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Almind, Richard, and Henning Bergenholtz. "Klæder skaber folk: Om layout i ordbøger." HERMES - Journal of Language and Communication in Business 3, no. 4 (July 27, 2015): 31. http://dx.doi.org/10.7146/hjlcb.v3i4.21421.
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Advertisements for dictionaries usually comment on the amount of information given, but few if any give any notion to the layout of the product. What fonts are used, what is the paper quality, and binding? We assume that the layout of a dictionary is quite important for the dictionary user, and we are therefore convinced that the lexicographer (who has to know about the needs of the dictionary user) should be more in control of the layout of his dictionary. With today's desktop publishing tools at hand the gap between printer and editor has lost some of its width and this calls for increased cooperation between the two. In this article we will try to prove this by examining and criticising a number of existing dictionaries and by giving some clues as to how layout can be like. The latter is exemplified by extracts from a few new dictionaries.
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Mendez, Vincent, Francesco Iberite, Solaiman Shokur, and Silvestro Micera. "Current Solutions and Future Trends for Robotic Prosthetic Hands." Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems 4, no. 1 (May 3, 2021): 595–627. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-control-071020-104336.
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The desire for functional replacement of a missing hand is an ancient one. Historically, humans have replaced a missing limb with a prosthesis for cosmetic, vocational, or personal autonomy reasons. The hand is a powerful tool, and its loss causes severe physical and often mental debilitation. Technological advancements have allowed the development of increasingly effective artificial hands, which can improve the quality of life of people who suffered a hand amputation. Here, we review the state of the art of robotic prosthetic hands (RPHs), with particular attention to the potential and current limits of their main building blocks: the hand itself, approaches to decoding voluntary commands and controlling the hand, and systems and methods for providing sensory feedback to the user. We also briefly describe existing approaches to characterizing the performance of subjects using RPHs for grasping tasks and provide perspectives on the future of different components and the overall field of RPH development.
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Caturano, A., P. C. Pafundi, R. Galiero, M. Tardugno, F. C. Sasso, and G. Cuomo. "AB0844 HAND GRIP STRENGTH EVALUATION IN RHEUMATOLOGIC DISEASES." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 80, Suppl 1 (May 19, 2021): 1446.1–1446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.3860.
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Background:Handgrip muscle strength test describes the strength of the hand muscles used to grasp or grip. Currently, hand grip evaluation is often used in clinical practice, as a marker of function and disability. In fact, it has already been applied as an outcome measure in arthritis rheumatoid clinical trials, to demonstrate the benefits of several treatments [1]. However, hand disability should also be considered in all other rheumatological diseases.Objectives:The main aim of this study is to assess the handgrip muscle strength test in a rheumatological cohort of patients as compared to a control group.Methods:This is a cross-sectional pilot study. We considered eligible 35 rheumatological consecutive female patients followed at our outpatients’ clinic of Internal Medicine (I Policlinico of Naples) and 35 healthy control females (HC). Both groups included only right-handed individuals. Rheumatological patients were distributed as follows: 5 rheumatoid arthritis (14,3%), 9 psoriatic arthritis (25,7%), 4 systemic lupus erythematosus (11,4%), 10 systemic sclerosis (28,6%), 4 fibromyalgia (11,4%), 3 juvenile idiopathic arthritis (8,6%). The course of disease was under optimal treatment in all patients.The type of hand grip used is the power grip, in which an object is held firmly by wrapping the fingers around it, pressing the object against the palm, and using the thumb to apply counter-pressure. We considered as either right or left hand valid measure the mean of three consecutive tests per arm. Between-groups differences were tested both by a uni- and multivariable analysis.Results:The two subgroups were homogeneously distributed for age (median age 42 yrs. [IQR 33-48] vs. 36 yrs. [IQR 30-52] in HC; p=0.902). At univariate analysis, hand grip strength was significantly lower in the rheumatological patients, both at right hand (right 19.5 kg [IQR 13.6-24.8] vs. 24.5 kg [IQR 20.8-29] in HC; p=0.004) and left hand (18.5 kg [IQR 13.9-22.5] vs. 23.7 kg [IQR 19-27.3] in HC; p=0.002), as compared to HC. This finding was further confirmed at multivariable analysis only as for the left hand (OR 0.919, 95%CI: 0.858-0.984; p=0.016).Conclusion:Rheumatological diseases are burdened by hand disability, mostly affecting daily activities performance [2,3]. Beyond an optimal disease control, our pilot study shows a decrease in left hand strength as compared to healthy controls. This might be due to a reduced use of the non-dominant hand, which may lead over time to a higher deficit of strength. As such, these patients should be prescribed to a left hand exercise to improve both mobility and strength and, consequently, hand function.References:[1]Eberhardt K, Sandqvist G, Geborek P (2008) Hand function tests are important and sensitive tools for assessment of treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol 37(2):109–112.[2]Feced Olmos CM, Alvarez-Calderon O, Hervás Marín D, et al. Relationship between structural damage with loss of strength and functional disability in psoriatic arthritis patients. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2019 Aug;68:169-174. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.06.009.[3]Maddali-Bongi S, Del Rosso A, Mikhaylova S, et al. Impact of hand and face disabilities on global disability and quality of life in systemic sclerosis patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2014 Nov-Dec;32(6 Suppl 86):S-15-20.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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Perskaya, Viktoriya V. "COVID-2019 Pandemic — a Catalyst for the Possible Loss of the Democratic Foundations of Society." Economic Strategies 144 (June 20, 2020): 30–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.33917/es-4.170.2020.30-41.
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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic began quite unexpectedly for all countries of the world community, although WHO has repeatedly warned about its possibility. It turned out that spreading of infection in all countries of the world depends not only on the level of urbanization and population density per 1 km2, but on the capability to effectively mobilize the national health system and on the quality of medical services, on their accessibility to all sectors of society, on the ability of the states leaders to provide appropriate regulation of public life. The most effective tools in the world became self-isolation, remote work (distance working) and introduction of quarantine regimes. Continuance of such measures implies, on the one hand, developing technologies for monitoring and ensuring social contact between citizens, and on the other, tightening control over the citizens behavior, including in remote work mode. The article provides a comparative analysis of these control systems, including the “social credit” in China, and concludes that remote working and opportunities that modern tracking and person re-identification technologies provide can be used even after the 2020 pandemic.
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Song, Eun-Sung, Young-Jun Lim, Bongju Kim, and Jeffery Sungjae Mun. "Noise Reduction Using Active Vibration Control Methods in CAD/CAM Dental Milling Machines." Applied Sciences 9, no. 8 (April 12, 2019): 1516. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app9081516.
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Used in close proximity to dental practitioners, dental tools and devices, such as hand pieces, have been a possible risk factor to hearing loss due to the noises they produce. Recently, additional technologies such as CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) milling machines have been used in the dental environment and have emerged as a new contributing noise source. This has created an issue in fostering a pleasant hospital environment. Currently, because of issues with installing and manufacturing noise-reducing products, the technology is impractical and insufficient relative to its costly nature. In this experiment, in order to create a safe working environment, we hoped to analyze the noise produced and determine a practical method to attenuate the noises coming from CAD/CAM dental milling machines. In this research, the cause for a noise and the noise characteristics were analyzed by observing and measuring the sound from a milling machine and the possibility of reducing noise in an experimental setting was examined using a noise recorded from a real milling machine. Since a milling machine generates noise mainly due to vibration of the dust collector, the possibility of reducing noise was examined by controlling vibration. This study was conducted to understand the cause for noise from the milling machine and verify the possibility of improving noise by a tactile transducer.
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Arcia, Adriana, Maureen George, Maichou Lor, Sabrina Mangal, and Jean-Marie Bruzzese. "Design and Comprehension Testing of Tailored Asthma Control Infographics for Adults with Persistent Asthma." Applied Clinical Informatics 10, no. 04 (August 2019): 643–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1693713.
