Principle Of Alignment Research Articles

Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults

The value of precise anatomic restoration for distal radius fractures (DRFs) in older adults has been debated for many decades, with conflicting results in the literature. In light of the growing population of adults aged 60 years and older, both fracture incidence and associated treatment costs are expected to increase. To determine the association between radiographic measures of reduction and patient outcomes after DRF in older patients. Data were collected from the Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial (WRIST), a multicenter randomized clinical trial of DRF treatments for adults aged 60 years and older (enrollment from April 10, 2012, to December 31, 2016, with a 2-year follow-up). Data analysis was performed from January 3, 2019, to August 19, 2019. WRIST participants who completed 12-month assessments were included in the study. According to the biomechanical principle of alignment, 2-phase multivariable regression models were adopted to assess the association between radiographic measures of reduction and functional and patient-reported outcomes 12 months following treatment. Participants were randomized to receive volar locking plate, percutaneous pinning, or external fixation. Those who opted for nonoperative treatment received casts. Hand grip strength, wrist arc of motion, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) total score, MHQ function score, and MHQ activities of daily living score were measured at 12 months following treatment. Data from 166 WRIST participants (144 [86.7%] women; mean [SD] age, 70.9 [8.9] years) found that only 2 of the 84 correlation coefficients calculated were statistically significant. For patients aged 70 years or older, every degree increase in radial inclination away from normal (22°) grip strength in the injured hand was 1.1 kg weaker than the uninjured hand (95% CI, 0.38-1.76; P = .004) and each millimeter increase toward normal (0 mm) in ulnar variance was associated with a 10.4-point improvement in MHQ ADL score (95% CI, -16.84 to -3.86; P = .003). However, neither of these radiographic parameters appeared to be associated with MHQ total or function scores. The study results suggest that precise restoration of wrist anatomy is not associated with better patient outcomes for older adults with DRF 12 months following treatment. Surgeons can consider this evidence to improve quality of care by prioritizing patient preferences and efficient use of resources over achieving exact realignment. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01589692.

Curriculum design and practice of Genetics blended course under the principle of constructive alignment

Genetics is a branch of biology that studies the laws of inheritance and variation from the level of genes (genomes). Genetics teaching should be compatible with the evolving genetic disciplines and social needs. In view of the continuous development of the genetics knowledge system and the requirements for the training of biological students, our teaching team carried out the curriculum design and implementation of genetics blended course under the principle of constructive alignment. The reform actions include: (1) constructing genetics online resources with genetic analysis as the main line; (2) optimizing the learning objectives according to bloom's educational goals classification; (3) designing learning activities and learning assessments under the principle of constructive alignment; (4) enrich the forms of learning activities, highlighting learning-centered course design and learner interaction, promoting active learning, and improving learning outcomes. The results of the questionnaire survey and exam result analysis suggest that the blended course reform has achieved initial results. The course is fully affirmed by the students and helps to improve learning outcomes, which is worthy of further consolidation and promotion. This paper generally introduces the curriculum design and preliminary practice of genetics blended course, providing new insights and approaches for the continued development of genetics teaching in the new era.

A self-adaptive alignment strategy for large components based on dynamic compliance center

PurposeAiming at the problems of geometric precision misalignment and unconsidered physical constraints between large components during the measurement-assisted assembly, a self-adaptive alignment strategy based on the dynamic compliance center (DCC) is proposed in this paper, using force information to guide alignment compliantly.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the self-adaptive alignment process of large components is described, and its geometrical and mechanical characteristics are analyzed based on six-dimensional force/torque (F/T). The setting method of DCC is studied and the areas of DCC are given. Second, the self-adaptive alignment platform of large components driven by the measured six-dimensional F/T is constructed. Based on this platform, the key supporting technologies, including principle of self-adaptive alignment, coordinate transfer, calculation of six-dimensional F/T and alignment process control, are illustrated.FindingsUsing the presented strategy, the position and orientation of large component is adjusted adaptively responding to measured six-dimensional F/T and the changes of contact states are consistent with the strategy. Through the setting of DCC, alignment process runs smoothly without jamming.Practical implicationsThis strategy is applied to the alignment experiment of large components muff coupling. The experimental results show that the proposed alignment strategy is correct and effective and meets the real-time requirement.Originality/valueThis paper proposed a novel way to apply force information in large component self-adaptive alignment, and the setting method of DCC was presented to make the alignment process more feasible.

