200 research outputs found
Out-of-hospital adult cardiac arrests in a university hospital in central Saudi Arabia
No full textBatt, AM ORCiD: 0000-0001-6473-5397Letter to the editor and response from the author
A braced arm-to-thigh (BATT) lifting technique reduces lumbar spine loads in healthy and low back pain participants
No full textDespite the common use of one-handed lifting techniques for activities of daily living, these techniques have received little attention in the biomechanics literature. The braced arm-to-thigh technique (BATT) is a one-handed lifting method in which the dominant hand picks up objects, while the free hand braces the trunk on the ipsilateral thigh. The aim of this study was to compare the BATT to two-handed or unsupported one-handed lifting techniques with loads of 2 and 10 kg, by evaluating trunk motion and spine loading at L4/L5. Twenty healthy participants (30-70 years old) matched in age and sex to 18 participants with low back pain were recruited to the study. A three-axis load cell secured to the distal anterior thigh measured the bracing forces applied by the hand. The OpenSim Lifting Full-Body model was used to estimate trunk kinematics and spinal loading at L4/L5. Linear mixed-effects models were developed to compare trunk angles and L4/L5 moments and forces between lifting techniques. Trunk flexion angles were significantly reduced for the BATT lift compared to one-handed and two-handed stoop lifts (9-20%). However, the BATT also increased asymmetric trunk kinematics and moments at L4/L5. The BATT produced significantly lower moments (28-38%), and compressive (25-32%) and antero-posterior shear (25-45%) forces at L4/L5, compared to unsupported lifting techniques. Bracing the hand on the thigh to support the trunk can substantially reduce low back loading during lifting tasks of 2 to 10 kg.Erica Beaucage-Gauvreau, Scott C.E. Brandon, William S.P. Robertson, Robert Fraser, Brian J.C. Freeman, Ryan B. Graham, Dominic Thewlis, Claire F. Jone
Marine assemblages respond rapidly to winter climate variability
No full textEven species within the same assemblage have varied responses to climate change, and there is a poor understanding for why some taxa are more sensitive to climate than others. In addition, multiple mechanisms can drive species’ responses, and responses may be specific to certain life stages or times of year. To test how marine species respond to climate variability, we analyzed 73 diverse taxa off the southeast US coast in 26 years of scientific trawl survey data and determined how changes in distribution and biomass relate to temperature. We found that winter temperatures were particularly useful for explaining interannual variation in species’ distribution and biomass, although the direction and magnitude of the response varied among species from strongly negative, to little response, to strongly positive. Across species, the response to winter temperature varied greatly, with much of this variation being explained by thermal preference. A separate analysis of annual commercial fishery landings revealed that winter temperatures may also impact several important fisheries in the southeast United States. Based on the life stages of the species surveyed, winter temperature appears to act through overwinter mortality of juveniles or as a cue for migration timing. We predict that this assemblage will be responsive to projected increases in temperature and that winter temperature may be broadly important for species relationships with climate on a global scale.Peer reviewe
Diversity in thermal affinity among key piscivores buffersimpacts of ocean warming on predator–prey interactions
No full textAsymmetries in responses to climate change have the potential to alter importantpredator–prey interactions, in part by altering the location and size of spatial refugiafor prey. We evaluated the effect of ocean warming on interactions between fourimportant piscivores and four of their prey in the U.S. Northeast Shelf by examiningspecies overlap under historical conditions (1968–2014) and with a doubling in CO2.Because both predator and prey shift their distributions in response to changingocean conditions, the net impact of warming or cooling on predator–prey interac-tions was not determined a priori from the range extent of either predator or preyalone. For Atlantic cod, an historically dominant piscivore in the region, we foundthat both historical and future warming led to a decline in the proportion of preyspecies’ range it occupied and caused a potential reduction in its ability to exerttop-down control on these prey. In contrast, the potential for overlap of spiny dog-fish with prey species was enhanced by warming, expanding their importance aspredators in this system. In sum, the decline in the ecological role for cod thatbegan with overfishing in this ecosystem will likely be exacerbated by warming, butthis loss may be counteracted by the rise in dominance of other piscivores withcontrasting thermal preferences. Functional diversity in thermal affinity within thepiscivore guild may therefore buffer against the impact of warming on marineecosystems, suggesting a novel mechanism by which diversity confers resilience.Peer reviewe
Computational simulation of thermal-fluid processes in a barometric mixing unit
