Slow Pitch Research Articles

Developing Comprehensive Competences of College Students through Sports: The Role of Slow Pitch Softball Training

The cultivation of comprehensive competencies is crucial to college students’ development. It is a primary goal of higher education and a need for social development. Currently, issues such as unhealthy mental tendencies, insufficient social skills, and weak social adaptability exist among some Chinese college students. Against the backdrop of promoting college students’ holistic development through physical education, this study analyzed the roles of slow pitch softball in boosting college students’ key competencies based on the features of this sport and proposed suggestions for optimizing slow pitch softball training in college physical education.

An Analysis of Sports Management by District Sports Office, Jalgaon with Reference to Softball Tournament

Sport management refers to the management of various business functions in sports and recreation organizations. Depending on their specific job title, sport management professionals might plan, direct, organize or budget within a sports-related organization. Sports should be a major part of the school curriculum because if students stay emotionally and physically healthy, they can easily focus on their studies. Softball is a modified form of baseball, played on a smaller field with a larger, softer ball, seven rather than nine innings, and with underarm pitching. There are two main types of softball: fast pitch and slow pitch. Softball differs from baseball in that the pitchers throw underhand (with hand below shoulder level). Objectives of the study are: - To study Overall system of District Sport office, Jalgaon, To study the role of sports in life and its importance and To study information about soft ball tournament. Researcher observe the eligibility criteria for enrolling and also procedure of enrolment. There is general procedure of tournament which have some limitations. Some changes are required in selection method of team members. The case study analysis of the Sports Management by the District Sports Office in Jalgaon with reference to the Softball tournament exemplifies effective planning, execution, resource management, stakeholder engagement, promotion, and continuous improvement. These factors played a pivotal role in the successful organization and execution of the tournament, showcasing the District Sports Office's competency in sports management. • A player can participate in any one age group in one sport. School competition will be organized in under 11, 14, 17, 19 age groups. If the match is tied during the tournament, then as per the rules of the single District/State Association of that sport the result will be given. • Taluka level competition, venue will be decided by Taluka Sports Committee. In school sports competition, travel, accommodation, food expenses and state level travel expenses from taluka level to division level are to be borne by the concerned institution/school/college. Accommodation and food arrangements for state level competition will be intimated to you by letter of players in the prescribed sample of Sports Authority of India before proceeding to the Divisional / State level competition

Robust missile autopilot design based on dynamic surface control

Since the dynamical system and control system of the missile are typically nonlinear, an effective acceleration tracking autopilot is designed using the dynamic surface control (DSC) technique in order to make the missile control system more robust despite the uncertainty of the dynamical parameters and the presence of disturbances. Firstly, the nonlinear mathematical model of the tail-controlled missile is decomposed into slow acceleration dynamics and fast pitch rate dynamics based on the naturally existing time scale separation. Secondly, the controller based on DSC is designed after obtaining the linear dynamics characteristics of the slow and fast subsystems. An extended state observer is used to detect the uncertainty of the system state variables and aerodynamic parameters to achieve the compensation of the control law. The closed-loop stability of the controller is derived and rigorously analyzed. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the design is verified by Monte Carlo simulation considering different initial conditions and parameter uptake. Simulation results illustrate that the missile autopilot based DSC controller achieves better performance and robustness than the other two well-known autopilots. The method proposed in this paper is applied to the design of a missile autopilot, and the results show that the acceleration tracking autopilot based on the DSC controller can ensure accurate tracking of the required commands and has better performance.

Frameless neuronavigation with computer vision and real-time tracking for bedside external ventricular drain placement: a cadaveric study.