Definition and design: aligning language interventions in education

The management of language diversity and the mastery of language required by educational institutions affect those institutions from early education through to higher education. This paper will deal with three dimensions of how language is managed and developed in education. The first is the design of interventions for educational environments at policy level, as well as for instruction and for language development. The second dimension concerns defining the kind of competence needed to handle the language demands of an academic institution. The interventions can be productive if reference is made throughout to the conditions or design principles that language policies and language courses must meet. The third dimension concerns meeting an important requirement: the alignment of the interventions of language policy, language assessment and language development (and the language instruction that supports the latter). The paper will use a widely used definition of academic literacy to illustrate how this supports the design of language assessments and language courses. It is an additional critical condition for effective intervention design that assessments and language instruction (and development) work together in harmony. Misalignment among them is likely to affect the original intention of the designs negatively. Similarly, if those interventions are not supported by institutional policies, the plan will have little effect. The principle of alignment is an important, but not the only design condition. The paper will therefore conclude with an overview of a comprehensive framework of design principles for language artefacts that may serve to enhance their responsible design.

Alignment and Balance Methods in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic surgical procedures in the United States. Primary concepts in the surgical technique include restoring limb alignment and soft-tissue balance about the knee. Currently, traditional mechanical alignment concepts that focus on restoring neutral limb alignment have been challenged by the principle of kinematic alignment. In addition to these recent philosophical challenges, new technologies have been introduced to help the surgeon more accurately achieve optimal limb alignment and soft-tissue balance.

Individualized alignment in total knee arthroplasty using image-based robotic assistance : Video article.

IntroductionOver the past decades many innovations were introduced in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) focusing on implant longevity and higher procedural precision; however, there are still a high number of dissatisfied patients. It was reported that better anatomical alignment may result in improved patient outcome; however, current technologies have limitations to achieve this. The aim of this video article is to describe the technique of individualized alignment in TKA with the use of image-based robotic assistance.MethodsThe technology is based on an individual patient knee model computed from segmented computed tomography (CT) scans. A preoperative planning of prosthesis position is conducted following the principle of kinematic alignment. Intraoperatively the soft tissue envelope is recorded and the computer predicts the gap balance based on the virtual planning. The prosthesis position is then adapted to achieve balanced gaps and to avoid soft tissue release. This technique is shown in a cadaver operation and clinical examples of two patients are described.ResultsWith the combination of anatomically oriented prosthesis positioning and minor adaptations with respect to the soft tissue, an individualized alignment is achieved with reduced need of soft tissue release. The robotic-assisted surgery guarantees a precise implementation of the planning. The initial experience showed a promising outcome in short-term follow-up.Video onlineThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00132-018-3637-1) contains a video on patient individualized alignment in total knee arthroplasty. The article and video are available in the electronic full text archive at SpringerMedizin.de under http://www.springermedizin.de/der-orthopaede. The video can be found at the end of the article as supplementary material.