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Abstract Background Adherence to daily inhaled corticosteroid medication is important for asthma control but low health literacy is a barrier to comprehension of control status and may contribute to medication nonadherence. Infographics tailored with patients' own data can support comprehension of health status, but these have not been applied to asthma successfully. Objectives This two-phased study developed and tested tailored infographics of (1) scores on the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), a self-report measure of symptom burden, and (2) pulmonary function test (PFT) results. The infographics are intended for use as communication and adherence-promotion tools in clinical interactions. Methods For both phases, participants (18+ years, English- or Spanish-speaking, persistent asthma) were recruited through two primary care clinics. In Phase I, we used a hybrid iterative participatory design process to refine prototype designs. In Phase II, we conducted individual comprehension assessment interviews with the finalized designs. Infographics were hand-tailored for each participant using their ACQ score and PFT results collected at the start of the interview. Two independent raters scored interview transcripts for gist and verbatim comprehension based on a predetermined rubric. Results The five Phase I design sessions led to final prototypes that participants (n = 21) considered appealing and easy to comprehend. All Phase II participants (n = 10) demonstrated complete gist and verbatim comprehension. Participants reacted favorably to receiving their information via infographics and expressed intentions to engage in self-management behaviors (e.g., medication adherence, smoking cessation, weight loss, and review of their care plan) in response to the information. Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence that infographics can support comprehension of asthma control status and promote self-management intentions among adults with persistent asthma. Infographics can be programmed into electronic health records and/or standalone applications to allow for instant tailoring at the point of care.
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Xiao, Qin. "On-Line Power System Analysis Based on Hybrid Network Model." Applied Mechanics and Materials 484-485 (January 2014): 665–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.484-485.665.
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Online power system analysis to electric mode-based on information that will offer a decided in real time the quality of the studies and efficiency of the power system operation precision closely associated with the power system model. Accurate and quick decision based on real-time data analysis needs battle plan deregulation of the power system in all over the world. In addition a significant expansion of electric power system in India in recent times, especially in the 2003 introduction of electricity bill, introduction of open access, electric power market, the appearance of communication through power with complex power system operation and control. Electric power network analysis in real-time data is expected to further improve the critical role of power network operation to repair the proposed law after transmission loss of tariff and share. All this forced the power system real time is accurate, but conditions analysis based on different principles. In order to meet the requirements of all, from the monitoring, commercial, reliability and stability of the Angle, attempt to have been forced to take hybrid network model in natural real-time supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems work so far a single network model of the integrated. This paper presents a network model for the theory foundation and the same is in the southern area rapidly adapt to load center (SRLDC) Bangalore and utilization of energy management system in India (EMS) real-time systems and tools. It is proved to be how to planning can online network system modeling and analysis of relatively simple in complex operational requirements. The experimental results show that the online power management strategy to adapt to can be a key tool control engineers hand in complex power system operation situations.
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Scapinelli, Desirée Ferro, Josivaldo Godoy Da Silva, and Iandara Schettert Silva. "Effectiveness Analysis of Biomedical Dynamometers used to evaluate palmar gripping force and forceps gripping in Leprosy Carriers." International Journal for Innovation Education and Research 7, no. 12 (December 31, 2019): 786–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol7.iss12.2126.
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Leprosy is a chronic and infectious disease, transmissible, which causes neural lesions in which its investigation is mandatory in Brazil because it causes decreased thermal sensitivity, touch and pain, but mainly causes loss of muscle strength in the feet and hands giving the disease a great disabling power. Therefore, this disease is of health concern and control policies have been concerned with early diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals, requiring objective, sensitive and reliable methods of measurement. Therefore, this research proposed to analyze the effectiveness of biomedical dynamometers in the measurement of handgrip strength and forceps grasping force in the hand of leprosy patients. In this context, a systematic literature review was performed considering publications in Portuguese and English from 1993 to 2019, due to the lack of qualitative research publications in recent years related to the measurement of the effects of leprosy. The results of the study showed that the dynamometers surveyed have the potential to be used as tools to measure effects and support the diagnosis of leprosy. These meters have important features such as non-invasive, easily reproduced and good accuracy, contributing to objective assessment and early diagnosis of the professional, favoring the treatment of affected patients. In addition, through this literature review, it is possible to observe the importance of handgrip strength measurement, because the delay in diagnosis and consequently in treatment generates severe physical disabilities in the hands, which are evident due to the radial, median and ulnar nerves generating limitation to perform activities and decreased work capacity.
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Bzour, Mahyoub Izzat, Fathiah Mohamed Zuki, and Muhamad Shakirin Mispan. "Introduction of imidazolinone herbicide and Clearfield® rice between weedy rice—control efficiency and environmental concerns." Environmental Reviews 26, no. 2 (June 2018): 181–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/er-2017-0096.
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Water scarcity and increasing labor costs of rice cultivation have prompted many agro-ecosystems in the world to adopt the direct-seeded rice (DSR) method instead of the hand-transplanting method. However, there is a downside to this approach, which is the prevalence and spread of weedy rice (WR), a troublesome weed in paddy fields that has the potential to cause a 90% loss of total yield in high-infested areas. The progression, infestation, and dynamics of WR are linked to environmental circumstances, types of rice cultivar, established techniques, and field management. WR is viewed as a critical problem, as it may prove counterproductive in rice cultivation because it causes an overall increase in the production cost of paddy harvesting. For the purpose of our discussion, a method is explored that can be used to eliminate, or at least mitigate, the spread of WR, which is the Clearfield® Production System (CPS). This method consists of imidazolinone (IMI) herbicide, Clearfield® certified seeds, and the Stewardship Guide. However, use of the CPS has been known to negatively affect the environment, as it transfers resistance traits to WR, increasing IMI persistence in the cultivated soils, and contaminating soils and water with herbicide residues. These negative environmental effects could be dealt with by using integrated weed management systems (IWMS) that include the use of all viable tools and should be incorporated with the proper Stewardship Guide to reduce the growth of herbicide-resistant WR. This review aims to elucidate information pertaining to WR infestation, the characteristics thereof, sustainable techniques for WR control, IMI herbicides, and diverse methods for the extraction and determination of IMI residues in the environment. Understanding the conspecific nature of WR serves as a baseline for constructing novel WR control strategies in the future.
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Sahin, Hasan. "A Review on Parameters Affecting the Choice of Alternative (Non-Chemical) Weed Control Methods." European Journal of Engineering Research and Science 4, no. 12 (December 4, 2019): 16–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejers.2019.4.12.1641.
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Chemical using as a weed control method is the most preferred method in weed control because they are easily accessible, easily applicable and inexpensive. But, with the new environment-friendly regulations, the importance of non-chemical methods has increased all over the world. In addition, organic farm and non-chemical agricultural methods are gaining importance with increasing social environment and health awareness. Non-chemical methods, called, "alternative methods” have been one of the most popular research subjects in recent years. The physical removal or killing of weeds is usually done by hand or by means designed tools for this task, which varies from country to country. The most known modern non-chemical weed control methods are; electric current, microwave heating, superheated steam, infrared using, pneumatic system, freeze-drying, laser cutting, and fresnel lens systems. The most popular of these methods are; electric current method and microwave heating. In electric current and microwave heating methods, there are no chemical residues in soil and plants after application. It has been shown in the studies that, the microwave weed control method can destroy weeds and seeds when appropriate frequency, sufficient time and required power level are selected. Therefore, in the selection of non-chemical weed control methods, some important parameters of plant and soil should be known. The electrical and dielectric properties of plants and soil such as, electrical resistance (R), impedance (Z), dielectric constant (ε’), loss factor (ε’’), the permittivity (permeability ( and conductivity (σ) should be known especially in microwave and electric current methods. The other parameters like the age, height and density of the plant is an issue to be considered in all control methods. But, the moisture content of soil and plant may not be taken into consideration in hot water and steam applications. For the freeze-drying method, the moisture and water content of the plant and soil must also be taken into account.
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LIVSHIN, A. Ya. "Communist Party in the Power System of the USSR." Outlines of global transformations: politics, economics, law 11, no. 3 (August 17, 2018): 13–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.23932/2542-0240-2018-11-3-13-35.
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In this article major mechanisms and different stages of the Bolshevik party’s transformation into a “party-state” are examined. The Communist party has been brought to the surface of political life and power by the Russian revolution; the organizational principles of the Party along with its approaches to political process have to a larger extent evolved as results of the revolution. Therefore the system of power which has reached its peak during Stalin’s rule has both been the product of continuity as well as change of the Russian political tradition. The Communist ideology has served as main instrument of communication between the authorities and the people. The Party occupied central position in that system of communication; one of the most important tools of the Party’s control over the Soviet society was propaganda. However the process of the communist regime acquiring legitimacy has been rather lengthy; it was completed only by the late 1920s. The basic principles of “unity” within a ruling group were rejected when rivalry for power ended in Stalin’s favor. The central element in the Communist party’s system of power was the ruling elite – nomenclature. During World War II the institution of “party- state” has reached the highest degree of centralization; but on the other hand, the decision-making system was rather flexible and adaptable as compared with the previous period. After the War even within Stalin’s dictatorship the contours of oligarchic “collective leadership” were emerging. N. Khrushchev used the same instrument as Stalin did – control over the Party apparatus – while consolidating his power. One of the important results of Khrushchev’s rule was the institutionalization of the ruling bureaucracy. Maintaining “stability” became the slogan for the new stage of the Communist regime’s evolution. Socio- economic system was getting increasingly complex and less manageable; different hierarchies, including local and industrial elites, have been failing to make timely and correct decisions due to their rigidness and sluggishness. The Party was attempting to compensate those deficiencies, but was less and less capable of doing so. Gorbachev’s “Perestroika” which was based on the idea of democratic socialism has finally ended the rule of the “party-state”. Having lost its internal integrity the system of power has rapidly deteriorated.