A major obstacle to improving bedside neurosurgical procedure safety and accuracy with image guidance technologies is the lack of a rapidly deployable, real-time registration and tracking system for a moving patient. This deficiency explains the persistence of freehand placement of external ventricular drains, which has an inherent risk of inaccurate positioning, multiple passes, tract hemorrhage, and injury to adjacent brain parenchyma. Here, the authors introduce and validate a novel image registration and real-time tracking system for frameless stereotactic neuronavigation and catheter placement in the nonimmobilized patient. Computer vision technology was used to develop an algorithm that performed near-continuous, automatic, and marker-less image registration. The program fuses a subject's preprocedure CT scans to live 3D camera images (Snap-Surface), and patient movement is incorporated by artificial intelligence-driven recalibration (Real-Track). The surface registration error (SRE) and target registration error (TRE) were calculated for 5 cadaveric heads that underwent serial movements (fast and slow velocity roll, pitch, and yaw motions) and several test conditions, such as surgical draping with limited anatomical exposure and differential subject lighting. Six catheters were placed in each cadaveric head (30 total placements) with a simulated sterile technique. Postprocedure CT scans allowed comparison of planned and actual catheter positions for user error calculation. Registration was successful for all 5 cadaveric specimens, with an overall mean (± standard deviation) SRE of 0.429 ± 0.108 mm for the catheter placements. Accuracy of TRE was maintained under 1.2 mm throughout specimen movements of low and high velocities of roll, pitch, and yaw, with the slowest recalibration time of 0.23 seconds. There were no statistically significant differences in SRE when the specimens were draped or fully undraped (p = 0.336). Performing registration in a bright versus a dimly lit environment had no statistically significant effect on SRE (p = 0.742 and 0.859, respectively). For the catheter placements, mean TRE was 0.862 ± 0.322 mm and mean user error (difference between target and actual catheter tip) was 1.674 ± 1.195 mm. This computer vision-based registration system provided real-time tracking of cadaveric heads with a recalibration time of less than one-quarter of a second with submillimetric accuracy and enabled catheter placements with millimetric accuracy. Using this approach to guide bedside ventriculostomy could reduce complications, improve safety, and be extrapolated to other frameless stereotactic applications in awake, nonimmobilized patients.

Cascaded adaptive integral backstepping sliding mode and super-twisting controller for twin rotor system using bond graph model

This work presents a bond graph (BG) model and a robust cascaded controller for a twin-rotor system (TRS). The BG model accounts for all the energetic and dynamical couplings. An adaptive integral backstepping sliding mode (AIBSM) controller is used in the outer loop to control the slow yaw and pitch dynamics of the mechanical sub-system whereas a higher-order sliding mode (HOSM) observer-based super-twisting algorithm (STA) controller is used in the inner loop to control the fast electromechanical actuator dynamics. The gain of the discontinuous control term of the integral backstepping sliding mode (IBSM) controller is adjusted by using an adaptive switching gain law, where the adaptive gain decreases or increases as the system state variables move closer to or away from a sliding surface; thereby reducing chatter and discontinuities near the sliding manifold, and ensuring a nearly smooth reference signal to the inner-loop controller. The unavailable states are estimated by using an unscented Kalman filter. All the used controllers are shown to be Lyapunov stable. The performance of the developed controller is validated through simulation and experiment, and it is further compared with other existing robust controllers. The proposed controller is robust against un-modeled dynamics and external disturbances, and it performs better, in terms of trajectory tracking error and disturbance rejection, than presently existing controllers for the TRS.

181 Frameless Neuronavigation With Computer Vision and Real Time Tracking for Bedside External Ventricular Drain Placement: A Cadaveric Study

INTRODUCTION: A major obstacle to improving ventriculostomy safety and accuracy with image guidance technologies is the lack of a rapidly deployable, real-time registration and tracking system for a moving patient. METHODS: Computer vision technology was used to develop an algorithm for near continuous, automatic, and marker-less image registration. The program fuses a subject’s pre-procedure CT scan to live 3D camera images (Snap-Surface), and movement is incorporated by artificial intelligence driven recalibration (Real-Track). Surface registration error (SRE) and target registration error (TRE) were calculated for five cadaver heads that underwent serial movements (fast and slow velocity roll, pitch, and yaw motions), and several test conditions. Six catheters were placed in each cadaver (30 placements). Post-procedure CT scans allowed comparison of planned and actual catheter position for user error calculation. RESULTS: Registration was successful for all five cadaveric specimens (average SRE 0.429 mm, ±0.108). Accuracy of TRE was under 1.2mm throughout specimen movements of low and high velocities of roll, pitch, and yaw movements, with the slowest recalibration time of 0.23 seconds. There were no statistically significant differences in SRE when the specimens were draped or fully undraped (p-value = 0.336). Addition of bright light or performance under dim light did not significantly affect SRE (p-value = 0.742 and 0.859, respectively). Average TRE for catheter placements was 0.862 mm (±0.322), and average user error for the was 1.674 mm (±1.195). CONCLUSION: This computer vision-based registration system provides real-time tracking of cadaveric heads with recalibration time of less than one-quarter of a second with sub-millimetric accuracy, and enabled catheter placements with millimetric accuracy. Using this approach to guide bedside ventriculostomy could reduce complications, improve safety, and could be extrapolated to other frameless stereotactic applications in awake, non-immobilized patients.