Caching UAV Assisted Secure Transmission in Hyper-Dense Networks Based on Interference Alignment

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can help small-cell base stations (SBSs) offload traffic via wireless backhaul to improve coverage and increase rate. However, the capacity of backhaul is limited. In this paper, UAV assisted secure transmission for scalable videos in hyper-dense networks via caching is studied. In the proposed scheme, UAVs can act as SBSs to provide videos to mobile users in some small cells. To reduce the pressure of wireless backhaul, UAVs and SBSs are both equipped with caches to store videos at off-peak time. To facilitate UAVs, a single antenna is equipped at each UAV and thus, only the precoding matrices of SBSs should be cooperatively designed to manage interference by exploiting the principle of interference alignment. On the other hand, the SBSs replaced by UAVs will be idle. Thus, in order to guarantee secure transmission, the idle SBSs can be further exploited to generate jamming signal to disrupt eavesdropping. The jamming signal is zero-forced at the legitimate users through the precoding of the idle SBSs, without affecting the legitimate transmission. The feasibility conditions of the proposed scheme are derived, and the secrecy performance is analyzed. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Optimization or Alignment: Secure Primary Transmission Assisted by Secondary Networks

Security is a challenging issue for cognitive radio (CR) to be used in future 5G mobile systems. Conventionally, interference will degrade the performance of a primary user (PU) when the spectrum is shared with secondary users (SUs). However, when properly designed, SUs can serve as friendly jammers to guarantee the secure transmission of PU. Thus, in this paper, we propose two schemes to improve the sum rate of SUs while guaranteeing the secrecy rate of PU. In the first scheme, the secondary transceivers are jointly designed to maximize their sum rate while satisfying a threshold on the PU’s secrecy rate. Due to the non-convex nature, it is first converted into a convex one and then, an alternating optimization algorithm based on the second-order cone programming is proposed to solve it. In the second scheme, the principle of interference alignment is employed to eliminate interference from PU and other SUs at each secondary receiver, and the interference from SUs is zero-forced at the primary receiver. Thus, interference-free transmission can be performed by the legitimate CR network, with eavesdropping towards PU disrupted by SUs. The key features and performances of the two proposed schemes are also compared. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the two proposed schemes for secure CR networks.

Visual Maps Development: Reconsidering the Role of Retinal Efnas and Basic Principle of Map Alignment.

Visual Maps Development: Reconsidering the Role of Retinal Efnas and Basic Principle of Map Alignment.

Laser Scanning Confocal Image Alignment Assists Sub-micron Accuracy Micro-assembly

The image resolution of the ordinary optical microscope in the assembly system can’t break through the optical diffraction limit, and the accuracy of alignment detection can’t reach the sub-micron level. So we build the micro assembly system based on the principle of confocal image alignment to solve the above problems. In this paper, the basic principle and system of confocal image alignment assembly are studied, and the levelling calibration method of the platform is also studied. After the calibration, the alignment resolution of the micro assembly system based on the principle of confocal image alignment can reach 0.5μm.The confocal image alignment principle is verified by the assembly application experiment of inserting a 125-μm-diameter optical fiber into a 127-μm-diameterglass micro tubule. The confocal image alignment principle and the calibration method can greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the micro assembly.

The Design of Curriculum, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education with Constructive Alignment

In higher education, the principle of constructive alignment for devising teaching, learning activities and assessment tasks is the underpinning concept in curriculum design and development to achieve intended learning outcomes. Student’s deep learning is critical and it is the responsibility of the curriculum developer to make sure that synergy between formative and summative assessment is achieved. Also, the needs for special education must be addressed and diversity must be achieved through multiple channels throughout the process of learning, teaching and assessment. Constructive alignment is considered as a key element in education design. However, this requires time and effort in designing teaching and assessment. Due to the importance of constructive alignment, the research in this paper discusses issues relevant to the process of curriculum design and development with the emphasis on students with special needs. Conclusion is drawn based on the literature review.

