3D Low-Cost Equipment for Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Therapy.

A breakthrough in peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy occurred in 1977 with the development of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Its simplicity, low cost, and ease with which CAPD could be performed on patients at home contributed to the popularity of this procedure. However, there is a need for continuous improvement in building optimal systems for incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Bone Fractures Numerical Analysis in a Femur Affected by Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

This work presents a non-invasive methodology to obtain a three-dimensional femur model of three-year-old infants affected with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) type III. DICOM Files of a femur were processed to obtain a finite element model to assess the transverse, the oblique, and the comminuted fractures. The model is evaluated under a normal walking cycle.

Design of an Automated Multiposition Dynamic Wheelchair.

This work presents a design for an automatized multiposition dynamic wheelchair used to transport quadriplegic patients by reconfiguring a manual wheelchair structure. An electric actuator is attached to a four-bar mechanism fixed to each side of a wheelchair's backrest to reach multiposition. The entire device is actuated through a PID controller.

Redesign of a Piston for a Diesel Combustion Engine to Use Biodiesel Blends.

Biofuels represent an energy option to mitigate polluting gases. However, technical problems must be solved, one of them is to improve the combustion process. In this study, the geometry of a piston head for a diesel engine was redesigned.

Continuous Microalgal Cultivation for Antioxidants Production.

Microalgae, including cyanobacteria, represent a valuable source of natural compounds that have remarkable bioactive properties. Each microalga species produces a mixture of antioxidants with different amounts of each compound. Three aspects are important in the production of bioactive compounds: the microalga species, the medium composition including light supplied and the photobioreactor design, and operation characteristics.