Elderspeak to Resident Dementia Patients Increases Resistiveness to Care in Health Care Profession.

Resistiveness to care is very common among patients of dementia as these patients do not take medicines, meals or bath very easily. Indeed, it is a very challenging task for health caregivers and there is a significant rise in time and cost involved in managing dementia patients. Amongst different factors, the type of communication between resident dementia patients and health caregivers is an important contributing factor in the development of resistiveness to care. Elderspeak (baby talk) is a type of communication in which health caregivers adjust their language and style while interacting with elderly and dependent patients. It involves the use of short sentences, simple grammar, slow and high pitch voice, repeating phrases to provide a comfortable and friendly environment to patients. Most of the time, caregivers tend to adapt elderspeak as they handle weak and fragile older patients for routine activities. Although elderspeak is meant to provide support, warmth and care to patients, yet patients perceive elderspeak as patronizing and it induces negative feelings about self-esteem. Scientists have found a correlation between the development of resistiveness to care and the extent of elderspeak in communication. Therefore, there have been strategies to develop alternative communication strategies by avoiding the use of elderspeak. Moreover, the beneficial effects of such communications have been documented as it improves the quality of life, reduces aggression, agitation and psychosocial symptoms. The present review discusses the scientific studies discussing the use of elderspeak in communication and development of resistiveness to care in resident patients of dementia.

Stability Analysis of a Single-Input/Two-Output, Variable Loop Transmission System for Wind Turbine Control

Large wind turbine control performance is restricted due to a host of intrinsic feedback limitations including low frequency structural modes and slow blade pitch rate. A variable loop transmission system applied to a multiple output controller smoothly transitions the limited feedback available between channels in realtime to enhance performance. This work is focused on the stability analysis of a variable loop transmission system applied to a 1.5 MW wind turbine. Simulation results illustrate interesting challenges to compensator design in the form of more sophisticated loop shaping required to satisfy conditions of absolute stability.

Do Visual and Vestibular Inputs Compensate for Somatosensory Loss in the Perception of Spatial Orientation? Insights from a Deafferented Patient.

The present study aimed at investigating the consequences of a massive loss of somatosensory inputs on the perception of spatial orientation. The occurrence of possible compensatory processes for external (i.e., object) orientation perception and self-orientation perception was examined by manipulating visual and/or vestibular cues. To that aim, we compared perceptual responses of a deafferented patient (GL) with respect to age-matched Controls in two tasks involving gravity-related judgments. In the first task, subjects had to align a visual rod with the gravitational vertical (i.e., Subjective Visual Vertical: SVV) when facing a tilted visual frame in a classic Rod-and-Frame Test. In the second task, subjects had to report whether they felt tilted when facing different visuo-postural conditions which consisted in very slow pitch tilts of the body and/or visual surroundings away from vertical. Results showed that, much more than Controls, the deafferented patient was fully dependent on spatial cues issued from the visual frame when judging the SVV. On the other hand, the deafferented patient did not rely at all on visual cues for self-tilt detection. Moreover, the patient never reported any sensation of tilt up to 18° contrary to Controls, hence showing that she did not rely on vestibular (i.e., otoliths) signals for the detection of very slow body tilts either. Overall, this study demonstrates that a massive somatosensory deficit substantially impairs the perception of spatial orientation, and that the use of the remaining sensory inputs available to a deafferented patient differs regarding whether the judgment concerns external vs. self-orientation.

