A novel software application to address a critical industrial challenge is developed to extract keyframes from endoscopic videos in otology. While we have existing solutions for extracting keyframes from videos, they have shown to be inadequate in addressing the unique challenges posed by endoscopic videos in otology. Conventional keyframe extraction techniques often miss crucial frames necessary for accurately diagnosing a patient's eardrum condition. The reason behind this oversight is the different perception of keyframes between conventional computer vision techniques and the standards required by medical practices. Our software, OtoFrame employs advanced image extraction techniques upon receiving an endoscopic video with its primary objective being to deliver optimal and clinically relevant eardrum images to the user for assessment. By leveraging open-source computer vision techniques and learning-based image classification methodologies, the software guarantees precise extraction of keyframes from otology endoscopic videos ensuring highly accurate results.

Additive manufacturing has become increasingly popular for rapid prototyping and industrial applications, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0. However, given the vast design parameter space, there remains a lack of characterisation of the mechanical properties for varying design parameters. Consequently, flexural tests are undertaken following the ISO 178:2019 for fused deposition modelling (FDM) samples, with three infill patterns (lines, gyroid and triangles), four thermoplastic materials, namely acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA and PLA+), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and infill densities (print material to part volume ratio) ranging from 0.10 to 1.00. Here we show that (i) the modulus and strength are independent of the tested infill types; (ii) the mechanical properties increase linearly with infill density; and (iii) considering mechanical properties, mass and cost, PLA+ appears as the most suitable overall material choice, with PETG appropriate for strength-driven, low-cost applications. Ultimately, PLA+ is applied to the design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA) case study of an Iron Man helmet. These findings provide novel insights into the variations of mechanical properties with infill type, density and material for 3D printing applications and may contribute to future development in lightweight and cost-effective additive manufacturing.

For centuries it has been humankind's instinct to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Common sense would dictate this instinctively reduces the dispersion of aerosol and droplets and thus the spread of contact and airborne infections.Aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) have become a new byword for procedures that put clinicians at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Whilst the title suggests the risk is simply in aerosols, the science is much more interesting. Droplets and aerosols are different, with the distinction between them based on size. Whilst experts disagree on the absolute size when an aerosol becomes a droplet, the general acceptance is that anything bigger than 50 microns (0.05mm) is a droplet and those smaller are aerosols.In most contagious respiratory infections, the principal transmission agents are droplets (1). This is due to the relatively high viral load in a droplet, purely due to its large size, and also the fact that large droplets have weight, and so gravity pulls them down onto surfaces that others can touch – so passing it on. This is why washing hands is so effective against droplet spread.Aerosol transmission is thought to be a much less frequent cause of transmission, mainly due to the very small viral load (given the aerosol itself is by definition very small). However, it is clearly more concerning as these very small, and therefore very light particles, can travel large distances on air currents and can be directly inhaled. That said, it is thought to only play a minor role in transmission compared to droplet spread.During the COVID-19 pandemic PHE (Public Health England) updated guidance on what it considers (AGPs) Aerosol Generating Procedures. Included within this list were examinations of the upper aerodigestive tract in ENT. Any procedure enacting air over a fluid mucosal surface therefore poses a risk of viral dispersion within both droplets and aerosol. Healthcare workers were recommended to reduce endoscopy of the nose and throat. Any essential examination had to be performed using high level PPE including an respirator (N95 or FFP3)(2).Anfinrud et al (3) graphically represented a visual reduction in aerosol production by creating light sheet from a 532-nm green LASER. Comparisons were made between a person talking with and without a cover for the mouth, in their instance, a slightly dampened wash cloth. Light flashes were recorded to evaluate the number of droplets ranging between 5-200 microns. They showed that by covering the mouth, virtually no light flashes were seen. This observation supports the well-known concept that covering the mouth does indeed reduce droplet production.On impact with smooth surfaces droplets disperse to smaller sizes and can aerosolise. Similarly impact onto soft surfaces absorbs droplets reducing their projection as well as the tendency to aerosolise (3).As the pandemic plateaus in countries across the world various strategies are to be considered to return to a new normal. This would facilitate the resumption of diagnostic services whilst maintaining the protection to healthcare workers. One suggestion is the use of facemasks to help reduce the risk of inadvertent droplet dispersion (2). Despite the 'soft surface' barrier masks create, in the ENT setting, facemasks obscure access to the nasal cavity thus preventing nasoendoscopy.The 'SNAP' (Safe Nasoendoscopic Airway Procedure) developed by endoscope-i Ltd (West Midlands, UK) is a single-use, valved endoscopic port, retrofitted to any surgical mask (Figure 1), permitting entry of a 4mm flexible and rigid endoscope to examine the naso and pharyngolarynx. The valve, a 10.9 mm cylindrical tube truncated by two opposing 45 degree inclined membranes 700 microns thick, approaches a point but terminates in a 700 micron thick and 500 micron wide plateau, creating a 'duck bill' formation The valves are formed using a FFF (fused filament fabrication) 3D printing technique with a Flashforge Creator Pro 3D printer. The plateau atop the valve serves to provide a reference for introducing a slit using a hardened steel razor blade that is 400 microns thin. The blade is mounted in a jig to ensure angle, penetration depth and position are controlled as it is driven through the membrane. These measures ensure that the valve opening is observably consistent and less than 50 microns. Once the SNAP is fitted to a surgical mask, any cough or sneeze generated during the procedure is caught within the mask. The valve is configured such that pressure from the patient side will serve to collapse the walls of the valve membrane thereby further sealing the slit in the valve. This seal has been in vitro tested with aerosolised fluorescein(figure 2). The 45-degree angle of the valve walls from the non-patient side similarly allows the blunt tip of the nasoendoscope to deform the valve walls with ease. The cylindrical form of the walls encourages the valve membranes to return to their original flat shape following withdrawal of the endoscope.During the COVID-19 pandemic our tertiary head and neck cancer referral centre managed 120 urgent 2ww cases. Using the Tikka et al calculator (4) 40% of referrals were redirected back to the GP. The remaining 60% either went direct for imaging or underwent endoscopy. In total 40 cases were endoscoped, 9 of which using the SNAP. All 9 cases scoped with the SNAP were completed without any adverse effect. No cough or sneeze was elicited during any of the examinations and observations between the two groups were identical. Subsequently one consultant lead FEES examination was performed under controlled conditions. Again, the procedure was completed without any complications. The patient self-remarked on the comfort of the endoscopy as a result of the stability provided by the SNAP device in the alar region the prevented inadvertent movement during the chin tuck and head turn exercises.Our observations demonstrate the SNAP device is a practical and safe tool to aid reduction in droplet dispersion whilst performing nasoendoscopy. We hope to see the inclusion of such a device in recovery guidelines by national bodies in order to facilitate the return of safe nasoendoscopy in the post COVID Pandemic era.

