Medical Robotic Bed to Prevent Pressure Sores

Patients who stay in bed for long periods are prone to pressure sores. Pressure sores cause multiple complications and prolong hospitalization. To prevent pressure sores, the patient’s lying position must be changed continuously so that excessive pressure on any body part does not last long. In this paper, we propose a novel robotic bed to prevent the formation of pressure sores. This robotic bed is composed of multiple segments that are driven independently by brushless direct current motors and that use body pressure information for feedback control. By controlling the movement of the segments on the top of the bed with a fuzzy controller, the patient’s body pressure is kept below the reference value. Moreover, a belt-type body pressure sensor is developed herein by using force-sensing resistor technology to measure the patient’s body pressure. A bed control system composed of the main controller, a teach pendant, motor controllers, and sensors was implemented. Through real experiments, the validity of the proposed robot bed was verified, and it was confirmed that the fuzzy closed-loop controller followed the reference body pressure commands well.

Whole Oats Supplementation in a Low Calorie Diet Efficiently Reduces Cardio-Metabolic Disorders in Obese Rats

The hypocaloric diets (HCD) are an approach for controlling weight but can lead to a risk of nutritional deficiency. Whole grain contain bioactive com-pounds with health benefits; their incorporation into HCD can improve their nutritional value due to their richness in soluble fibers and their low glycae-mic index. The effects of incorporating oats in HCD were evaluated on growth parameters, lipid and glycaemic abnormalities, nitric oxide level and redox status in obese rats. Albinos rats were rendered obese after ingestion of a hyperlipidic (HL) diet and were then divided into three homogeneous groups: A first group was submitted for 28 days to a caloric restriction (CR) supplemented with oat (CR–Oat group). The second was fed a CR diet with-out supplementation (CR group) and the third obese group continued to con-sume the HL diet (Ob-HL). A fourth group (T) of normal weight rats is taken as a reference. Body weight, food and energy intake, glycaemia, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulinemia and blood lipids were decreased in obese rats treat-ed with HCD with or without oat compared with Ob-HL. However, glycaemia, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum lipids were more reduced in CR–oat group and its value became similar to that of normoponderal rats. Fur-thermore, oxidative biomarkers in red blood cells, liver and adipose tissue were lowered in groups treated with HC diets, especially in oat diet. Further-more, we noted improved enzymatic antioxidant defense and endothelial dysfunction. Oats, by their functional properties seems to effectively rein-force the anti-obesity effect of the hypocaloric diet.

Improving the accuracy and metrological support of power meters in the frequency range from 37.5 to 178.6 GHz

To satisfy the needs for metrological support of power measurements in the frequency range from 37.5 to 178.6 GHz, the device has been developed and designed for automated measurements, calibrations and verification of wattmeters with high accuracy and the ability to adapt to various types of devices under investigation. This paper presents the composition, diagram andgeneral principle of the device. A description of the structure of isothermal calorimetric converters of autocompensation type with dry load and reference body, which are the basis of the device, is given. The implemented algorithms for converting and replacing microwave power with direct current power of the developed calorimetric wattmeters are presented. The measures taken at the manufacturing stage to minimize sources of measurement uncertainty are described. To assess the accuracy of measuring the absorbed power, a mathematical model of the conversion factor has been compiled. Corrections have been introduced into this mathematical model to improve the measurement accuracy of the reproducible microwave power. The obtained basic metrological and technical characteristics of calorimetric wattmeters and comparison equipment of the device are presented. The obtained metrological and technical characteristics correspond to the current level of standard equipment.

Regulacje ograniczeń w zakresie noszenia symboli religijnych w ocenie Komitetu Praw Człowieka ONZ

The article provides a critical analysis of three individual notification opinions issued by the UN Human Rights Committee in July 2018 on the compatibility of existing regulations in States parties (France, Turkey) on bans on wearing religious symbols with the freedom to manifest religion guaranteed by Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Moreover, the text points out the dichotomy – in terms of content – of positions on this issue between the universal body and the regional reference body (the European Court of Human Rights) and also addresses such systemic issues as the problem of legal force of the Committee’s opinions, the lack of dialogue or even isolationism of international bodies ruling on human rights, or the dispute over the primacy of their decisions.

On the stress dependence of the elastic tensor

Summary The dependence of the elastic tensor on the equilibrium stress is investigated theoretically. Using ideas from finite elasticity, it is first shown that both the equilibrium stress and elastic tensor are given uniquely in terms of the equilibrium deformation gradient relative to a fixed choice of reference body. Inversion of the relation between the deformation gradient and stress might, therefore, be expected to lead neatly to the desired expression for the elastic tensor. Unfortunately, the deformation gradient can only be recovered from the stress up to a choice of rotation matrix. Hence it is not possible in general to express the elastic tensor as a unique function of the equilibrium stress. By considering material symmetries, though, it is shown that the degree of non-uniqueness can sometimes be reduced, and in some cases even removed entirely. These results are illustrated through a range numerical calculations, and we also obtain linearised relations applicable to small perturbations in equilibrium stress. Finally, we make a comparison with previous studies before considering implications for geophysical forward- and inverse-modelling.

