Damage Localization and Severity Assessment in Composite Structures Using Deep Learning Based on Lamb Waves.

In composite structures, the precise identification and localization of damage is necessary to preserve structural integrity in applications across such fields as aeronautical, civil, and mechanical engineering. This study presents a deep learning (DL)-assisted framework for simultaneous damage localization and severity assessment in composite structures using Lamb waves (LWs). Previous studies have often focused on either damage detection or localization in composite structures.

Pilot study of a pedestrian collision detection test for a multisite trial of field expansion devices for hemianopia.

Significance: Performance-based outcome measures are crucial for clinical trials of field expansion devices. We implemented a test simulating a real-world mobility situation, focusing on detection of a colliding pedestrian among multiple noncolliding pedestrians, suitable for measuring the effects of homonymous hemianopia and assistive devices in clinical trials.

Purpose: In preparation for deploying the test in a multisite clinical trial, we conducted a pilot study to gather preliminary data on blind-side collision detection performance with multiperiscopic peripheral prisms compared with Fresnel peripheral prisms.

Review: Binocular double vision in the presence of visual field loss.

Binocular double vision in strabismus is marked by diplopia (seeing the same object in two different directions) and visual confusion (seeing two different objects in the same direction). In strabismus with full visual field, the diplopia coexists with visual confusion across most of the binocular field. With visual field loss, or with use of partial prism segments for field expansion, the two phenomena may be separable.

Understanding viewpoint changes in peripheral prisms for field expansion by virtual reality simulation.

Prism field expansion is a common treatment for patients with peripheral field loss, shifting images from the blind field into the seeing field. The shifted image originates from a new viewpoint translated and rotated from the original viewpoint by the prism. To understand such viewpoint changes, we simulated two field expansion methods in virtual reality: 1) angular (i.

Egocentric Boundaries on Distinguishing Colliding and Non-Colliding Pedestrians while Walking in a Virtual Environment.

Avoiding person-to-person collisions is critical for visual field loss patients. Any intervention claiming to improve the safety of such patients should empirically demonstrate its efficacy. To design a VR mobility testing platform presenting multiple pedestrians, a distinction between colliding and non-colliding pedestrians must be clearly defined.

Near eye display based on multiplexed retinal projections for robust compensation of eye pupil variance.

Among various specifications of near eye display (NED) devices, a compact formfactor is essential for comfortable user experience but also the hardest one to accomplish due to the slowest progresses. A pinhole/pinlight array based light-field (LF) technique is considered as one of the candidates to achieve that goal without thicker and heavier refractive optics. Despite those promising advantages, however, there are critical issues, such as dark spots and contrast distortion, which degrade the image quality because of the vulnerability of the LF retinal image when the observer's eye pupil size changes.

The effect of visual rivalry in peripheral head-mounted displays on mobility.

Recent head-mounted displays and smart glasses use vision multiplexing, an optical approach where two or more views are superimposed on each other. In vision multiplexing, augmented information is presented over an observer's natural field of view, providing field expansion and critical information during mobility situations like walking and driving. Yet despite its utility, vision multiplexing may produce visual rivalry, a phenomenon where perception alternates between the augmented information and the background scene for seconds at a time.

Dispersive biofilm from membrane bioreactor strains: effects of diffusible signal factor addition and characterization by dispersion index.

Introduction: Biofilm occurs ubiquitously in water system. Excessive biofilm formation deteriorates severely system performance in several water and wastewater treatment processes. Quorum sensing systems were controlled in this study with a signal compound -2-Decenoic acid (CDA) to regulate various functions of microbial communities, including motility, enzyme production, and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production in biofilm.

The Invisibility of Scotomas I: The Carving Hypothesis.

Significance: Veridical depictions of scene appearance with scotomas allow better understanding of the impact of field loss and may improve the development and implementation of rehabilitation. Explanation and depiction of the invisibility of scotoma may lead to patients' understanding and thus better compliance with related treatments.

Purpose: Simulations of perception with scotomas guide training, patient education, and rehabilitation research.

Oblique multi-periscopic prism for field expansion of homonymous hemianopia.

Oblique Fresnel peripheral prisms have been used for field expansion in homonymous hemianopia mobility such as walking and driving. However, limited field expansion, low image quality, and small eye scanning range limit their effectiveness. We developed a new oblique multi-periscopic prism using a cascade of rotated half-penta prisms, which provides 42° horizontal field expansion along with 18° vertical shift, high image quality, and wider eye scanning range.

Development of Virtual Reality Walking Collision Detection Test on Head-mounted display.

Detecting and avoiding collisions during walking is critical for safe mobility. To determine the effectiveness of clinical interventions, a realistic objective outcome measure is needed. A real-world obstacle course with moving hazards has numerous limitations (e.

Cellulose nanocrystal functionalized aramid nanofiber reinforced epoxy nanocomposites with high strength and toughness.

The mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites can be improved by incorporating various types of nanofillers. The hybridization of nanofillers through covalent linkages between nanofillers with different dimensions and morphology can further increase the properties of nanocomposites. In this work, aramid nanofibers (ANFs) are modified using chlorinated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and functionalized with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane to improve the chemical and mechanical interaction in an epoxy matrix.

Retinal prosthetic vision simulation: temporal aspects.

. The perception of individuals fitted with retinal prostheses is not fully understood, although several retinal implants have been tested and commercialized. Realistic simulations of perception with retinal implants would be useful for future development and evaluation of such systems.

Humic acid removal and microbial community function in membrane bioreactor.

A membrane bioreactor with humic acid substrate (MBR-H) was operated to investigate organic removal and membrane performance. Approximately, 60% of chemical oxygen demand removal was observed in MBR-H. The biosorption capacity reached to the maximum value of 29.

Movement Time of Lower Trunk Muscles during Dynamic Postural Control in Response to a Sudden Visual Stimulus during Walking: A Pilot Study.

Postural control during walking is maintained by the combination of various factors. Among these factors, adjustment of trunk movement is essential for maintaining postural control, and the response of muscles to unpredictable stimuli affects postural control. Loss of balance while walking increases the risk of accidents, the frequency of which depends on age and sex.

Multi-periscopic prism device for field expansion.

Patients with visual field loss frequently collide with other pedestrians, with the highest risk being from pedestrians at a bearing angle of 45°. Current prismatic field expansion devices (≈30°) cannot cover pedestrians posing the highest risk and are limited by poor image quality and restricted eye scanning range (<5°). A new field expansion device: multi-periscopic prism (MPP); comprising a cascade of half-penta prisms provides wider shifting power (45°) with dramatically better image quality and wider eye scanning range (15°) is presented.

Preparing participants for the use of the tongue visual sensory substitution device.

Purpose: Visual sensory substitution devices (SSDs) convey visual information to a blind person through another sensory modality. Using a visual SSD in various daily activities requires training prior to use the device independently. Yet, there is limited literature about procedures and outcomes of the training conducted for preparing users for practical use of SSDs in daily activities.

Field Expansion with Multiplexing Prism Glasses Improves Pedestrian Detection for Acquired Monocular Vision.

Purpose: Patients with acquired monocular vision (AMV) lose vision in the temporal crescent on the side of the blind eye. This visual field loss affects patients' ability to detect potential hazards in the blind field. Mounting a base-in multiplexing prism (MxP) on the nasal side of the seeing eye can provide true field expansion and enable detection of potential collision hazards.

Design of 45° periscopic visual field expansion device for peripheral field loss.

Patients with visual field loss have difficulty in mobility due to collision with pedestrians/obstacles from the blind side. In order to retrieve the lost visual field, prisms which deflect the field from the blind to the seeing side, have been widely used. However, the deflection power of current clinical Fresnel prisms is limited to ~30° and only provides a 5° eye scanning range to the blind side.

Poor resolution at the back of the tongue is the bottleneck for spatial pattern recognition.

Spatial patterns presented on the tongue using electro-tactile sensory substitution devices (SSDs) have been suggested to be recognized better by tracing the pattern with the tip of the tongue. We examined if the functional benefit of tracing is overcoming the poor sensitivity or low spatial resolution at the back of the tongue or alternatively compensating for limited information processing capacity by fixating on a segment of the spatial pattern at a time. Using a commercially available SSD, the BrainPort, we compared letter recognition performance in three presentation modes; tracing, static, and drawing.

Characteristics of organic fouling, reversibility by physical cleaning and concentrates in forward osmosis membrane processes for wastewater reclamation.

Numerous advantages of forward osmosis (FO) include operation at low or no hydraulic pressure, high rejection of a wide range of contaminants, and low irreversible fouling. The FO has been investigated to reduce effluent discharge in wastewater reclamation. The application of wastewater effluent as a feed stream to FO yields fouling on the active layer of the FO membrane.

Monitoring biofouling based on aerobic respiration in reverse osmosis system.

A monitoring method of biofouling in reverse osmosis (RO) system was proposed based on the fluorescent signal of resorufin, which is reduced by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide released from viable cells during aerobic respiration. The fluorescent signal of resorufin reduced by planktonic cells and microorganisms of biofilm showed linearity, indicating its feasibility to monitor biofouling in a RO system. For the application of the method to the lab-scale RO system, the injection concentration of resazurin and the injection flow rate were optimized.

Motion Parallax Improves Object Recognition in the Presence of Clutter in Simulated Prosthetic Vision.

Purpose: Efficacy of current visual prostheses in object recognition is limited. Among various limitations to be addressed, such as low resolution and low dynamic range, here we focus on reducing the impact of background clutter on object recognition. We have proposed the use of motion parallax via head-mounted camera lateral scanning and computationally stabilizing the object of interest (OI) to support neural background decluttering.