Body Torso Research Articles

Coaxial waveguide for travelling wave MRI at ultrahigh fields

At high magnetic fields the performance of a volume-type body coil inside a human sized MR-scanner is influenced by the waveguide action of the scanner's bore. This can result in undesirable strong radio frequency fields B1+) outside the coil's target volume. A radio frequency (RF) transmit system, exploiting this waveguide action of the bore, is proposed in this work. A coaxial waveguide section is introduced between the antenna and the imaging region. It is shown that the coaxial waveguide has several advantages over the initially proposed travelling wave setup based on the cylindrical waveguide. First, a novel radio frequency matching principle (based on the transmission line impedance matching) is feasible with the coaxial waveguide achieving better radio frequency transmission characteristics, such as homogeneity and power efficiency of B1+ field. In case of body torso imaging, the coaxial waveguide prevents unwanted specific absorptive rate (SAR) deposition outside the target region and thus, effectively decreases local peak SAR values by factor of 5. A 3-fold B1+ gain in the prostate can be achieved with the coaxial waveguide in comparison with the initially proposed travelling wave setup.

3D Whole Body Imaging for Detecting Explosive-Related Threats

The aim of the millimeter-wave imaging system presented in this work is to produce accurate geometry reconstruction of the human body torso and objects concealed under clothing detection. To this effect, two techniques will be combined. First, an inverse source-based fast multipole method which provides a first approach to the true human body torso profile is considered. Second, the retrieved geometry is refined with the Iterative Field Matrix technique, based on a parameterization of the geometry to be retrieved. Assuming smooth variations of the human body profile, objects' detection is performed by comparing the retrieved surface with a smoothed one. The results presented in this communication are based on physical optics simulations of the human body, considering cases with and without objects.

Study on Pattern Design Method of Women Tight Skirts Based on 3D Point-cloud Data

In this research, 100 female students aged from 18 to 24 years old were selected to take part in the body measurement. Data acquisition software named Imageware with a 3D scanner was employed to gain the body point-cloud diagram. Then, the characteristics of the young female lower body torso have been analyzed according to the data obtained. The regression of the key parts of women skirts and the characteristics of young female lower body torso has been found. Finally, the generating rules of the basic pattern of women skirts were established, which provides the foundation for auto-generation of skirt pattern.

Localised boundary air layer and clothing evaporative resistances for individual body segments

Evaporative resistance is an important parameter to characterise clothing thermal comfort. However, previous work has focused mainly on either total static or dynamic evaporative resistance. There is a lack of investigation of localised clothing evaporative resistance. The objective of this study was to study localised evaporative resistance using sweating thermal manikins. The individual and interaction effects of air and body movements on localised resultant evaporative resistance were examined in a strict protocol. The boundary air layer's localised evaporative resistance was investigated on nude sweating manikins at three different air velocity levels (0.18, 0.48 and 0.78 m/s) and three different walking speeds (0, 0.96 and 1.17 m/s). Similarly, localised clothing evaporative resistance was measured on sweating manikins at three different air velocities (0.13, 0.48 and 0.70 m/s) and three walking speeds (0, 0.96 and 1.17 m/s). Results showed that the wind speed has distinct effects on local body segments. In contrast, walking speed brought much more effect on the limbs, such as thigh and forearm, than on body torso, such as back and waist. In addition, the combined effect of body and air movement on localised evaporative resistance demonstrated that the walking effect has more influence on the extremities than on the torso. Therefore, localised evaporative resistance values should be provided when reporting test results in order to clearly describe clothing local moisture transfer characteristics. Practitioner Summary: Localised boundary air layer and clothing evaporative resistances are essential data for clothing design and assessment of thermal comfort. A comprehensive understanding of the effects of air and body movement on localised evaporative resistance is also necessary by both textile and apparel researchers and industry.

Three Partial-Task Simulators for Teaching Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia

Simulation-based training is becoming an accepted tool for educating physicians before direct patient care. As ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) becomes a popular method for performing regional blocks, there is a need for learning the technical skills associated with the technique. Although simulator models do exist for learning UGRA, they either contain food and are therefore perishable or are not anatomically based. We developed 3 sonoanatomically based partial-task simulators for learning UGRA: an upper body torso for learning UGRA interscalene and infraclavicular nerve blocks, a femoral manikin for learning UGRA femoral nerve blocks, and a leg model for learning UGRA sciatic nerve blocks in the subgluteal and popliteal areas.

