15,686 research outputs found
Including design in e-manufacturing
No full textThis paper reviews major issues in the implementation of e-manufacturing, particularly the design aspects. It will examine recent progress, drawing out particular issues that are being addressed. Use will be made of the work by the author and colleagues to devise rule-based design and Internet-based control of machines to illustrate how these developments affect the integrated e-manufacturing environment. A dynamic Simulink model of the way e-manufacture is affected by overall design delays is used to evaluate general solutions for partial and complete e-based companies. These models show how changing to improved designs reduces WI
RoMEO Studies 4: An analysis of Journal publishers' Copyright Agreements
No full textThis article is the fourth in a series of six emanating from the UK JISC-funded RoMEO Project (Rights Metadata for Open archiving). It describes an analysis of 80 scholarly journal publishers’ copyright agreements with a particular view to their effect on author self-archiving. 90% of agreements asked for copyright transfer and 69% asked for it prior to refereeing the paper. 75% asked authors to warrant that their work had not been previously published although only two explicitly stated that they viewed self-archiving as prior publication. 28.5% of agreements provided authors with no usage rights over their own paper. Although 42.5% allowed self-archiving in some format, there was no consensus on the conditions under which self-archiving could take place. The article concludes that author-publisher copyright agreements should be reconsidered by a working party representing the needs of both partie
An electric wheelchair mounted robotic arm - a survey of potential users
No full textThis paper describes the results of a survey which investigated and evaluated the needs and abilities of electric wheelchair users. The results of this survey will be used to develop a low-cost electric wheelchair-mounted robotic arm for use by physically disabled people to facilitate rehabilitation. The survey was undertaken by the author together with staff and students from occupational therapist training colleges, using a four-page questionnaire containing over 110 questions. The questionnaire was developed by the author together with Dr Robin Platts (Director of Orthotics), Mr Ian Bayley (Director of the London Spinal Unit) and senior occupational therapists at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, Middlesex. After a successful trial the questionnaire was used with 50 severely disabled people from various backgrounds and social circumstances. The results of this survey show that the average electric wheelchair user is 40 years old, single (68%), living at home (58%) with family support (69%) and without any paid employment (79%). The most prevalent disability is spinal cord injury (24%) followed by multiple sclerosis (16%). The survey has identified several tasks which electric wheelchair users find impossible to do, and some of these will form part of the design specification. Finally 84% of the survey subjects would consider buying such a robotic ai
Simulation and Control of a Pneumatic Muscle Actuator for a Rehabilitation Robot
No full textThe perfomance of a pneumatic muscle actuator, invented by Jim Hennequin and used in a prototype wheelchair-mounted robot ann designed by the first author is reported. Experimental measurements were made of the output torque versus rotary motion and internal pressure. The torque available for a muscle of size 60 mm width by 90 mm length ranges from 1 to 15 Nm. The rotary stiffness of this muscle is 0.081 Nm/deg. A simulation model of the dynamic behaviour of the muscle attached to the robot arm using one-dimensional flow theory was written in ACSL (Advanced Continuous Simulation Language). The resultant simulation gives good agreement to within ± 5% of the experimental values. Control using proportional and a PID controller is shown to be effective
Energy conservation techniques: increasing the endurance of small UAVs
No full textAll small Unmanned Aircraft (UA) have severe limitations from a lack of endurance capability. This is a direct result of using battery technologies which are limited in their capacity, current capability, mass and energy density. The most widely used chemistry in small battery powered UAVs is Li-Po with its peak energy density of about 200 Wh/kg. Much research has been directed at finding alternative power sources, from Solar, Hydrogen Fuel Cells to Nuclear batteries. The latest contender is Li-S chemistries which appear to offer energy densities of up to 400 Wh/kg within the next 2 years. Li-S batteries claim to be safer in terms of damage tolerance and the lack of thermal runaway, which can be an issue with the current generation Li-Po batteries. This presentation will outline the alternatives and point towards the likely future direction of this technology. The author will also present other design strategies and design tools which help to promote the efficient use of power within these types of Unmanned Aircraft
Measurements and simulation of a pneumatic muscle actuator for a rehabilitation robot