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Castañeda, F. K., N. G. Canel, G. V. Landschoot, A. De Stéfano, R. J. Bevacqua, and D. F. Salamone. "24 Evaluation of Latrunculin A for the Activation of Hand-Made Cloning (HMC) Porcine Embryos." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 30, no. 1 (2018): 151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rdv30n1ab24.
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Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an important biotechnological tool. However, production rates of viable offspring remain low. One possible cause of this low efficiency is chromosomal losses during early activation process (Liu et al. 2015 Cell. Reprogram. 17, 463–471). The use of actin inhibitors that block second polar body extrusion during activation protocols might be a strategy to avoid such losses. The objective of this work was to compare the efficiency of the use of 2 actin inhibitors during the activation of hand-made cloning (HMC) porcine embryos. One of the compounds used was latrunculin A (LatA), which joins directly to actin monomers, preventing their assembly to the filaments. The other was cytochalasin B (CB), which is commonly used for activation protocols. It binds to the growing actin filaments and prevents their elongation. For this purpose, in vitro-matured cumulus–oocyte compexes were deprived of their cumulus and zonae pellucidae cells by mechanical and enzymatic treatments. Oocytes were randomly distributed in 2 experimental groups (HMC) and 2 parthenogenetic control groups (PA). For HMC groups, oocytes were bisected using a microblade and the resulting hemioocytes were stained with Hoechst 33342 and observed under UV light to identify those that had lost the metaphase II plate. Adult skin fibroblasts from primary cultures were used as nuclear donors. For nuclear transfer, 2 hemicytoplasts were fused to a donor cell by an electric pulse of 1.42 kV/cm for 30 μs. After 2 h of nuclear reprogramming, the reconstituted embryos were activated by an electric pulse of 1.2 kV/cm for 80 μs and incubated with cycloheximide (CHX, 10 μg mL−1 , 3 h) in combination with one of the actin inhibitors: LatA 2 μM (CHX-LatA goup) or CB 2.5 μg mL−1 (CHX-CB group). The PA groups were subjected to the same activation treatments (PA-CHX+LatA and PA-CHX+CB groups). All embryos were cultured in SOFaa medium, using an adaptation of the well-of-the-well (WOW) system (microwells), in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2 in air at 39°C. Cleavage, morulae, and blastocysts rates were evaluated at Days 2, 4, and 7-8, respectively. At least 3 replicates were performed per group. Results are presented in Table 1. Our results demonstrate that the production of embryos by HMC activated with CHX-LatA is as efficient as that with CHX-CB, the protocol currently used in SCNT protocols. Further research is needed to study its effect on chromosomal complements and long-term development. Table 1.Effect of activation with cycloheximide (CHX) and latrunculin A (LatA) on in vitro development of hand-made cloning (HMC) porcine embryos (% ± SD in parentheses)
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Meagher, Stephen W. "Design of Hand Tools for Control of Cumulative Trauma Disorders." Applied Industrial Hygiene 4, no. 3 (March 1989): R—5—R—6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08828032.1989.10389916.
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Lyden-Kluss, Carleen. "The Positives and Perils of Communicating with the Public." International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings 2017, no. 1 (May 1, 2017): 1057–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.7901/2169-3358-2017.1.1057.
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Abstract In today’s age of 24/7/365 news cycles, the pace, outlets and breadth of news is faster and more comprehensive than ever before. Every citizen with a cell phone is a reporter, social media is beginning to dominate traditional news sources, and time has become an even more critical factor. There is an old maxim that you don’t want to be exchanging business cards in the middle of a crisis—and in today’s world of instant communications that is valuable time lost. We have also seen the impact of poor media communications when both the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon are featured in public relations classrooms as textbook cases of poor management (notwithstanding that the Deepwater Horizon was the largest marine spill in US history by a factor of 20 times, was politically charged, and had a continuous release with related imagery for 60+ days). The Exxon Corporation’s reputation was bound to suffer after the Exxon Valdez ran aground off Alaska and dumped 250,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound. But experts in public relations say that Exxon seriously worsened the damage to its public standing by failing to seize control of developments after the spill and establish itself as a company concerned about the problems it had caused (1). In the case of the Deepwater Horizon, people familiar with the inside of BP’s crisis control effort and outside experts say early on, BP didn’t have a public relations strategy. It failed to communicate the three key messages the public needed to hear: That BP was accountable for the disaster, was deeply concerned about the harm it caused and had a plan for what to do. Experts also agree that Hayward’s propensity to say the wrong thing made him the wrong choice to be the face of the crisis, and BP’s board took too long to figure that out. (2) In a world that is increasingly “wired”, it is imperative to address the public in a responsible, prepared, professional and comprehensive fashion. Every posting is a permanent record of the narrative, if not the events themselves. It is critical to be in control of the narrative to take advantage of positive community engagement, and avoid community backlash, which could lead to interference, or at least a distraction, from the mission at hand, which is to manage an effective response and minimize the impact on lives, the environment, and property. One of the most important, and lingering, aspects of a successful spill response is managing the public and the press. In the Deepwater Horizon, these aspects proved to be an enormous distraction to the responders, sucking valuable time and energy away from the response itself. This paper covers the importance of addressing the public, fundamentals of the maritime industry, tools for addressing crisis media management in advance of an event, as well as community building activities that companies can deploy on a regional basis which will bolster a company’s reputation in the region, as well as build a sense of trust with communities that may be affected by an incident.
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Shekhawat, Giriraj Singh, Grant D. Searchfield, and Cathy M. Stinear. "Role of Hearing Aids in Tinnitus Intervention: A Scoping Review." Journal of the American Academy of Audiology 24, no. 08 (September 2013): 747–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.24.8.11.
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Background: Tinnitus can have a devastating impact on the quality of life of the sufferer. Although the mechanisms underpinning tinnitus remain uncertain, hearing loss is often associated with its onset, and hearing aids are among the most commonly used tools for its management. Purpose: To conduct a scoping review to explore the role of hearing aids in tinnitus management. Research Design: Scoping review based on the six-stage framework of Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Study Sample: Relevant studies were identified using various databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and PubMed) and hand searching of journals and a reference list of articles. Out of 277 shortlisted articles, 29 studies (18 research studies and 11 reviews) were chosen for charting of data based on their abstracts. Data Collection and Analysis: Tinnitus assessment measures used in studies were recorded along with changes in their scores. Measures used in studies included the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ), Tinnitus Severity Index (TSI), Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ), German version of Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS) of tinnitus intensity. Where possible Cohen's d effect size statistic was calculated. Results: Although the quality of evidence for hearing aids' effect on tinnitus is not strong, the weight of evidence (17 research studies for, 1 against) suggests merit in using hearing aids for tinnitus management. Conclusions: The majority of studies reviewed support the use of hearing aids for tinnitus management. Clinicians should feel reassured that some evidence shows support for the use of hearing aids for treating tinnitus, but there is still a need for stronger methodology and randomized control trials.
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Verleger, Rolf, Ferdinand Binkofski, Monique Friedrich, Peter Sedlmeier, and Detlef Kömpf. "Anarchic-hand syndrome: ERP reflections of lost control over the right hemisphere." Brain and Cognition 77, no. 1 (October 2011): 138–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2011.05.004.
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Mora, Laura, Anna Sedda, Teresa Esteban, and Gianna Cocchini. "The signing body: extensive sign language practice shapes the size of hands and face." Experimental Brain Research 239, no. 7 (May 24, 2021): 2233–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-021-06121-9.
