Addressing the challenges posed by human machine interfaces based on force sensitive resistors for powered prostheses

Despite the advancements in the mechatronics aspect of prosthetic devices, prostheses control still lacks an interface that satisfies the needs of the majority of users. The research community has put great effort into the advancements of prostheses control techniques to address users’ needs. However, most of these efforts are focused on the development and assessment of technologies in the controlled environments of laboratories. Such findings do not fully transfer to the daily application of prosthetic systems. The objectives of this thesis focus on factors that affect the use of Force Myography (FMG) controlled prostheses in practical scenarios. The first objective of this thesis assessed the use of FMG as an alternative or synergist Human Machine Interface (HMI) to the more traditional HMI, i.e. surface Electromyography (sEMG). The assessment for this study was conducted in conditions that are relatively close to the real use case of prosthetic applications. The HMI was embedded in the custom prosthetic prototype that was developed for the pilot participant of the study using an off-the-shelf prosthetic end effector. Moreover, prostheses control was assessed as the user moved their limb in a dynamic protocol.The results of the aforementioned study motivated the second objective of this thesis: to investigate the possibility of reducing the complexity of high density FMG systems without sacrificing classification accuracies. This was achieved through a design method that uses a high density FMG apparatus and feature selection to determine the number and location of sensors that can be eliminated without significantly sacrificing the system’s performance. The third objective of this thesis investigated two of the factors that contribute to increased errors in force sensitive resistor (FSR) signals used in FMG controlled prostheses: bending of force sensors and variations in the volume of the residual limb. Two studies were conducted that proposed solutions to mitigate the negative impact of these factors. The incorporation of these solutions into prosthetic devices is discussed in these studies.It was demonstrated that FMG is a promising HMI for prostheses control. The facilitation of pattern recognition with FMG showed potential for intuitive prosthetic control. Moreover, a method for the design of a system that can determine the required number of sensors and their locations on each individual to achieve a simpler system with comparable performance to high density FMG systems was proposed and tested. The effects of the two factors considered in the third objective were determined. It was also demonstrated that the proposed solutions in the studies conducted for this objective can be used to increase the accuracy of signals that are commonly used in FMG controlled prostheses

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I draw on my natural interest in my family’s eclectic collections – both traditional and personal – to create poetic portraits composed of carefully made and arranged objects. The goal of my portraiture is not to convey physical likeness; superseding the imitation of appearance is psychological portrayal of the desires and disappointments of the sitter. Often, a fragmented sense of self is revealed – both in others and in myself – and I seek to depict the kaleidoscopic nature of individuals in their given situations. Possessing whimsical, playful elements as well as encounters with lack and longing, I create work to escape what in my life is unbearable as well as to finally embrace that which I cannot possibly escape

Assessment relationship between agro-morphological traits and grain yield in bread wheat genotypes under drought stress condition

To evaluate the genetic diversity in bread wheat landraces along with six controls (Azar2, Fankang, Trakia, Siosson, Gaspard and Gascogne), an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out under drought stress condition in the Agricultural Research Station of Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran. Analysis of variance indicated that there were highly significant differences among the genotypes in all of the traits. There were significant correlations between yield and all of the studied traits. Principal components (PC) analysis showed that five components explained 69.3% of the total variation among traits. The first PC assigned 29% and the second PC assigned 15% and of total variation between traits. The first PC was more related to tiller numbers, fertile tillers, biological yield, grain yield and volume of seed plants. Therefore, selection based on first component is helpful for a good hybridization breeding program. A principal component biplot showed low distance between grain yield and biological yield, volume of seed, plant height and hectoliter. From this study, it was concluded that a good hybridization breeding program can be initiated by the selection of genotypes from the PC1.Keywords: Bread wheat, biplot, landrace, drought stress, agronomic trait

A Platonic Critical Study of TV as a Poet

The quarrel between Plato and the poets in the Utopia and try to exclude them from there is a very important subject in the Republic. He in the book III explains the limits for poems and determines the poems that can be read for youths and the poems that cannot be read for them. This radical Platonic approach to the poets and their poems can be linked today to the many different media especially TV and its programs. In Plato's view, our reaction to the different events in the everyday life is a copy of our reaction to the poem. This problem is today linked to the TV and other social media like cinema. TV in only an instrument for distribution and transmission, and does not present any new method for interpreting reality. In another word, TV only present reality as it is and TV is like the Platonic poet in this respect. We can recite the Platonic objection on poem, also on the TV and its functions. In the present article we will try to survey the nature and the functions of TV by the Platonic method of critiquing poets in the Utopia