DFM: A Distributed Flocking Model for UAV Swarm Networks

Flocking of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) network refers to utilize the node’s autonomous mobility to satisfy the principle of cohesion, separation, and alignment. A network with flocking ensures the connectivity between high-speed UAV nodes and simplifies the design of various swarm applications. In this paper, we propose a novel distributed flocking model for UAV swarm networks. The model follows the Boid principle and establishes the master–slave transmission mode among the nodes. The slave node performs the distributed autonomous regulation. An effective flocking method is proposed, which is based on the positioning and communication capabilities of Wi-Fi. The slave node can sense and adjust their distance and direction from the master node. The simulation and experimental results show that our model can guarantee the connectivity between all nodes and has $1.4\times $ the network goodput gain outperforms the traditional flying ad hoc network.

Constructive Alignment as a Means to Establish Information Literacy in the Curriculum

Constructive alignment is the pedagogical principal which connects learning goals and learning activities with assessment. Learning goals should inform the student about what they’ll know once they finish the course. Learning activities is what the student needs to do to fulfill the goals. The assessment measures to what degree the student reaches the learning goals. The principal of constructive alignment permeates Swedish higher education. Regulatory documents at both national and local level talk about the importance of having a logical connection between the three parts that make out the principle of constructive alignment. But can we use Constructive Alignment as a means to establish courses in information literacy? I think we can if we align the structure of IL-courses with existing syllabus and formalize this connection.

Komunikator ustny jako performer właściwie ułożony i właściwie licencjonowany w przestrzeni publicznej

The present essay expresses the view that a human communicating agentwho performs orally in the public space must be properly communicatively aligned and properly licensed in order to achieve communicative success. Communicative alignment and communicative licensing are manifestations of the principle of communicative alignment and the principle of communicative licensing, respectively. The two principles are assumed to act synergistically in both successful and unsuccessful communicative practices.

Research on initial alignment and self-calibration of rotary strapdown inertial navigation systems.

The errors of inertial sensors affect the navigation accuracy of the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) and are accumulated over time in nature. In order to continuously maintain the high navigation accuracy of vehicles for a long time period, an initial alignment and self-calibration is necessary after the SINS starts. Additionally, the observability analysis is one of the key techniques during the initial alignment and self-calibration process. For marine systems, the observability of inertial sensor errors is extremely low, as their motion states are always slow. Therefore, studying the rotating SINS is urgent. Since traditional analysis methods have their limitations, the global observation analysis method was used in this paper. On the basis of this method, the relationship between the observability and the kinestate of the rotating SINS has been established. After the discussion about the factors that affect the observability in detail, the design principle of the initial alignment and self-calibration rotating scheme, which is appropriate for marine systems, id proposed. With the proposed principle, a novel initial alignment and self-calibration method, named the eight-position rotating scheme, is designed. Simulations and experiments are carried out to verify its performance. The results have shown that compared with other rotating schemes and the static state, the estimated accuracy of the eight-position scheme rotating about axes x and y was the best, and the position error was significantly reduced with this new rotating scheme. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed design principle and the rotating scheme were verified.

ENTERPRISE FACTORS AS AMBIDEXTERITY ANTECEDENTS: CONTINGENCY MODEL FOR AMBIDEXTROUS ORGANIZATIONS

Ambidexterity broadly refers to an organization’s ability to pursue two disparat e things at the same time. Ambidextrous firms are capable of exploiting existing competencies as well as exploring new opportunities with equal dexterity. If a firm wants to gain these advantages and want to be ambidextrous; some organizational antecedents should support this strategy. Most researches focused on generally the inherent tension of ambidexterity elements or specifically an organizational factor as the antecedent. While according to the principle of strategic alignment, organizational performan ce is the consequence of fit between two or more factors such as strategy, structure, culture and environment. Therefore antecedents of organizational ambidexterity are investigated and organizational strategy, structures and culture are described as critical promoters of ambidexterity. Moving towards ambidextrous organization requires capable organizations of repeated change management at times of industry transitions that is expected not to be achieved without considering effective interplay of change in these three factors and their paradoxical behaviors. This research addresses these gaps and presents a management model that seeks the balance of exploitative and explorative features of organizational strategy, structure and culture which is affected by environment. Our review resulted in the development of a management model that can be applied to describe, analyze, diagnose and promote ambidextrous organizations suggests that sustainable success can be achieved only if the organizations continuously balance paradoxical tensions of strategy, structure and culture concurrently.