Girth Calculative Rules Research of Female Lower Body Torso Based on Three Dimensional Cloud Point Data

Removed due do double publication.

3-D breast anthropometry of plus-sized women in South Africa

Exploratory retail studies in South Africa indicate that plus-sized women experience problems and dissatisfaction with poorly fitting bras. The lack of 3-D anthropometric studies for the plus-size women's bra market initiated this research. 3-D body torso measurements were collected from a convenience sample of 176 plus-sized women in South Africa. 3-D breast measurements extracted from the TC2 NX12–3-D body scanner ‘breast module’ software were compared with traditional tape measurements. Regression equations show that the two methods of measurement were highly correlated although, on average, the bra cup size determining factor ‘bust minus underbust’ obtained from the 3-D method is approximately 11% smaller than that of the manual method. It was concluded that the total bust volume correlated with the quadrant volume (r = 0.81), cup length, bust length and bust prominence, should be selected as the overall measure of bust size and not the traditional bust girth and the underbust measurement. Statement of Relevance: This study contributes new data and adds to the knowledge base of anthropometry and consumer ergonomics on bra fit and support, published in this, the Ergonomics Journal, by Chen et al. (2010) on bra fit and White et al. (2009) on breast support during overground running.

In Remembrance

You clutch the white porcelain Edges of the bathtub Wary as you lower your body Torso shuddering at the coldness Eyes squeezed like oranges Waiting for me To pour tepid water Upon your snowy brow. How many times did your tall shadow Bend over to bathe me? I recall the consuming clouds of bubbles You blew, the ones that shrouded What (you said) I wouldn’t understand. Through streams of mist you hid me Knowing that nobody else would. Your callused hands Glided over my plump silky body Feeling it grow Watching it blossom As I played with squeaky ducks. I was four. You are fifty-four. Now you appear as a mountain Through morning mist— Your snowcap melts Streams down skin Draped like a loose mossy cloth Over a rugged terrain Of elbows, shoulders, collarbones. Your breasts protrude like ledges Where nipples Hang like wildflowers. Your body bends, A bloated abdomen Folds over thin thighs. Limp legs Extend as well-traveled roads. The legs still hold you firm, But the ridges, they soon collapse Crashing down your snowy peaks Crumbling the flowers, Falling— But there is nothing there to support you. Except me— Through sudsy bubbles And dense streams of foam I rub my smooth hands Over the ridges Grab the crevices Water the wildflowers And lift myself (lift you) up. Watching as you, yourself, Cupped in my palms, Fall, crumble, disappear From your mountain And into my awaiting rivers. You melt away. I still reach for you.

Calculation rules research of female lower body torso 3D sizes

Torso of female lower body feature such as waist, abdomen and hip is the key factor of pants and skirt design so that rules confirm is the important point in the research of automatic generation of pants pattern and skirts pattern. In the three-dimensional human body scanner, a certain difference exists of human lower body torso 3D sizes between scanner data and actual measurement data so that research of calculation rules of lower body torso 3D sizes becomes necessity. In this research, 425 female students at Soochow University from 18 to 26 years old were selected as subjects. Point-cloud diagrams can be obtained by using 3D body scanner and be read by using IMAGEWARE software and then each 3D size and width and thickness of each 3D section. Then classification can be done according to the value of thickness and width with 0.05 file and relations between width and girth, between thickness and girth can be analyzed by using SPSS16.0 to obtain calculation modules of each 3D size then its accuracy can be verified to provide the basis for valid application of three dimensional body scanner and lay foundation of the prototype generation of female pants, design of trousers and automatic pattern generation system research.

