Conventional Stick Research Articles

Smart System for Visually Impaired People

Abstract: The main objective of the Smart System is to enable effortless and more unhindered movement for visually impaired people. People who are blind have a full life of responsibilities. However, being blind makes it difficult for them to carry out their duties. Many blind people move around and carry out their tasks using a conventional stick. Traditional sticks, however, do not detect impediments, making them useless for those who are blind. The blind individual is unaware of the types of obstructions or items in front of them. The blind person is unaware of both the object's size and the distance between him or her and it. Being blind makes it challenging to move about. They will be able to recognise anything to help persons with vision impairment by making many of their daily routines easy, pleasant, and organised. (A barrier for those who are blind). It is designed to make navigation easier for persons who are blind or visually impaired. People who are blind or have low eyesight can use it to comfortably and easily navigate and complete their everyday duties. a cutting-edge smartphone application that makes it easier for those with vision impairment to move around. The software approach suggested in this paper makes it easier and more pleasant for people with vision impairment to navigate their surroundings. The suggested solution employs a camera device— which may be a phone—and an application to assist blind and visually impaired persons in recognising things in their environment, such as TVs, tables, cars, and people this may help them avoid these things. The system will also determine the object's distance (measured in metres) and positioning inside the video feed that was collected (left, right, or centred). The device will therefore alert the user via sound from the smartphone.

Development of stick–slip nanopositioning stage capable of moving in vertical direction

Nanopositioning stage, based on the stick–slip principle, is a hot research topic due to its unparallel merits such as compact structure, high resolution, and long travel stroke. However, most of the conventional stick–slip nanopositioning stages only have the ability to move along the horizontal directions. In addition, analysis of vertical stage movement is few. This paper proposes a novel stick–slip nanopositioning stage capable of moving upwards and downwards with an excellent performance. An adjusting unit was developed and integrated into the stage to effectively change friction force which is the key to the vertical stage movement. Theoretical and numerical analysis show that many parameters including revised driving signal contributes to the upward movement of stick–slip nanopositioning stage. Experimental results show that the stage has the capability of traveling up to 22 mm with an upward positioning accuracy of 7.00 nm and a downward positioning accuracy of 5.00 nm, respectively. The maximum speed for maximum speeds of stage for upward and downward motion were measured to be 2.70 and 0.77 mm/s, respectively. The maximum load of stage in vertical direction is 72 g. This stage design has a huge potential in applications requiring vertical manipulation while requiring nanometer positioning accuracies, high travel stroke, compact structure, and large load.

Comparison of Seismic Responses of Updated Lumped-Mass Stick Model and Shaking Table Test Results

A conventional lumped-mass stick model is based on the tributary area method to determine the masses lumped at each node and used in earthquake engineering due to its simplicity in the modeling of structures. However the natural frequencies of the conventional model are normally not identical to tho...

Development of high fidelity reduced order hybrid stick model for aircraft dynamic aeroelasticity analysis

This paper presents a new high fidelity reduced order modeling methodology based on a hybrid stick model representation approach. Here, the traditional stick model developed by the unitary loading method is augmented by residual mass and stiffness matrices that account for the dynamic imparity between the stick model and the global finite element model, within a frequency range of interest, as well as the degrees of freedom coupling commonly ignored by the simplified stick model. The new method offers the handling flexibilities of the conventional stick model as well as the high dynamic accuracy of matrix based model order reduction methods such as the Guyan and the Craig-Bampton condensation techniques. Retaining the stick model in the proposed hybrid model representation intuitively enables aerospace development engineers to, accurately and efficiently, optimize the airframe mass and stiffness distribution for aircraft loads minimization and performance maximization without the need to engage an expensive global finite element model in such highly iterative analyses. Two hybrid stick models are presented in this paper that are developed based on the Guyan and the Craig-Bampton reduction methods. A case study is presented where the hybrid stick models developed along with their conventional stick model counterpart are employed in the dynamic aeroelasticity loads analyses of a Bombardier aircraft platform. Using monitor points method, the extracted aeroelastic loads using the reduced order models are compared against those generated employing the aircraft global finite element model. The dynamic characteristics of the reduced order models are also assessed based on their modal characteristics using modal assurance criteria along with their loads modal participation factors. Results obtained show that the developed hybrid stick models have superior dynamic characteristics compared to the conventional stick model.

