Infant Spinal Reflex-Testing Apparatus

Final report and team photo for Project 05 of ME450, Fall 2009 semester.Recently-developed equipment can test the presence and stability of spinal-level reflexes in the primary gait muscles of infants 2-10 months old. This baseline data can then assist in the assessment of developmental neuromotor deficits and the development of tailored interventions for infants born with disabilities such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. The goal of this project is to redesign the apparatus used in these tests to be more adjustable and portable.Beverly Ulrich (Kinesiology, U of M)http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86199/1/ME450 Fall2009 Final Report - Project 05 - Infant Spinal Reflex-Testing Apparatus.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/86199/2/ME450 Fall2009 Team Photo - Project 05 - Infant Spinal Reflex-Testing Apparatus.jp

Biomedical research and aerospace technology applications

The accomplishments and activities of an Applications Team for biomedical subjects are presented. The team attempts to couple the technological problems and requirements in medicine with the relevant aerospace technology and, in particular, NASA-generated technology. The team actively engages in identifying these problems through direct contact with medical staffs or problem originators. The identification and specification of medical problems is followed by a search for technology which may be relevant to solutions to these problems

2005, UMaine News Press Releases

This is a catalog of press releases put out by the University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications between January 19. 2005 and December 29. 2005

Enabling an ageing workforce: Using design to innovate the workplace and empower older workers

Australia’s population is ageing, but with enhanced health prospects and insufficient retirement funds, and industries impacted by a dwindling itinerate manual labour supply, workers will want, and may need, to remain in the workforce for longer. However, as people age, they lose muscular strength, experience a decline in physical and cognitive performance, and are more vulnerable to muscular-skeletal issues caused by repetitive or awkward movement patterns. Consequently, ageing workers in occupations that require sustained physical activities are at increased risk of injury and exacerbated physical decline and may experience ageist discrimination in the workplace that impacts their psychological wellbeing. This research, Enabling an Ageing Workforce, recognises the issues facing the older worker across a range of different workplace contexts and asks the question: How can design and new technologies address the compounding factors of an ageing (working) population and enable older workers to continue to be productive and effective whilst ensuring their personal wellbeing? Enabling an Ageing Workforce’ is a collaborative research and design project between RMIT University’s ‘Safeness by Design’ initiative and the Innovation Centre of WorkSafe Victoria. This project investigates ageing, wellbeing, and workplace safeness within specific industries to identify areas of concern, opportunities for design intervention, and the proposal of future-focused design solutions. The researchers conduct a substantial scope of enquiry, while concurrently undertaking a partnered design studio with Industrial Design students, to develop and respond with appropriate design solutions. The research identifies that safeness issues exist across specific industry contexts because of workplace culture, practices and predominant behaviours, specific work actions and activities, workplace design, economic and time pressures, and poor risk literacy, training and awareness. The design studio component sees students addressing research-identified issues across many industry sectors and workplace contexts to: • prevent musculoskeletal issues in healthcare workers in the homecare environment, • correct harmful movement behaviours in manufacturing environments, • support older workers in manual tasks, through assistive technologies, • address mental health in the construction industry, • reduce ladder injuries in the residential construction industry, • reduce vibration related injuries in the agricultural sector. This research reveals insights into how a ‘safeness by design’ lens can enable an ageing Australian workforce. Such an approach needs to balance pre-emptive and reactive safety measures, focusing on creating a safe and supportive working environment for all workers. Whilst it is important to support older workers to reduce risk or injury and to promote their capability and performance, enabling longevity, it is also critical to implement measures that protect younger workers from unsafe workplace behaviours, processes and expectations that can lead to longer-term impairment, and may result in them leaving that industry prematurely

Sustainability in design: now! Challenges and opportunities for design research, education and practice in the XXI century

Copyright @ 2010 Greenleaf PublicationsLeNS project funded by the Asia Link Programme, EuropeAid, European Commission

Technology 2000, volume 1

The purpose of the conference was to increase awareness of existing NASA developed technologies that are available for immediate use in the development of new products and processes, and to lay the groundwork for the effective utilization of emerging technologies. There were sessions on the following: Computer technology and software engineering; Human factors engineering and life sciences; Information and data management; Material sciences; Manufacturing and fabrication technology; Power, energy, and control systems; Robotics; Sensors and measurement technology; Artificial intelligence; Environmental technology; Optics and communications; and Superconductivity

Library buildings around the world

"Library Buildings around the World" is a survey based on researches of several years. The objective was to gather library buildings on an international level starting with 1990

Cumulative index to NASA Tech Briefs, 1986-1990, volumes 10-14

Tech Briefs are short announcements of new technology derived from the R&D activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These briefs emphasize information considered likely to be transferrable across industrial, regional, or disciplinary lines and are issued to encourage commercial application. This cumulative index of Tech Briefs contains abstracts and four indexes (subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief number) and covers the period 1986 to 1990. The abstract section is organized by the following subject categories: electronic components and circuits, electronic systems, physical sciences, materials, computer programs, life sciences, mechanics, machinery, fabrication technology, and mathematics and information sciences