Influence of the Backward Fall Technique on the Sagittal Linear Acceleration of the Head During a Fall

(1) Background: This research aimed to determine the effect of the backward fall technique on the sagittal linear acceleration of the head in students training in different sports. (2) Methods: The study involved 41 students divided into two study groups. Group A included 19 students training in martial arts who practised falls with side aligning of the body. Group B included 22 handball players who practised falls performed in a way similar to a gymnastic backward roll. A rotating training simulator (RTS) was used to force falls, and Wiva ® Science apparatus was used to assess acceleration. (3) Results: Significant changes in head acceleration were only obtained between immediate fall tests (IFTs) and forced fall tests (FFTs) in group B. Significant differences were noted between groups for the IFT and FFT. Greater changes in head acceleration were noted in group B. (4) Conclusions: Smaller changes in head acceleration in group A students indicate a lower susceptibility to head, pelvic and cervical spine injuries in falls performed backward with side aligning of the body. This technique in group A limited the differences in head acceleration between IFTs and FFTs. Negative acceleration values obtained in group B confirmed that the head may suffer a moment of force, tilting it backwards, but then forward when the buttocks hit the ground.

Virtual Reality Simulator for Training on Surgery Ergonomics Skills

This work focuses on ergonomics skills based on Virtual Reality (VR) training simulator for spine surgery. The proposed system used the Head Mounted Display (HMD) device for monitoring and data collection. The aim of the project was to provide a training approach for residents that would enable them to acquire the proper ergonomic skills needed while performing spine surgery. A VR training simulator has been designed and implemented to measure two ergonomic skills required that need to be maintained during any surgery. The two components were neck’s angle and table’s height. The experiments showed that the users are usually focused on their work and tend to pay less attention to their body’s position and movements. This can result in a wrong ergonomics setup, which leads to musculoskeletal pain. Thus, the users (residents) need to be trained to have good ergonomics positions. The proposed system measured this using a specific metric that collected head positions, angles, elbow height, and other parameters. The designed model was a VR simulator for neurosurgical education in particular; however, it might be good for some other similar surgeries. The study concluded that incorporating simulations into residents’ training and simulated surgeries can strengthen the surgeons’ skills and outcomes. As a result, both residents and expert surgeons can benefit from the use of the developed model.

Development and Feasibility of a Patient-Derived Training Simulator for Image-Guided Adaptive Brachytherapy of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancers

Background Image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) plays a pivotal role in definitive radiotherapy of cervical cancer. Although the combination of a tandem and ovoid applicator with interstitial needles (IC/IS brachytherapy) is an efficient IGABT technique for bulky irregular-shaped tumors, training opportunities for IC/IS brachytherapy remain limited. Thus, we developed a training simulator for IC/IS brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer and tested its feasibility. Methods The training simulator combined a patient-derived soft silicone tumor phantom with an acrylic tube mimicking the vagina. The tumor phantom was modeled on a cervical cancer patient treated with IGABT at our institute between 2012–2020, through detailed inspection of their three-dimensional (3D) high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) at the first brachytherapy session. A true-scale tumor phantom was created from the HR-CTV data using 3D-printing. The feasibility of the training simulator was investigated by comparing treatment plans between the following six sessions (sessions #1–#3, with a Fletcher-Suit Asian Pacific applicator; #4–#6, with a Venezia applicator): in sessions #1 and #4, an expert inserted a tandem and ovoids (T&O); in sessions #2 and #5, a resident inserted a T&O plus four needles; and in sessions #3 and #6, an expert inserted a T&O plus four needles. At each session, the highest possible dose was prescribed to the HR-CTV while keeping the D2cc of the rectum and bladder (derived from the model case) below 6 and 7.6 Gy, respectively. Results The training simulator was developed using the HR-CTV data of a FIGO stage IIIB tumor (68 ⋅ 49 ⋅ 45 mm) selected from one of 495 candidates. The feasibility tests with a Fletcher-Suit Asian Pacific applicator resulted in HR-CTV D90 of 4.23, 5.69, and 6.70 Gy for sessions #1, #2, and #3, respectively. With a Venezia applicator, HR-CTV D90 was 4.16, 6.20, and 6.45 Gy for sessions #4, #5, and #6, respectively. Conclusions The tumor phantom was a good representation that resulted in various HR-CTV D90 doses depending on the physician’s experience and applicator type. Further evaluation of the training simulator is warranted to confirm its educational value for IC/IS brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.

Helicopter Training Simulator Measurement and Control System Based on Computer Simulation Technology

With the development of computer software technology and simulation technology, simulation training has been widely used. Helicopter training simulation has become an important part of helicopter training, and its status is becoming more and more important. On the one hand, the air mechanic is responsible for the maintenance and organization of the helicopter during the flight, and on the other hand is responsible for the starting and stopping of the helicopter engine, the operation of related equipment, and the handling of emergencies during the flight. The simulation training has the characteristics of high training efficiency, convenient maintenance and low training cost. It will become an important means for helicopter air mechanics to troubleshoot and deal with special situations. This paper aims to study the helicopter training simulator measurement and control system based on computer software technology. Based on the analysis of the advantages of the simulator instead of the actual installation for training, the helicopter training simulator function and the simulator subsystem, the actual installation simulation instrument and signal are designed. The indicator light, the graphic instrument and the control signal are arranged in the circuit, and then the simulation experiment is carried out on the design. The experimental results show that the design can more accurately simulate the indication of the antenna elevation angle table, which meets the requirements of this article.