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AbstractThe representation of the metrics of the hands is distorted, but is susceptible to malleability due to expert dexterity (magicians) and long-term tool use (baseball players). However, it remains unclear whether modulation leads to a stable representation of the hand that is adopted in every circumstance, or whether the modulation is closely linked to the spatial context where the expertise occurs. To this aim, a group of 10 experienced Sign Language (SL) interpreters were recruited to study the selective influence of expertise and space localisation in the metric representation of hands. Experiment 1 explored differences in hands’ size representation between the SL interpreters and 10 age-matched controls in near-reaching (Condition 1) and far-reaching space (Condition 2), using the localisation task. SL interpreters presented reduced hand size in near-reaching condition, with characteristic underestimation of finger lengths, and reduced overestimation of hands and wrists widths in comparison with controls. This difference was lost in far-reaching space, confirming the effect of expertise on hand representations is closely linked to the spatial context where an action is performed. As SL interpreters are also experts in the use of their face with communication purposes, the effects of expertise in the metrics of the face were also studied (Experiment 2). SL interpreters were more accurate than controls, with overall reduction of width overestimation. Overall, expertise modifies the representation of relevant body parts in a specific and context-dependent manner. Hence, different representations of the same body part can coexist simultaneously.
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Büher, Catherine, and Kenneth I. Hume. "A Survey of Current Hand Assessment Practice in the UK." British Journal of Hand Therapy 8, no. 3 (September 2003): 102–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/175899830300800301.
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A range of physical assessment strategies is available to hand therapists although approaches to their use may be variable. Inconsistent use of standardised assessments may compromise the information available to therapists to provide an evidence base for, and inform, practice. Potential research opportunities may also be lost as comparative studies are difficult in such circumstances. This study aimed to review hand therapy assessment practices in the UK. Following a pilot study, a survey of the membership of BAHT (n=493) was undertaken using a self-completed postal questionnaire and a 50.5% response rate (n=249) was secured. Findings suggest that UK hand therapists are using assessment tools of variable accuracy in an environment of limited resources. Therapist time invested in physical measurement may be providing a poor return in terms of the quality of information generated. The need for accurate and easy-to-use measurement tools is evident as is the desire for patient-centred outcome measures. User-friendly and inexpensive measurement tools might facilitate hand therapy research, minimise the potential for researcher bias and enhance the evidence base for hand therapy. Subsequent work has begun to explore assessment tools that may evaluate patient outcome more effectively.
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Hsi Liao, Kun. "The Effect of Grip Span on Hand-Gripping Control Strength." Advanced Engineering Forum 10 (December 2013): 207–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/aef.10.207.
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The economic developments and industrial progressions, the automatic operations were getting more wide-spread. However, currently in various operation occasions, the workers are still required to face how to operate all kinds of hand tooling and equipments. In the industrial cases, there were many opportunities to use hand grip strength to operate machines. Hand grip strength has received increasing attention from industrial engineers and ergonomic researchers. The relation between hand grip strength and tools grip span was important issues in ergonomics. Occasionally, it was little research to conduct. This study aims at exploring the relationship of tools grip span and hand grip strength. Seventy two subjects rose from volunteers participators, including 29 males and 43 females. Dependent variables were maximum volitional contraction and hand gripping control (HGC-70%, target value 70% MVC). Three different diameters of grip span were significance differences in maximum volitional contraction and hand gripping control. The study finds that the best diameter of tools grip span was 47.6 mm. The finding will be served as a reference for task design, instrument design as well as for disease protected for industrial staffs.
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Echt, Alan, and William K. Sieber. "Control of Silica Exposure from Hand Tools in Construction: Grinding Concrete." Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 17, no. 7 (July 2002): 457–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10473220290035543.
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Yamamoto, Yutaka, Kaoru Yamamoto, Masaaki Nagahara, and Pramod P. Khargonekar. "Signal processing via sampled-data control theory." Impact 2020, no. 2 (April 15, 2020): 6–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2020.2.6.
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Digital sounds and images are used everywhere today, and they are all generated originally by analogue signals. On the other hand, in digital signal processing, the storage or transmission of digital data, such as music, videos or image files, necessitates converting such analogue signals into digital signals via sampling. When these data are sampled, the values from the discrete, sampled points are kept while the information between the sampled points is lost. Various techniques have been developed over the years to recover this lost data, but the results remain incomplete. Professor Yutaka Yamamoto's research is focused on improving how we can recover or reconstruct the original analogue data.
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Kakar, Q., M. A. Khan, and K. M. Bile. "Malaria control in Pakistan: new tools at hand but challenging epidemiological realities." Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 16, Supp. (December 1, 2010): 54–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.26719/2010.16.supp.54.
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Ledgard, N. J. "Wilding control guidelines for farmers and land managers." New Zealand Plant Protection 62 (August 1, 2009): 380–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.30843/nzpp.2009.62.4879.
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The spread of introduced conifers (wildings) threatens biological conservation landscape values and pastoral productivity of large areas of montane New Zealand Considerable resources are spent annually on their control This paper reviews the background to a guideline manual that has been written to enable farmers and land managers to determine the most practical and cost effective means for wilding control Wilding size and frequency are used to choose the optimum removal technique from a wilding control toolbox Methods involve management of the affected site (burning grazing fertilising) physical removal (hand pulling hand tools ringbarking) power tools (chainsaws and scrubbars) heavy machinery (mulching windrowing) and chemicals (foliar spraying stem poisoning cut stump application soil injection) For each technique implementation recommendations are given along with comment on the most appropriate tools audit procedures and safety issues The wilding website (wwwwildingconifersorgnz) is used for additional detail
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SHIBATA, Nobuyuki. "Individual Monitoring and Control of Vibration Transmitted to the Hand in Operation of Hand-held Power Tools." Proceedings of the Industrial, Chemical Machinery & Safety Division Conference 2019.winter (2019): GS—3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1299/jsmeicm.2019.winter.gs-3.
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Schilke, Peter, Rainer Rolffs, and Claudia Comito. "Analysis Tools for Spectral Surveys." Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 7, S280 (June 2011): 440–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s174392131102518x.
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AbstractSpectral surveys in the past were a hobby of a few, usually restricted to strong, line-rich and close-by sources which were considered templates for source classes, e.g. Orion KL for hot cores, IRC+10216 for AGB stars, and CRL618 for protoplanetary nebulae. Not any more, since with the large bandwidths and high sensitivities of modern instruments, notably ALMA, all but a few sources will show many lines from many molecules at every observations. So (involuntary) line surveys will be the norm rather than the exception. A common strategy is to ignore all lines but the few one is interested in. Since all data will be available through the archive, this does not mean that the data are lost, since eventually the information will be extracted. Another strategy is to take the bull by the horns, and try to analyze all or at least a large portion of the spectrum. This includes the steps of line identification, source modeling and linking to physical and chemical models. With the data volumes at hand doing it the traditional, pedestrian, way is somewhere between impractical and impossible, semi-automatic methods need to be employed.
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Baugh, Lee A., Erica Hoe, and J. Randall Flanagan. "Hand-held tools with complex kinematics are efficiently incorporated into movement planning and online control." Journal of Neurophysiology 108, no. 7 (October 1, 2012): 1954–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00157.2012.
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Certain hand-held tools alter the mapping between hand motion and motion of the tool end point that must be controlled in order to perform a task. For example, when using a pool cue, the motion of the cue tip is reversed relative to the hand. Previous studies have shown that the time required to initiate a reaching movement (Fernandez-Ruiz J, Wong W, Armstrong IT, Flanagan JR. Behav Brain Res 219: 8–14, 2011), or correct an ongoing reaching movement (Gritsenko V, Kalaska JF. J Neurophysiol 104: 3084–3104, 2010), is prolonged when the mapping between hand motion and motion of a cursor controlled by the hand is reversed. Here we show that these time costs can be significantly reduced when the reversal is instantiated by a virtual hand-held tool. Participants grasped the near end of a virtual tool, consisting of a rod connecting two circles, and moved the end point to displayed targets. In the reversal condition, the rod translated through, and rotated about, a pivot point such that there was a left-right reversal between hand and end point motion. In the nonreversal control, the tool translated with the hand. As expected, when only the two circles were presented, movement initiation and correction times were much longer in the reversal condition. However, when full vision of the tool was provided, the reaction time cost was almost eliminated. These results indicate that tools with complex kinematics can be efficiently incorporated into sensorimotor control mechanisms used in movement planning and online control.
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Singh, Rupinder, and S. Arvinderjit. "Maintenance planning and control of hand tools unit in India: a case study." International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management 7, no. 1 (2013): 109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/ijicbm.2013.054926.
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Iwasaki, Makoto, Masashi Miyaji, and Nobuyuki Matsui. "High-Precision Contouring Control of Table Drive System in Machine Tools Using Lost Motion Compensation." IEEJ Transactions on Industry Applications 125, no. 6 (2005): 616–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1541/ieejias.125.616.
