Use of Gait-Kinematics in Sensor-Based Gait Monitoring: A Feasibility Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohannes Ketema ◽  
Demoz Gebre-Egziabher ◽  
Michael Schwartz ◽  
Chris Matthews ◽  
Ryan Kirker

A concept for fusing information from the kinematics describing human locomotion with body-fixed sensors for the purpose of in situ gait monitoring is studied. This is done by using an individual's gait patterns (as captured by a simplified kinematic model) with acceleration measurements made at key points on the body. The gait patterns are expressed as nominal relations between shank, thigh, and stance leg angles during normal walking. It is shown how the use of known gait patterns reduces the required number of sensors attached to the body that are required for a sensor-based monitoring of gait. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated using a single acceleration measurement at the ankle to estimate limb angles and step size in situ. Such gait monitoring may be used for the evaluations of a subject's overall quality of gait through the determination of flexions at the knees and hip. In addition, step sizes, distance walked, and speed can be estimated. Apart from gait analysis, the method can be used for remotely monitoring the safety of individuals to the extent this can be done through consideration of the state of gait.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-364
Author(s):  
Jimu Liu ◽  
Yuan Tian ◽  
Feng Gao

Abstract The manufacture and maintenance of large parts in ships, trains, aircrafts, and so on create an increasing demand for mobile machine tools to perform in-situ operations. However, few mobile robots can accommodate the complex environment of industrial plants while performing machining tasks. This study proposes a novel six-legged walking machine tool consisting of a legged mobile robot and a portable parallel kinematic machine tool. The kinematic model of the entire system is presented, and the workspace of different components, including a leg, the body, and the head, is analyzed. A hierarchical motion planning scheme is proposed to take advantage of the large workspace of the legged mobile platform and the high precision of the parallel machine tool. The repeatability of the head motion, body motion, and walking distance is evaluated through experiments, which is 0.11, 1.0, and 3.4 mm, respectively. Finally, an application scenario is shown in which the walking machine tool steps successfully over a 250 mm-high obstacle and drills a hole in an aluminum plate. The experiments prove the rationality of the hierarchical motion planning scheme and demonstrate the extensive potential of the walking machine tool for in-situ operations on large parts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Yesica Vicente-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Caravaca ◽  
Antonio Soto-Meca

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used in the manufacturing of plastics and resins whose presence in the body in low concentrations can cause serious health problems. Due to this, there is a growing interest in the scientific community to develop analytical methods that allow quantifying trace concentrations of BPA in different types of samples. The determination of this compound in toys made of plastics that can be manipulated by children leads to an extra concern, because it is possible for BPA to enter the body by introducing these toys into the mouth. This work presents a novel procedure to the quickly and easily quantification of trace levels of BPA in samples of toys and pacifiers according to the current demanding regulations. The determination of very low levels of BPA was carried out by ionic liquid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The formation in situ of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis((trifluoromethane)sulfonyl)imide ([C8MIm] [NTf2]), was achieved by mixing 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C8MIm]Cl) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([NTf2]Li) aqueous solutions, reaching an instant dispersion whose cloud of microdrops allows the total extraction of BPA in the IL from aqueous solutions. After centrifugation, BPA concentration in the sedimented phase was determined by HPLC. The optimal experimental conditions for the microextraction and determination of BPA in the IL were studied. The total extraction was achieved at pH 4, heating the sample at 30 °C for 5 min, using 100 µL of IL precursor volume, and spinning after the formation of dispersion at 3000 rpm for 10 min. The enrichment factor (EF) and detection limit (LOD) reached with the procedure were 299 and 0.19 µg L−1, respectively. The relative standard deviation for ten replications at the 0.5 µg L−1 level was 5.2%. Recovery studies showed a mean value for BPA recovery percentage in the samples of 99%. Additionally, a hybrid model was applied to characterize the extraction kinetics. This simple, low cost and fast method simplifies traditional microextraction techniques, representing an outstanding alternative.


