An Experimental Examination into the History and Perception of Two Nineteenth Century Military Lower-Limb Prostheses with a Biomechanical Analysis of their Functionality and Long-Term Effects

The role of experiment within archaeological research has become an important mechanism through which we can explore past cultures, their traditions, architecture, material culture and skill sets (Mathieu, 2001). However, the experimental process has not been used to the same extent in archaeological experiments to investigate artefacts and inform us about the past experiences of physically impaired individuals. This thesis explores nineteenth-century lower-limb amputation and prostheses, using a combination of documentary, artefactual and experimental approaches, to gain insight into the lived experiences of impaired individuals and the identities they possessed. Concentrating on military amputation and the artificial appliances they may have used post-injury, this research explores the design, construction and social implications of prostheses, through the documentary analysis and detailed study of existing artifactual evidence. This is followed by a reconstruction of two appliances intended for different groups of people; the Box-leg, a peg-leg variation generally intended for working-class soldiers and the Anglesey leg, the first articulated design reserved for the wealthy. Their efficiency is also explored through biomechanical analysis, and comparisons are drawn regarding their kinetics and possible gait complications. In undertaking this research, the importance of the techniques and approaches used here are demonstrated, and the unique and novel dataset produced offers us a fascinating glimpse into the lived experiences of amputees during the nineteenth century and how status affected these experiences, socially and physically. These findings offer an insight into the importance of experimental techniques and how these could be developed to further expand upon our understanding of disability history and their connected artefacts

Minimising vibration in a flexible golf club during robotic simulations of a golf swing

Robots are widely used as substitutes for humans in situations involving repetitive tasks where a precise and repeatable motion is required. Sports technology is an area which has seen an increase in the implementation of robots which simulate specific human motions required for a sport. One purpose is to test sports equipment, where the requirement is for a motion to be performed with consistent variables. One issue which has arisen frequently in the robot simulation of humans is the inherent presence of vibration excited in a flexible object being manipulated by a robot, and this issue is not unfounded in the situation presented in this research, of a golf robot manipulating a flexible golf club during the simulation of a golf swing. It had been found that during robotic simulations of golf swings performed with the Miyamae Robo V at the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University, swing variables such as shaft deformation and clubhead orientation were dissimilar to those measured for human golf swings. Vibrations present in the golf club were identified as the key cause of the disparity between human and robot swing variables. This research sought to address this issue and find a method which could be applied to reduce clubhead vibrations present in robot simulations of a golf swing to improve their similarity to human swings. This would facilitate the use of the golf robot for equipment testing and club fitting. Golf swing variables were studied and measured for 14 human subjects with the aim being to understand the motion that the robot is required to simulate. A vibration damping gripper was then fitted to the robot to test the effect that changing the interface between the robot-excited vibrations and the club would have, this was achieved with a selection of silicone sleeves with differing material properties which could be attached to the club. Preliminary results showed a noticeable reduction in clubhead vibrations and this solution was investigated further. Mathematically modelling the robot was seen as the most suitable method for this as it meant the robot remained functional and allowed a number of solutions to be tested. Several iterations of a mathematical model were developed with the final model being structurally similar to the robot with the addition of a compliant grip and wrist. The method by which the robot is driven was also recognised as having a large effect on the level of vibration excited in the clubhead and the methodology behind generating smooth robot swing profiles is presented. The mathematical model was used to perform 6 swings and the resulting shaft deformation and clubhead vibration were compared with data from human swings. It was found that the model was capable of producing swing variables comparable to human swings, however in the downswing portion of the swing the magnitude of these variables were larger for the simulations. Simulations were made which sought to demonstrate the difference between the model replicating the rigid robot and a compliant system. Reductions in vibration were achieved in all swings, including those driven with robot feedback data which contains oscillations excited by the method with which the robot is driven

Uncemented femoral stems. Studies on periprosthetic bone remodelling and prevention of bone loss in total hip arthroplasty.

