Electromyography assessment of forearm muscles: Towards the control of exoskeleton hand

Hand plays an important role in a human’s life by offering physical interaction and grasping capabilities. In most stroke cases, the hand is the most vulnerable part of the body that has a high chance of suffering. This has led to the development of a numerous wearable robotic devices such as exoskeleton hands. The exoskeleton hands can provide physical assistance for stroke survivors to regain their abilities in performing basic activities of daily living and to improve their quality of life. The key challenges in developing such a device do not only lie in designing its mechanical but also in designing its controller. In controlling the exoskeleton hand, the principal criterion is to work according to the user’s motion intention. It can be done by utilizing the electromyogram (EMG) signals generated by forearm muscles contributed from the movement and/or grasping abilities of the hand. In this paper, electromyography assessment of forearm muscles towards the control of an exoskeleton hand is presented. The EMG signals are collected non-invasively using multi-channel surface EMG sensors. The contractions of the muscles are detected from several forearm (flexion and extensor) muscles and the data is processed through several pattern recognition steps, before being mapped to various pinching/gripping forces and angular joints. The adaptability and learning process is done through a neural network. The experimental results show separable classes of features and significant range of control inputs that represent the inter-relation between forearm EMG signals, various pinching/gripping forces and angular joints for exoskeleton hand control

Electromyography assessment of forearm muscles: Towards the control of exoskeleton hand

Hand plays an important role in a human’s life by offering physical interaction and grasping capabilities. In most stroke cases, the hand is the most vulnerable part of the body that has a high chance of suffering. This has led to the development of a numerous wearable robotic devices such as exoskeleton hands. The exoskeleton hands can provide physical assistance for stroke survivors to regain their abilities in performing basic activities of daily living and to improve their quality of life. The key challenges in developing such a device do not only lie in designing its mechanical but also in designing its controller. In controlling the exoskeleton hand, the principal criterion is to work according to the user’s motion intention. It can be done by utilizing the electromyogram (EMG) signals generated by forearm muscles contributed from the movement and/or grasping abilities of the hand. In this paper, electromyography assessment of forearm muscles towards the control of an exoskeleton hand is presented. The EMG signals are collected non-invasively using multi-channel surface EMG sensors. The contractions of the muscles are detected from several forearm (flexion and extensor) muscles and the data is processed through several pattern recognition steps, before being mapped to various pinching/gripping forces and angular joints. The adaptability and learning process is done through a neural network. The experimental results show separable classes of features and significant range of control inputs that represent the inter-relation between forearm EMG signals, various pinching/gripping forces and angular joints for exoskeleton hand control

The potential of QR code, screencast and edpuzzle to produce online video tutorial for statistics

Blended Learning is one of the pedagogical approaches for 21st century learning skills that had been highlighted in the Malaysian Higher Learning Institution. It integrates face-to-face with online learning interaction. Hence, this teaching approach is focusing on the degree of technology usage in teaching and learning.However, learning tools and strategies are needed by lecturers to implement this approach in teaching and learning process. They need a learning object (LO) that is suitable for their teaching objectives. In order to do that, they need to consider their target groups who have different levels of cognition. Besides that, lecturers also need to think of activities to be conducted in class that will engage students in learning

THE IN VITRO AND EX VIVO EFFECT OF PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI METHANOL EXTRACT ON HEPATIC GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN STZ-INDUCED DIABETIC SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and ex vivo (acute and sub-chronic doses) effect of Phyllanthus niruri methanol extract (PNME) on the activity of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic young female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.Methods: Young female SD rats were induced type I diabetes mellitus using STZ (60 mg/kg i.v.). The in vitro study was performed on cytosolic fraction of diabetic rat livers using PNME in concentrations of 0.01, 1 and 10 µg/ml. Meanwhile, ex vivo studies were performed on diabetic rats using PNME in doses of 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg p.o. for acute study (1 day) and 100, 500 and 2000 mg/kg/day p.o. for sub-chronic study (14 days). The GST activity in the cytosolic liver fraction was measured using spectrophotometric analysis.Results: The in vitro study showed that, there is no significant effect of the three concentrations of PNME versus control on GST activity in cytosolic fraction of diabetic young female SD rat livers, while for ex vivo study, there is a significant dose independent induction effect on GST enzyme activity at all doses used in acute study. Meanwhile, sub-chronic study showed significant dose-independent induction effect at doses 500 and 2000 mg/kg.Conclusion: This study suggests that Phyllanthus niruri may increase the clearance of drugs that are metabolized by GST enzyme in phase II metabolism when given concomitantly with this plant extract.Key words: Phyllanthus niruri, GST, diabetic rats, cytosolic liver fraction, phase II metabolismÂ

Examining the Influence of Media System Dependency Relations on User Satisfaction, and Continuance Intention in Social Networking Services

Social Networking Services (SNS) exert a substantial influence in the digital realm. For marketers and entrepreneurs, comprehending the nuances of potential consumer interaction with SNS is pivotal to craft optimal communication strategies. Consequently, deciphering the determinants that either encourage or hinder individual SNS usage behaviors becomes imperative, as it fosters deeper insights into users' continuance intentions and facilitates the building of robust relationships. Drawing upon the Media System Dependency (MSD) theory, this research addresses two main questions: 1) How do individuals' MSD relations, encompassing Understanding Dependency (UD), Orientation Dependency (OD), and Play Dependency (PD), satisfaction (ST) within the SNS context? 2) Does satisfaction subsequently enhance their continuance intention (CI) towards the SNS? To address these queries, we scrutinized data amassed from 393 online Weibo users in China. Participants, all of whom possessed prior Weibo experience, were invited to partake in a comprehensive survey. The proposed hypotheses were rigorously examined using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The analysis revealed that the three delineated MSD relations significantly bolstered participants' ST, which in turn robustly influenced their CI. This study's findings shed invaluable light on the nexus between MSD relations and SNS engagement, offering meaningful implications for both academics and SNS practitioners. Future research endeavors are encouraged to expand upon these insights and further fortify our understanding of the topic