Supramolecular Nanocomposites: Dual‐Functional Cholesteric Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Esters Chemically Linked to Gold Nanoparticles

AbstractFunctionalization of metal nanoparticles with liquid crystal polymers (LCP) is attractive for the formation of supramolecular structures with unique physical properties. We discovered that the chemical linkage of a liquid crystalline thiolated cellulose ester (HPC‐MTP_80) to gold nanoparticles (AuNP) leads, by control of the supramolecular structure, to a novel concept for functional materials with practical applications. At a critical concentration ratio of only 1.7 mol % HPC‐MTP_80, on average, only single HPC‐MTP_80 functionalized AuNP exist, forming a LC phase. Pure HPC‐MTP_80 forms a cholesteric phase with a pitch in the range of visible light. The slow pitch formation enables usage as a protective sealing material. This property in combination with the temperature dependence of the pitch makes HPC‐MTP_80 a perfect sensor for temperature monitoring of sensitive products like valuable pharmaceutics. Even the presence of very small amounts of functionalized AuNP in the nanocomposite suppress the pitch formation in the range of visible light, providing access for a possible application as a sensitive AuNP detector.

How do visual and postural cues combine for self-tilt perception during slow pitch rotations?

Self-orientation perception relies on the integration of multiple sensory inputs which convey spatially-related visual and postural cues. In the present study, an experimental set-up was used to tilt the body and/or the visual scene to investigate how these postural and visual cues are integrated for self-tilt perception (the subjective sensation of being tilted). Participants were required to repeatedly rate a confidence level for self-tilt perception during slow (0.05°·s−1) body and/or visual scene pitch tilts up to 19° relative to vertical. Concurrently, subjects also had to perform arm reaching movements toward a body-fixed target at certain specific angles of tilt. While performance of a concurrent motor task did not influence the main perceptual task, self-tilt detection did vary according to the visuo-postural stimuli. Slow forward or backward tilts of the visual scene alone did not induce a marked sensation of self-tilt contrary to actual body tilt. However, combined body and visual scene tilt influenced self-tilt perception more strongly, although this effect was dependent on the direction of visual scene tilt: only a forward visual scene tilt combined with a forward body tilt facilitated self-tilt detection. In such a case, visual scene tilt did not seem to induce vection but rather may have produced a deviation of the perceived orientation of the longitudinal body axis in the forward direction, which may have lowered the self-tilt detection threshold during actual forward body tilt.

Impulse noise: can hitting a softball harm your hearing?

The purpose of this study is to identify whether or not different materials of softball bats (wooden, aluminum, and composite) are a potential risk harm to hearing when batting players strike a 12′′ core .40 softball during slow, underhand pitch typical of recreational games. Peak sound pressure level measurements and spectral analyses were conducted for three controlled softball pitches to a batting participant using each of the different bat materials in an unused outdoor playing field with regulation distances between the pitcher's mound and batter's box. The results revealed that highest recorded peak sound pressure level was recorded from the aluminum (124.6 dBC) bat followed by the composite (121.2 dBC) and wooden (120.0 dBC) bats. Spectral analysis revealed composite and wooden bats with similar broadly distributed amplitude-frequency response. The aluminum bat also produced a broadly distributed amplitude-frequency response, but there were also two very distinct peaks at around 1700 Hz and 2260 Hz above the noise floor that produced its ringing (or ping) sound after being struck. Impulse (transient) sounds less than 140 dBC may permit multiple exposures, and softball bats used in a recreational slow pitch may pose little to no risk to hearing.