Effects of drought stress on some agronomic and morphological traits of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) landraces under greenhouse condition

Although, drought stress has been well documented as an effective parameter in decreasing crop production; developing and releasing new varieties which are adaptable to water deficit conditions can be a constructive program to overcome unsuitable environmental conditions. The present study was carried out to study the effect of drought stress under greenhouse conditions in Islamic Azad University of Ardabil Branch, Iran. The agronomic and morphological traits of 25 durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes were investigated. The present study was done based on randomized complete block design with three replications in drought stress and normal irrigation conditions in a greenhouse. The analysis of variance has indicated that there are significant differences among the genotypes in all the traits, which indicate that there are great variations among genotypes in order to use in improvement plans. Analysis of variance shows that drought stress has a significant effect on all studied traits except harvest index. The comparison of means indicated that the genotypes; poldash, sari boghda and germi in normal condition and sari boghda, omrabi-5, langan, germi and germi under stress condition, are the superior groups. Grain yield has shown a positive and significant correlation with peduncle length, number of grains per spike, 1000 grain weight, biological yield and harvest index. Cluster analysis divides the genotypes into three groups in each condition. The best genotypes were included in a group which confirms the results of the compared means yield.Key words: Agronomic traits, durum wheat, genetic diversity, yield components

Evaluation of the sustainable urban development in the Mashhad Metropolis using Ecological Footprint Method

The footprint analysis approach is based on the idea that a certain amount of land will be required in one or more environmental domains for the consumption of any commodity or energy in order to ensure the flow of the resources consumed and the disposal of the resulting fossil fuels. So, there are several methods to calculate the sustainability and ecological effects of urban areas. Meanwhile, the method of ecological footprint is a new approach that offers clear and measurable results in urban management. The purpose of this research is to assess the sustainability of Mashhad's metropolis development with ecological footprint indicators in different sectors of consumption, such as housing, transportation, food, goods and services. In this research, all services and goods which are consumed by inhabitants of Mashhad, used throughout their lives, included in six types of land use including land energy, agriculture, pasture, fishery, forest and land, and the per capita footprint of any types of land use. The results of this research show that per capita ecological footprint of every person in Mashhad is 1.27 average of world hectare. Considering the bio capacity in the study area (0.66 hectares), facing ecological deficit and meeting the needs of its inhabitants, according to the population of 3.135.618, an area equivalent to 3,982,235 hectares is needed to respond their habitants. That is almost twice the living capacity of the region. It indicates the Mashhad Metropolitan dependence on supporting areas to meet the needs of its inhabitants

Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Iran

SummaryObjective/BackgroundChildren with cerebral palsy (CP) need more attention and care, especially from their mothers. This can affect the mothers' quality of life (QOL) adversely. This study aimed to assess the QOL of Iranian mothers who have a child with CP, compared with mothers with a healthy child, focusing on some individual and social underlying factors.MethodsUsing a cluster-sampling approach, two groups of eligible mothers having children aged 4–12 years, with and without CP, from Tehran's randomly selected clinics, were chosen in a convenient way and enrolled in a cross-sectional study. A group of mothers with healthy children whose demographics closely matched with the group of mothers having children with CP were selected and recruited in the study. The group with mothers with children with CP was selected randomly from a convenience sample in 14 rehabilitation and occupational therapy clinics in Tehran, Iran. To collect data on characteristics of interest, mothers were interviewed, and the SF-36 Questionnaire was used to measure their QOL. The relationship between each characteristic and the mothers' level of QOL was assessed, and the crude odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted ORs were measured by logistic regression.ResultsSixty mothers with CP children, and 60 mothers with healthy children participated in this study. Their mean (±standard deviation) age was 33.79 (±6.02) years, and their children's mean age was 7.11 (±2.71). The two groups were significantly different in QOL mean score (57.35 ± 18.39 vs. 71.7 ± 13.58; p ≤ .001). It was shown that having a child with CP with intellectual disability is significantly related to a worse level of QOL of mothers (adjusted OR = 5.4, p ≤ .001), whereas having full-time jobs is reversely associated with it (adjusted OR = 0.2, p = .02).ConclusionTwo important factors that lead to a worse QOL of mothers with a CP child are the unemployment of mothers and having a CP child with concurrent intellectual disabilities. To diminish the adverse effects of having a CP child on QOL of mothers, unemployed women who have a CP child with concurrent intellectual disabilities need more psychological support and help