No full textThe performance of a pneumatic muscle actuator, invented by Jim Hennequin and used in a prototype wheelchair-mounted robot arm designed by the first author is reported. Experimental measurements were made of the output torque versus rotary motion and internal pressure. The torque available for a muscle of size 60 mm width by 90 mm length ranges from 1 to 15 Nm. The rotary stiffness of this muscle is 0.081 Nm/deg. A theory based on thermodynamic principles indicates that the efficiency of the pneumatic muscle actuator reaches a maximum of 67%. A simulation model of the dynamic behaviour of the muscle attached to the robot arm using one-dimensional flow theory was written in ACSL (Advanced Continuous Simulation Language). The resultant simulation gives good agreement to within ± 5% of the experimental value
Self-archiving practice and the influence of publisher policies in the social sciences
No full textAuthors in different disciplines exhibit very different behaviours on the so-called ‘green’ road to open access, i.e. self-archiving. This study looks at the self-archiving behaviour of authors publishing in leading journals in six social science disciplines. It tests the hypothesis that authors are self-archiving according to the norms of their respective disciplines rather than following self-archiving policies of publishers, and that, as a result, they are self-archiving significant numbers of publisher PDF versions. It finds significant levels of
self-archiving, as well as significant self-archiving of
the publisher PDF version, in all the disciplines
investigated. Publishers’ self-archiving policies have
no influence on author self-archiving practice
The effects of Arthritis gloves on hand pain in people with rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis: a randomised controlled trial (A-Gloves Trial)
No full textBackground: Arthritis (compression) gloves are commonly provided to people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (IA) in the UK health service. These apply pressure and warmth to relieve hand pain, stiffness and improve hand function. A systematic review identified little evidence to support their use.[1] Objectives: This randomised controlled trial tested effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mid-finger length compression (intervention) gloves (20% Lycra: commonest glove model provided) with control gloves (i.e. oedema gloves: 11% Lycra: fitted at least one size too big) in people with RA and IA. Methods: Both gloves, which had similar thermal qualities although the control gloves did not provide compression, were provided by rheumatology occupational therapists, following training.[2] Participants were also given brief advice on hand exercise and joint protection. Adults with RA/IA and persistent hand pain were randomised 1:1 to the two glove types, stratified by disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) change in previous 12 weeks. The primary outcome was dominant hand pain on activity Visual Analogue Scale (VAS:0–10); other outcomes included night hand pain, hand stiffness (both 0–10 VAS); Measure of Activity Performance Hand (MAP-HAND: 0–3). Multiple linear regression was undertaken to estimate the effect of group allocation on hand pain during activity, adjusting for the stratification variable and baseline values. Cost-effectiveness used individual patient level costs (intervention plus healthcare utilisation) and health benefit data (EQ-5D) to calculate costs and QALYs. Results: 206 participants were randomised (103 to each glove type): median age 59 years [IQR 51,67]; women:166 (81%); mean disease duration: 8.2 (SD 9.5) years; employed:76 (37%); right hand dominant:185 (90%). Of these, 163 (79%) completed 12 week follow-up questionnaires. Both groups reported similar adherence to glove wear (mean 5.2 days/week). At 12 w, hand pain scores in both groups similarly improved: the between-groups mean difference of 0.1 was not statistically significant (95% CI: −0.47 to 0.67; p=0.72). There were no significant differences between groups on any measures, with both groups improving similarly between baseline and 12 w. 73% in both groups considered gloves beneficial. Intervention gloves had higher costs (£552 (SD £464); control £391 (SD £543) but comparable benefits to control gloves. Intervention gloves would cost £83 700 to gain one QALY and were not likely to be cost-effective. Conclusions: Compression (intervention) and loose-fitting arthritis (control) gloves had similar effects on hand pain, stiffness and function. Therefore, compression is not the ‘active ingredient’ in arthritis gloves. Loose fitting gloves providing warmth were perceived as equally effective by participants. We do not know if the therapist effect is important or whether ordinary gloves providing warmth would provide similar results. References:Hammond, et al. Clin Rehabil 2016 30:213–24.Prior, et al. Rheumatology 2017. www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4205Acknowledgements: This project was funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (PB-PG-0214–33010). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health
LEI MARIA DA PENHA: UM ESTUDO SOBRE OS MECANISMOS DE PROTEÇÃO À MULHER
