Optimized hip–knee–ankle exoskeleton assistance at a range of walking speeds

Background Autonomous exoskeletons will need to be useful at a variety of walking speeds, but it is unclear how optimal hip–knee–ankle exoskeleton assistance should change with speed. Biological joint moments tend to increase with speed, and in some cases, optimized ankle exoskeleton torques follow a similar trend. Ideal hip–knee–ankle exoskeleton torque may also increase with speed. The purpose of this study was to characterize the relationship between walking speed, optimal hip–knee–ankle exoskeleton assistance, and the benefits to metabolic energy cost. Methods We optimized hip–knee–ankle exoskeleton assistance to reduce metabolic cost for three able-bodied participants walking at 1.0 m/s, 1.25 m/s and 1.5 m/s. We measured metabolic cost, muscle activity, exoskeleton assistance and kinematics. We performed Friedman’s tests to analyze trends across walking speeds and paired t-tests to determine if changes from the unassisted conditions to the assisted conditions were significant. Results Exoskeleton assistance reduced the metabolic cost of walking compared to wearing the exoskeleton with no torque applied by 26%, 47% and 50% at 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 m/s, respectively. For all three participants, optimized exoskeleton ankle torque was the smallest for slow walking, while hip and knee torque changed slightly with speed in ways that varied across participants. Total applied positive power increased with speed for all three participants, largely due to increased joint velocities, which consistently increased with speed. Conclusions Exoskeleton assistance is effective at a range of speeds and is most effective at medium and fast walking speeds. Exoskeleton assistance was less effective for slow walking, which may explain the limited success in reducing metabolic cost for patient populations through exoskeleton assistance. Exoskeleton designers may have more success when targeting activities and groups with faster walking speeds. Speed-related changes in optimized exoskeleton assistance varied by participant, indicating either the benefit of participant-specific tuning or that a wide variety of torque profiles are similarly effective.

Power Stakeholder dalam Bisnis

The purpose of the literature review is to explain that stakeholder theories have the right role in the production of business and stakeholder values, the enhancement of stakeholder voices and the advocacy of stakeholders. The focus is on normative theory, the dimensions of stakeholder theory and business performance. Discussion of stakeholder theory is done descriptively in relation to power, legitimacy and their urgency related to stakeholder type in influencing company performance especially in maximizing value and financial performance of the company. The stakeholder concept has gained legitimacy among academics in various fields. stakeholder theory will provide benefits in relationships if understanding and integration of stakeholder concepts in management perceptions that their existence has a positive power in the build of corporate advantage

Optimized hip-knee-ankle exoskeleton assistance at a range of walking speeds

Background: Effective autonomous exoskeletons will need to be useful at a variety of walking speeds, but we do not know how optimal exoskeleton assistance should change with speed. Optimal exoskeleton assistance may increase with speed similar to biological torque changes or a well-tuned assistance profile may be effective at a variety of speeds. Methods: We optimized hip-knee-ankle exoskeleton assistance to reduce metabolic cost for three participants walking at 1.0 m/s, 1.25 m/s and 1.5 m/s. We measured metabolic cost, muscle activity, exoskeleton assistance and kinematics. We performed two tailed paired t-tests to determine significance. Results: Exoskeleton assistance reduced the metabolic cost of walking compared to wearing the exoskeleton with no torque applied by 26%, 47% and 50% at 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 m/s, respectively. For all three participants, optimized exoskeleton ankle torque was the smallest for slow walking, while hip and knee torque changed slightly with speed in ways that varied across participants. Total applied positive power increased with speed for all three participants, largely due to increased joint velocities, which consistently increased with speed. Conclusions: Exoskeleton assistance is effective at a range of speeds and is most effective at medium and fast walking speeds. Exoskeleton assistance was less effective for slow walking, which may explain the limited success in reducing metabolic cost for patient populations through exoskeleton assistance. Exoskeleton designers may have more success when targeting activities and groups with faster walking speeds. Speed-related changes in optimized exoskeleton assistance varied by participant, indicating either the benefit of participant-specific tuning or that a wide variety of torque profiles are similarly effective.

How Are Gamma-Ray Burst Radio Afterglows Populated?

