Regular Texture Research Articles

Side Deposit with Regular Texture Food for Clinical Cases In-Home.

Objective Research has shown effectiveness of nonremoval of the spoon and physical guidance in increasing consumption and decreasing inappropriate mealtime behavior. The side deposit has been used to treat passive refusal in 2 studies (1 in a highly specialized hospital setting) using lower manipulated-texture foods on an infant gum brush. Methods We extended the literature by using regular texture bites of food with a finger prompt and side deposit (placing bites inside the side of the child's mouth via the cheek) in an intensive home-based program setting in Australia, demonstrating that attention and tangible treatments alone were ineffective prior, fading the tangible treatment, showing caregiver training, and following up. 2 male children with autism spectrum disorder (with texture/variety selectivity; one with liquid dependence) participated in their homes. We used a reversal design to replicate effectiveness of the side deposit added to a treatment package. Results For both participants, we observed a >98% decrease in latency to acceptance, a 100% decrease in inappropriate mealtime behavior, and a 100% increase in consumption with the side deposit added. Variety was increased to over 85 regular texture foods. 100% of admission goals were met. Caregivers were trained to high procedural integrity and the protocol was generalized to school and the community. Gains maintained to 3 and 1.5 years. Conclusion This is important work in adding to the literature and support for the side deposit and expanding to regular texture, as well as replicating and extending empirically supported treatments for feeding internationally to the home setting.

Tribological Performance of Nickel-Plated Regular Hexagonal Texture on a Brass Surface Under Boundary Lubrication

Abstract A novel bio-inspired nickel-plated regular hexagonal texture (NPRHT) was proposed and fabricated by photolithography combined with electroless nickel plating to improve the tribological performance of a shaft/bushing bearing under boundary lubrication. The friction coefficient, wear loss, and wear resistance mechanism of the NPRHT that was fabricated on the brass surface were investigated under line contact sliding. It is found that the nickel-plated textured samples show a lower friction coefficient than the non-textured samples with a maximum reduction of 43.6% at a sliding speed of 0.02 m/s. The wear rate coefficient of the nickel-plated textured sample decreases by 42.86% compared with that of the non-textured sample. The energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirm that the nickel element is transferred from the nickel-plated textured area to the brass zone, resulting in the formation of a Ni/Cu alloy, NiO and Ni2O3 successively. These three films can improve lubricity, repair wear defects, and protect surfaces from oxidation. The experimental results show that the NPRHT provides a novel strategy to manage the friction and wear of shaft/bushing bearings under boundary lubrication.

Laboratory and numerical experimentation for masonry in compression

In this paper, the initial part of a laboratory and numerical experimental campaign dedicated to historical masonry is described. One leaf masonry panels with regular texture are built in order to simulate a historical material characterised by strong resisting elements and weak mortar joints. Laboratory tests are first dedicated to masonry components and then to the behaviour in compression of masonry panels, which is applied both orthogonal and parallel to bed joints, in order to highlight the orthotropic behaviour of the material. First of all, the mechanical parameters of masonry constituents are calibrated and then a heterogeneous finite element model is introduced and calibrated for reproducing the orthotropic behaviour of masonry, together with the initial elastic response and the initial nonlinear behaviour due to the first level of damage.

Preparation and Properties of the Composite Enhancement Layer of Bearing Ring

In this paper, the NU308 bearing rings were subjected to strengthen grinding treatment (SGT) at ambient temperature. And the running reliabilities of specimens that subjected to SGT and conventional treatment (CT) were respectively investigated by testing dynamic properties including the running temperature, vibrations, and surface burning. Moreover, the residual stress, microtopography, and microstructures on the cross-section were respectively tested with residual stress analyzer and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the running reliabilities of the specimen after SGT had been significantly improved with the reduction of running temperature, vibration, and surface burning. Further study showed that the specimen’s surface was filled with disordered micropores after SGT compared to the regular strip texture on the CT specimen’s surface, and the maximum residual compressive stress induced by SGT was about −900 MPa. Moreover, the thickness of the residual compressive stress layer was over 180 µm, while the thickness of severe plastic deformation layer was about 50 µm.

