of bis(thiophenyl)diketopyrrolopyrrole (TDPP). Electrochemical or chemical reduction of one of the TCBDs promoted electron resonance between them, exhibiting an IVCT absorption peak in the near-infrared area. The comproportionation energy, -ΔGcom, and equilibrium constant, Kcom, evaluated from the split reduction peak were, respectively, 1.06 × 104 J/mol and 72.3 M-1. Excitation of the TDPP entity in the system promoted the thermodynamically feasible sequential charge transfer and separation of charges in benzonitrile, wherein the IVCT peak formed upon charge separation served as a signature peak in characterizing the product. Further, transient data analyzed using Global Target Analysis revealed the charge separation to take place in a ps time scale (k ∼ 1010 s-1) as a result of close positioning and strong electronic interaction between the entities. The significance of IVCT in probing excited-state processes is evidenced by the present study.

Influence of 2 Digital Exercise Modules of a Multimodular System on Balance and Leg Strength Under Consideration of Use Adherence: Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundTo empower healthy aging, digital solutions embed multiple modules for physical activity, cognitive health promotion, and social engagement. Integrating new empowering technologies such as digital exercise monitoring requires assessment measures and analysis procedures, considering variable compliance of users with different modules.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the influence of a tablet-based and a feedback system–based exercise module on balance and leg strength by considering use adherence instead of the use of the entire multimodular system.MethodsIn the prospective cohort study within the fit4AAL project, 83 users (n=67, 81% women; n=16, 19% men; mean age 66.2, SD 2.3 years) used the 2 digital exercise modules of a multimodular physical activity promotion system for >18 weeks. A data-driven clustering method based on the average use frequency of the exercise modules determined the number of user types that met the World Health Organization–recommended training frequency of at least twice per week. On the basis of this use adherence, statistical analysis was performed with features of functional performance tests (unipedal stance, 30-second chair rise, Y-balance, and hurdle step tests). The tests were conducted 6 months before the intervention, immediately before the intervention, and after the intervention, comparing the baseline phase with the 3 feedback use groups of the study (using only the tablet, the tablet and the feedback system, or only the feedback system).ResultsOf the 83 users, 43 (52%) met the World Health Organization–recommended frequency of muscle-strengthening activities. Overall, the feedback use groups achieved, on average, more chair rises in 30 seconds than the baseline group (P=.01; moderate effect size of 0.07). Of the 43 users, 26 (60%) additionally used the feedback system–based exercise module. They improved in balance compared with the users using either the tablet or the feedback system (P=.02). In addition, they improved their leg strength within the group (P=.04) and compared with the baseline (P=.01).ConclusionsThe additional use of a feedback system showed a tendency to positively maintain and influence the already exceptionally high functional performance of older adults. Considering use adherence in future multimodular system studies is crucial to assess the influence of single and combined use of exercise modules on functional performance.

A Multi-Modular System for the Visualization and Classification of MER Data During Neurostimulation Procedures.

This paper proposes an interactive analysis and visualization tool for the accuracy improvement of electrode placement during neurostimulation therapy surgery. During the procedure, the presented system assists the surgeon in the crucial tissue type detection by providing a fused visualization of the current electrode location and the microelectrode recordings (MER). The system processes the MER in real-time and utilizes a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify the targeted tissue type. In addition to presenting the MER in its raw waveform, the system also offers the visualization of the frequency domain and the result of the neural network. To further assist the decision-making process, additional visualization methods are integrated into the system. Using the pre-operative taken CT and MRI scans, the system offers 3D visualization in the form of direct volume rendering (DVR) and axis-aligned slice views in 2D. Both domains are enriched by the MER readings and the result of the machine learning classifier.

Mammalian and Avian Host Cell Influenza A Restriction Factors

The threat of a new influenza pandemic is real. With past pandemics claiming millions of lives, finding new ways to combat this virus is essential. Host cells have developed a multi-modular system to detect incoming pathogens, a phenomenon called sensing. The signaling cascade triggered by sensing subsequently induces protection for themselves and their surrounding neighbors, termed interferon (IFN) response. This response induces the upregulation of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), including antiviral effectors, establishing an antiviral state. As well as the antiviral proteins induced through the IFN system, cells also possess a so-called intrinsic immunity, constituted of antiviral proteins that are constitutively expressed, creating a first barrier preceding the induction of the interferon system. All these combined antiviral effectors inhibit the virus at various stages of the viral lifecycle, using a wide array of mechanisms. Here, we provide a review of mammalian and avian influenza A restriction factors, detailing their mechanism of action and in vivo relevance, when known. Understanding their mode of action might help pave the way for the development of new influenza treatments, which are absolutely required if we want to be prepared to face a new pandemic.