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Pons, J. L., R. Ceres, and F. Pfeiffer. "Multifingered dextrous robotics hand design and control: a review." Robotica 17, no. 6 (November 1999): 661–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0263574799001836.
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During the last two decades a large amount of effort and attention has been paid to the problem of designing and controlling dextrous robotics hands. The possible application background ranges from telerobotics to upper limb prosthetics, while actual industrial developments are mainly limited to specific grippers and tools. Classical problems related to dextrous hand design are kinematics of multifingered hands, development of proper actuation technologies and redundant tendinous systems for transmission. As far as hand control is concerned, grasp preshaping, planning and synthesis are of major concern, while sensor guided hand operation is still a matter of research. The present work reviews the above mentioned hand design and control issues trying to throw some light on the Babel-like confusion encountered when looking at present literature on dextrous hand design and specially control. Most actuation and transmission technologies, as well as control approaches, are studied and classified.
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Guijarro, Ester, Eugenia Babiloni, Maria Jose Canós-Darós, Lourdes Canós-Darós, and Sofía Estellés. "Fuzzy modeling approach to on-hand stock levels estimation in (R, S) inventory system with lost sales." Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management 13, no. 3 (September 17, 2020): 464. http://dx.doi.org/10.3926/jiem.3071.
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Purpose: One challenge in inventory control models is to know the stock available at the beginning of the cycle to satisfy future demands, i.e. to know the on-hand stock levels at order delivery. For inventory managers, this knowledge is necessary to both determine service levels and establish the control parameters of the inventory policy. However, the calculation of on-hand stock levels when unfilled demand is lost is mathematically complex since on-hand stock cannot be negative by definition. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach to estimate on-hand stock levels when the inventory is periodically reviewed and unfilled demand is lost, through the use of fuzzy techniques.Design/methodology/approach: This paper applies fuzzy set techniques for the calculation of the on-hand stock levels at order delivery in the lost sales context, based on the uncertainty that real demand introduces. To this end, we propose a new approach based on modeling the on-hand stock as an imprecise Markov chain using possibility functions, which reduces significantly the computational effort required to obtain the on-hand stock levels.Findings: To illustrate the performance of the proposed method, two experiments are carried out. The first experiment shows that the proposed fuzzy method correctly calculates on-hand stock levels with insignificant deviation with respect the exact vector. Additionally, the results illustrate that the fuzzy method simplifies the calculation and highly reduces the computational efforts. The second experiment shows the performance of the fuzzy method when it is used to estimate service levels by means of the fill rate. The results show that the proposed method accurately estimates the fill rate with average deviations lower than 0.00015.Practical implications: Knowing the on-hand stock vector is important for inventory managers to establish the control parameters of the system, i.e. to determine the minimum base stock level, S, that guarantees the achievement of a target service level. The difficulty of this estimation is that to obtain the on-hand stock vector in a lost sales context requires a huge computational effort and it is difficult to implement in companies’ information systems. However, the proposed fuzzy method leads to a very accurate calculation of the on-hand stock vector significantly reducing the computational costs, which makes this method easily implementable in practical environments.Originality/value: Fuzzy set techniques have been widely used in inventory models to introduce the uncertainty of demand, costs or shortage. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper which deals directly with fuzzy estimation of on-hand levels.
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CHIOU, YING-HAN, JER-JUNN LUH, SHIH-CHING CHEN, JIN-SHIN LAI, and TE-SON KUO. "RESIDUAL CAPABILITIES OF HEMIPLEGIC PATIENTS TO RESTORE HAND FUNCTIONS VIA A NON-INVASIVE FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEM." Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications 18, no. 05 (October 25, 2006): 255–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.4015/s1016237206000397.
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Control strategies are the chief attraction in the field of rehabilitation engineering, and especially in a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system, a reliable control method is important for paralyzed patients to restore lost their functions. In this paper, we have presented a demonstration of the control strategy, which is based on the patient-driven loop, used in a non-invasive FES system for hand function restoration. With the patient-driven loop control, hemiplegic patients could use their residual capabilities, such as shoulder movements in their sound extremities, the myoelectric signals generated from different muscles, etc, to operate the FES system. Here we have chosen the most common and acceptable signals as the input sources, i.e. electromyographic (EMG) signals, to control a non-invasive FES system, generating the electrical stimuli to excite the paralyzed muscles. In addition, EMG signals recorded by the sensors in the electrical stimulator can serve both as the trigger of the system and as the adjustment of the electrical stimulation parameters, thereby improving the system's performance and reliability. From the experimental results, subjects can successfully use their residual capabilities to control the FES system and restore their lost hand functions as well. On the other hand, from the viewpoints of rehabilitation and psychology, hemiplegics will benefit greatly by using their residual capabilities to regain their lost functions. It is believed that the patient-driven loop control is very useful, not only for the FES system in this study, but also for other assistive devices. By the control strategy proposed in this paper, we deeply hope that patients will benefit greatly and regain their self-confidence.
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Logue, Rachel, Elana Goldenkoff, Michael Vesia, and Susan Brown. "Measuring Hand Function in Older Adults: The Need for Better Assessment Tools." Innovation in Aging 4, Supplement_1 (December 1, 2020): 202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa057.653.
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Abstract Aging is associated with a decline in hand muscle strength, dexterity, and tactile perception, leading to difficulties in activities of daily living and reduced independence (Millan-Calenti et al., 2010). However, current assessments do not adequately capture sensorimotor skills that underlie everyday activities such as dressing and food preparation. This study examined the ability of two novel assessment devices to detect age-related changes in hand force control and tactile pattern discrimination. Sensorimotor function was assessed in 13 healthy older adults (mean age 72.2 +/- 5.5y) and 13 young adults (mean age 20 +/- 1.4y). Maximum grip force (MVC), tactile sensation, and hand dexterity were measured using standard clinical techniques. Novel assessments consisted of submaximal (5-20% MVC) grip force tracking and computer-controlled tactile pattern recognition. Monofilament testing of tactile sensation was normal in the older group. In contrast, both the accuracy and speed associated with identifying tactile patterns was significantly worse in older (p<0.001) compared to young adults for both hands. While maximum grip force was similar in both groups, the ability to smoothly produce (p<0.05) and maintain (p<0.02) low grip force levels was compromised in older adults. Manual dexterity (Grooved Pegboard test) was significantly reduced in the older group (p<0.001) regardless of hand. These results indicate that the ability to extract meaningful information from tactile feedback and control low levels of force - aspects of fine hand control associated with activities of daily living – are impaired in older adults and underscore the need for more sensitive measures of hand function.
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Pollard, Jonisha, John Heberger, and Patrick G. Dempsey. "Maintenance and repair injuries in US mining." Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering 20, no. 1 (March 4, 2014): 20–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jqme-02-2013-0008.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify key tasks, tools, and equipment associated with maintenance and repair injuries at US mines and to provide some mitigation strategies to reduce these types of injuries. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyzed incidents resulting in injuries reported to the US Mine Safety and Health Administration from 2002 to 2011. Incident reports were limited to those occurring at mining plants, shops, yards, and aboveground locations. Incident reports were analyzed to determine which activities contributed to injuries and were due to machine maintenance and repair, non-powered hand tools, and powered hand tools. An in-depth analysis of the root causes of these injuries was then performed. Findings – Maintenance and repair in mining is associated with a significant number of hand and finger injuries with a range of severities and averaging over 20 amputated fingers, 180 fractured hands and fingers, and 455 hand and finger lacerations per year. Many of these injuries are caused by hands being struck by or caught in tools and equipment. Back and shoulder strains are found to be associated with the most days lost from work and are mostly attributed to materials handling. Practical implications – Occupational injuries and fatalities still occur with high incidences in the mining sector. The mission of the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR; part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH) is to “eliminate mining fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through research and prevention.” As part of this work, OMSHR acquires surveillance data from MSHA to quantify the types and sources of injuries at US mining facilities. The authors evaluated maintenance- and repair-related injuries at US mining sites (excluding underground coal mines). Results of this study suggest a need for improved design of machine guarding, improved hand protection through gloves and equipment design/redesign, and manual materials handling solutions. Originality/value – The findings indicate that maintenance and repair in mining include occupational risks that may be managed through modifications to machines, proper usage of hand tools and hand protection, and improved manual materials handling processes.
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Sülzenbrück, Sandra, and Herbert Heuer. "Movement paths in operating hand-held tools: tests of distal-shift hypotheses." Journal of Neurophysiology 109, no. 11 (June 1, 2013): 2680–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.01101.2012.