Refined Rigid Block Model for In‐Plane Loaded Masonry

In this work, a refined rigid block model is proposed for studying the in‐plane behavior of regular masonry. The rigid block model is based on an existing discrete/rigid model with rigid blocks and elastoplastic interfaces that already proven its effectiveness in representing masonry behavior in linear and nonlinear fields. In this case, the proposed model is improved by assuming rigid quadrilateral elements connected by one‐dimensional nonlinear interfaces, which are adopted both to represent mortar (or dry) joints between the blocks and also to represent inner potential cracks into the blocks. Furthermore, the softening behavior of interfaces in tension and shear is taken into account. Several numerical tests are performed by considering masonry panels with regular texture subjected to compression and shear. Particular attention is given to the collapse mechanisms and the pushover curves obtained numerically and compared with existing numerical and laboratory results. Furthermore, the numerical tests aim to evaluate the applicability limits of the proposed model with respect to existing results.

The influence of femtosecond laser produced periodic surface textures on cutting tool friction

The performance thresholds of cutting tool geometries, tool materials and machining systems are often restricted by surface friction from work material engagement and flow across the tool surfaces. This study investigates the influences of geometrically defined surface textures of the tool rake face on forces encountered during two dimensional orthogonal turning. Regular textures featuring highly uniform profiles and inter-surface blending, exhibiting no measurable recast material were produced using a multi-scanning strategy of a femtosecond pulsed laser of near IR wavelength, in specially profiled flat rake faces of cemented carbide cutting tool inserts. A series of complementary tests were carried out on open ended grooved and equivalently sized closed dimpled surface textures of defined area ratios in the presence of a cutting fluid to investigate their effects on cutting and frictional forces when machining a Chromium steel material exhibiting ductile long chip behaviour. Data captured from a purpose designed in-situ lathe based friction test to simulate chip flow during machining, orthogonal turning experiments using a zero degree rake angle setup and laboratory tribometer oscillatory tests using an identical cutting tool and workpiece material tribo-pair and lubrication fluid, highlight the influences of closed and open structured textures on surface lubrication regimes and the consequent friction forces. The results of the study reveal that surface texturing of uncoated cemented carbide tool surfaces can reduce friction when employed with coolant within the tools’ typical operating range. It has also been shown that textures having closed dimple structures produce the lowest friction forces under these conditions and reduced surface wear. The reduction of the measured surface friction produced by the dimpled textures also suggest desirable shifts in the boundary and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes towards the tools’ cutting edge.

Undeformed chip sizes in grinding process of regular surface texture generation

Undeformed chip sizes in grinding process of regular surface texture generation

Electrochemical approach towards the controllable synthesis of nickel nanocones based on the screw dislocation

Densely and orderly Ni nanocones with regular spiral textures had been successfully synthesized via a simple and inexpensive electrodeposition process, named two-step electrode-exchange electrodeposition process, in solutions containing ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). Microstructure characterization indicated that Ni nanocones obtained by electrodeposition were pure Ni and were face centre cubic (fcc) structure, which grown mainly along (111) and (220) crystal face. After analysing the morphology, a more optimized possible growth mechanism of Ni nanocones was proposed, in which the stacking microstructure of Ni nanocones was mainly dependent on the stacking direction of Ni2+ on the crystal face (the same direction and the exact opposite direction). Meanwhile, we found that the microstructure of Ni nanocones would be controlled by adjusting the experiment parameters such as concentration of NH4Cl and electrodeposition time, and that the disintegration of complex ions caused NH4+ to gather in large numbers near the cathode and hinder the movement of subsequent complex ions, which made a great change in the microstructure of Ni nanocones.

Effects of tool vibration on surface integrity in rotary ultrasonic elliptical end milling of Ti–6Al–4V

Titanium alloys have been applied in aerospace, biomedical, and chemical industries due to their superior mechanical properties. As a novel machining method, rotary ultrasonic elliptical machining has been successfully introduced into high-speed side milling of Ti–6Al–4V recently. However, the surface integrity in end milling of titanium alloy using this method is still unclear. In this study, a comprehensive experiment on surface integrity in rotary ultrasonic elliptical end milling of Ti–6Al–4V was conducted at various vibration amplitudes and cutting speeds. Results show that regular substantial micro-vibration textures in the form of separated ridges are obtained on the machined surfaces in RUEEM. Surface roughness values rise from Ra 0.160 μm to Ra 0.758 μm with the increasing cutting speed and vibration amplitude. Both the thickness of subsurface deformed layer and the value of surface micro-hardness increase with rising amplitude at low cutting speeds, while the hardening effect gradually weakens as the cutting speed increases to 160 m/min. Besides, the values of surface compressive residual stress gradually decrease with vibration amplitudes at low cutting speeds, while opposite trends show at the high cutting speed (160 m/min). This study can provide a new method for the effective control of the surface integrity for high-speed end milling of titanium alloy.

Analysis of gear surface morphology based on gray level co-occurrence matrix and fractal dimension.