Observational study of the cooling behavior of interstellar helium pickup ions in the inner heliosphere

AbstractThe velocity distribution of interstellar pickup ions (PUIs) has typically been described as evolving through fast pitch angle scattering followed by adiabatic cooling while being transported radially outward with the solar wind. In combination, the ionization rate, which controls the radial profile of the interstellar neutrals, and the cooling process determine the slope of the observed PUI distributions. Thus far, a cooling index of 3/2 for the PUI velocity distributions has been used in almost all studies. This value is based on the implicit assumptions of immediate PUI isotropization due to pitch angle scattering and solar wind expansion with the square of the distance from the Sun. Here we determine the observed cooling index in a comparison of He+ PUI distributions taken for 1 month in the upwind direction with ACE SWICS from 1999 through 2010 over the past solar cycle with such an isotropic PUI model, treating the cooling index as a free parameter. The ionization rate is obtained simultaneously from independent observations. To separate effects of slow pitch angle scattering of PUIs, the comparison is repeated for times restricted to perpendicular interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). When averaged over the entire data set, the cooling index is very close to 3/2. However, it varies substantially from 1.1 to 1.9 between samples, shows a distinct variation with solar activity, and has a significant correlation with sunspot number when data are restricted to nearly perpendicular IMF () excluding the slow pitch angle scattering in the radial IMF direction. The potential influence of slow pitch angle scattering, solar wind structures, and electron ionization on the cooling index and its variations is discussed.

Computational Investigation into the Use of Response Functions for Aerodynamic-Load Modeling

The generation of reduced-order models (ROM) for the evaluation of unsteady and nonlinear aerodynamic loads are investigated. The ROM considered is an indicial theory based on the convolution of step functions with the derivative of the input signal. The step functions are directly calculated using the results of RANS simulations and a grid movement tool. Results are reported for a two dimensional airfoil and a UCAV configuration. Wind tunnel data are first used to validate the prediction of static and unsteady coefficients at both low and high angles of attack, with good agreement obtained for all cases. The generation of the aerodynamic models is described. The focus of the paper shifts to assess the validity of studied ROMs with respect to new maneuvres. This is accomplished by comparison of the model output with time-accurate CFD simulations. The results show that the ROMs can accurately model the unsteady loads in response to slow and fast pitch and plunge motions.

SU‐E‐T‐289: Optimal Slow Scan Technique on a Single Slice CT Scanner

Purpose: Adoption of slow scan CT (SSCT) for contouring targets affected by respiratory motion artifacts is an accepted practice. The goal of this study was to propose a CT technique which would yield a target shape that would most closely reproduce that of the ideal excursion volume traced by a moving target sphere. Methods: A single‐slice, large‐bore Marconi scanner was used to acquire axial and spiral scans of a moving plastic sphere. 1 cm movement in the superior‐inferior and anterior‐posterior directions was considered separately to isolate directional issues. Scan techniques such as 1 sec fast scan, 4 sec slow scan, over‐scanning and pitch variations were used to produce target volumes of different shapes due to the interplay between the movement of the target and the x‐ray tube. Shapes were compared to the true excursion volume by scoring them with the Paddick conformity index (CI) as well as by visual inspection. Results: For anterioposterior movement, the average CI was 0.777 (STDEV=0.05) and the largest CI occurred for the axial slow scan, yet visual interpretation showed best agreement with Axial SSCT with overscan. For inferior‐superior movement, the average CI was 0.83 (STDEV=0.05) and the largest CI of 0.872, occurred for the spiral scan with pitch 0.5, which did agree with visual inspection. Conclusions: Optimal scanning technique, depended on the direction of movement and the interpretation method. Furthermore, it required either a pitch of 0.5 or an axial overscan technique in order to reduce respiratory motion induced target artifacts.

Feedforward Pitch Control Using Wind Speed Estimation

The dynamic response of a multi-MW wind turbine to a sudden change in wind speed is usually slow, because of the slow pitch control system. This could cause a large excursion of the rotor speed and an output power over the rated. A feedforward pitch control can be applied to minimize the fluctuations of these parameters. This paper introduces the complete design steps for a feedforward pitch controller, which consist of three stages, i.e. the aerodynamic torque estimation, the 3-dimensional lookup table for the wind seed estimation, and the calculation of the feedforward pitch amount. The effectiveness of the feedforward control is verified through numerical simulations of a multi-MW wind turbine.