This paper describes the design, development and successful use of an on-chip goniometer for room-temperature macromolecular crystallography via acoustically induced rotations. We present for the first time a low cost, rate-tunable, acoustic actuator for gradual in-fluid sample reorientation about varying axes and its utilisation for protein structure determination on a synchrotron beamline. The device enables the efficient collection of diffraction data via a rotation method from a sample within a surface confined droplet. This method facilitates efficient macromolecular structural data acquisition in fluid environments for dynamical studies.

Introduction: At Aston University the CDIO pedagogical framework (Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate) is primarily implemented in four major team projects over the first two years of the mechanical engineering BEng degrees. Logbook keeping is emphasised and assessed during each team project as an essential professional skill in engineering through the process of active learning. Methods: The final year cohort for 2015-16 were given a questionnaire at the start (week 3) and end of the project (week 25) to gauge project planning, use of logbooks, ownership of work, use of resources and confidence in their skillsets that they will require as engineers. Focus groups will also be conducted to explore actual use of logbooks and level of engagement in logbook keeping. Results: The first questionnaire, completed by 80 % (n=64) of the cohort, found more than 60 % of students took ownership of work including research, ideas, development and implementation aspects of the project with few students suggesting it was solely the advisors role for aspects of the project. The second questionnaire, completed by 41 % (n=33) of the cohort, found more student than planned made use of the CDIO framework (79 %). Ninety-two percent (59/64) of students planned to use logbooks as some form of recording their work and retrospectively 91 % (31/33) of students had actually used a logbook during their project. Discussion: There is a good perception and application of the CDIO framework in engineering projects by the majority of the cohort. There is also strong evidence to suggest the active learning exercises during year 1 and 2 in logbook keeping is being retained and carried forward by students to their final year projects. Conclusion: The study shows good retention of logbook keeping skills and use of the CDIO framework to engineering projects. This study is on-going to improve training of good logbook keeping skills for the workplace.

As the pressure continues to grow on Diamond and the world's synchrotrons for higher throughput of diffraction experiments, new and novel techniques are required for presenting micron dimension crystals to the X ray beam. Currently this task is both labour intensive and primarily a serial process. Diffraction measurements typically take milliseconds but sample preparation and presentation can reduce throughput down to 4 measurements an hour. With beamline waiting times as long as two years it is of key importance for researchers to capitalize on available beam time, generating as much data as possible. Other approaches detailed in the literature [1] [2] [3] are very much skewed towards automating, with robotics, the actions of a human protocols. The work detailed here is the development and discussion of a bottom up approach relying on SSAW self assembly, including material selection, microfluidic integration and tuning of the acoustic cavity to order the protein crystals.

Implementation of the workspace, as embodied in CDIO Standard 6, can not be seen as a one off initiative and workspaces will need to continually evolve to deal with a range of factors. These include the aspirations of the educators keen to develop the capabilities of the resource, changes in numbers and/or types of students using the facilities, budget or other resource cuts and developments in CDIO related technology. Preparing for and managing these changes is important for the sustainability of CDIO programmes and this paper calls for partners to establish best practice.