Conventional Laparoscopy vs. Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopy for Sacrocolpopexy and Sacrocervicopexy: a Review

An abdominal approach to apical pelvic organ prolapse surgery yields superior outcomes in terms of decreased recurrence rates. Furthermore, there is evidence to support that a minimally invasive approach yields better patient outcomes over an abdominal approach. However, there remains debate in the field over which minimally invasive approach is better. In this review, we compare conventional straight stick laparoscopy and robotic-assisted laparoscopy techniques for sacrocolpopexy and sacrocervicopexy (LSC and RASC). We reviewed data from recent retrospective and prospective studies that directly compare LSC and RASC. In particular, we considered complications, operative time, patient outcomes, and cost. Both LSC and RASC have benefits over the traditional open abdominal approach. Complication rates are low and resolution of prolapse is high in both LSC and RASC. Operative time and costs are generally higher in RASC. The existing studies comparing LSC and RASC have relatively small sample sizes. It will be important for further robust prospective studies to directly compare these two common minimally invasive approaches to pelvic organ prolapse.

Cone Beam vs. Stick Method: A Retrospective Analysis Comparing the Accuracy of Cone Beam Gap Measurements to Conventional Stick Measurements for Head and Neck Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Cone Beam vs. Stick Method: A Retrospective Analysis Comparing the Accuracy of Cone Beam Gap Measurements to Conventional Stick Measurements for Head and Neck Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Measuring the Sustainable Benefits of Modular and Offsite Construction Delivery Techniques Against Conventional On-Site Construction

It is well known that the use of modular and offsite construction (MOC) techniques for project delivery can yield significant economic, environmental, and social benefits throughout a projectäó»s lifetime. Despite these benefits highlighted by the MOC community, there exists a need to objectively measure the sustainable benefits and to integrate them in a comprehensive framework to compare delivery alternatives. The Sustainable Efficiency (SE) model is presented and used to compare the construction of a 2-storey hotel using two delivery methods: i) a conventional onsite construction (COC); and ii) modular and offsite construction (MOC). Sustainable criteria identified in the model originate from ISOäó»s 21929-2 äóìFramework for sustainability indicator for civil engineering worksäó�. These criteria are used to encompass the entire life-cycle of the project, from production and extraction of materials, through construction, operations and maintenance, to the end-of-life or decommissioning stage. MOC presents a significant amount of benefits throughout the entire life-cycle of the project and the SE model presented highlights and takes these benefits into account. Recognizing these benefits can help build the business case for MOC, going past the prescriptive, lowest initial cost, and onsite construction delivery that is widely used in the Canadian construction industry today. Allowing for both the quantitative and qualitative benefits to be included in an objective and metric-based model can address the challenge of making changes to conventional procurement methods, and will strengthen and promote the use of MOC in the construction industry. It was found that, through the use of MOC, the hotel obtained a positive 16.8% sustainable efficiency score over a conventional stick build method. Significant benefits were a result of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, non-renewable energy use, waste production, and worker health and safety. The single disadvantage determined was the social criteria äóìJob Creationäó� where there was a reduced quantity of worker hours required to complete the project.

200: Cone Beam Versus Stick Method: A Retrospective Analysis Comparing the Accuracy of Cone Beam Gap Measurements to Conventional Stick Measurements for Head and Neck Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

200: Cone Beam Versus Stick Method: A Retrospective Analysis Comparing the Accuracy of Cone Beam Gap Measurements to Conventional Stick Measurements for Head and Neck Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Can the type of walking stick issued effect mobility, confidence or fear of falling?

A previous qualitative pilot study found that using a moulded handle stick (Fischer stick) compared to conventional sticks could improve mobility through increased confidence and reduced fear of falling in the elderly patient. However, this was not statistically significant to refer to the general population. The aim of this study was to provide the missing statistical data concerning increased confidence and reduced fear of falling when issuing sticks to elderly patients with ‘non arthritic hands’. An inferential study of experimental design by randomized control trial, allocating participants (n=47 aged 60–90years mean 80years) into one of two groups – moulded stick or conventional stick. An objective measure ‘Timed Up and Go’ (TUG) detected changes in mobility, with the Likert Scale detecting the changes in confidence and fear of falling over a 6-week evaluation period. The moulded stick group showed a significant increase in mobility, confidence and a marginally reduced fear of falling (P<0.001), compared to the conventional stick group that showed little or no change in all tests. This study infers statistical significance to the findings of the pilot study validating that there are substantial benefits in using a moulded handle stick over a conventional stick for the general elderly population.