Techno-Economic Analysis and Environmental Impact of Electric Buses

Electric vehicles are a leading candidate in the clean energy market. This paper aims to analyse the feasibility of the deployment of electric buses (EB) based on the existing bus routes in Brunei, by the use of life cycle cost analysis and the analysis of the parameters that influence the overall life cycle cost. The findings from the study revealed that EB are significantly more expensive than diesel buses (DB), with their acquisition and maintenance costs contributing substantially to their overall life cycle cost. In order to promote EB deployment, the government needs to look simultaneously into providing subsidies for EB and imposing taxes on DB, the provision of charging infrastructure, and ensuring maintenance capability, as well as increasing the current subsidised diesel price. It was also shown that increasing the cost of diesel to the average US diesel price of USD$3.101/L, an initial subsidy of USD$67,586 towards the purchase of EB, and a tax of USD$67,586 for the purchase of DB would allow EB to compete in the market, with the amount of tax and subsidy being gradually reducible over time, as EB and battery technology becomes more mature. From an environmental perspective, the emissions from EB come out higher than the emissions from DB. The efficiency of electric power generation needs to be enhanced, and renewable energy sources and the adoption of carbon capture technology need to be explored in order to exploit the full benefit of EB and ensure more View Full-Tex

Development of web-based real-time energy monitoring system for Campus University

This study presents development of real time energy monitoring system installed in Level 17, Tower 2, Engineering Complex, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. The device and programming uses microcontroller board Arduino, ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, sensors and Emoncms.org web server to record and display the real time power and energy consumption, energy cost, energy index and CO2 emissions.The device allows 3 phase measurement of energy use in the building level where the main power source has been divided into several loads such as lighting, power plug, and Air Conditioning (AC) fan.The device is capable to transmit the data at set time interval using Wi-Fi communication and logging directly to local SD card for further analysis.The device was calibrated using FLUKE 485 power meter concurrently to meet a good reliable result with lower tolerance.The device was installed and tested during testing period including weekdays and weekend to see hourly energy performance in the particular building level.It is found that the device provides reading with average error of 2.04% as compared to commercial meter during one week testing period

Psychological wellbeing, physical impairments and rural aging in a developing country setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There has been very little research on wellbeing, physical impairments and disability in older people in developing countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A community survey of 1147 older parents, one per household, aged sixty and over in rural Thailand. We used the Burvill scale of physical impairment, the Thai Psychological Wellbeing Scale and the brief WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. We rated received and perceived social support separately from children and from others and rated support to children. We used weighted analyses to take account of the sampling design.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Impairments due to arthritis, pain, paralysis, vision, stomach problems or breathing were all associated with lower wellbeing. After adjusting for disability, only impairment due to paralysis was independently associated with lowered wellbeing. The effect of having two or more impairments compared to none was associated with lowered wellbeing after adjusting for demographic factors and social support (adjusted difference -2.37 on the well-being scale with SD = 7.9, p < 0.001) but after adjusting for disability the coefficient fell and was non-significant. The parsimonious model for wellbeing included age, wealth, social support, disability and impairment due to paralysis (the effect of paralysis was -2.97, p = 0.001). In this Thai setting, received support from children and from others and perceived good support from and to children were all independently associated with greater wellbeing whereas actual support to children was associated with lower wellbeing. Low received support from children interacted with paralysis in being especially associated with low wellbeing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this Thai setting, as found in western settings, most of the association between physical impairments and lower wellbeing is explained by disability. Disability is potentially mediating the association between impairment and low wellbeing. Received support may buffer the impact of some impairments on wellbeing in this setting. Giving actual support to children is associated with less wellbeing unless the support being given to children is perceived as good, perhaps reflecting parental obligation to support adult children in need. Improving community disability services for older people and optimizing received social support will be vital in rural areas in developing countries.</p

Women in post-trafficking services in moldova: diagnostic interviews over two time periods to assess returning women's mental health

BACKGROUND: Trafficking in women is a widespread human rights violation commonly associated with poor mental health. Yet, to date, no studies have used psychiatric diagnostic assessment to identify common forms of mental distress among survivors returning to their home country. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted of women aged 18 and over who returned to Moldova between December 2007 and December 2008 registered by the International Organisation for Migration as a survivor of human trafficking. Psychiatric diagnoses in women at a mean of 6 months after return (range 2-12 months) were made by a trained Moldavian psychiatrist using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, and compared with diagnoses recorded in the same women within 5 days of return. We described the socio-demographic characteristics of the women in the sample including both pre and post-trafficking information. We then described the distribution of mental health diagnoses recorded during the crisis intervention phase (1-5 days after return) and the re-integration phase (2-12 months after return). We compared diagnoses at the patient level between the two time points by tabulating the diagnoses and carrying out a kappa test of agreement and the Stuart-Maxwell test for marginal homogeneity (an extension of the McNemar test to kxk table). RESULTS: 120/176 (68%) eligible women participated. At 2-12 months after their return, 54% met criteria for at least one psychiatric diagnoses comprising post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) alone (16%); co-morbid PTSD (20%); other anxiety or mood disorder (18%). 85% of women who had been diagnosed in the crisis phase with co-morbid PTSD or with another anxiety or mood disorder sustained a diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder when followed up during rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Trafficked women returning to their country of origin are likely to suffer serious psychological distress that may endure well beyond the time they return. Women found to have co-morbid PTSD or other forms of anxiety and depression immediately post-return should be offered evidenced-based mental health treatment for at least the standard 12-month period of rehabilitation