Simultaneous ammonia and organic matter removal from industrial wastewater in a continuous novel hybrid carrousel bioreactor

Nowadays, there are several wastewater treatment systems for treating industrial wastewater, but most of them require big areas for the construction, complex operation and high energy, elevating the costs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the hybrid carrousel reactor, a multi-modular system, for coupling several biological processes in the same reaction unit, in order to remove nitrogenous and carbonaceous compounds from synthetic and industrial wastewater. The industrial wastewater used was coming from the raw influent entering the Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Lerma, Mexico. The hybrid carrousel reactor was of 21.5 L composed mainly of 4 modules: activated sludge module, secondary settler module and two facultative-anaerobic modules. With industrial wastewater, two organic loading rates were evaluated, 611 and 1025 mg CODs/L-d, achieving 60–80% of ammonia removal. The biodegradability index of this kind of industrial wastewater was 0.5, so hybrid bioreactor was indeed effective for removing all the biodegradable organic matter. The kinetic studies showed that the presence of toxic compounds contained in the industrial wastewater strongly inhibited the nitrite-oxidizing step. The experimental results showed that the combination of aerobic, facultative and anaerobic modules was effective for the biotransformation of ammonia to N2 and organic matter to CH4. This novel hybrid bioreactor might be a feasible technology for coupling biological processes in order to treat complex industrial wastewaters.

A multi-modular shunt active power filter system and its novel fault-tolerant strategy based on split-phase control and real-time bus communication

We first present a new multi-modular shunt active power filter system suitable for large-capacity compensation. Each module in the system has the same circuit topology, system functionality, and controller design, to achieve coordination control among the modules. The module’s reference signals are obtained by multiplying the total reference signal by the respective distribution coefficient. Next, a novel fault-tolerant approach is proposed based on split-phase control in the a-b-c frame and real-time bus communication. When a phase fault occurs, instead of halting the whole module, the proposed strategy isolates only the faulted bridge arm, and then recalculates the distribution coefficients and transfers the compensation capacity to the same phases of the other normal modules, resulting in a continuous operation of the faulted module and optimization of the remaining usable power devices. Through steady-state analysis of the post-fault circuit, the system stability and control reliability are proven to be high enough to guarantee its engineering application value. Finally, a prototype is established and experimental results show the validity and feasibility of the proposed multi-modular system and its fault-tolerant control strategy.

Hierarchical Fuzzy Control Applied to Parallel Connected UPS Inverters Using Average Current Sharing Scheme

Parallel connection of UPS inverters to enhance power rating is a widely accepted practice. Inter-modular circulating currents appear when multiple inverter modules are connected in parallel to supply variable critical load. Interfacing of modules henceforth requires an intensive design, using proper control strategy. The potentiality of human intuitive Fuzzy Logic (FL) control with imprecise system model is well known and thus can be utilised in parallel-connected UPS systems. Conventional FL controller is computational intensive, especially with higher number of input variables. This paper proposes application of Hierarchical-Fuzzy Logic control for parallel connected Multi-modular inverters system for reduced computational burden on the processor for a given switching frequency. Simulated results in MATLAB environment and experimental verification using Texas TMS320F2812 DSP are included to demonstrate feasibility of the proposed control scheme.

A Design of Autonomous Error-Tolerant Architectures for Massively Parallel Computing

The massively parallel computing systems composed of many processors are connected on chips, which will become more and more complex and unreliable. This paper presents an error-tolerant design based on the autonomous error-tolerant (AET) architecture that aims to have a self-repairing capability. A nearby error sensing mechanism is designed to discover faults, and an active evolution scheme is studied to handle unrecoverable errors. A circuit backup switching mechanism is proposed to bypass the failed nodes. The board-level prototype is implemented based on dual-core embedded processors. The analysis shows that the error-tolerant capability of the proposed architecture is better than the conventional multimodular redundant system when the failure rate of a single core is less than 0.7. In the AET test system consisting of 16 processors, the error-tolerant capability is verified. The results show that the relative variation of the overall performance of the AET system will not be changed due to the high reliability requirements of the system. Through experimental comparison, under the premise that the architecture of AET and the triple modular redundancy method are basically consistent in reliability, whether on the logical-level error tolerant or on the physical-level error tolerant, the former has lower power consumption.

