Systematic review of studies examining transtibial prosthetic socket pressures with changes in device alignment

Suitable lower-limb prosthetic sockets must provide an adequate distribution of the pressures created from standing and ambulation. A systematic search for articles reporting socket pressure changes in response to device alignment perturbation was carried out, identifying 11 studies. These were then evaluated using the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists guidelines for a state-of-the-science review. Each study used a design where participants acted as their own controls. Results were available for 52 individuals and 5 forms of alignment perturbation. Four studies were rated as having moderate internal and external validity, the remainder were considered to have low validity. Significant limitations in study design, reporting quality and in representation of results and the suitability of calculations of statistical significance were evident across articles. Despite the high inhomogeneity of study designs, moderate evidence supports repeatable changes in pressure distribution for specific induced changes in component alignment. However, there also appears to be a significant individual component to alignment responses. Future studies should aim to include greater detail in the presentation of results to better support later meta-analyses

Streamers in seismic engineering

W artykule przedstawiono przegląd strimerów sejsmicznych wykorzystywanych w badaniach sejsmiki inżynierskiej. Znajdują one zastosowanie przede wszystkim w badaniach podłoża gruntowego szlaków komunikacyjnych. Pomiary takimi urządzeniami można również wykonywać w innych celach badawczych, lecz w warunkach terenowych o płaskim lub słabo zmiennym ukształtowaniu. Obecnie strimery sejsmiczne używane są w warunkach, gdzie długość i liczba profili pomiarowych zmuszają do wielokrotnego rozstawiania i składania sprzętu sejsmicznego. Autorzy definiują pojęcie strimera sejsmicznego. Opracowano klasyfikacje ze względu na rodzaje konstrukcji i sposoby mocowania czujników w strimerach. Scharakteryzowano i zilustrowano zasadę działania oraz opisano obecne stadium i kierunek rozwoju technologii strimerów. Przedstawione zostały możliwe konfiguracje strimerów sejsmicznych wraz z pojazdami ciągnącymi i źródłami sejsmicznymi wykorzystywanymi w pomiarach. Zaprezentowano przykłady strimerów sejsmicznych stosowanych w sejsmice inżynierskiej, ze szczegółowymi ich opisami. Dokonano porównania konstrukcji wybranych strimerów sejsmicznych.This paper presents a detailed overview of land streamers used in seismic engineering. They are commonly implemented in ground reconnaissance along communication routes. Other surveys can be also carried out with this systems, nevertheless field condition should be flat or moderately unchangeable. Nowadays land streamers are used when length and number of seismic profiles force us to make several changes in classical system set-up. Authors defined the term of land streamer. Classification is made due to construction and sensor handle. Characterization and illustration of land streamer principle of operation has been presented. Current direction of technical development was described. The authors presented possible configurations with different towing vehicles and seismic sources. Exemplary land streamers used in industry has been presented with a detailed description. Constructions of selected land streamers have been compered

Manufacturing technology in rehabilitation practice: Implications for its implementation in assistive technology production

This study addressed the participation of rehabilitation professionals in the use of Additive Manufacturing to produce assistive technology devices. A literature review based on articles published in scientific journals indexed in the Scopus database was conducted by searching for papers addressing the use of Additive Manufacturing Technologies in the development of orthotic and prosthetic devices in rehabilitation programs. The 46 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in terms of the participation of the health professionals in the process of design of orthotic and prosthetic devices. The analysis revealed that in most cases the use of 3D printing technologies in the design of assistive devices do not comprise interdisciplinary teams with active participation of rehabilitation professionals