Algorithms of the Automatic Landmark Identification for various torso shapes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide algorithms of the automatic landmark extraction software program that are applicable for any torso shape.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, Automatic Landmark Identification (AULID), an automatic landmark extraction software program, was developed to extract consistent landmark locations from any torso shape. A methodology of geometrical characteristics of the body surfaces around each landmark was used for the algorithms and implemented with C++. The accuracy of the AULID was tested on various torso shapes. The verification methodology consisted of mean difference (MD), mean absolute differences (MAD), and one‐way analysis of variance. Duncan test for multiple comparisons was used to evaluate the significant differences of MAD values among different torso groups. The MAD values were compared to the anthropometric survey allowable errors.FindingsThe algorithms of AULID provided both accuracy and consistency of identifying landmarks on any body torso types.Originality/valueMost 3D body scanning systems often show landmark location errors when dealing with nonstandard body shapes. None of automatic landmark extraction software program provides consistency of identifying landmarks in various body shapes. However, algorithms of AULID, an automatic landmark extraction software program, in this study are only consistent definitions for identifying landmarks in any torso shape.

59307 The effect of preloads on muscles in the multi-body model for the analysis of whiplash by rear end impact(Multibody System Analysis)

Whiplash injury is caused when a neck receives a sudden movement such as rear-end impact by Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC). At the time of impact, hyperextension and hyper-flexion occurs less than 1 second after the impact, where the head is forcefully thrown backwards while the body is going forwards. Resulting action caused by the whiplash snaps the head violently and causes damages in the soft tissue components of the neck such as disc, muscles and ligaments. The injury in the neck has been considered as a significant public health problem and it is known that about 20% of car accidents results in a whiplash injury. This paper presents a multi-body model of the human neck developed for the study of whiplash motion. The model is composed of a head, each separated vertebra, upper torso body with muscles and ligaments attached in the cervical region. Differing from any other models suggested in the former simulation of the whiplash, our model is specified with some active muscle forces which are determined by optimization with the concept of the follower load. The cognitive and non-cognitive preloads on the muscles at the time of rear-end impact are also evaluated. The dynamic data of the head and the responses of the soft tissues are obtained comparing with preloaded and non-preloaded muscles as well as cognitive and non-cognitive loads. The physiological range of motion of the cervical spine is compared with the angular motion of the model by the impact to see the possible damage of the spine. The responses of the soft tissues are correlated with the damages of the neck in order to show the feasibility of a new multi body model for the whiplash.

A hybrid CPG–ZMP control system for stable walking of a simulated flexible spine humanoid robot

Biped humanoid robots have gained much popularity in recent years. These robots are mainly controlled by two major control methods, the biologically-inspired approach based on Central Pattern Generator (CPG) and the engineering-oriented approach based on Zero Moment Point (ZMP). Given that flexibility in the body torso is required in some human activities, we believe that it is beneficial for the next generation of humanoid robots to have a flexible spine as humans do. In order to cope with the increased complexity in controlling this type of robot, a new kind of control system is necessary. Currently, there is no controller that allows a flexible spine humanoid robot to maintain stability in real-time while walking with dynamic spine motions. This paper presents a new hybrid CPG-ZMP control system for the walking of a realistically simulated flexible spine humanoid robot. Experimental results showed that using our control method, the robot is able to adapt its spine motions in real-time to allow stable walking. Our control system could be used for the control of the next generation humanoid robots.

Quantitative Rotating Multisegment Slant-Hole SPECT Mammography With Attenuation and Collimator-Detector Response Compensation

Rotating multisegment slant-hole (RMSSH) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is suitable for detecting small and low-contrast breast lesions since it has much higher detection efficiency than conventional SPECT with a parallel-hole collimator and can image the breast at a closer distance. Our RMSSH SPECT reconstruction extends a previous rotation-shear transformation-based method to include nonuniform attenuation and collimator-detector response (CDR) compensation. To evaluate our reconstruction method, we performed two phantom simulation studies with 1) an isolated breast and 2) a breast phantom attached to the body torso. The reconstructed RMSSH SPECT images with attenuation and CDR compensation showed improved quantitative accuracy and less image artifacts than without. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of RMSSH SPECT mammography, we used a simulation study to compare with planar scintimammography in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of a breast lesion. The RMSSH SPECT reconstruction images showed higher SNR value than the planar scintimammography images and even more so as we applied compensation for attenuation and collimator detector response. We conclude that attenuation and CDR compensation provide RMSSH SPECT mammography images with improved quality and quantitative accuracy.

