Designing a Safe, Durable, Affordable Crib

ME450 Capstone Design and Manufacturing Experience: Winter 2010Kids In DangerSM, a nonprofit organization, is concerned with safety and affordability of baby cribs currently available. This is because the crib is the one product where the child is intended to be left alone, and many low-income families with newborns cannot afford safe cribs. Ms. Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of Kids In Danger, contacted us to design and build a safe, affordable crib. Through our research, we have determined the targets needed for the design of such a crib. Using these target engineering specifications and customer requirements, we generated concept ideas in a morphological chart to meet these separate requirements. Using the concept ideas, five total crib concepts were generated and evaluated in a Pugh chart using a weighted scoring system based on the importance of the customer requirements. From this evaluation an "alpha" concept design was selected. Via engineering analysis, the alpha concept design was further refined, and the sides were made to be collapsible. These changes resulted in the final concept design. A working prototype of the final design was made and validation procedures were conducted. The mass production price was found to be $82.58, the overall weight was 45.2 lbs, and the cycles to failure were found to be 55,406. The predicted lifetime based on the cycles to failure analysis was 15.2 years, and computed with equations since there was a time constraint where an actual test could not be completed. We recommend a further refinement which would result in weight reduction as well as more rigorous safety and durability testing before widespread use.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109380/1/me450w10project22_report.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109380/2/me450w10project22_photo.jp

Quantifying Soil Chemical Properties Using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Methodologies for determining soil chemical properties have evolved dramatically during the past century. Early geochemical analyses were conducted exclusively through the use of wet chemistry techniques that were relatively reliable but painstaking and subject to errors at various stages of analysis. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as a new approach for rapidly analyzing a variety of materials including soils. In this study soil samples were taken from eight study areas across the Ozark Highlands of Arkansas, and NIRS calibration models were developed to determine the accuracy of using NIRS to analyze soils compared with standard soil chemical analysis protocols. Multivariate regression models were highly effective for analyzing several important elements. C and N models explained 92% and 88% of their variation, respectively, and Ca, Mg, P, and Mn models explained 72-88% of the variability in these elements. Models for C:N and pH explained 82% and 86% of their variability, respectively. Models for micronutrients Cu and Zn did not fit as well with 22% and 40% of their variability explained, respectively. Our findings suggest that additional NIRS calibration and modeling is promising for rapidly analyzing the chemical composition of soils, and it is desirable to develop model libraries that are calibrated for the soils of a given region

Impact of a radiological protection campaign in emergency paediatric radiology: a multicentric observational study in Brazil

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a paediatric radiological protection campaign, implemented in the emergency units of a healthcare provider network in Brazil. This campaign aimed to promote awareness among emergency department physicians, regarding justifcation of paediatric X-ray referrals for paranasal sinus, chest and CT exams, as a strategy to reduce exposure to ionising radiation. Method: Frequency analysis of common paediatric imaging referrals from 19 emergency departments was performed for a 3-year period (2015–2018) to coincide with before, during and after the implementation of the radiation protection campaign. The campaign was multifaceted and involved dissemination of educational materials and imaging referral guidelines along with quarterly meetings with participating centres’ leaderships. Additionally, patient dose cards were distributed to patients/carers. The Chi-Square test was used to examine the association between the type of examination and the patient’s age group. Exact-Fisher test was performed to check for an association between participant engagement and the existence of the radiation protection committee. Results: Referrals reduced by 25% following the campaign with no reports of misdiagnosis. Many referrals in the youngest age groups. In 15 units, a radiological protection committee was created to raise awareness and to create a multi professional team to communicate the risks and benefits of radiological procedure in children. Conclusion: The campaign resulted in a substantial reduction in radiological referrals while promoting a radiation protection culture. Simple education initiatives can contribute to savings in both finances and radiation doses, particularly important in radiosensitive cohorts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Measuring the Effect of USCG Port Security Advisory Notices On Trade and Port Security Procedures