Introduction Tapered uncemented femoral stems are popular implants in total hip arthroplasty (THA). They are easy to use and excellent long-term results have been reported for patients with primary osteoarthritis of the hip (OA). The disadvantages of these devices include post-operative periprosthetic bone loss, the clinical importance of which is still uncertain, and an increased risk of early periprosthetic fractures. These stems rely on initial primary stability to achieve biological fixation to bone. Poor bone quality, such as in patients with previous surgery of the hip or osteoporosis, is therefore generally considered to be a contraindication. Hypotheses We hypothesized that (1) femoral periprosthetic bone loss occurs after implantation of these devices and is related to the stem size used as well as the pre-operative bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip, (2) that femoral hip revision surgery using these implants is a reliable procedure with predictable mid-term results despite compromised proximal femoral bone stock prior to revision, (3) that a bisphosphonate will reduce the femoral periprosthetic bone loss and finally (4) that a tapered, uncemented, hydroxyapatite-(HA) coated femoral stem can provide durable fixation and good clinical outcome in elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures of the femoral neck. Materials and methods Two similar tapered uncemented HA-coated femoral stems were used in the studies. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), migration was assessed using radiostereometry (RSA) and Einzel-Bild-Röntgen-Analyse (EBRA). Clinical outcome was evaluated using the Harris hip score (HHS) and health related quality of life (EQ-5D) Results Study I In a retrospective study, a single cohort of 138 patients with a unilateral THA was examined 3 years after surgery with DXA. It was found that periprosthetic proximal bone loss was related to stem size. Patients with the larger stem sizes lost more bone than patients with smaller stems. Study II In a retrospective analysis of 60 patients, who were examined 6 years after uncemented femoral stem revision surgery due to aseptic loosening, we found a 95% survival rate of the stem and no cases of aseptic loosening. We also noted that all stems were stable according to radiological parameters and that the clinical outcome was acceptable. Study II In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 73 patients with hip OA, risedronate was given once weekly for 6 months following THA surgery. Risedronate reduced the proximal femoral bone loss by 7% up to 12 months postoperatively. In both groups, patients with a low pre-operative BMD lost significantly more bone than patients whose initial BMD was high. Study IV In a prospective single-cohort study of 50 cognitively intact elderly patients operated with a new HA-coated stem due to a displaced FNF, we found stable stems after 3 months. We also found a continuous decrease in BMD around the stems up to 2 years after surgery. Patients with osteoporosis lost more bone than patients with a normal BMD. Conclusions Periprosthetic bone loss after THA can be reduced with bisphosphonate treatment. Future studies on prevention of bone loss after THA should focus on patients who have a low pre-operative BMD of the hip. An uncemented, tapered HA-coated stem can be used successfully for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures of the femoral neck. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether uncemented femoral stems are superior, equivalent or inferior to cemented stems in the treatment of FNFs in the elderly

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

Proceedings of the 2018 Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) International Congress

Published proceedings of the 2018 Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) International Congress, hosted by York University, 27-30 May 2018

The benefits of an additional practice in descriptive geomerty course: non obligatory workshop at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade

At the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade, in the Descriptive geometry (DG) course, non-obligatory workshops named “facultative task” are held for the three generations of freshman students with the aim to give students the opportunity to get higher final grade on the exam. The content of this workshop was a creative task, performed by a group of three students, offering free choice of a topic, i.e. the geometric structure associated with some real or imagery architectural/art-work object. After the workshops a questionnaire (composed by the professors at the course) is given to the students, in order to get their response on teaching/learning materials for the DG course and the workshop. During the workshop students performed one of the common tests for testing spatial abilities, named “paper folding". Based on the results of the questionnairethe investigation of the linkages between:students’ final achievements and spatial abilities, as well as students’ expectations of their performance on the exam, and how the students’ capacity to correctly estimate their grades were associated with expected and final grades, is provided. The goal was to give an evidence that a creative work, performed by a small group of students and self-assessment of their performances are a good way of helping students to maintain motivation and to accomplish their achievement. The final conclusion is addressed to the benefits of additional workshops employment in the course, which confirmhigherfinal scores-grades, achievement of creative results (facultative tasks) and confirmation of DG knowledge adaption

The contemporary visualization and modelling technologies and the techniques for the design of the green roofs

The contemporary design solutions are merging the boundaries between real and virtual world. The Landscape architecture like the other interdisciplinary field stepped in a contemporary technologies area focused on that, beside the good execution of works, designer solutions has to be more realistic and “touchable”. The opportunities provided by Virtual Reality are certainly not negligible, it is common knowledge that the designs in the world are already presented in this way so the Virtual Reality increasingly used. Following the example of the application of virtual reality in landscape architecture, this paper deals with proposals for the use of virtual reality in landscape architecture so that designers, clients and users would have a virtual sense of scope e.g. rooftop garden, urban areas, parks, roads, etc. It is a programming language that creates a series of images creating a whole, so certain parts can be controlled or even modified in VR. Virtual reality today requires a specific gadget, such as Occulus, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR and similar. The aim of this paper is to acquire new theoretical and practical knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of virtual reality, the ability to display using virtual reality methods, and to present through a brief overview the plant species used in the design and construction of an intensive roof garden in a Mediterranean climate, the basic characteristics of roofing gardens as well as the benefits they carry. Virtual and augmented reality as technology is a very powerful tool for landscape architects, when modeling roof gardens, parks, and urban areas. One of the most popular technologies used by landscape architects is Google Tilt Brush, which enables fast modeling. The Google Tilt Brush VR app allows modeling in three-dimensional virtual space using a palette to work with the use of a three dimensional brush. The terms of two "programmed" realities - virtual reality and augmented reality - are often confused. One thing they have in common, though, is VRML - Virtual Reality Modeling Language. In this paper are shown the ways on which this issue can be solved and by the way, get closer the term of Virtual Reality (VR), also all the opportunities which the Virtual reality offered us. As well, in this paper are shown the conditions of Mediterranean climate, the conceptual solution and the plant species which will be used by execution of intensive green roof on the motel “Marković”