With Nondiagnostic ECG, Use Body Surface Mapping

With Nondiagnostic ECG, Use Body Surface Mapping

MOLECULES GET SUITED UP

SOMETIMES EVEN MOLECULES need to dress for success. Chemists at the University of California, Los Angeles, and London's Imperial College have come up with a new class of mechanically interlocked structures called suitanes. As the name suggests, the compounds feature one molecule dressed in another, with no covalent link between the two (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006,45,6665). A suitane's basic components consist of a singlemolecule with two or more rigid limbs and a close-fitting, all-in-one suit molecule that encompasses the body's torso. body molecule's limbs protrude outward from the suit, just as arms and legs stick out of real-world clothes. Shorts are a good human- scale analogy for a suit[3]ane because three socalled limbs—two legs and a torso—poke out from the clothing; a T-shirt is analogous to a suit[4]ane; and the one-piece infant romper known as a onesie is akin to a suit[5]ane. The inspiration for the name ...

Kinematic Assessment of Treadmill Running Using Different Body-Weight Support Harnesses

10 male collegiate runners (M age = 21.4, SD = 1.5 yr.) ran on a treadmill with no body-weight support (BWS), 20% BWS, and 40% BWS conditions. In addition, they wore three different commercially available harnesses at the 20% and 40% BWS conditions. The aim was to run on the treadmill at a fast speed while maintaining an adequate step length. The purpose was to investigate how each harness changed running gait, and the differences in running gait between the harnesses with various body-weight support. Analysis of variance indicated significant restriction of upper body torso rotation between the harnesses at the 40% BWS conditions. Body-weight support resulted in a longer stride, decreased cadence, less vertical displacement of the center of mass, and diminished hip and ankle joint excursions. These changes indicated that increased body-weight support results in longer steps with the foot contacting the belt for a shorter period of time with less leg angular changes throughout the running cycling.

Conversion From External Fixation to Definitive Fixation: Periarticular Injuries

Extremity injuries sustained by uniformed service combatants pose a significant challenge to military orthopaedic surgeons. The wounding mechanisms in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom consist of blasts, penetrating injuries, and blunt injuries. The mortality of warriors has decreased overall because of the improvements in head, neck, and torso body armor. Consequently, the severity of extremity wounds has increased. Because of the far-forward surgical assets (surgeons and advanced equipment), these patients are stabilized rapidly and their injured extremities are treated early (ie, revascularized, débrided, stabilized). However, multiple challenges exist in the timing of definitive reconstructive efforts once these injured service members return to military medical centers in the continental United States.

FROM LAMPREY TO HUMANOID: THE DESIGN AND CONTROL OF A FLEXIBLE SPINE BELLY DANCING HUMANOID ROBOT WITH INSPIRATION FROM BIOLOGY

Research on humanoid robotics has up to now been focused on the control of manipulators and walking machines. The contributions of body torso torwards daily activities have been neglected. To address this deficient area of humanoid robotics research, we developed a unique flexible spine biped humanoid robot. Inspired by the rhythmic and wave-like motions commonly seen in swimming lamprey and in belly dancing, we investigated the possibility of controlling the spine of our robot using the lamprey central pattern generator (CPG). Experimental results show that our robot is capable of mimicing both basic and complex spine motions with fewer actuators than the human spine and using only three input parameters (global and extra excitations from the brainstem, plane of actions). Our work suggests that the CPG is a suitable controller for humanoid spine motions because it can control a high degree of freedom mechanical spine with minimized control parameters. No complex computations of spine trajectories are involved. Furthermore, since our robot can move its upper body dynamically while standing and without external supports, it may be used as a prototype for the next generation of humanoid robots.

Metabolic Cost of Upper Body Torso Stabilization During Cycling

Metabolic Cost of Upper Body Torso Stabilization During Cycling

Metabolic Cost of Upper Body Torso Stabilization During Cycling

Metabolic Cost of Upper Body Torso Stabilization During Cycling