Clinical OtolaryngologyVolume 38, Issue 1 p. 104-106 Correspondence: Letters The ‘endoscope-i’: a mobile solution for endoscopy in otolaryngology A. George, A. George georgea288@aol.com Department of Otolaryngology, West Midlands Deanery, Birmingham, UKSearch for more papers by this authorM. Prince, M. Prince Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aston University, Birmingham, UKSearch for more papers by this authorC. Coulson, C. Coulson Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UKSearch for more papers by this author A. George, A. George georgea288@aol.com Department of Otolaryngology, West Midlands Deanery, Birmingham, UKSearch for more papers by this authorM. Prince, M. Prince Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aston University, Birmingham, UKSearch for more papers by this authorC. Coulson, C. Coulson Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 19 February 2013 https://doi.org/10.1111/coa.12062Citations: 4Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume38, Issue1February 2013Pages 104-106 RelatedInformation

Many developing countries, including India, look forward to developing strong integrated textile industries to add value to already-available raw materials. Textile industry is one of the largest industries, which consumes energy in the form of heat. Dyeing and finishing activities are, however, energy-intensive. In many cases, these depend on imported fossil fuels. By turning to heat recovery, significant cost savings can be achieved improving profitability and competitiveness. New technologies are required to recover some percentage of loss of energy. The techniques and technologies of heat recovery from boiler blow down, condensate and waste water are analyzed. Waste heat utilization in the textile industry is gaining vital importance in the Indian textile industry as international legislations are also to come into force in our country. This paper focuses on potential of heat recovery has brought significant cost reduction in textile dyeing and processes. The focus is on steam utilization in textile mills. The paper includes case studies from various textile dyeing plants in Tirupur area of TamilNadu.

PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of soft contact lens midperipheral shape profile and edge design on the apparent epithelial thickness and indentation of the ocular surface with lens movement. METHODS Four soft contact lens designs comprising of two different plano midperipheral shape profiles and two edge designs (chiseled and knife edge) of silicone-hydrogel material were examined in 26 subjects aged 24.7 ± 4.6 years, each worn bilaterally in randomized order. Lens movement was imaged enface on insertion, at 2 and 4 hours with a high-speed, high-resolution camera simultaneous to the cross-section of the edge of the contact lens interaction with the ocular surface captured using optical coherence tomography (OCT) nasally, temporally, and inferiorly. Optical imaging distortions were individually corrected for by imaging the apparent distortion of a glass slide surface by the removed lens. RESULTS Apparent epithelial thickness varied with edge position (P < 0.001). When distortion was corrected for, epithelial indentation decreased with time after insertion (P = 0.010), changed after a blink (P < 0.001), and varied with position on the lens edge (P < 0.001), with the latter being affected by midperipheral lens shape profile and edge design. Horizontal and vertical lens movement did not change with time postinsertion. Vertical motion was affected by midperipheral lens shape profile (P < 0.001) and edge design (P < 0.001). Lens movement was associated with physiologic epithelium thickness for lens midperipheral shape profile and edge designs. CONCLUSIONS Dynamic OCT coupled with high-resolution video demonstrated that soft contact lens movement and image-corrected ocular surface indentation were influenced by both lens edge design and midperipheral lens shape profiles.

Engineers logbooks are an important part of the CDIO process, as a prequel to the logooks they will be expected to keep when in industry. Previously however, students logbooks were insufficient and students did not appear to appreciate the importance of the logbooks or how they would be assessed. In an attempt to improve the students understanding and quality of logbooks, a group of ~100 1st year CDIO students were asked to collaboratively develop a marking matrix with the tutors. The anticipated outcome was that students would have more ownership in, and a deeper understanding of, the logbook and what is expected from the student during assessment. A revised marking matrix was developed in class and a short questionnaire was implemented on delivery of the adapted matrix to gauge the students response to the process. Marks from the logbooks were collected twice during teaching period one and two and compared to marks from previous years. This poster will deliver the methodology and outcomes for this venture.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of soft contact lens edge design and mid-peripheral shape profile on lens movement, epithelial thickness and ocular surface indentation.

Energy is one of the main cost factors in the textile industry. Especially in times of high energy price volatility, improving energy-efficiency should be a primary concern for textile plants. There are various energy-efficiency improving opportunities that exist in every textile plant, many of which are cost-effective. Energy consciousness and environmental awareness have transformed condensate from an inexpensive byproduct of steam distribution to a valuable resource that can substantially reduce operating costs. The flash steam generated can contain up to half of the total energy of the condensate, hence flash steam recovery is also an essential part of an energy efficient system. This paper provides information on the steam consumption and recovery technologies and measures applicable to the textile industry. The paper includes case studies from various textile plants in sachin GIDC (Gujarat) and also provides the range of saving under varying conditions.

In the clinical/microbiological laboratory there are currently several ways of separating specific cells from a fluid suspension. Conventionally cells can be separated based on size, density, electrical charge, light-scattering properties, and antigenic surface properties. Separating cells using these parameters can require complex technologies and specialist equipment which may damage sensitive cells. The pumping mechanism described here leaves samples undamaged either mechanically or chemically unlike many other current filtration techniques. This paper proposes new Bio-MEMS filtration chips manufactured using micro systems technology (MST) that, when used in conjunction with an optical microscope and a syringe, can filter and grade cells for size without the requirement for additional expensive equipment. These chips also offer great versatility in terms of design and their low cost allows them to be disposable, eliminating sample contamination.