Analysis Of Spinal Electromyography Signal When Lifting An Object

Lifting and swinging are daily activities that human do using the spine.Furthermore,spine provides support during standing and walking.Therefore,it is very important in everyday activities and it will be inconvenient when it is injured.Technology has provided ways to machine and human integration in helping or supporting people in their daily tasks.To make this integration successful, machines or robots need to understand the human muscle activity.To do so,electromyography (EMG) a bio signal record the electricity generated by muscle was implemented.However,the signal often influenced by the unwanted noise.In this paper,the MVC normalization method is applied to determine the spinal EMG signal on lumbar multifidus muscle when lifting an object.In order to analyze the identity of spinal EMG signal,two statistical analyses are done;1) ANOVA analysis and 2)Boxplot analysis.The signal will go through 8th order Gaussian function or Exponential Weight Moving Average Filter before being analysed.Results show that Exponential Weight Moving Average Filter gives more consistent value compared to 8th order Gaussian function which is 0.0428V RMSE based on linear fitting done from the maximum amplitude gather from the boxplot analysis done

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

SummaryBackground Azithromycin has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatoryactions. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.Methods In this randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19Therapy [RECOVERY]), several possible treatments were compared with usual care in patients admitted to hospitalwith COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 176 hospitals in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients wererandomly allocated to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus azithromycin 500 mg once perday by mouth or intravenously for 10 days or until discharge (or allocation to one of the other RECOVERY treatmentgroups). Patients were assigned via web-based simple (unstratified) randomisation with allocation concealment andwere twice as likely to be randomly assigned to usual care than to any of the active treatment groups. Participants andlocal study staff were not masked to the allocated treatment, but all others involved in the trial were masked to theoutcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treatpopulation. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936.Findings Between April 7 and Nov 27, 2020, of 16 442 patients enrolled in the RECOVERY trial, 9433 (57%) wereeligible and 7763 were included in the assessment of azithromycin. The mean age of these study participants was65·3 years (SD 15·7) and approximately a third were women (2944 [38%] of 7763). 2582 patients were randomlyallocated to receive azithromycin and 5181 patients were randomly allocated to usual care alone. Overall,561 (22%) patients allocated to azithromycin and 1162 (22%) patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days(rate ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·87–1·07; p=0·50). No significant difference was seen in duration of hospital stay (median10 days [IQR 5 to >28] vs 11 days [5 to >28]) or the proportion of patients discharged from hospital alive within 28 days(rate ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·98–1·10; p=0·19). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, nosignificant difference was seen in the proportion meeting the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilationor death (risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·87–1·03; p=0·24).Interpretation In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, azithromycin did not improve survival or otherprespecified clinical outcomes. Azithromycin use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should be restrictedto patients in whom there is a clear antimicrobial indication

Mercury Removal from Actual Petroleum Based Industries Wastewater by P. putida in Membrane Bioreactor

Mercury is an extremely toxic pollutant that currently being emitted and distributed globally. Several petroleum based industrial plants had showed high concentration of mercury compare to the Department of Environmental (DOE), Malaysia. Microbes have been used to solve environmental wastewater problems for many years. Objective of this study is to remove mercury from actual petrochemical wastewater using Pseudomonas putida (P. putida), in membrane bioreactor. To achieve the maximum of mercury removal, the optimum growth parameters of P. putida were obtained. Based on the optimum parameters of P. putida for specific growth rate, µ the removal of 4 mg/L was studied. Results showed mercury removal for sample with 4 mg/L mercury in bioreactor is 99.60% for the first 6 hours, 99.80% removal for 120 hours and 99.90 % after the microfiltration membrane system. The specific growth rate (μ) describes how fast the cells are reproducing. The higher the value of specific growth rate, then the faster the cells are growing.In this case, 6 hours was the optimum time for the mercury removal with the ratio of mercury mass over cell mass is 20.78 µgHg/g cells for P. putida. Microfiltration membrane enhanced further the treatment of the wastewater by retaining the P. putida from escaping during the release of treated wastewater, reducing the turbidity by 94.2% (5.32 NTU) and concentration of suspended solids up to 60.4% (0.09 mg/L). The mechanism of mercury detoxification in the membrane bioreactor was based on reduction of Hg²⁺ to non-toxic Hg0 by mercury reductase enzyme produced by P. putida. The findings from this study can be used as references for future application of petroleum based industries wastewater treatment as well as other industries related to mercury contamination in their wastewater treatment plant such as gold mining, chemical industries, agriculture etc