We systematically analyze two GRB samples with radio-loud and radio-quiet afterglows, respectively. It is interestingly found that the radio-selected GRB samples exhibit a clear dichotomy in terms of their distributions of intrinsic durations (Tint), isotropic energies in γ-rays (Eγ, iso), the circum-burst medium density (n), the spectral radio peak luminosity (Lν, p) and flux densities (Fhost) of host galaxies. On average, the values of Tint, Eγ, iso, n, Lν, p and Fhost of radio-quiet GRBs are relatively smaller than those of radio-loud ones. However, the redshifts and host flux densities of both samples are similarly distributed. In addition, a positive power-law correlation of $L_{\nu ,p}\propto E_{\gamma ,iso}^{0.41\pm 0.04}$ is found for the radio-loud sample, especially in accord with the supernova-associated GRBs, which is marginally consistent with that of the radio-quiet GRB sample. A negative correlation between Tint and z is confirmed to similarly hold for both radio-loud and radio-quiet GRBs. The dividing line between short and long GRBs in the rest frame is at Tint ≃1 s. Consequently, we propose that the radio-selected GRBs could be originated from distinct progenitors and central engines, together with environments.

“Companion, friend, four-legged fluff ball”: The power of pets in the lives of LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness

Experiences of homelessness are challenging for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) young people. LGBTQ+ young adults without stable housing endure mental health struggles stemming from multiple structural disadvantages. In navigating stressors, LGBTQ+ young people may develop bonds with companion animals, or pets. Demonstrating the diverse ways LGBTQ+ young adults manage mental health challenges while homeless, we qualitatively analyzed the narratives of 17 LGBTQ+ young adults (18–25) surrounding their pet relationships. Participants emphasized the positive power of pets in their lives to help offset stressors. These findings illustrate how marginalized young people manage their mental health through informal resources. Incorporating companion animals could potentially enhance services for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing marginalization.

Correlating USA COVID-19 cases at epidemic onset days to domestic flights passenger inflows by state

In the USA, COVID-19 first infection cases were imported by external travelers. At the epidemic onset days, we assume that the disease partially spreads due to domestic passengers air transportation in its densely connected airport network. Taking into account all USA states, we arranged COVID-19 infected cases data in a convenient common time origin timeline as if the beginning of the epidemic would have occurred simultaneously in every state. Looking for a trend between cases and air passengers, we obtained with this timeline very good statistical Pearson and Spearman correlations between accumulated infected cases by state and a positive power of the product [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the domestic flight passengers (travelers) inflow by state before the epidemic and [Formula: see text] is its population. We also found a good correlation between percentages of urban area by state and their COVID-19 daily new cases growth rates at onset days.

COVID-19 cases in countries and territories at onset days as function of external tourism inflows

In every country except China, COVID-19 first infection cases were imported by travelers, which are either people coming back to their own country or visiting foreigners (international or external tourists). In a global and regional phenomenological analysis of COVID-19 spread, we assume that tourism inflow is a trigger mechanism of worldwide dissemination at the pandemic onset days. Taking into account all countries, a convenient common-time origin timeline was employed as if the beginning of the epidemic would have occurred simultaneously in every country. We obtained very good statistical Pearson and Spearman correlations between accumulated infected cases by country and a positive power of the product [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the tourism inflow before the pandemic and [Formula: see text] is the country population.

Design and Analysis of a New Mechanism for a Snake Like Robot

In this paper, a novel snake like robot design is presented and analyzed. The structure described desires to obtain a robot that is most like a snake found in nature. This is achieved with the combination of both rigid and soft link structures by implementing a 3D printed rigid link and a soft cast silicone skin. The proposed structure serves to have a few mechanical improvements while maintaining the positives of previous designs. The implementation of the silicone skin presents the opportunity to use synthetic scales and directional friction. The design modifications of this novel design are analyzed on the fronts of the kinematics and minimizing power loss. Minimization of power loss is done through a numerical minimization of three separate parameters with the smallest positive power loss being used. This results in the minimal power loss per unit distance. This research found that the novel structure presented can be effectively described and modeled, such that they could be applied to a constructed model.