Inverted Hockey Stick Method Quantifies Price Uncertainty in Petroleum Investment Evaluation

In this paper, we present a new method for quantifying the uncertainty of economic projections due to uncertainty in future oil prices. Traditionally, the petroleum industry has employed what are known as “hockey stick” price forecasts, i.e., monotonically increasing price profiles, in economic calculations to evaluate investment opportunities. Calculations are often run using most-likely, optimistic, and pessimistic price profiles in an attempt to quantify the uncertainty in the resulting economic indicators. These conventional hockey stick methods significantly underestimate uncertainty because they do not reproduce the volatility inherent in oil prices. Stochastic methods that attempt to model price volatility have been used successfully and indicate that there is considerably more uncertainty in oil and gas development projects than has been previously recognized. However, many operators do not use stochastic methods for modeling oil prices, most likely because they require more time and effort to implement than conventional methods. The Inverted Hockey Stick method presented herein is similar to conventional methods in that only three price realizations are run to quantify uncertainty. However, the high and low cases are designed to better capture the range of possible future price paths. Uncertainty ranges for economic indicators predicted by the new method are comparable to 70–95% probability ranges predicted by the stochastic bootstrap method, significantly greater than the 32–42% ranges predicted by conventional methods. This new method can be easily incorporated into existing economic modeling systems. Recognition of the greater uncertainty in oil and gas investment opportunities, both upside as well as downside, should improve investment decision making.

Evaluation of a moulded handle walking aid for older people with non-arthritic hands

This study aims to assesses whether the use of an ergonomic moulded handle stick can have a holistic effect on the health and lifestyle of an older person with non-arthritic hands. Moulded handles are ergonomically designed for comfort and allow the pressure to be spread evenly across the palm of the hand. The authors also aim to provide evidence for issuing or not issuing a moulded handle stick, rather than a conventional stick, for those therapists who wish to take a patient-centred approach and move away from the traditional practice of prescribing a walking aid solely based on the patient's physical ondition. A convenience sample of six volunteers was used, all conventional stick users of more than 3 months (mean age 81 years). Participants were individually taught how to use their new moulded handle stick. The evaluation period was approximately 2 weeks, after which recorded face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews took place. Analysis from the interview transcripts revealed a core variable of self-efficacy, with significant improvement in confidence and a reduced fear of falling during ambulation. This study provides evidence to suggest there are holistic health benefits, associated with increased self-efficacy during mobility, in issuing moulded handle sticks to older patients with non-arthritic hands. Further research of a quantitative nature is needed to infer statistical significance.

Electromyographic and discomfort analysis of confined-space shipyard welding processes

This study examined muscle fatigue and discomfort in a confined-space welding operation at a shipyard. Surface electromyography (SEMG) was recorded from seven upper extremity and torso muscles of welders welding in a mock-up of the work environment. Following spectral transform of the SEMG data the percentage of the total signal power in the 10–30 Hz frequency band was compared over time during welding. For the conventional stick electrode welding process (SMAW) several muscles exhibited an increase in the percent of the total signal power in the low-frequency band. Fewer muscles exhibited this fatigue-related spectral density shift with a wire welding process (FCAW) the shipyard has considered adopting. This finding suggests that localized muscle fatigue may be reduced by a change to the wire welding process. Subjectively reported discomfort was generally low for both processes, but confirmed the finding that discomfort in the low back and shoulder regions is experienced in this welding operation.

H∞ longitudinal control of crippled trijet aircraft with throttles only

A novel propulsion controlled aircraft (PCA) design technique for airplanes with control surface failures is presented. The H ∞ model-matching methodology is applied to the problem of controlling the crippled aircraft from conventional stick input commands using the engines as the only available actuators. This paper focuses on pitch control of trijet configuration aircraft, and more specifically on the effect of the height of the tail engine above the center of gravity of the airplane. Simulations on “modified” L-1011 models demonstrate the concept.

Operator-Mounted Controllers for Precision Tracking

This study explored the feasibility of using hand-held and leg-mounted controllers for precision tracking tasks. The hand-held device was a thumb-actuated pressure controller; the leg-mounted device was a conventional displacement stick. Two experiments were undertaken. The first was conducted in a static-based facility to explore the effects of control sensitivity and controller type on tracking performance. The second was carried out in a dynamic-motion simulator to examine the effects of buffeting on tracking, and to continue the comparison of controllers. The dynamic environment was that of a light aircraft under various wind gust conditions. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in tracking performance between the two types of controllers or the two sensitivity levels, except when a lag-lead transfer function was introduced. As expected, tracking performance was inversely related to severity of buffeting. It was concluded that either controller could be considered for use in precision tracking tasks from light aircraft subjected to light or moderate wind gust conditions.

Medical Evaluation of Man Working in AC Electric Fields

This paper covers an investigation of the effects of HV 60-Hz ac fields on human beings. Experimental results of the intensity of the electric fields to which linemen are subjected when doing maintenance work on energized HV lines are presented. The protection offered by Faraday screens is discussed. The results of a series of physiological examinations that were carried out on 11 linemen, some of whom used conventional hot stick methods and others worked barehanded from an aerial bucket connected to an energized conductor, are presented. The examinations, which extended over a 42-month period, were conducted by members of the staff of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.