Bioceramic fabrics improve quiet standing posture and handstand stability in expert gymnasts

Bioceramic fabrics have been claimed to improve blood circulation, thermoregulation and muscle relaxation, thereby also improving muscular activity. Here we tested whether bioceramic fabrics have an effect on postural control and contribute to improve postural stability. In Experiment 1, we tested whether bioceramic fabrics contribute to reduce body-sway when maintaining standard standing posture. In Experiment 2, we measured the effect of bioceramic fabrics on body-sway when maintaining a more instable posture, namely a handstand hold. For both experiments, postural oscillations were measured using a force platform with four strain gauges that recorded the displacements of the center of pressure (CoP) in the horizontal plane. In half of the trials, the participants wore a full-body second skin suit containing a bioceramic layer. In the other half of the trials, they wore a ‘placebo’ second skin suit that had the same cut, appearance and elasticity as the bioceramic suit but did not contain the bioceramic layer. In both experiments, the surface of displacement of the CoP was significantly smaller when participants were wearing the bioceramic suit than when they were wearing the placebo suit. The results suggest that bioceramic fabrics do have an effect on postural control and improve postural stability

On the study of boundary layer sediment transport processes using new developmental acoustic techniques

This study aims at presenting a set of novel acoustic flow and sediment measuring tools used in a complementary way for the investigation of fine-scale flow and sediment transport processes above a rippled sand bed under waves. Measurements were conducted in the 100m long wave channel at UPC-LIM with surface gravity waves generating migrating ripples on a mobile sand bed. The set of acoustic instrumentation consisted of an Acoustic 3D Ripple Profiler (3D-ARP), a novel Bedform And Suspended Sediment Imager (BASSI) and three Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profilers (ACVP). Here we assess the ACVP’s and the BASSI.Postprint (published version

The evolution of mobile bed tests: a step towards the future of coastal engineering

Coastal Engineering still presents significant levels of uncertainty, much larger for sediment transport and morphodynamics than for the driving hydrodynamics. Because of that there is still a need for experimental research that addresses the water and sediment fluxes occurring at multiple scales in the near shore and for some of which there are still not universally accepted equations or closure sub-models. Large scale bed tests offer the possibility to obtain undistorted results under controlled conditions that may look at sediment transport and associated bed evolution under a variety of wave and mean water level conditions. The present limitations in conventional observation equipment preclude a clear advancement in knowledge or model calibration. However the new developments in opto-acoustic equipment should allow such an advancement to take place provided the new experimental equipment becomes more robust in parallel with a protocol for deployment and data processing. This paper will present the experimental approach to erosive and accretive beach dynamics, with emphasis on the accretive experiments. These accretive tests still present further uncertainties and sometimes cannot be explained with the present state of the art. Following this there is a presentation of the novel development of an acoustic bed form and suspended sediment imager, able to monitor bed forms near bed sediment transport and their corresponding dynamics. The next section deals with an acoustic high resolution concentration and velocity profiler that is able to infer even the elusive bed level, together with the near bed concentrated sediment transport and the details of fluxes on the stoss and lee sides of moving bed forms. This is followed by a discussion on the merits of novel optic techniques, using structured and unstructured light sources. There is also some remarks on new approaches. Illustrated by the use of ferro-fluids to obtain directly the shear stresses acting on a wall even under the presence of “some” sediment. The paper ends with some conclusions on the use of such mobile bed tests in present and future Coastal Engineering.Postprint (published version

On the study of boundary layer transport processes using new developmental acoustic techniques

This study aims at presenting a set of novel acoustic flow and sediment measuring tools used in a complementary way for the investigation of fine-scale flow and sediment transport processes above a rippled sand bed under waves. Measurements were conducted in the 100m long wave channel at UPC-LIM with surface gravity waves generating migrating ripples on a mobile sand bed. The set of acoustic instrumentation consisted of an Acoustic 3D Ripple Profiler (3D-ARP), a novel Bedform And Suspended Sediment Imager (BASSI) and three Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profilers (ACVP). Here we assess the ACVP’s and the BASSI

Enhanced Laparoscopic Vision Improves Detection of Intraoperative Adverse Events During Laparoscopy

International audienceBackground: The absence of visibility of the entire surgical scene in laparoscopic surgery can lead to unforeseen intraoperative complications. An Enhanced Laparoscopy Vision System (ELViS) was developed to eliminate the blind spots of the traditional endoscope by providing a broad view of the surgical scene from a distance, thanks to two additional images. This study assessed whether the broad view provided by the Enhanced Laparoscopic Vision (ELV) helped the surgeon to detect and react to an unexpected intraoperative adverse event (simulated hemorrhage) occurring while performing a standard task. Methods: While participants were performing a standard task (sorting pins) on a dry lab laparoscopic simulator with or without ELV, a simulated bleeding (LED lighting) was randomly triggered. Perprocedure metrics were recorded and surgeons' feedback gathered at the end of the session. Results: Thirteen Senior surgeons participated. Mean response time was significantly reduced when using ELV, with a similar number of simulated bleeding events between both modalities. All surgeons agreed that ELV could be helpful and constitutes an acceptable increase in cognitive load. Conclusion: In a dry lab setup, compared to traditional endoscopy, the broader field of view provided by ELV improved outcomes when dealing with unforeseen complications like bleeding