A low cost hyperspectral mission

This paper describes a low cost hyper-spectral mission based around the compact high resolution imaging spectrometer (CHRIS) and the PROBA platform. The PROBA platform is a small agile satellite, which was launched in October 2001. The main purpose of the CHRIS instrument is to provide images of land areas. Of particular interest is the measurement of the bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) properties for selected targets on the Earth surface using multi-angle observations. The platform provides pointing in both across-track and along-track directions, for target acquisition, BRDF and aerosol measurements. The platform also provides slow pitch during imaging in order to increase the integration time of the instrument. This increase in integration time enhances the target radiometric resolution. The spectral range covered by the instrument extends from 400 nm to 1050 nm . The spatial sampling interval at apogee is approximately 17 m with a swath width of approximately 13 km . In this mode it is possible to readout 19 spectral bands. The location and width of the spectral bands are programmable. Selectable on-chip integration can increase the number of bands to 63 for a spatial sampling interval of 34 m .

Perception of slow pitch and roll body tilts in bilateral labyrinthine-defective subjects

The aim of the present study was to examine whether the perception of slow body tilts in total darkness was affected by a complete loss of vestibular function. Four blindfolded bilateral labyrinthine-defective subjects (LDs) and 12 normal subjects (Normals) were seated and immobilized with large straps against the back of a rotating L-shaped platform, and were passively displaced from the upright at 0.05°·s −1 in the pitch and roll dimensions. Subjects were asked to detect the slow change in their body orientation, by indicating as soon as possible the direction of tilt. After a brief period of practice observed for all LDs at the beginning of the session, results showed no significant difference between LDs and Normals in the mean detection threshold recorded for each direction of tilt. The mean perceptual threshold was 4.4 versus 5.1° in the roll dimension, and 6.1 versus 6.1° in the pitch dimension, for the LDs and Normals, respectively. These findings indicate that the accurate perception of body orientation in quasi-static conditions is mainly allowed by somatosensory information rather than by otolithic inputs.

Audio Effects Based on Biorthogonal Time-Varying Frequency Warping

We illustrate the mathematical background and musical use of a class of audio effects based on frequency warping. These effects alter the frequency content of a signal via spectral mapping. They can be implemented in dispersive tapped delay lines based on a chain of all-pass filters. In a homogeneous line with first-order all-pass sections, the signal formed by the output samples at a given time is related to the input via the Laguerre transform. However, most musical signals require a time-varying frequency modification in order to be properly processed. Vibrato in musical instruments or voice intonation in the case of vocal sounds may be modeled as small and slow pitch variations. Simulation of these effects requires techniques for time-varying pitch and/or brightness modification that are very useful for sound processing. The basis for time-varying frequency warping is a time-varying version of the Laguerre transformation. The corresponding implementation structure is obtained as a dispersive tapped delay line, where each of the frequency dependent delay element has its own phase response. Thus, time-varying warping results in a space-varying, inhomogeneous, propagation structure. We show that time-varying frequency warping is associated to an expansion over biorthogonal sets generalizing the discrete Laguerre basis. Slow time-varying characteristics lead to slowly varying parameter sequences. The corresponding sound transformation does not suffer from discontinuities typical of delay lines based on unit delays.

Voice F0 responses to feedback pitch are not affected by speed of stimulus onset

Voice F0 appears flexibly controlled by interactions between voluntary mechanisms, memory, and auditory feedback. Previous studies have shown that voice F0 is changed following an abrupt shift in feedback pitch [Elman, 1981; Kawahara, 1994; Larson et al., 1995]. In order to establish that this response is due to the pitch of the feedback shift rather than its onset speed, an experiment was conducted in which voice feedback pitch heard loudly through headphones was slowly or quickly decreased to 100 cents lower than the steady voice F0 produced by the subjects. Subjects were instructed to maintain steady F0 production regardless of any feedback changes they might hear. Both slow and fast ramping pitch shift stimuli (PSS) generally elicited opposing responses characterized by a rising voice F0 which mirrored the slope of the lowering PSS ramp. Accordingly, response latency and time of peak response were inversely related to the slope of the PSS ramp; the lower the slope, the later the response latency and peak. Peak response magnitude was not affected by ramp speed. These results suggest that the auditory–vocal system continuously monitors auditory feedback and adjusts vocal output so as to reduce the difference between it and a reference signal.