To investigate morphological characteristics and generation mechanism of the machined gears surface, image characteristics of machined surface morphology including profile roughness, fractal and textural characteristics were studied. the change of profile curves for the surface image is subject to the normal probability density function and the W-M function. The orientation angle of surface texture is 0°, the surface profile curves are the smoothest and have the most uniform, regular textures. When the texture orientation is 45° or 135°, the surface profile curves show large fluctuations, while surface image textures present the deepest grooves and are shown to be distributed most irregularly. Additionally, the influence mechanism of different grinding parameters on the morphological characteristics of machined surface was investigated. The quality of machined surfaces increased with the grinding speed while deteriorated with increasing radial, or axial, feed speeds.

1759 Dysphagia in Extra-Pyramidal Syndrome: A Reversible and Uncommon Presentation

INTRODUCTION: Neuroleptic medications are known to cause extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS) in individuals taking antipsychotic medications. However, dysphagia is an uncommon clinical entity presenting as EPS. We present a case of dysphagia in an individual taking Haloperidol confirmed by swallowing studies, which resolved entirely on discontinuation of Haloperidol and appropriate medical management. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 22-year-old male with a history of bipolar disorder was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit for an episode of psychosis. He was started on oral valproic acid, oral haloperidol as well as scheduled monthly injections of Haloperidol Decanoate. One week after his discharge, he was seen in the clinic for coarse tremors and stiffness in all his extremities. It was decided to taper haloperidol and start benztropine. In two weeks, he presented to the emergency room with difficulty in swallowing (both liquids and solids) as well as worsening stiffness of all four extremities. Physical examination was significant for masked facies, bradykinesia with decreased active range of motion of both the upper and lower extremities. A computed tomography (CT) of his head, neck, and soft tissues showed no acute abnormalities. A functional swallow evaluation was performed which revealed oral decompensation for regular solid texture, marked by excessive chewing and delayed anterior to posterior transit. There was no remarkable oral residue, symptoms or signs of airway protection deficits were appreciated on assessment. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not reveal any structural etiology for his dysphagia. He was admitted to hospital; haloperidol was discontinued and Benztropine dose was increased. Also, he was started on diphenhydramine His symptoms were completely resolved in four days. He was discharged home in stable condition. DISCUSSION: Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) are a well-known adverse reaction from antipsychotic medications, that can range from acute dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism to tardive dyskinesia. Dysphagia is a known but rare side effect of antipsychotic medications. Our case stresses the importance of suspecting drug-induced dysphagia in individuals on neuroleptics. Early diagnosis can decrease morbidity and hospital stay as the main stay of management of these patients is to discontinue precipitating agent and reversing physiological effects by medical management that can result in shortening disease course and better outcomes.

Exemplar based regular texture synthesis using LSTM

Exemplar based texture synthesis is an important technique for image processing and computer graph in texture mapping. So far, great achievements have been made in this field. However, both traditional and modern methods based on deep learning are making errors in synthesizing patterned texture due to the failure for catching the regularity of texture. To obtain a better synthesized result, a new framework for regular texture synthesis is proposed in this paper. Besides, we use recurrent neural network (RNN) of long-shot term memory (LSTM) to produce a regular texture based on exemplar. Our method can generate at any size texture without errors, which is an improvement for texture synthesis with deep learning techniques.Compared with traditional method as well as deep learning method, our method is obviously better in synthesizing regular texture.

Novel methodologies for the characterization of airflow properties of shading screens by means of wind-tunnel experiments and CFD numerical modeling

Shading screens are broadly used in the protected cultivation sector, since they allow both to reduce the heat load and thus to control temperature, and to have lower and uniform levels of light intensity inside greenhouses. Various types of shading screens are available on the market, with different colors, material and textures. The choice of the best screen depends on the specific application and needs of the grower. Despite this, some screens can negatively affect ventilation and indoor climate, since their porosity can generate extra mass, heat and momentum transfer resistance. Most studies have evaluated the screen-related parameters, such as permeability and porosity, and the screen effect on ventilation referring to screens with simple and regular textures. In this paper, these parameters have been measured for three screen types available on the market using different approaches for their characterization. A novel approach based on image analysis together with wind tunnel tests has been set up to yield the permeability and inertial coefficient. On the other hand, a computational methodology based on CFD modeling has been carried out in order to obtain the relation between air velocity through a screen and the relative pressure drop, avoiding any experiment. The CFD methodology has been developed and validated, with the aim to possibly derive the parameters of different screens through simulations rather than more demanding experiments feasible only with specific equipment. In particular, a portion of the whole screen has been chosen for CFD simulations and the numerical results have been validated by a comparison with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) data. This has allowed both to improve the model and to evaluate its effectiveness in simulating this specific fluid dynamics domain. By these novel approaches, the basis for extending the knowledge about the characterization of the screens used in agriculture have been laid.

