Estimation of hand and finger kinematics using inertial sensors

A new dataglove is developed and presented. Inertial sensors are placed on various hand and finger segments to estimate the hand pose

Hybrid expansions for local structural relaxations

A model is constructed in which pair potentials are combined with the cluster expansion method in order to better describe the energetics of structurally relaxed substitutional alloys. The effect of structural relaxations away from the ideal crystal positions, and the effect of ordering is described by interatomic-distance dependent pair potentials, while more subtle configurational aspects associated with correlations of three- and more sites are described purely within the cluster expansion formalism. Implementation of such a hybrid expansion in the context of the cluster variation method or Monte Carlo method gives improved ability to model phase stability in alloys from first-principles.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Assessment of hand kinematics using inertial and magnetic sensors

Background:\ud Assessment of hand kinematics is important when evaluating hand functioning. Major drawbacks ofcurrent sensing glove systems are lack of rotational observability in particular directions, labourintensive calibration methods which are sensitive to wear and lack of an absolute hand orientationestimate.\ud \ud Methods:\ud We propose an ambulatory system using inertial sensors that can be placed on the hand, fingers andthumb. It allows a full 3D reconstruction of all finger and thumb joints as well as the absoluteorientation of the hand. The system was experimentally evaluated for the static accuracy, dynamicrange and repeatability.\ud \ud Results:\ud The RMS position norm difference of the fingertip compared to an optical system was 5±0.5 mm(mean ± standard deviation) for flexion-extension and 12.4±3.0 mm for combined flexion-extensionabduction-adduction movements of the index finger. The difference between index and thumb tipsduring a pinching movement was 6.5±2.1 mm. The dynamic range of the sensing system and filterwas adequate to reconstruct full 80 degrees movements of the index finger performed at 116 timesper minute, which was limited by the range of the gyroscope. Finally, the reliability study showed amean range difference over five subjects of 1.1±0.4 degrees for a flat hand test and1.8±0.6 degrees for a plastic mold clenching test, which is smaller than other reported data gloves.\ud \ud Conclusion:\ud Compared to existing data gloves, this research showed that inertial and magnetic sensors are of interest for ambulatory analysis of the human hand and finger kinematics in terms of static accuracy, dynamic range and repeatability. It allows for estimation of multi-degree of freedom joint movements using low-cost sensors

Effect of an inhaled glucocorticoid on reactive oxygen species production by bronchoalveolar lavage cells from smoking COPD patients

Oxidative stress in the lung is important in the pathogenesis of COPD. Published data indicate that glucocorticoids inhibit blood cells in their capacity to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the effect of Fluticasone propionate (FP) on the ROS production capabilities of pulmonary cells. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in smoking COPD patients, before and after a six month, placebo-controlled treatment with FP. BAL cells were stimulated with phorbol myristrate acetate (PMA) alone, and together with superoxide dismutase (SOD). From kinetic plots of ferricytochrome-c conversion we calculated the maximal rate of superoxide production: Vmax. We also examined BAL cell subsets and performed correlation analyses on ROS production and relevant clinical determinants. Paired results were obtained from 6 FP- and 9 placebo-treated patients. No significant change of Vmax was found in both patient groups. Also BAL cellularity was unchanged. Correlation analyses showed a significant (inverse) association of Vmax with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. We concluded that a potent inhaled glucocorticoid had no effect on the ROS production capability of BAL cells from smoking COPD patients. Apparently, heavy smoking impaired the ability of alveolar macrophages to produce ROS, which was not further decreased by FP