Overview: The United States Coast Guard’s International Port Security (IPS) Program is the primary port security assessment office and was established in 2003 as part of the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) to reduce risks to U.S. ports and ships, and to the entire maritime transport system. Through the assessment of International Ship and Port Facility Security Code implementation and other measures in foreign ports, the International Port Security Program can determine whether or not there is a reasonable and acceptable level of port security at any given foreign port. This report is comprised of qualitative and quantitative research along with two case studies that compare and contrast two countries and/or ports that either succeeded or failed in complying with this program and received a Port Security Advisory (PSA). Hypothesis: Port Security Advisories (PSA) are issued when a port does not meet the International Port Security Program code. They are an instrument to build and sustain port security practices and improvements. PSAs can give standard regulations for those who use ports in compliance with a PSA as well as create maritime security protocols for other countries that do not have strong port standards. As for the economic impacts, there can be both positive and negative factors depending on the country and the situation. However, we hypothesize that overall, PSAs do not significantly influence a country’s volume of trade. Due to non-compliant countries in reporting, there is no discernable method for tracking or ensuring restrictions. Methodology: We will observe quantitative measures of trade to identify negative impacts associated with the issuance of PSAs. We will also look at quantitative data to identify positive impacts associated with PSAs. We will be using USCG’s HOMEPORT website to identify the PSAs and use COMTRADE to examine trade both before and after a PSA was issued. Trade will be compared to similar countries, those which have not received a PSA. Lastly, we will go over local and regional factors and determine what is currently working and what needs to be improved. Conclusions: Our conclusion is that as a system the PSA process is not necessary an influence on trade. There may be correlations between countries with PSAs issued and changes in trade but there are a myriad of other factors that can impact this making the current methodology less than definitive. There also may be certain countries and/or ports where the correlation appears stronger (See Case Study #1); but overall, our conclusion is that PSAs have a negligible impact on a country receiving them in influencing their volume of trade

Education and training in radiation protection in Europe: an analysis from the EURAMED rocc-n-roll project

Background: A Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was performed to understand the status quo of education and training in radiation protection (RP) and to develop a coordinated European approach to RP training needs based on stakeholder consensus and existing activities in the field. Fourteen team members represented six European professional societies, one European voluntary organisation, two international healthcare organisations and five professions, namely: Medical Physicists; Nuclear Medicine Physicians; Radiologists; Radiation Oncologists and Radiographers. Four subgroups analysed the “Strengths”, “Weaknesses”, “Opportunities” and “Threats” related to E&T in RP developed under previous European Union (EU) programmes and on the Guidelines on Radiation Protection Education and Training of Medical Professionals in the EU. Results: Consensus agreement identified four themes for strengths and opportunities, namely: (1) existing structures and training recommendations; (2) RP training needs assessment and education & training (E&T) model(s) development; (3) E&T dissemination, harmonisation, and accreditation; (4) financial supports. Weaknesses and Threats analysis identified two themes: (1) awareness and prioritisation at a national/global level and (2) awareness and prioritisation by healthcare professional groups and researchers. Conclusions: A lack of effective implementation of RP principles in daily practice was identified. EuRnR strategic planning needs to consider processes at European, national and local levels. Success is dependent upon efficient governance structures and expert leadership. Financial support is required to allow the stakeholder professional agencies to have sufficient resources to achieve a pan European radiation protection training network which is sustainable and accredited across multiple national domains.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Education and training in radiation protection in Europe: an analysis from the EURAMED rocc-n-roll project

Background: A Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was performed to understand the status quo of education and training in radiation protection (RP) and to develop a coordinated European approach to RP training needs based on stakeholder consensus and existing activities in the field. Fourteen team members represented six European professional societies, one European voluntary organisation, two international healthcare organisations and five professions, namely: Medical Physicists; Nuclear Medicine Physicians; Radiologists; Radiation Oncologists and Radiographers. Four subgroups analysed the “Strengths”, “Weaknesses”, “Opportunities” and “Threats” related to E&T in RP developed under previous European Union (EU) programmes and on the Guidelines on Radiation Protection Education and Training of Medical Professionals in the EU. Results: Consensus agreement identified four themes for strengths and opportunities, namely: (1) existing structures and training recommendations; (2) RP training needs assessment and education & training (E&T) model(s) development; (3) E&T dissemination, harmonisation, and accreditation; (4) financial supports. Weaknesses and Threats analysis identified two themes: (1) awareness and prioritisation at a national/global level and (2) awareness and prioritisation by healthcare professional groups and researchers. Conclusions: A lack of effective implementation of RP principles in daily practice was identified. EuRnR strategic planning needs to consider processes at European, national and local levels. Success is dependent upon efficient governance structures and expert leadership. Financial support is required to allow the stakeholder professional agencies to have sufficient resources to achieve a pan European radiation protection training network which is sustainable and accredited across multiple national domains.European Commission Horizon 202

