ENOBIO - First tests of a dry electrophysiology electrode using carbon nanotubes

We describe the development and first tests of Enobio, a dry electrode sensor concept for biopotential applications. In the proposed electrodes, the tip of the electrode is covered with a forest of multi-walled CNTs that can be coated with Ag/AgCl to provide ionic-electronic transduction. The CNT brush-like structure is to penetrate the outer layers of the skin improving electrical contact as well as increae the contact surface area. In this paper, we report the results of the first tests of this concept -- immersion on saline solution and pig skin signal detection. These indicate performance on a par with state of the art research-oriented wet electrodes.Comment: Submitted and accepted at the 28th IEEE EMBS International Conference, New York City, August 31st-September 3rd, 2006. Figures updated with proper filtering and averagin

Emotions in Team Contact Sports: A Systematic Review

International audienceThis study systematically reviewed the literature on the emotional processes associated with performance in team contact sports. To consider the entire emotional spectrum, Lazarus’s (1999) cognitive motivational relational theory was used as a guiding framework. An electronic search of the literature identified 48 of 5,079 papers as relevant. Anxiety and anger were found to be the most common emotions studied, potentially due to the combative nature of team contact sports. The influence of group processes on emotional experiences was also prominent. The findings highlight the need to increase awareness of the emotional experience in team contact sports and to develop emotion-specific regulation strategies. Recommendations for future research include exploring other emotions that might emerge from situations related to collisions (e.g., fright) and emotions related to relationships with teammates (e.g., guilt and compassion)

On the validation of SPDM task verification facility

This paper describes a methodology for validating a ground-based, hardware-in-the-loop, space-robot simulation facility. This facility, called ‘‘SPDM task verification facility,’’ is being developed by the Canadian Space Agency for the purpose of verifying the contact dynamics performance of the special purpose dexterous manipulator (SPDM) performing various maintenance tasks on the International Space Station because the real SPDM cannot be physically tested for 3D operations on the ground due to the gravity. The facility uses a high-fidelity SPDM mathematical model, known as the ‘‘truth model’’ of the space robot, to drive a hydraulic robot to mimic the space robot performing contact operations. In this research different techniques were studied for practically verifying that the complex\ud simulation facility preserves the dynamics of the truth model of the space robot for space-representative contact robotic tasks. Based upon the study and many years of experience in developing and verifying space robotic systems, a practical validation strategy including detailed test cases was developed along with a set of quantitative criteria for judging the validation test results

THE EFFECT OF SELECTED KINEMATICS ON BALL SPEED AND GROUND REACTION FORCES IN FAST BOWLING

Lumbar stress fractures and lumbar injury account for the greatest amount of lost playing time in international cricket. Previous research has associated lower back injury with large peak ground reaction forces occurring during the front foot contact phase of the fast bowling action. Selected kinematics of the bowling action of 16 elite male fast bowlers were measured using an 18 camera Vicon Motion Analysis System. Ground reaction forces during front foot contact and ball release speed were recorded; correlations with kinematic factors were identified using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Ball release speeds were correlated with run-up speed, plant angle and the motion of the front knee during the period of front foot contact. Knee flexion during the first 15 frames of the front foot contact phase was correlated with increased peak vertical force and decreased peak horizontal loading rate. The use of a heel strike technique at the instant of front foot contact was correlated with decreased peak vertical force and loading rates. All correlations observed were moderate in strength, representing the multifactorial nature of the generation of ball speed and ground reaction forces. This study motivates future investigation of the effects of these selected kinematic factors on forces occurring above the knee, and the effect of kinematic factors on the performance of an individual bowler

Corporate Entrepreneurship, Customer-Oriented Selling, Absorptive Capacity, And International Sales Performance In The International B2B Setting: Conceptual Framework And Research Propositions

In the international business-to-business (B2B) setting, a firm\u27s salespeople often have more direct, prolonged, and intimate contact with the customer and market environments than any other employees of the firm. In fact, for customers in many B2B markets, the salesperson is the face of the firm. The sales function can be characterized as an inherently entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship is founded on knowing or seeing something others do not see, and the sales force has long been recognized as an important source of knowledge about a firm\u27s customers and environment. However, there has been relatively little work linking entrepreneurship to international sales performance, especially in the B2B context. This paper focuses on the intelligence-gathering role of salespeople to firms practicing corporate entrepreneurship in the international B2B setting. More specifically, drawing on the theories of corporate entrepreneurship and the knowledge-based view of the firm, the authors develop a conceptual model that proposes international sales performance for firms practicing corporate entrepreneurship will be enhanced when salespeople practice customer-oriented selling and the firm\u27s absorptive capacity is stronger. Recommended methodology for testing the proposed model is a single-informant survey of sales managers with firms in the domain of interest, using structural equation modeling with moderator tests. The paper concludes with implications and directions for future research

A global survey exploring tackle training knowledge, attitudes and practices of women's rugby union coaches