No full textCalifornia State University, Northridge has installed a 1 MW Direct Fuel Cell® (DFC) power plant and the plant has been in operation since January 2007. A Heat Recovery Unit (HRU) has been designed and installed to extract the thermal energy contained in hot exhaust gases to heat up campus heating hot water and domestic hot water loops and as well as to warm up an existing campus swimming pool. In order to combine the exhaust gases and pass them through the HRU a Barometric Thermal Trap (BaTT) was designed and installed. An inline fan is installed downstream of the BaTT unit. The bottom of the BaTT is open to atmosphere and therefore ensures that pressure remains at nearly atmospheric and does not affect the operation of fuel cell units at any time. In order to determine the characteristic factors affecting the flow into and out of the BaTT and finding optimized flow conditions, a model of the BaTT was created using software suite, FLUENT®. The analysis of turbulence is based on the standard k-ε turbulent model. The results matched field measured data and showed that under slight negative atmospheric pressure -20 Pa at the top outlet of the BaTT there will be no outflow from the bottom opening. The most desirable condition for maximum heat recovery appears to be at a pressure of -40 Pa at the top outlet. Under these conditions, the net outdoor air flux into the BaTT is about 700 SCFM from the bottom outlet. Results show that heat conduction from walls of the BaTT is about 1 to 2% of total heat flux which can be improved by adding insulation. Results also showed that temperature varies from 350K to 650K within the BaTT at about -40 Pa at the top outlet pressure but it is constant at about 650K for pressures above -20 Pa at the top outlet. Pressure profiles showed a linear variation with height from zero gauge pressure at bottom to the selected pressure specified at the top outlet.California State University, Northridge. Department of Mechanical Engineering.Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-49
Computational simulation of thermal-fluid processes in a barometric mixing unit
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (pages 48-49)California State University, Northridge has installed a 1 MW Direct Fuel Cell?? (DFC) power plant and the plant has been in operation since January 2007. A Heat Recovery Unit (HRU) has been designed and installed to extract the thermal energy contained in hot exhaust gases to heat up campus heating hot water and domestic hot water loops and as well as to warm up an existing campus swimming pool. In order to combine the exhaust gases and pass them through the HRU a Barometric Thermal Trap (BaTT) was designed and installed. An inline fan is installed downstream of the BaTT unit. The bottom of the BaTT is open to atmosphere and therefore ensures that pressure remains at nearly atmospheric and does not affect the operation of fuel cell units at any time.\ud
\ud
In order to determine the characteristic factors affecting the flow into and out of the BaTT and finding optimized flow conditions, a model of the BaTT was created using software suite, FLUENT??. The analysis of turbulence is based on the standard k-?? turbulent model. The results matched field measured data and showed that under slight negative atmospheric pressure -20 Pa at the top outlet of the BaTT there will be no outflow from the bottom opening. The most desirable condition for maximum heat recovery appears to be at a pressure of -40 Pa at the top outlet. Under these conditions, the net outdoor air flux into the BaTT is about 700 SCFM from the bottom outlet. \ud
Results show that heat conduction from walls of the BaTT is about 1 to 2% of total heat flux which can be improved by adding insulation. Results also showed that temperature varies from 350K to 650K within the BaTT at about -40 Pa at the top outlet pressure but it is constant at about 650K for pressures above -20 Pa at the top outlet. Pressure profiles showed a linear variation with height from zero gauge pressure at bottom to the selected pressure specified at the top outlet
A Death in the Family
No full textThis record was harvested from a previous catalogue system and will be withdrawn in 2025. Information in this record may be superseded or incomplete. Visit this record in UMA's new catalogue at: https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/336863Written by Colin Ryan, Directed by Edwin Batt, Performers L-R: Catherine Milne, Simon Hughes
Previous reference number: BWP/31728176025
Item: [2013.0059.00163] "A Death in the Family
Lumbar spine loads are reduced for activities of daily living when using a braced arm-to-thigh technique
No full textPublished: 06 November 2020PURPOSE:To evaluate the effect of the braced arm-to-thigh technique (BATT) (versus self-selected techniques) on three-dimensional trunk kinematics and spinal loads for three common activities of daily living (ADLs) simulated in the laboratory: weeding (gardening), reaching for an object in a low cupboard, and car egress using the two-legs out technique. METHODS:Ten young healthy males performed each task using a self-selected technique, and then using the BATT. The pulling action of weeding was simulated using a magnet placed on a steel plate. Cupboard and car egress tasks were simulated using custom apparatus representing the dimensions of a kitchen cabinet and a medium-sized Australian car, respectively. Three-dimensional trunk kinematics and L4/L5 spinal loads were estimated using the Lifting Full-Body OpenSim model and compared between techniques. Paired t-tests were used to compare peak values between methods (self-selected vs BATT). RESULTS:The BATT significantly reduced peak extension moments (13-51%), and both compression (27-45%) and shear forces (31-62%) at L4/L5, compared to self-selected techniques for all three tasks (p < 0.05). Lateral bending angles increased with the BATT for weeding and cupboard tasks, but these changes were expected as the BATT inherently introduces asymmetric trunk motion. CONCLUSION:The BATT substantially reduced L4/L5 extension moments, and L4/L5 compression and shear forces, compared to self-selected methods, for three ADLs, in a small cohort of ten young healthy males without prior history of back pain. These study findings can be used to inform safe procedures for these three ADLs, as the results are considered representative of a mature population.Erica Beaucage-Gauvreau, Scott C. E. Brandon, William S. P. Robertson, Robert Fraser, Brian J. C. Freeman, Ryan B. Graham ... et al
rBatt/trawlDiversity: update after review, upon acceptance
No full textLong-term trends in regional species richnes
Noting the notae in Jesus College, Oxford, MS 39
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Brepols via the DOI in this record
- …