Determining dominant process parameters in polyester yarn winding

The manufacturing of spiral conveyor starts from yarn winding process in which the monofilament yarn is wounded around a hot mandrel mold to produce a spiral yarn. Due to several process parameters, the formation of the spiral’s diameter size can be inconsistent. Thus, it is important to determine the most dominant process parameter that affects the diameter of the formed spiral. In this study, design of experiment based on Taguchi method is used to investigate several parameters effect on the formation of spiral fabric. The investigation is based on the accuracy of the major and minor dimension of spirals being produced according to the specified dimension for several different factors and levels of the process parameters. It is found that process tension is the main parameter that affects the accuracy of the major dimension and the second heater gap is the main parameter that affect the accuracy of the minor dimension. In conclusion, these two process parameters need to be properly controlled to ensure good quality spiral is produced during the yarn spiral winding process

Study of Palm Oil Mill Effluents Treatment Using Bio Engineered Structure Biomedia

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is waste produced by the palm oil processing mills in Malaysia and also generates large quantities of liquid waste. This research is aim to remove high content of suspended solids and oil in POME by using Bio Engineered Structure (BES) bio media. Besides that, it also to investigate condition of BES biomedia for POME treatment in bioreactor system and also the main factors affecting BES biomedia performance in POME treatment. The BES biomedia for POME wastewater treatment system is a compact biological purification system and enhanced the conditions for the microbiology to breakdown the pollution. The nutrient broth mixed with Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) was injected to BES biomedia tank with the ratio of 1:9 P. putida to POME. The growth of P. putida was compared between in shake flask and BES biomedia reactor. In shake flask, the P. putida take a shorter time to encounter with the environment while in BES biomedia reactor it take more period to encounter with a new environment. From the aeration rate, it shows that at rate of one L/min have the highest removal efficiency of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), 46.73%, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), 99.03% and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), 71.88%. As conclusion, BES biomedia is potentially to be a good method to treat POME that will reduce the uncontrolled waste and environmental pollution to our country

Effect of thickness and reinforcement configuration on flexural and impact behaviour of GFRP laminates after exposure to elevated temperatures

This study investigates the flexural and impact behaviour of GFRP laminates after exposure to elevated temperatures. The effect of fibre's length and orientation, laminate's thickness, and exposure time is studied. A total number of 540 tests in terms of three-point bending and Charpy impact tests were conducted to obtain the mechanical properties. In addition, SEM analyses were carried out to investigate the degradation mechanisms. Finally, statistical study was conducted to investigate the contribution of each variable and develop probabilistic models using ANOVA and linear Bayesian regression method. The results showed that generally the flexural and impact properties of GFRP laminates decrease by increasing the temperature and time of exposure as well as decreasing the laminates’ thickness. It is also observed that laminates with unidirectional fibres have the best performance under elevated temperatures, while laminates with randomly distributed fibres are the most vulnerable type. The performance of laminates with woven fibres are almost between those two other types. However, all types of the laminates lost almost all their flexural strength and impact energy absorption capacity at 300 °C

Durability of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites under seawater and sea-sand concrete coupled with harsh outdoor environments

This article presents an investigation on the durability of different glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites when subjected to harsh outdoor conditions, including freeze/thaw cycles, ultraviolet radiation and moisture, as well as when used with seawater sea-sand concrete for construction applications. To achieve this, the effects of a number of parameters, including the environment of exposure, exposure time, profile cross-sectional configuration and orientation of fibres, on the mechanical properties of different glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites were studied. To investigate the degradation of the mechanical properties, three-point bending, compression and tension tests were conducted on both reference and conditioned samples. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed to examine the contribution of microstructural deterioration to the damage mechanisms of the conditioned composites. Finally, the test results were used to develop empirical regression models to predict the level of retention of mechanical properties of different composites under different environmental conditions. The findings showed the maximum flexural, compressive and tensile strength reductions to be 35%, 48% and 37%, respectively, with regards to the pultruded profiles exposed for 3000 h to freeze/thaw cycles followed by 90 days of seawater sea-sand concrete immersion, while the flexural strength reductions recorded for the vacuum-infused samples subjected to 2000 h of freeze/thaw cycles followed by 90 days of seawater sea-sand concrete immersion were 28%, 72% and 56% for the unidirectional, woven and chopped strand mat laminates, respectively