Investigation of reciprocating friction characteristics between different bionic surfaces of prosthesis materials and skin

In this study, three types of bionic texture surfaces were designed, based on the microstructure of tree frog and gecko feet, for two typical prosthetic substrates: silicone rubber and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU). The surface energy of all bionic texture surfaces, and the relative displacement and energy dissipation of the reciprocating friction between these bionic surfaces and skin, were investigated. The results revealed that the bionic texture of the prosthetic socket surface had an obvious influence on the surface characteristics and reciprocating characteristics of friction with the skin. According to the comprehensive weight rating method, the optimal bionic textures for the silicone rubber substrate were a regular hexagonal prism and a quadrangular prism; for the TPU substrate, only the regular quadrangular prism texture was optimal. These textures can effectively increase the surface energy of the surface of the prosthetic socket, thereby increasing its adhesion to skin and reducing the dissipation of friction energy when it interacts with the stump. This bionic prosthetic socket surface design helps improve the adaptation between the prosthetic socket and the stump.

Seamless and non-repetitive 4D texture variation synthesis and real-time rendering for measured optical material behavior

We show how to overcome the single weakness of an existing fully automatic system for acquisition of spatially varying optical material behavior of real object surfaces. While the expression of spatially varying material behavior with spherical dependence on incoming light as a 4D texture (an ABTF material model) allows flexible mapping onto arbitrary 3D geometry, with photo-realistic rendering and interaction in real time, this very method of texture-like representation exposes it to common problems of texturing, striking in two disadvantages. Firstly, non-seamless textures create visible artifacts at boundaries. Secondly, even a perfectly seamless texture causes repetition artifacts due to their organised placement in large numbers over a 3D surface. We have solved both problems through our novel texture synthesis method that generates a set of seamless texture variations randomly distributed over the surface at shading time. When compared to regular 2D textures, the inter-dimensional coherence of the 4D ABTF material model poses entirely new challenges to texture synthesis, which includes maintaining the consistency of material behavior throughout the 4D space spanned by the spatial image domain and the angular illumination hemisphere. In addition, we tackle the increased memory consumption caused by the numerous variations through a fitting scheme specifically designed to reconstruct the most prominent effects captured in the material model.

Provincial Differences in Long-Term Care Menu Variety and Food Intake for Residents who Consume a Regular Texture.

Purpose: To determine regular-texture menu variety offered in Canadian long-term care (LTC) homes and its association with residents' food intake. Methods: Twenty-nine LTC menus from Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Ontario were analyzed. Items offered during the regular-texture menu cycle were categorized according to Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide food groups and variety scores were calculated per day and per week. Residents' food intake was assessed by weighing and observing intake over 3 nonconsecutive days. Diet quality was determined using a mean adequacy ratio score (MAR) for regular and soft and bite-sized consumers (n = 394). Results: Average daily and weekly menu variety scores were 24 ± 5.8 and 78 ± 17.2, respectively, with significantly higher scores in Ontario (29 ± 2.7 and 102 ± 11.7). Of all the food groups, only the variety score for the "Other" food category was positively associated with protein intake. No associations were observed between variety and energy intake or MAR score. Conclusion: This study is the first in Canada to assess LTC menu variety. Although there was variability between provinces in menu variety, this was not associated with resident diet quality or intake.

Prevalence and Characteristics Associated with Modified Texture Food Use in Long Term Care: An Analysis of Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3) Project.

Purpose: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of modified-texture food (MTF) consumers when applying standard diet terminology. Methods: Making the Most of Mealtimes (M3) is a cross-sectional multi-site study including 32 long-term care (LTC) homes located in 4 Canadian provinces. Resident characteristics were collected from health records using a defined protocol and extraction form. Since homes used 67 different terms to describe MTFs, diets were recategorized using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative Framework as a basis for classification. Results: MTFs were prescribed to 47% (n = 298) of participants (n = 639) and prevalence significantly differed among provinces (P < 0.0001). Various resident characteristics were significantly associated with use of MTFs: dysphagia and malnutrition risk, dementia diagnosis, prescription of oral nutritional supplements; lower body weight and calf circumference; greater need for physical assistance with eating; poor oral health status; and dependence in all activities of daily living. Conclusions: This is the first study that used a diverse sample of LTC residents to determine prevalence of MTF use and described consumers. The prevalence of prescribed MTFs was high and diverse across provinces in Canada. Residents prescribed MTFs were more vulnerable than residents on regular texture diets. These findings add value to our understanding of MTF consumers.