Utilization of Virtual Reality Connected with Robotized System

Article deals with the interconnection of virtual reality and robotic systems. It describes the software and hardware resources that are used in virtual reality and their subsequent application and utilization with robotic systems. It also gives an example of such a interconnection using multimodular system that was developed in Japan by NTT company and own developed system which is under implementation.

Does arterial stiffness change under hyperbaric conditions? (LB796)

One of the effects of hyperbaric environment is considered to be peripheral vasoconstriction due to high oxygen tension. It was proposed that this could yield to changes in vascular properties, and to further investigate the issue we examined stiffness index (SI) and reflection index (RI) as calculated from a finger photoplethysmography under normobaric and hyperbaric environment. Eight subjects participated in the study comprising three different conditions spread over one session ‐ breathing air at 1 ATA, breathing air at 2 ATA and breathing 100% oxygen at 2 ATA. Each condition lasted for at least 10 minutes. Photoplethysmography and EKG were continuously recorded using Biopac MP100 multi‐modular system (BIOPAC Systems Inc., Goleta, CA). The compression was done in a multi‐place hyperbaric chamber (Clucas Diving Ltd).The results showed no overall differences in SI and RI when comparing the three conditions. For each subject however there were significant changes in the studied parameters, although in different directions. These findings suggest that SI and RI do change in hyperbaric environment. They also argue that at short exposure and low pressure the vascular effects most probably were not fully developed in order to overcome the inter‐individual differences. Such notion was also supported by the observed stable heart rate in all three conditions and the concomitant small changes in heart rate variability.Grant Funding Source: Saba Ubniversity School of Medicine

Operation of Shared Systems via a Common Control System in a Multi-Modular Plant

Integral type reactors may need to be grouped to produce as much energy as a utility demands due to the small electrical output of an individual reactor. Sharing of systems among modules at a nuclear plant site is economically beneficial. Operation of systems shared between modules in a multi-modular plant is an issue never met in current NPPs, which may impact human performance. A design of operation of the shared systems via a common control system is presented as a technical approach to solve the problem. Modules and shared systems are controlled in independent network domains, respectively. Different from current NPPs, a limitation of operation authorities corresponding to certain modules and shared systems is defined to minimize the operation confusion between modules by one operator and to minimize the operation confusion of shared systems by different operators. Different characteristics of the shared system are analyzed, and different operation and control strategies are presented. An example is given as an application of the operation strategies. The operation design of the multi-modular system is in the preliminary stage, and, as an concept design, more verification and validation is needed in further works.

Multi-module approach to modularity in a neutronically coupled high temperature multi-modular system

A variety of small modular reactor designs exist, each sharing a similar characteristic: modularity. Different approaches to modularity exist, and the multi-module approach is presented here in the design of the High Temperature Integrated Multi-Modular Thermal Reactor. The core consists of several self-contained modules each of which are subcritical and when several modules are brought into proximity of one another, a single critical core is formed. The modular geometry allows for several unique operating conditions which are considered here. The extension of the core lifetime by battery type module shuffling and refueling is shown. The neutronic performance of the core relative to a single reflected module and a very large module is investigated and the use of modules is found to be a good choice. Room temperature sub-criticality is verified, shipping accidents are investigated, and the neutronic aspects of a loss of coolant accident are analyzed. Control elements are discussed, implemented, and analyzed.

TMS for multimodal information processing

Many working processes are complex and composed by heterogeneous atomic tasks, e.g. editing, assembling data from different sources (as databases or laboratory's devices) with texts, images or learning objects, or submitting them to software components to retrieve information, to render them, re-format, submit to computations, and other types of information processing. All these processes heavily require procedural knowledge which is tacit as owned by experts of the working activity; they are complex and are extremely difficult to be modeled and automatized without having a flexible, multimodular evolutionary system in place. Support to information from different modalities increases the performance of a computer system originally designed for a task with a unimodular nature. In this paper, we discuss the idea of task management system (TMS) as a component-based system which offers a virtual workbench to search, acquire, describe and assemble computational agents performing single autonomous tasks into working processes. We sustain that TMS is a cutting edge platform to develop software solutions for problems related to workflow automatization and design. The architecture we propose follows the conceptual track of the TMS to allow composition and arrangement of atomic modules into a complex system. A configuration of the workflow can be implemented and extended with a set of task/components, chunks of activities which are considered basic elements of the workflow. By interacting with the TMS in editing mode, the workflow designer selects the relevant chunks from system repositories, drags them into a working system area and assembles them into a working process. As the main actor of the system, the workflow designer is provided with an environment resembling an artisan's workshop, to let her/him select the relevant chunks from system repositories, drags them into a working area and assembles them into a working TMS instance, which represents the working process. Global interaction modality of the TMS instance is moulded and specialized on the base of the specific modalities of the task/components which have been retrieved from the system repositories and each time negotiated. Complex activities could be formally described, implemented and applied with a consequent advantage for personnel re-organization toward more conceptual activities.