A Vondrak low pass filter for IMU sensor initial alignment on a disturbed base.

The initial alignment of the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is an important process of INS to determine the coordinate transformation matrix which is used in the integration of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). In this paper a novel alignment method for a disturbed base, such as a vehicle disturbed by wind outdoors, implemented with the aid of a Vondrak low pass filter, is proposed. The basic principle of initial alignment including coarse alignment and fine alignment is introduced first. The spectral analysis is processed to compare the differences between the characteristic error of INS force observation on a stationary base and on disturbed bases. In order to reduce the high frequency noise in the force observation more accurately and more easily, a Vondrak low pass filter is constructed based on the spectral analysis result. The genetic algorithms method is introduced to choose the smoothing factor in the Vondrak filter and the corresponding objective condition is built. The architecture of the proposed alignment method with the Vondrak low pass filter is shown. Furthermore, simulated experiments and actual experiments were performed to validate the new algorithm. The results indicate that, compared with the conventional alignment method, the Vondrak filter could eliminate the high frequency noise in the force observation and the proposed alignment method could improve the attitude accuracy. At the same time, only one parameter needs to be set, which makes the proposed method easier to implement than other low-pass filter methods.

Micro-assembly precise coaxial alignment methodology based on surface roughness and reflectiveness matching

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel method of coaxial optical precision alignment based on surface roughness and reflectiveness matching. Design/methodology/approach – The micro-assembly experiment system set-up was constructed according to the principle of the coaxial optical alignment. The coaxial optical alignment error is theoretically analyzed and calculated. When the prism orthogonal alignment mechanism produces the error of 0.001°, the theoretical deviation was less than 0.87 μm and the actual experimental micro-assembly platform assembly accuracy exceeded 3 μm. A peg-in-hole precise assembly of punching pin micro-assembly experiment was done in order to validate feasibility of this method. Findings – The results indicate that coaxial optical precision alignment could be used for the assembly of complex micro-heterogeneous system which is integrated by similar devices, such as 3D complex micro-structures, silicon micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices and non-silicon MEMS devices with flat structure. Originality/value – The paper provides certain methodological guidelines for MEMS for high precision automatic assembly of complex 3D micro-structures.

The Art of Doing Almost Nothing: How a Core Taijiquan Principle Can Help Us to Understand Turning Points in Therapeutic Processes

Health care professionals usually strive to reach turning points in therapeutic processes in order to help patients manage a problem or difficult situation. The professional aligns with the patient's needs through what can be described as "the art of doing almost nothing": listening, noticing, thinking, waiting, witnessing, and preventing harm. This process is similar to the Taijiquan principle of alignment illustrated in the yin-yang symbol taijitu. For both therapeutic process and Taijiquan, mastery is characterized through the phenomenon that the closer one gets to the turning point, the less visible are the practitioner's efforts in terms of observable action.

Reflecting on reflection: increasing health and social care students’ engagement and enthusiasm for reflection

As continuing professional development is now mandatory in the UK for health and social care professionals, teaching reflection skills is commonplace in many higher education institutions. However, getting health and social care students to engage with activities developing their reflection skills has been problematic at one Scottish university. This paper describes action research carried out to improve first-year university students’ enthusiasm and engagement with reflection on an inter-professional module. Teaching and learning activities were based on the principle of constructive alignment. Students were given an interactive lecture and two tutorials; each successive tutorial consolidated knowledge and skills gained from the previous learning activity. Responses from a small percentage of students to an online questionnaire indicate students saw the reflection activities as advantageous, however, a majority felt both tutorial activities did not improve their confidence, with peer feedback having less impact than tutor feedback. Further iterations of the action research cycle will be undertaken to improve students’ engagement.