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Extending the body with a tool could imply that characteristics of hand movements become characteristics of the movement of the effective part of the tool. Recent research suggests that such distal shifts are subject to boundary conditions. Here we propose the existence of three constraints: a strategy constraint, a constraint of movement characteristics, and a constraint of mode of control. We investigate their validity for the curvature of transverse movements aimed at a target while using a sliding first-order lever. Participants moved the tip of the effort arm of a real or virtual lever to control a cursor representing movements of the tip of the load arm of the lever on a monitor. With this tool, straight transverse hand movements are associated with concave curvature of the path of the tip of the tool. With terminal visual feedback and when targets were presented for the hand, hand paths were slightly concave in the absence of the dynamic transformation of the tool and slightly convex in its presence. When targets were presented for the tip of the lever, both the concave and convex curvatures of the hand paths became stronger. Finally, with continuous visual feedback of the tip of the lever, curvature of hand paths became convex and concave curvature of the paths of the tip of the lever was reduced. In addition, the effect of the dynamic transformation on curvature was attenuated. These findings support the notion that distal shifts are subject to at least the three proposed constraints.
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Ross, Cynthia M., Edgar Rangel-German, Louis M. Castanier, Philip S. Hara, and Anthony R. Kovscek. "A Laboratory Investigation of Temperature-Induced Sand Consolidation." SPE Journal 11, no. 02 (June 1, 2006): 206–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/92398-pa.
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Summary Current gravel-packed, slotted-liner completion techniques for wells in unconsolidated and weakly consolidated sandstone are relatively expensive and result in greatly reduced operational flexibility. On the other hand, empirical field evidence (Wilmington, California) demonstrates that sand grains surrounding the wellbore are cemented and consolidated following injection of high-pressure (1,600-psi) steam. Effective sand control results without adverse changes to formation permeability and producibility. Here, sand consolidation mechanisms are exposed by duplicating, in the laboratory, the governing geochemical processes. Sandpacks contain typical per-volume concentrations of concrete resulting from perforating a cased and cemented well. The evolution of sandpack pore and grain struture is determined using scanning electron microscope imaging and compositional analyses. Results show that hot alkaline water injected at rates comparable to field rates indeed results in grain-cementing precipitates. Casing cement plays a crucial role in that it is the source of calcium silicates appearing in various pore-lining precipitates. Conditions for effective sand consolidation are not necessarily formation-specific, and the process can be altered to improve cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and longevity of the completion technique. Introduction In poorly consolidated and unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs, solids are sometimes carried from the formation to the wellbore as oil and water flow toward producers. It is referred to as "sand production." This term is usually detrimental and should be avoided. Operational problems result, including extra wear of the pumping units, shorter pipe lifetime, frequent workovers, loss of well productivity, and waste-disposal issues. Several remedies are available to the engineer. They include production-rate reduction (Penberthy and Shaughnessy 1992), physical barriers (Penberthy and Shaughnessy 1992), in-situ consolidation (Prats and Hamby 1965; Davies et al. 1983; Davies et al. 1997; Davies et al. 2003), and hybrid methods (Penberthy and Shaughnessy 1992; Kruger 1986). No sand-control method is, as of yet, generally applicable. We use laboratory experiments to develop a mechanistic understanding of a novel hot alkaline/steam sand-consolidation technique. This technique has proved effective empirically (Davies et al. 1997). The mechanisms of mineral and grain dissolution, precipitation, and consolidation using Wilmington (Los Angeles basin, California) field cores and quartz sandpacks are described. Field sands are drawn from the productive, heavy-oil intervals (T and D sands) of the Tar II-A zone (Hara 2003). The tools employed are core-scale and beaker-scale experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental analyses. Additionally, tubing-tail samples recovered from the field are reexamined in light of the new laboratory results. Before proceeding to the experimental details and results, a brief review of the hot alkaline/steam sand-consolidation process is given. This background is foundational, because it underpins the experimental program and interpretation of results. The experimental objectives, apparatus, and procedures follow. Results, discussion, and implications finish the paper.
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Ilesanmi, Olayinka Stephen, Oladele Olufemi Ayodeji, Ayobami A. Bakare, Nelson Adedosu, Anthonia Adeagbo, Adedamola Odutayo, Felix Olugbenga Ayun, and Ayomide E. Bello. "Infection prevention and control (IPC) at a Lassa fever treatment center before and after the implementation of an intensive IPC program." Journal of Ideas in Health 3, no. 3 (October 21, 2020): 213–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.47108/jidhealth.vol3.iss3.66.
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Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs are important to control the Lassa Fever (LF) outbreak. We reported IPC's status at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, southwest Nigeria, before and after implementing the IPC program during a surge in the LF outbreak.
Methods: We conducted a longitudinal observational study among five health care professionals at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, between February 2019 and May 2019 using the IPC Assessment Framework (IPCAF). The tool has eight core components with a score of 0-100 per component and provided a baseline assessment of the IPC program and evaluation after three months. We interviewed relevant unit heads and IPC committee members in the first phase. In the second phase, we designed and implemented the IPC program, and in the third phase, we conducted a repeat interview similar to the first phase. The program initiated included training healthcare workers and providing relevant IPC items according to identified gaps and available funding.
Results: We interviewed five health care professionals, two female nurses, and three male doctors responsible for organizing and implementing IPC activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, with an in-depth understanding of IPC activities. The overall IPC level score increased from 318.5 at baseline to 545 at three months later. IPC improvements were reported in all the components, with IPC education and training [baseline (20), final (70)], IPC guidelines [baseline (50), final (92.5)] and monitoring/audits of IPC practices and feedback [baseline (40), final (82.5)] recording the highest improvements. Healthcare-associated infection [baseline (10), final (25)], and built environment, materials, and equipment for IPC [baseline (43.5), final (55)] had the least improvement. Poor motivation to adopt recommended changes among hospital staff were major issues preventing improvements.
Conclusion: Promotion of IPC program and activities should be implemented at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
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Gilbert GL, Kerridge I. The politics and ethics of hospital infection prevention and control: a qualitative case study of senior clinicians’ perceptions of professional and cultural factors that influence doctors’ attitudes and practices in a large Australian hospital. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019; 19(212). https://doi.org/1186/s12913-019-4044-y.
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Prakash, Alok, and Shiru Sharma. "Development of an Affordable Myoelectric Hand for Transradial Amputees." International Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Engineering 9, no. 1 (January 2020): 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/ijbce.2020010101.
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Upper limb amputations seriously affect a patient's life by restricting their ability in performing various tasks. Prosthetic hands are considered the primary method to reinstate the lost capabilities of such amputees. However, the presently available prosthetic devices are unable to fulfill the requirements of users due to their excessively high cost, limited functionality, heavy weight, unnatural operation, and complexity. This article presents an affordable and simple control-based myoelectric hand for transradial amputees. The hand setup mainly consists of a self-designed surface electromyography (sEMG) sensor, a microcontroller unit and a five-fingered, intrinsically actuated 3D printed hand for dexterous operations. The developed hand was implemented with proportional control scheme and was successfully tested on five amputees (with missing lower forearms) for performing grasping activities of different objects. Further, the closing time and grip force at the fingertips were also determined for the hand to compare its performance with the commercially available hands.
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Schröter, Harm. "Risk and Control in Multinational Enterprise: German Businesses in Scandinavia, 1918–1939." Business History Review 62, no. 3 (1988): 420–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3115543.
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In the following essay, Dr. Schröter examines a specific case, German multinational activity in Scandinavia between the wars, and uses that information to raise more general questions about the nature of multinational enterprise. Before 1914, patterns of German foreign direct investment resembled those of the nation's competitors. After the First World War, however, having lost almost all their overseas holdings and suffering from a severe shortage of capital, German industries tried to replace foreign direct investment with other financial tools, principally cartels and long–term contracts. Using extensive German archival materials, Dr. Schröter describes the forces motivating these businesses.
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Blanco-Sepúlveda, Rafael, Amilcar Aguilar-Carrillo, and Francisco Lima. "Impact of Weed Control by Hand Tools on Soil Erosion under a No-Tillage System Cultivation." Agronomy 11, no. 5 (May 13, 2021): 974. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050974.