Long-Lived Charge Separation in a Dyad of Closely-Linked Subphthalocyanine-Zinc Porphyrin Bearing Multiple Triphenylamines

Photoinduced intramolecular events of the newly synthesized multimodular system composed of three triphenylamine (TPA) entities covalently substituted at the meso positions of the zinc porphyrin ring (ZnP), which is linked with the dodecafluorosubphthalocyanine SubPc(F)12 at its axial position with the B−O bond have been examined. Appreciable electronic interactions between the meso-substituted TPA entities and the ZnP π-system were observed, and as a consequence, ZnP(TPA)3 acts as an electron-donor, whereas the SubPc(F)12 moiety acts as an excellent electron-acceptor unit in the multimodular conjugate, ZnP(TPA)3−SubPc(F)12. The computational studies performed by the DFT-B3LYP at the 6-31G level revealed delocalization of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) over the (TPA)3 entities and the porphyrin macrocycle, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is localized on SubPc(F)12. Free-energy calculations suggested that the light-induced processes from the excited states of ZnP(TPA)3 are exothermic in both polar benzonitrile and nonpolar toluene and benzene. The occurrence of fast and efficient charge-separation processes (∼1012 s−1) via the singlet excited state of ZnP(TPA)3 was confirmed by the femtosecond transient absorption spectral measurements in polar and nonpolar solvents. The delocalization of the π-cation radical species over the donor ZnP(TPA)3, the lower energy of the radical-ion pair, the particular characteristics of the axial B−O bond, and the triplet radical-ion pair character rationalize the charge stabilization of (ZnP(TPA)3)•+−(SubPc(F)12)•− with extremely long lifetime (370 μs) compared with the reported phthalocyanine-based compounds.

An ideal optical system with double-sided symmetry

A theory of an ideal optical system possessing double-sided (or planar) symmetry is developed using the projective transformations technique. In terms of the angular eikonal theory in the paraxial approximation, the theory developed is applied to the construction of a multimodular optical system consisting of ideal, at least two-component, optical systems with double-sided symmetry.

Generalized model and basic equations for an EHF autodyne HMC based on the gunn planar mesas

The results of theoretical investigations into an EHF autodyne HMC with the multipurpose crystal having N planar mesas are presented. Continuous regime of NMC operation as a multimodular autodyne system of polyharmonic generation under the action of self-radiation reflected at each harmonic is examined. Basic relations for autodyne response are derived. General conclusions on specific features of autodyne self-oscillations, which allow its characteristics to be improved and the functional capabilities of autodyne short-range radar systems to be extended, are made.

Fault location in multi-modular redundant systems

This paper describes a systematic design of a general m-order fault location network to detect and locate all possible subcritical faults in a multi-modular redundant system using decision elements. The fault distribution pattern propagating through various levels of the fault location network of a multi-modular redundant system is presented. The conditions for fault detection and location are also developed.

Transport efficiency studies for light-ion inertial confinement fusion systems using ballistic transport with solenoidal lens focusing

The proposed Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF) will require /spl ges/10 MJ of 30 MeV lithium ions to be transported and focused onto high-gain, high-yield inertial confinement fusion targets. The light-ion LMF approach uses a multimodular system with individual ion extraction diodes as beam sources. Previous work examined the effect of time-of-flight bunching on energy transport efficiency, /spl eta//sub t/, under realistic constraints on diode operation, beam transport, and packing. Target design considerations suggest that the instantaneous power efficiency, /spl Gamma//sub t/, be maximized near peak power, Because of time-of-flight bunching, peak power occurs at the end of the power pulse for LMF designs. This work examines the effect of power efficiency tuning on /spl eta//sub t/ for an LMF design using ballistic transport with solenoidal lens focusing. Results indicate that tuning the power pulse to maximize /spl Gamma//sub t/ at about three-quarters through the pulse provides high power efficiency at the end of the pulse while still maintaining high /spl eta//sub t/. In addition to power efficiency tuning, effects on /spl eta//sub t/ from variations of the diode impedance model and the diode voltage waveform are also examined.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>