Investigation of an Experimental Laser Sensor-Guided Spray Control System for Greenhouse Variable-Rate Applications

Abstract. Precision variable-rate spraying technology is needed for controlled-environment plant production in greenhouses. An experimental spray system for greenhouse applications was developed for real-time control of individual nozzle outputs. The system mainly consisted of a high-speed laser scanning sensor, 12 individual variable-rate nozzles, an embedded computer, a spray control unit, and a 3.6 m long mobile spray boom. Each nozzle was coupled with a pulse-width modulated solenoid valve to discharge sprays at variable rates based on target presence and plant canopy structure. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the spray control system in respect to spray delay time, nozzle activation, and spray volume using four target objects of different regular geometrical shapes and surface textures and two artificial plants of different canopy structures. Other experimental variables included three detection heights from 0.5 to 1.0 m and five sensor travel speeds from 1.6 to 4.8 km h-1. A high-speed video camera was used to determine the delay time and nozzle activation in discharging sprays on target objects after the laser sensor had detected the objects. The detection height and travel speed were found to have slight influence on the timing of nozzle activation. The nozzles started spraying in a range between 33 and 83 mm before reaching the target objects and stopped spraying between 13 and 84 mm after passing the objects, ensuring that the objects were fully covered by the spray. Spray volume corresponded to the object sizes well, and the spray control system performed with higher accuracy at lower travel speeds. Differences between the calculated spray volume based on the sensor detection and the actual spray volume ranged from 1.9 to 2.7 mL per object among all tested objects. The variable-rate control system reduced spray volume by 29.3% to 51.4% for all the objects compared with conventional constant-rate spraying. At the same time, the nozzles could be activated precisely by the object presence. Consequently, this experimental laser-guided system was implemented on a boom system in a commercial greenhouse for future investigations of its accuracy in variable-rate spraying to save pesticides, water, and nutrients. Keywords: Automation, Intelligent sprayer, Pesticide, Precision spray technology, Boom spray equipment.

Перфорированность панцирей планктонных диатомовых водорослей Pseudosolenia calcar-avis и Proboscia alata (Bacillariophyceae)

Physiological and biophysical characteristics of microalgae should strongly depend on the surface area of the cover of organisms, as all the material-energy streams flow through the surface. However, to determine the relationship between the intensity of the flow of substances with the physiology of unicellular, it is necessary to take into account only the area of perforations, since the rest of the shell is impermeable for substances. The direct determination of the area of perforations on the entire surface of the microalgae is very difficult. Therefore, the indirect method of estimating the perforation area using geometric modeling of the perforation distribution (texture) on the surface was used in this study. The object of the research is two types of marine plankton diatoms with large cylindrical frustules. It was assumed that the frustules are covered with a regular triangular texture of the areola. This texture can be divided into regular hexagons, which allows us to estimate the number of areolas as the ratio of the surface area of the frustules to the area of one hexagon. The model takes into account that each areola is covered with a silicon plate perforated by a smaller pore. The multiplication of the number of areolas on the area of a given pore gives the value of the total area of perforations. Calculations showed that the perforation of the frustules of Proboscia alata was 4%, and Pseudosolenia calcar-avis – 6%. These are the first estimates of the perforation of the entire surface of the diatom frustules. The acquired data confirms the hypothesis that frustules of the most centric diatoms are covered by pores by about 5%, and the other surface is impervious to material flows.

Visual Attention Guided Pixel-Wise Just Noticeable Difference Model

The just noticeable difference (JND) models in pixel domain are generally composed of luminance adaptation (LA) and contrast masking (CM), which takes edge masking (EM) and texture masking (TM) into consideration. However, in existing pixel-wise JND models, CM is not evaluated appropriately since they overestimate the masking effect of regular oriented texture regions and neglect the visual attention characteristic of human eyes for the real image. In this work, a novel JND model in pixel domain is proposed, where orderly texture masking (OTM) for regular texture areas (also called orderly texture regions) and disorderly texture masking (DTM) for complex texture areas (also called disorderly texture regions) are presented based on the orientation complexity. Meanwhile, the visual saliency is set as the weighting factor and is incorporated into CM evaluation to enhance JND thresholds. Experimental results indicate that compared with existing relevant JND profiles, the proposed JND model tolerates more distortion in the same perceptual quality, and brings better visual perception in the same level of the injected JND-noise energy.