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In conservation agriculture, the no-tillage cultivation system and the retention of permanent vegetal cover are crucial to the control of soil erosion by water. This paper analyses the cultivation of maize under no-tillage, with particular reference to the effect produced on soil erosion when weed control is performed by a hand tool (machete), which disturbs the surface of the soil, and to the behavior of the soil cover in these circumstances. The study area is located in the humid tropical mountains of northern Nicaragua (Peñas Blancas Massif Nature Reserve). The results obtained show that 59.2% of the soil surface was affected by appreciable levels of sheet and splash erosion, although the vegetal cover of the soil was relatively high (with average weed and litter cover of 33.9% and 33.8%, respectively). The use of machetes for weed control provoked considerable soil disturbance, which explained the high rates of erosion observed. Moreover, this form of soil management disturbs the litter layer, making it less effective in preventing erosion. The litter remains loose on the soil surface, and so an increase in soil cover does not achieve a proportionate reduction in the area affected by erosion; thus, even with 80–100% weed and litter cover, 42% of the cultivated area continued to present soil erosion.
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Marzke, Mary W. "Tool making, hand morphology and fossil hominins." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 368, no. 1630 (November 19, 2013): 20120414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0414.
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Was stone tool making a factor in the evolution of human hand morphology? Is it possible to find evidence in fossil hominin hands for this capability? These questions are being addressed with increasingly sophisticated studies that are testing two hypotheses; (i) that humans have unique patterns of grip and hand movement capabilities compatible with effective stone tool making and use of the tools and, if this is the case, (ii) that there exist unique patterns of morphology in human hands that are consistent with these capabilities. Comparative analyses of human stone tool behaviours and chimpanzee feeding behaviours have revealed a distinctive set of forceful pinch grips by humans that are effective in the control of stones by one hand during manufacture and use of the tools. Comparative dissections, kinematic analyses and biomechanical studies indicate that humans do have a unique pattern of muscle architecture and joint surface form and functions consistent with the derived capabilities. A major remaining challenge is to identify skeletal features that reflect the full morphological pattern, and therefore may serve as clues to fossil hominin manipulative capabilities. Hominin fossils are evaluated for evidence of patterns of derived human grip and stress-accommodation features.
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COLLINS, SAMANTHA A., FELICIA J. SANDERS, and PATRICK G. R. JODICE. "Assessing conservation tools for an at-risk shorebird: Feasibility of headstarting for American Oystercatchers Haematopus palliatus." Bird Conservation International 26, no. 4 (May 24, 2016): 451–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270916000095.
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SummaryManagement of threatened and endangered populations of wildlife increasingly relies upon active intervention such as predator control, habitat manipulation, and ex situ breeding or care. One tool that has received consideration for the management of declining or threatened avian populations is headstarting, or the artificial incubation of eggs and subsequent placement of newly hatched chicks in original or foster nests. We assessed the feasibility of implementing a headstarting program for the American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus, a species of high conservation concern in the eastern USA. Annual productivity is often low and lost during incubation, suggesting artificial incubation could enhance annual productivity. We used a control-impact approach to assign nests as either control or headstart and measured daily survival rate, success of parents accepting headstarted chicks, attendance patterns and behaviours of parents, and chick survival. We also implemented a transparent scoring process to rate the success of each step and the overall program. Daily survival rates of nests were significantly higher at headstart compared to control nests, and parents continued to incubate when eggs were well secured at nest sites. Attendance patterns and behaviour did not differ between headstart and control parents, and parents readily accepted healthy chicks whether they were returned to original or foster nests. Chick survival and subsequently annual productivity were, however, not higher at headstart compared to control nests suggesting that although we were able to enhance nest survival, low chick survival was still limiting annual productivity. Ultimately, headstarting may be most appropriate for American Oystercatchers where productivity is lost primarily to flooding, predation, or disturbance during the incubation stage but not during the chick-rearing stage. If, for example, high rates of nest loss are due to predators that also may prey upon chicks, then headstarting may not be an effective conservation tool.
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Diego, J.-R. R., Dan William C. Martinez, Gerald S. Robles, and John Ryan C. Dizon. "Development of Smartphone-Controlled Hand and Arm Exoskeleton for Persons with Disability." Open Engineering 11, no. 1 (December 17, 2020): 161–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/eng-2021-0016.
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AbstractThis study addresses the need for assistive technology of people who lost control of their upper limbs as well as people who are undergoing rehabilitation. Loss of upper limb control causes lack of functionality and social acceptability especially for many people in developing countries with fewer available technology. The study develops a modern but low-cost prosthetic device that can be controlled by users using a smartphone and can be rapidly manufactured using three-dimensional printing (3D printing) of plastic materials. The development of the prosthetic device includes designing the mechanical and electronic parts, programming the Arduino board and Android application for control, simulation and analysis of 3D printed parts most subjected to stress, and 3D printing the parts under different settings. The device was tested in terms of time spent and capacity of lifting varying loads when not worn and when worn by users. The device can effectively lift 500 grams of load in one second for a person weighing between 50 to 60 kilograms.
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Yun, Myung Hwan, Kentaro Kotani, and Darin Ellis. "Using Force Sensitive Resistors to Evaluate Hand Tool Grip Design." Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting 36, no. 10 (October 1992): 806–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/154193129203601036.
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The pressure distribution of the hand is an important element in evaluating hand tool grip. For measuring the pressure distributions of the hand, a portable sensor glove was developed using force sensitive resistors of the conductive polymer type. Pressure distributions of three hand tools for three male subjects were measured. The pressure distribution pattern varied significantly between type of grip, location, and subjective exertion level. Factor analysis was used to identify the relative importance of each area of the hand during grip action. The results showed that there is an ‘active' area involved in gripping the hand tool and a ‘control’ area which supports the hand motion for the given task. Studies about hand tool pressure distributions will provide an important guideline in designing a new tool or improving an existing one. A microcomputer based system is being developed that records data on grip pressure distribution throughout a tool grip task. The digitized data then will be analyzed both graphically and statistically and will be used to evaluate various hand tools for industrial settings.
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Ferrante, Jeanne M., Katie A. Devine, Alicja Bator, Ashley Rodgers, Pamela A. Ohman-Strickland, Elisa V. Bandera, and Kevin O. Hwang. "Feasibility and potential efficacy of commercial mHealth/eHealth tools for weight loss in African American breast cancer survivors: pilot randomized controlled trial." Translational Behavioral Medicine 10, no. 4 (December 9, 2018): 938–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tbm/iby124.
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Abstract Weight management after breast cancer (BC) treatment in African American (AA) women is crucial to reduce comorbid conditions and health disparities. We examined feasibility and potential efficacy of commercial eHealth/mHealth tools for weight management in AA BC survivors in New Jersey. Participants (N = 35) were randomized to an intervention (SparkPeople) plus activity tracker, Fitbit Charge (n = 18), or wait-list active control group (Fitbit only, n = 17). Anthropometric, behavioral, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Differences in outcomes were assessed using intent-to-treat analysis. Retention was 97.1%. Both groups lost weight, with no significant differences between groups. At month 6, mean weight change was: intervention: −1.71 kg (SD 2.33; p = .006), 33.3% lost ≥3% of baseline weight; control: −2.54 kg (SD 4.00, p = .002), 23.5% lost ≥3% weight. Intervention participants achieved significant improvements in waist circumference (−3.56 cm, SD 4.70, p = .005), QOL (p = .030), and use of strategies for healthy eating (p = .025) and decreasing calories (p < .001). Number of days logged food per week was associated with decreases in waist circumference at 6 months (β −0.79, 95% CI, −1.49, −0.09, p = .030) and 12 months (β −2.16, 95% CI, −4.17, −0.15, p = .038). Weight loss was maintained at 12 months. This is the first study to demonstrate potential efficacy of commercial eHealth/mHealth tools for weight loss in AA BC survivors, without additional counseling from the research team. If effective, they may be convenient weight loss tools that can be easily and widely disseminated. Clinical Trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02699983
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Fonseca, Lucas, Wafa Tigra, Benjamin Navarro, David Guiraud, Charles Fattal, Antônio Bó, Emerson Fachin-Martins, Violaine Leynaert, Anthony Gélis, and Christine Azevedo-Coste. "Assisted Grasping in Individuals with Tetraplegia: Improving Control through Residual Muscle Contraction and Movement." Sensors 19, no. 20 (October 18, 2019): 4532. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s19204532.