A Simulator for Educating the Digital Technologies Skills in Industry. Part One. Dynamic Simulation of Technological Processes

Digital technology is being introduced into all areas of human activity. However, there are a number of challenges in implementing these technologies. These include the delayed return on investment, the lack of visibility for decision-makers and, most importantly, the lack of human capacity to develop and implement digital technologies. Therefore, creating a digital training simulator for the industry is an actual task. This paper focuses on the first step in creating a digital training simulator for the industry: developing a dynamic process model. The process chosen is flotation, as it is one of the most common mineral processing methods. The simulation was performed in AVEVA Dynamic Simulation software. The model is based on a determination of reaction rate constants, for which, experiments were conducted on a laboratory pneumomechanical flotation machine with a bottom drive. The resulting model was scaled up to industrial size and its dynamic properties were investigated. In addition, the basic scheme of a computer simulator was considered, and the testing of the communication channels of a dynamic model with systems, equipment and software for digitalizing was conducted. The developed model showed acceptable results for its intended purpose, namely, an exact match to the technological process in terms of time. This helps to account for inertia and a fast response on all tested communication channels, as well as being acceptable for the real-time simulation speed of the solver.

Utilizing Inter-Subject Variability to Assess Performance and Brain Activity During Complex Task Learning

With tasks becoming more mentally focused and operators being required to conduct multiple tasks simultaneously, it is important to not only acquire direct measurements from the brain, but also account for changes in performance and brain activity as a function of intersubject variability and task demands. Such methodology is particularly important when evaluating skill acquisition and transfer during training on a complex and ecologically valid task. To evaluate the aforementioned factors, we implemented a search and surveillance task (scanning an assigned area and identifying targets) using a high-fidelity Unmanned Aerial System operator training simulator, acquired brain activity changes via a portable functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) sensor array, and had novice participants (N = 13) undergo three sessions of easy difficulty followed by two harder difficulty sessions. Behavioral performance results indicated no significant change in scan or target find performance across easy sessions when intersubject variability was not accounted for. However, accounting for intersubject variability indicated that some individuals improved their scan performance, and they deteriorated their target find performance (Attention-focused group), while others deteriorated their scan performance, and they improved their target find performance (Accuracy-focused group). fNIRS results displayed that both groups exhibited a decrease in brain activity across easy sessions within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) and right anterior medial PFC (RAMPFC), while activity in left anterior medial prefrontal cortex (LAMPFC) increased in the Attention-focused group and decreased in the Accuracy-focused group. In both groups, transitioning to hard sessions resulted in a decrease in performance. The Attention-focused group displayed an increase in brain activity within LDLPFC, RAMPFC and LAMPFC, while the Accuracy-focused group displayed an increase in brain activity within LDLPFC, no change within RAMPFC and a decrease within LAMPFC. These results suggest that the Attention-focused group was able to acquire and transfer the skills needed to efficiently complete the scan task, while remaining engaged in a target find task. Alternatively, the Accuracy-focused group was engaged only on acquiring the skills needed to efficiently complete the target find task. In conclusion, these results suggest that utilizing intersubject variability as relevant information rather than noise improves assessments of skill acquisition and transfer during training on a complex task.

Lost in transition: The effects of transitioning between firearms and electronic control devices (ECDs) on perception-response times (PRTs)

The research described in this article tested the perception-response times for experienced police officers to transition from a firearm to a TASER and from a TASER to a firearm. The theoretical models and police training on use of force have largely ignored the temporal space between force modalities. Escalating through force modalities has by default been treated as equivalent, in task and timing, to deescalating through force modalities. This study employed a randomized controlled experiment using a police firearms training simulator and 139 active law enforcement officers. The average perception-response time for transition from a TASER to a firearm was 2.49 seconds for experienced police officers in response to an anticipated visual stimulus in a laboratory setting. The average perception-response time for transition from a firearm to a TASER was 4.7 seconds for experienced police officers in a response to an anticipated visual stimulus in a laboratory setting. 70% of the officers that participated in the study had never participated in department training that required them to transition between a firearm and a TASER. The findings demonstrate that moving from TASER to firearm and from firearm to TASER are not equivalent tasks. In the case of firearms and TASERs, it is significantly faster to move up the force continuum—from TASER to firearm—than it is to move down the force continuum. This research has implications for police training, tactics, policy, research, and post hoc investigations involving the use or potential use of force.

Force display control system for simultaneous 3-axis translational motion in surgical training simulator for chiseling operation

The present study proposes an advanced force display control system for a surgical training simulator with virtual reality. In oral and orthopedic surgeries, a surgeon uses a chisel and mallet for chiseling and cutting hard tissue. To enable the representation of force sensation for the chiseling operation in a virtual training simulator, the force display device has been constructed with the ball-screw mechanism to obtain high stiffness. In addition, two-degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) admittance control has been used to react instantaneously to the impactive force caused by pounding with the mallet. The virtual chiseling operation was realized by the force display device with a single axis in the previous studies. In the current study, we propose the design procedure for the force display control system with the 2DOF admittance control approach to virtual operation in three-dimensional space. Furthermore, we propose the design method for the PD controller with imperfect derivative using frequency characteristics for the 2DOF admittance control system. The efficacy of the proposed control system is verified through the virtual experience from manipulating the chisel using the developed force display device in the current study.