The coaching and performance context in women’s rugby is not well understood, despite growing popularity worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes and tackle training practices of women’s rugbycoaches in relation to tackle safety and performance. A globally distributed online survey exploring coaches’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards tackling women’s rugby was completed by 357 coaches (mean age 41 ± 0.6years) from 58 countries. The cross-sectional survey was distributed from March 2023 to June 2023. Survey development was guided by the Health Action Process Approach and informed by coaching experts, research evidence synthesis, and guidelines for international tackle safety programmes. Coaches believed that the risk of tackle injury inwomen’s rugby is high and that proper tackle technique for safety is very important. More than 75% of coacheshad never completed a tackle-specific training course, with only 39% aware of the availability of such courses. Timespent on controlled-contact and full-contact activities varied from 0 to 40+ min per week, averaging 10–20 min forboth types of training. Barriers to the effectiveness of tackle training related to sociocultural factors, coach knowledgegaps, training environments, and player training considerations. Coach education, improved infrastructures, and physical development were ranked the highest priorities for improving tackle safety and performance. These findings informfuture implementation strategies for tackle safety and performance in the context of women’s rugby, highlighting theneed to involve coaches in providing practical solutions, and the role of education and institutional/organisational support in facilitating such improvements

Corporate Entrepreneurship, Customer-Oriented Selling, Absorptive Capacity, And International Sales Performance In The International B2B Setting: Conceptual Framework And Research Propositions

In the international business-to-business (B2B) setting, a firm\u27s salespeople often have more direct, prolonged, and intimate contact with the customer and market environments than any other employees of the firm. In fact, for customers in many B2B markets, the salesperson is the face of the firm. The sales function can be characterized as an inherently entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship is founded on knowing or seeing something others do not see, and the sales force has long been recognized as an important source of knowledge about a firm\u27s customers and environment. However, there has been relatively little work linking entrepreneurship to international sales performance, especially in the B2B context. This paper focuses on the intelligence-gathering role of salespeople to firms practicing corporate entrepreneurship in the international B2B setting. More specifically, drawing on the theories of corporate entrepreneurship and the knowledge-based view of the firm, the authors develop a conceptual model that proposes international sales performance for firms practicing corporate entrepreneurship will be enhanced when salespeople practice customer-oriented selling and the firm\u27s absorptive capacity is stronger. Recommended methodology for testing the proposed model is a single-informant survey of sales managers with firms in the domain of interest, using structural equation modeling with moderator tests. The paper concludes with implications and directions for future research

Communicating with Americans: Chinese International Students' Experiences and Perceptions

Chinese international students are the fastest growing group of internationals nationwide and in the state of Kansas (see: Open Doors Data, 2012; & University of Kansas ISSS, 2012). This research investigates the interaction between Americans and Chinese internationals from the perspective of 33 Chinese international students in Kansas. This inquiry is necessary because international students have a high need and desire to communicate with and befriend the hosts, yet research indicates that most internationals: lack intensive interactions that are key to their adjustment, success, and overall well-being in the United States (Gareis, 2000; Sias, et al, 2008); struggle with the English language; and remain isolated from Americans, in spite of their desire to adapt to American culture and befriend Americans. Analysis of in-depth interviews with Chinese international students reveals that they perceive Americans as friendly and outgoing, but also closed to new perspectives. Disappointment over friendship development and communication is exacerbated by language and cultural differences, which often leads to separation strategies of acculturation for Chinese. While Chinese typically exert great effort in academic performance and language study, they exhibit weak adaptation behaviors, perhaps mistaking familiarity with American media with an in-depth understanding of American culture and norms. This research provides needed feedback regarding what is working well with international programs, the extent and quality of intercultural contact occurring on American campuses, and allows Chinese international students to express their experiences, opinions, and emotions regarding their experiences through the use of the Chinese language. Recommendations are made for Chinese international students, and for higher education administrators regarding how to facilitate integration between Americans and Chinese international students

Haptic Effects of Surgical Teleoperator Flexibility

Minimally invasive surgery systems typically involve thin and cable-driven surgical instruments. This introduces link and joint flexibility in the slave robot of a master-slave teleoperation system, reducing the effective stiffness of the slave and the transparency of teleoperation. In this paper, we analyze transparency under slave link and joint flexibility (tool flexibility). We also evaluate the added benefits of using extra sensors at the tip of the flexible robot. It is shown that tip velocity (or position) feedback improves free-space position tracking performance in the presence of robot flexibility. Also, when the interaction forces with an environment are measured by a force sensor and fed back to the user’s hand, tip velocity feedback improves hard-contact force tracking performance. During a hard contact task, tip velocity feedback can also eliminate the transmission of robot flexibility to the user’s hand. Parts of this research have previously been published as M. Tavakoli, R.D. Howe, The Effect of Joint Elasticity on Bilateral Teleoperation, In Proceedings of the 2007 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots & Systems, pp. 1618-1623, San Diego, CA, 2007, and as M. Tavakoli, R.D. Howe, Haptic Implications of Tool Flexibility in Surgical Teleoperation, In Proceedings of the 16th Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environments & Teleoperator Systems, pp. 377-378, Reno, NV, March 2008.Engineering and Applied Science