Education and training in radiation protection in Europe: results from the EURAMED Rocc-n-Roll project survey

Purpose: To analyse the existing radiation protection (RP) education and training (E&T) capabilities in the European Union and identify associated needs, problems and challenges. Method: An online survey was disseminated via the EURAMED Rocc-n-Roll consortium network and prominent medical societies in the field of radiological research. The survey sections analyse the RP E&T during undergraduate, residency/internship and continuous professional development; RP E&T problems and legal implementation. Differences were analysed by European geographic regions, profession, years of professional experience and main area of practice/research. Results: The majority of the 550 respondents indicated that RP topics are part of undergraduate curricula in all courses for their profession and country (55%); however, hands-on practical training is not included according to 30% of the respondents. The lack of E&T, practical aspects in current E&T, and mandatory continuing E&T were considered the major problems. The legal requirement that obtained higher implementation score was the inclusion of the practical aspects of medical radiological procedures on education (86%), and lower score was obtained for the inclusion of RP E&T on medical and dental school curriculums (61%). Conclusions: A heterogeneity in RP E&T during undergraduate, residency/internship and continuous professional development is evident across Europe. Differences were noted per area of practice/research, profession, and European geographic region. A large variation in RP E&T problem rating was also obtained.European Commission Horizon 202

Development of a synthetic phantom for the selection of optimal scanning parameters in CAD-CT colonography

The aim of this paper is to present the development of a synthetic phantom that can be used for the selection of optimal scanning parameters in computed tomography (CT) colonography. In this paper we attempt to evaluate the influence of the main scanning parameters including slice thickness, reconstruction interval, field of view, table speed and radiation dose on the overall performance of a computer aided detection (CAD)–CTC system. From these parameters the radiation dose received a special attention, as the major problem associated with CTC is the patient exposure to significant levels of ionising radiation. To examine the influence of the scanning parameters we performed 51 CT scans where the spread of scanning parameters was divided into seven different protocols. A large number of experimental tests were performed and the results analysed. The results show that automatic polyp detection is feasible even in cases when the CAD–CTC system was applied to low dose CT data acquired with the following protocol: 13 mAs/rotation with collimation of 1.5 mm × 16 mm, slice thickness of 3.0 mm, reconstruction interval of 1.5 mm, table speed of 30 mm per rotation. The CT phantom data acquired using this protocol was analysed by an automated CAD–CTC system and the experimental results indicate that our system identified all clinically significant polyps (i.e. larger than 5 mm)

The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players

Purpose: To determine whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Methods: Forty elite-level rugby union players (male n = 20, female n = 20) participated in this cross-sectional study. A sonographer acquired static ultrasound images using a 92 mm linear transducer to quantify (via a semi-automated tracing software tool) the architectural characteristics (muscle length, fascicle length, pennation angle, and muscle thickness) of the biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus muscles of participants’ left limb. Muscle length and muscle thickness of the biceps femoris short head and semitendinosus muscles of participants’ left limb were also quantified. Bonferroni adjusted independent samples t-tests were performed to evaluate whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Results: There were no significant differences in fascicle length or pennation angle of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players. Some significant differences in muscle thickness (biceps femoris short head, and semimembranosus) and muscle length (biceps femoris short head, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus) were observed; in all cases the male players had thicker and longer muscles.Conclusion: At a group level, hamstring muscle fascicle length and pennation angle are unlikely to be a sex-specific intrinsic risk factor for Hamstring strain injuries

Sustained antigen availability during germinal center initiation enhances antibody responses to vaccination

Natural infections expose the immune system to escalating antigen and inflammation over days to weeks, whereas nonlive vaccines are single bolus events. We explored whether the immune system responds optimally to antigen kinetics most similar to replicating infections, rather than a bolus dose. Using HIV antigens, we found that administering a given total dose of antigen and adjuvant over 1–2 wk through repeated injections or osmotic pumps enhanced humoral responses, with exponentially increasing (exp-inc) dosing profiles eliciting >10-fold increases in antibody production relative to bolus vaccination post prime. Computational modeling of the germinal center response suggested that antigen availability as higher-affinity antibodies evolve enhances antigen capture in lymph nodes. Consistent with these predictions, we found that exp-inc dosing led to prolonged antigen retention in lymph nodes and increased Tfh cell and germinal center B-cell numbers. Thus, regulating the antigen and adjuvant kinetics may enable increased vaccine potency.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (Awards UM1AI100663)National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (Awards AI110657