Perspective: US Adult Magnesium Requirements Need Updating: Impacts of Rising Body Weights and Data-Derived Variance

ABSTRACT Adequate magnesium intakes are associated with lower diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk but are low in modern diets. Magnesium DRIs, estimated using standard reference body weights (SRBWs) lower than current mean US adult body weights (BWs), need revision. Magnesium DRIs assume variance at 10% CV, whereas balance study data suggests 20–30% CV. Here, estimated average requirements (EARs), the DRI measure estimating average magnesium requirements for healthy adults, were corrected using 2011–2014 mean US adult BWs. Magnesium EARs (in mg magnesium/d) increased 17% for men (330–350 to 386–409) and 25% for women (255–265 to 319–332). RDAs, the DRI measure meant to cover the magnesium needs of 98% of healthy adults, were calculated using BW-corrected EARs given 3 CV levels: 1) 10% (assumed in 1997 DRIs), 2) 20% (model-derived variance from USDA magnesium studies), and 3) 30% (using USDA plus older human magnesium balance data). BW-corrected magnesium RDAs (in mg magnesium/d) rose from 400–420 and 310–320 for men and women, respectively, to 1) 463–491 and 383–398 (16.5% and 23.5% increases), 2) 540–573 and 447–465 (35.5% and 44.5% increases), and 3) 617–654 and 511–531 (55% and 65.5% increases). These recalculations move magnesium intakes estimated to prevent disease into ranges found in traditional diets and to intake levels shown to lower hypertension, diabetes, and CVD risk. In conclusion, mean BW rises over the last ≥20 y and data-driven estimates of CV indicate that reliable US adult magnesium RDAs are ≥60–235 and 70–210 mg magnesium/d higher for men and women, respectively, than the current 1997 RDAs. US adult BMIs are <25 kg/m2 when calculated with SRBWs but >25 with actual mean BWs. Adjustments for rising BW are necessary for magnesium DRIs to remain useful tools for defining magnesium intake adequacy/deficiency.

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) OF CHILDREN WITH TETRALOGY OF FALLOT (TOF)

Background: Malnutrition is a common cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children with TOF. Objective: To analyze the BMI profile of children with TOF aged 0 – 18 years at Pediatric Department, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of the BMI from the medical record of TOF patients aged 0 – 18 years at the Pediatric Department, Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, since January 2016 to December 2017 was conducted. The data included gender, age group, demographic distribution, weight, and height. BMI was calculated by WHO formula reference; body weight (kg) divided by body height squared (m2), which was converted into z-score histogram. BMI classification was guided by the Government’s Anthropometry Standards for Nutritional Status Assessment. Result: From 84 TOF patients, there were 43 males (51%) and 41 females (49%). The most dominant age group was 0 – 4 years old (n=47;56%). The majority of patients were from outside of Surabaya (n=64;76.2%). Based on their BMI, 36 patients (42.9%) had severe underweight, 10 patients (11.9%) were underweight, and 35 patients (41.7%) were normal, whilst the rests (3.6%) were overweight. Conclusion: The number of male patients was slightly higher than female patients. The majority of TOF patients were 0 – 4 years old and resided out town of Surabaya. The predominant BMI found was the underweight and severe underweight below normal BMI.

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) OF CHILDREN WITH TETRALOGY OF FALLOT (TOF)

Background: Malnutrition is a common cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children with TOF. Objective: To analyze the BMI profile of children with TOF age 0 – 18 years old at Pediatric Department, Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya. Material and method: A cross-sectional study of the BMI from the medical record of TOF patients age 0 – 18 years old at the Pediatric Department, Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya since January 2016 to December 2017 was conducted. The data included gender, age group, demographic distribution, weight, and height. BMI was calculated by WHO formula reference; body weight (kg) divided by height squared body (m2), which was converted into z-score histogram size. BMI classification was guided by the Government’s Anthropometry Standards for Nutritional Status Assessment. Result: From 84 TOF patients, there were 43 males (51%) and 41 females (49%). The most dominant age group is 0 – 4 years old (n=47;56%). The majority of patients were from outside of Surabaya (n=64;76,2%). Based on their BMI, 36 patients (42.9%) have severe underweight, 10 patients (11.9%) were underweight, and 35 patients (41.7%) were normal, whilst the rests (3.6%) were overweight. Conclusion: In this study, the number of male patients was slightly higher than female patients. The majority of TOF patients were 0 – 4 years old and resided out town of Surabaya. The predominant BMI found was the underweight and severe underweight below of normal BMI.

A generic method of wearable items virtual try-on

Virtual try-on synthesizes garments for the target bodies in 2D/3D domains. Even though existing virtual try-on methods focus on redressing garments, the virtual try-on hair, shoes and wearable accessories are still under-reached. In this paper, we present the first general method for virtual try-ons that is fully automatic and suitable for many items including garments, hair, shoes, watches, necklaces, hats, and so on. Starting with the pre-defined wearable items on a reference human body model, an automatic method is proposed to deform the reference body mesh to fit a target body for obtaining dense triangle correspondences. Then, an improved fit metric is used to represent the interaction between wearable items and the body. For the next step, with the help of triangle correspondences and the fit metric, the wearable items can be fast and efficiently inferred by the shape and posture of the targeted body. Extensive experimental results show that, besides automation and efficiency, the proposed method can be easily extended to implement the dynamic try-on by applying rigging and importing motion capture data, being able to handle both tight and loose garments, and even multi-layer clothing.