Geophysics ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Shurbet ◽  
G. R. Keller ◽  
J. P. Friess

Gravity and magnetic anomalies caused by deeply buried rock bodies in northwest Texas are compared. Interpretation of the gravity anomalies by modeling is used to locate and define the geometry of the body in a way analogous to the use of bathymetry in studies concerned with magnetization of seamounts. The direction of magnetization is then determined from the spatial relationship between the gravity and magnetic anomalies. This procedure amounts to an in‐situ determination of direction of magnetization of the body. In one example direction of magnetization indicates the time of intrusion and in another it indicates regional heating since intrusion.


2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohannes Ketema ◽  
Demoz Gebre-Egziabher

A method for estimating gait parameters (shank, thigh, and stance leg angles) from a single, in situ, scalar acceleration measurement is presented. A method for minimizing the impact of errors due to unpredictable variations in muscle actuation and acceleration measurement biases is developed. This is done by determining the most probable gait progression by minimization of a cost function that reflects the size of errors in the gait parameters. In addition, a model for gait patterns that takes into account their variations due to walking speed is introduced and used. The approach is tested on data collected from subjects in a gait study. The approach can estimate limb angles with errors less than 6 deg (one standard deviation) and, thus, is suitable for many envisioned gait monitoring applications in nonlaboratory settings.


Author(s):  
T.B. Ball ◽  
W.M. Hess

It has been demonstrated that cross sections of bundles of hair can be effectively studied using image analysis. These studies can help to elucidate morphological differences of hair from one region of the body to another. The purpose of the present investigation was to use image analysis to determine whether morphological differences could be demonstrated between male and female human Caucasian terminal scalp hair.Hair samples were taken from the back of the head from 18 caucasoid males and 13 caucasoid females (Figs. 1-2). Bundles of 50 hairs were processed for cross-sectional examination and then analyzed using Prism Image Analysis software on a Macintosh llci computer. Twenty morphological parameters of size and shape were evaluated for each hair cross-section. The size parameters evaluated were area, convex area, perimeter, convex perimeter, length, breadth, fiber length, width, equivalent diameter, and inscribed radius. The shape parameters considered were formfactor, roundness, convexity, solidity, compactness, aspect ratio, elongation, curl, and fractal dimension.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kecskés ◽  
F. Mutschler ◽  
I. Glós ◽  
E. Thán ◽  
I. Farkas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT 1. An indirect paperchromatographic method is described for separating urinary oestrogens; this consists of the following steps: acidic hydrolysis, extraction with ether, dissociation of phenol-fractions with partition between the solvents. Previous purification of phenol fraction with the aid of paperchromatography. The elution of oestrogen containing fractions is followed by acetylation. Oestrogen acetate is isolated by re-chromatography. The chromatogram was developed after hydrolysis of the oestrogens 'in situ' on the paper. The quantity of oestrogens was determined indirectly, by means of an iron-reaction, after the elution of the iron content of the oestrogen spot, which was developed by the Jellinek-reaction. 2. The method described above is satisfactory for determining urinary oestrogen, 17β-oestradiol and oestriol, but could include 16-epioestriol and other oestrogenic metabolites. 3. The sensitivity of the method is 1.3–1.6 μg/24 hours. 4. The quantitative and qualitative determination of urinary oestrogens with the above mentioned method was performed in 50 pregnant and 9 non pregnant women, and also in 2 patients with granulosa cell tumour.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keishiro Yamashita ◽  
Kazuki Komatsu ◽  
Hiroyuki Kagi

An crystal-growth technique for single crystal x-ray structure analysis of high-pressure forms of hydrogen-bonded crystals is proposed. We used alcohol mixture (methanol: ethanol = 4:1 in volumetric ratio), which is a widely used pressure transmitting medium, inhibiting the nucleation and growth of unwanted crystals. In this paper, two kinds of single crystals which have not been obtained using a conventional experimental technique were obtained using this technique: ice VI at 1.99 GPa and MgCl<sub>2</sub>·7H<sub>2</sub>O at 2.50 GPa at room temperature. Here we first report the crystal structure of MgCl2·7H2O. This technique simultaneously meets the requirement of hydrostaticity for high-pressure experiments and has feasibility for further in-situ measurements.


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