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Individuals who sustained a spinal cord injury often lose important motor skills, and cannot perform basic daily living activities. Several assistive technologies, including robotic assistance and functional electrical stimulation, have been developed to restore lost functions. However, designing reliable interfaces to control assistive devices for individuals with C4–C8 complete tetraplegia remains challenging. Although with limited grasping ability, they can often control upper arm movements via residual muscle contraction. In this article, we explore the feasibility of drawing upon these residual functions to pilot two devices, a robotic hand and an electrical stimulator. We studied two modalities, supra-lesional electromyography (EMG), and upper arm inertial sensors (IMU). We interpreted the muscle activity or arm movements of subjects with tetraplegia attempting to control the opening/closing of a robotic hand, and the extension/flexion of their own contralateral hand muscles activated by electrical stimulation. Two groups were recruited: eight subjects issued EMG-based commands; nine other subjects issued IMU-based commands. For each participant, we selected at least two muscles or gestures detectable by our algorithms. Despite little training, all participants could control the robot’s gestures or electrical stimulation of their own arm via muscle contraction or limb motion.
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Kihungi, Loyce, Mary Ndinda, Samantha Dolan, Evelyn Wesangula, Linus Ndegwa, George Owiso, John Lynch, Lauren Frisbie, and Peter Rabinowitz. "Improvement of Infection Prevention and Control Practices Using Quality Improvement Approach in Two Model Hospitals in Kenya." Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 41, S1 (October 2020): s286—s287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.859.
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Background: Little is known about how best to implement infection prevention and control programs in low-resource settings. The quality improvement approach using plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles provides a framework for data-driven infection prevention and control implementation. We used quality improvement techniques and training to improve infection prevention and control practices in 2 model hospitals in Kenya. Methods: The 2 hospitals were chosen by the Kenya Ministry of Health for capacity building on infection prevention and control. At each site, the project team (the University of Washington International Training for Education and Training in Health, Ministry of Health, and Centers for Disease Control) conducted infection prevention and control training to infection prevention and control committee members. Infection prevention and control quality improvement activities were introduced in a staggered manner, focusing on hand hygiene and waste management practices. For hand hygiene, the project team’s technical assistance focused on facility hand hygiene infrastructure, hand hygiene practice adherence, hand hygiene supply quantification, and monitoring and evaluation using WHO hand hygiene audit tools. Waste management technical assistance focused on availability of policy, guidelines, equipment and supplies, waste segregation, waste quantification, and monitoring and evaluation using a data collection tool customized based on previously published tools. Regular interactive video conference sessions between the project team and the sites that included didactic sessions and sharing of data provided ongoing mentorship and feedback on quality improvement implementation, data interpretation, and data use. Results: Hand hygiene data collection began in April 2018. In hospital A, hand hygiene compliance increased from a baseline of 3% to 51% over 9 months. In Hospital B, hand hygiene compliance rates increased from 23% at baseline to 44% after 9 months. Waste management data collection began in November 2018. At hospital A, waste segregation compliance scores increased from 73% at baseline to 80% over 6 months, whereas hospital B, waste segregation compliance went from 44% to 80% over 6 months. Conclusions: A quality improvement approach appears to be a feasible means of infection prevention and control program strengthening in low resource settings.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
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Bouyer, L. J. G., and S. Rossignol. "Contribution of Cutaneous Inputs From the Hindpaw to the Control of Locomotion. II. Spinal Cats." Journal of Neurophysiology 90, no. 6 (December 2003): 3640–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00497.2003.
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The goal of these experiments was to define the contribution of hindpaw cutaneous inputs in the expression of spinal locomotion in cats. In 3 cats, some ( n = 1) or all ( n = 2) cutaneous nerves were cut bilaterally at ankle level before spinalization. This denervation caused small deficits that were gradually compensated as reported in the companion study. After spinalization, the completely denervated cats never recovered plantar foot placement or weight bearing of the hindquarters despite more than 35 days of treadmill training. Although normal electromyographic rhythmic activity developed at the hip and knee, ankle flexors and extensors were abnormally coactivated during stance. In contrast, the partially denervated cat regained foot placement and weight support 15 days after spinalization. However, after completing the denervation, foot placement and weight bearing were lost as in previous cats. In a 4th cat, spinalization was performed before denervation and the cutaneous nerves were cut sequentially in the right hindlimb only. Rapid locomotor adaptation occurred after cutting the deep peroneal, saphenous, and sural nerves. Later, cutting the superficial peroneal nerve produced paw drag, which was compensated within 8 days. On cutting the last cutaneous nerve (tibial), plantar foot placement was lost despite another 71 days of training. On the one hand, these experiments show that some cutaneous inputs are necessary for appropriate plantar foot placement and weight bearing of the hindquarters during spinal locomotion and, on the other hand, that locomotor compensation to partial cutaneous denervation after spinalization reveals important adaptive capacities of the spinal cord.
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Klocke, Fritz, Sascha Gierlings, and Drazen Veselovac. "Concept for Temperature Control in Broaching Nickel-Based Alloys." Key Engineering Materials 523-524 (November 2012): 469–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.523-524.469.
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In production of safety critical components in aero engine manufacture, to date broaching is the most efficient process machining fir-tree slots in turbine discs. Machining highly thermal resistant Nickel-based alloys, manufacturers commonly use High Speed Steel (HSS) tools and work at low cutting speeds in order to stay at rather low tool wear rates and avoid part quality defects. The key variable affecting tool wear as well as part quality, as in most machining processes, is the temperature. Excessive temperatures in the cutting zone lead to enhanced tool wear on the one hand, and surface defects such as white layer formation and residual tensile stresses on the other hand. In this article, the temperature development is investigated for typical tool geometries and cutting parameters in broaching. Furthermore, the possibility of a temperature control using intermediate variables such as process forces is discussed, and potentials employing a control are explained.
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Hayashi, Akio, Tatsuya Mukai, Yusuke Inomata, and Yoshitaka Morimoto. "Improvement of Reverse Motion of an NC Moving Table Based on Vector Control Method by Friction Force Compensation." International Journal of Automation Technology 13, no. 5 (September 5, 2019): 610–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.20965/ijat.2019.p0610.
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Lost motion is a phenomenon that often occurs during the motion of a moving table, which is used for machine tools to ensure their precise positioning. Lost motion occurs when the direction of the table’s motion reverses as a result of nonlinear friction characteristics between the feed drive mechanisms such as the ball screw and linear guide. Lost motion directly influences the machining accuracy of a machine tool, because the accuracy of machining depends on the relative motion between the tool and the workpiece. A number of studies have dealt with suppressing the occurrence of lost motion using model-based control. However, nonlinear friction has not been addressed to the same extent, as it is difficult to determine the motion characteristics of and therefore develop a model for the nonlinear friction. Thus, to address these problems, we propose a compensation method for revers motion based on vector control, which is used to control the torque and velocity of the alternating current (AC) servomotor in the moving table. In this study, the current applied to the AC servomotor for a vector with force components in the rotational direction (torque component) and in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation (field component) was measured to clarify and establish the relationship between the motion and the control current. The compensation current was then derived as a functional value based on the results of the measured torque at the occurrence of lost motion. Further, tests were carried out using the proposed method, which directly applies the drive current of the AC servomotor by using a field-programmable gate array controller to improve the reverse motion of the table. The results reveal that the motion characteristics of a numerical control (NC) table can be determined by measuring the drive current of the AC servomotor. In addition, it is verified that the proposed method can compensate for the torque command smoothly at the time of velocity reversal, resulting in suppression of the lost motion and reduction of reverse motion of the moving table.
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Albu, Adriana, Radu-Emil Precup, and Teodor-Adrian Teban. "RESULTS AND CHALLENGES OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS USED FOR DECISION-MAKING AND CONTROL IN MEDICAL APPLICATIONS." Facta Universitatis, Series: Mechanical Engineering 17, no. 3 (November 29, 2019): 285. http://dx.doi.org/10.22190/fume190327035a.
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The aim of this paper is to present several approaches by which technology can assist medical decision-making. This is an essential, but also a difficult activity, which implies a large number of medical and technical aspects. But, more important, it involves humans: on the one hand, the patient, who has a medical problem and who requires the best solution; on the other hand, the physician, who should be able to provide, in any circumstances, a decision or a prediction regarding the current and the future medical status of the patient. The technology, in general, and particularly the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools could help both of them, and it is assisted by appropriate theory regarding modeling tools. One of the most powerful mechanisms that can be used in this field is the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). This paper presents some of the results obtained by the Process Control group of the Politehnica University Timisoara, Romania, in the field of ANNs applied to modeling, prediction and decision-making related to medical systems. An Iterative Learning Control-based approach to batch training a feedforward ANN architecture is given. The paper includes authors’ concerns in this domain and emphasizes that these intelligent models, even if they are artificial, are able to make decisions, being useful tools for prevention, early detection and personalized healthcare.