On the study of boundary layer sediment transport processes using new developmental acoustic techniques

This study aims at presenting a set of novel acoustic flow and sediment measuring tools used in a complementary way for the investigation of fine-scale flow and sediment transport processes above a rippled sand bed under waves. Measurements were conducted in the 100m long wave channel at UPC-LIM with surface gravity waves generating migrating ripples on a mobile sand bed. The set of acoustic instrumentation consisted of an Acoustic 3D Ripple Profiler (3D-ARP), a novel Bedform And Suspended Sediment Imager (BASSI) and three Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profilers (ACVP). Here we assess the ACVP’s and the BASSI

On the study of boundary layer sediment transport processes using new developmental acoustic techniques

This study aims at presenting a set of novel acoustic flow and sediment measuring tools used in a complementary way for the investigation of fine-scale flow and sediment transport processes above a rippled sand bed under waves. Measurements were conducted in the 100m long wave channel at UPC-LIM with surface gravity waves generating migrating ripples on a mobile sand bed. The set of acoustic instrumentation consisted of an Acoustic 3D Ripple Profiler (3D-ARP), a novel Bedform And Suspended Sediment Imager (BASSI) and three Acoustic Concentration and Velocity Profilers (ACVP). Here we assess the ACVP’s and the BASSI

The evolution of mobile bed tests: a step towards the future of coastal engineering

Coastal Engineering still presents significant levels of uncertainty, much larger for sediment transport and morphodynamics than for the driving hydrodynamics. Because of that there is still a need for experimental research that addresses the water and sediment fluxes occurring at multiple scales in the near shore and for some of which there are still not universally accepted equations or closure sub-models. Large scale bed tests offer the possibility to obtain undistorted results under controlled conditions that may look at sediment transport and associated bed evolution under a variety of wave and mean water level conditions. The present limitations in conventional observation equipment preclude a clear advancement in knowledge or model calibration. However the new developments in opto-acoustic equipment should allow such an advancement to take place provided the new experimental equipment becomes more robust in parallel with a protocol for deployment and data processing. This paper will present the experimental approach to erosive and accretive beach dynamics, with emphasis on the accretive experiments. These accretive tests still present further uncertainties and sometimes cannot be explained with the present state of the art. Following this there is a presentation of the novel development of an acoustic bed form and suspended sediment imager, able to monitor bed forms near bed sediment transport and their corresponding dynamics. The next section deals with an acoustic high resolution concentration and velocity profiler that is able to infer even the elusive bed level, together with the near bed concentrated sediment transport and the details of fluxes on the stoss and lee sides of moving bed forms. This is followed by a discussion on the merits of novel optic techniques, using structured and unstructured light sources. There is also some remarks on new approaches. Illustrated by the use of ferro-fluids to obtain directly the shear stresses acting on a wall even under the presence of “some” sediment. The paper ends with some conclusions on the use of such mobile bed tests in present and future Coastal Engineering

The evolution of mobile bed tests: a step towards the future of coastal engineering

Coastal Engineering still presents significant levels of uncertainty, much larger for sediment transport and morphodynamics than for the driving hydrodynamics. Because of that there is still a need for experimental research that addresses the water and sediment fluxes occurring at multiple scales in the near shore and for some of which there are still not universally accepted equations or closure sub-models. Large scale bed tests offer the possibility to obtain undistorted results under controlled conditions that may look at sediment transport and associated bed evolution under a variety of wave and mean water level conditions. The present limitations in conventional observation equipment preclude a clear advancement in knowledge or model calibration. However the new developments in opto-acoustic equipment should allow such an advancement to take place provided the new experimental equipment becomes more robust in parallel with a protocol for deployment and data processing. This paper will present the experimental approach to erosive and accretive beach dynamics, with emphasis on the accretive experiments. These accretive tests still present further uncertainties and sometimes cannot be explained with the present state of the art. Following this there is a presentation of the novel development of an acoustic bed form and suspended sediment imager, able to monitor bed forms near bed sediment transport and their corresponding dynamics. The next section deals with an acoustic high resolution concentration and velocity profiler that is able to infer even the elusive bed level, together with the near bed concentrated sediment transport and the details of fluxes on the stoss and lee sides of moving bed forms. This is followed by a discussion on the merits of novel optic techniques, using structured and unstructured light sources. There is also some remarks on new approaches. Illustrated by the use of ferro-fluids to obtain directly the shear stresses acting on a wall even under the presence of “some” sediment. The paper ends with some conclusions on the use of such mobile bed tests in present and future Coastal Engineering