No full textThe objective of this article is to study law number 11.340, popularly known as the Maria da Penha law, which provides for the introduction of protective measures to solve the domestic violence that has been increasing in Brazil. It also describes all the trajectory that Maria da Penha traveled to achieve the conquest of the fundamental right of gender equality and protection, foreseen in our 1988 Federal Constitution. Moreover, it details some international documents with guarantees to women\u27s rights of utmost importance for the creation of the law. The content addressed is of great importance in the country, because over the years, women are increasingly suffering from violence in their homes. With the increase in aggressions in the family environment, it was necessary to create a specific law, creating mechanisms for the protection and defense of the victims and their families. The protective measures offered by the law are usually inserted when there is a concrete risk to life, preventing them from acting freely, thus opting for the help offered by law enforcement agencies against their aggressor. Still, with the amendment made in 2019 in the law was imposed crime for the aggressor who does not comply with the measure, seeking greater effectiveness of the legislation.El objetivo de este artículo es estudiar la Ley nº 11.340, conocida popularmente como Ley Maria da Penha, que prevé la introducción de medidas de protección para resolver la violencia doméstica que ha ido en aumento en Brasil. También describe el camino recorrido por Maria da Penha para conseguir los derechos fundamentales de igualdad y protección de género previstos en la Constitución Federal de 1988. Además, detalla algunos documentos internacionales con garantías a los derechos de las mujeres de suma importancia para la creación de la ley. El contenido abordado es de gran importancia en el país, ya que con el paso de los años, las mujeres sufren cada vez más violencia en sus hogares. Con el aumento de las agresiones en el ámbito familiar, fue necesario crear una ley específica, creando mecanismos de protección y defensa de los ofendidos y sus familias. Las medidas de protección ofrecidas garantizadas por la ley se insertan cuando existe un riesgo concreto para la vida, lo que les impide actuar libremente, optando así por la ayuda ofrecida por las fuerzas del orden contra su agresor. Además, con la modificación realizada en 2019 en la ley, se impuso un delito para el agresor que no cumpla con la medida, buscando una mayor efectividad de la legislación.O presente artigo tem como objetivo o estudo da lei n° 11.340, conhecido popularmente como Lei Maria da Penha, o qual prevê a inserção das medidas protetivas para solucionar a violência doméstica que vem aumentando no Brasil. Também descrever toda a trajetória que a senhora Maria da Penha percorreu para conseguir a conquista do direito fundamental de igualdade de gênero e proteção, previstos na nossa Constituição Federal de 1988. Ademais, detalha alguns documentos internacionais com garantias aos direitos das mulheres de suma importância para a criação da lei. O conteúdo abordado é de grande importância no país, pois com o passar dos anos, as mulheres estão cada vez mais sofrendo com violência em seus lares. Com o aumento das agressões em âmbito familiar, foi necessário a criação de lei específica, criando mecanismos para proteção e defesa das ofendidas e de seus familiares. As medidas protetivas oferecidas garantidas pela lei são inseridas quando há risco concreto a vida, impedindo de agir livremente, optando assim pela ajuda oferecida pelos órgãos policiais contra seu agressor. Ainda, com a alteração feita em 2019 na lei foi imposto crime para o agressor que não cumprir com a medida, buscando a maior eficácia da legislação
Insights into the influence of priors in posterior mapping of discrete morphological characters: a case study in Annonaceae
No full textBackground - Posterior mapping is an increasingly popular hierarchical Bayesian based method used to infer character histories and reconstruct ancestral states at nodes of molecular phylogenies, notably of morphological characters. As for all Bayesian analyses specification of prior values is an integrative and important part of the analysis. He we provide an example of how alternative prior choices can seriously influence results and mislead interpretations. Methods/Principal Findings - For two contrasting discrete morphological characters, namely a slow and a fast evolving character found in the plant family Annonaceae, we specified a total of eight different prior distributions per character. We investigated how these prior settings affected important summary statistics. Our analyses showed that the different prior distributions had marked effects on the results in terms of average number of character state changes. These differences arise because priors play a crucial role in determining which areas of parameter space the values of the simulation will be drawn from, independent of the data at hand. However, priors seemed to fit the data better if they would result in a more even sampling of parameter space (normal posterior distribution), in which case alternative standard deviation values had little effect on the results. The most probable character history for each character was affected differently by the prior. For the slower evolving character, the same character history always had the highest posterior probability independent of the priors used. In contrast, the faster evolving character showed different most probable character histories depending on the prior. These differences could be related to the level of homoplasy exhibited by each character. Conclusions - Although our analyses were restricted to two morphological characters within a single family, our results underline the importance of carefully choosing prior values for posterior mapping. Prior specification will be of crucial importance when interpreting the results in a meaningful way. It is hard to suggest a statistically sound method for prior specification without more detailed studies. Meanwhile, we propose that the data could be used to estimate the prior value of the gamma distribution placed on the transformation rate in posterior mappin
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