scholarly journals ROS-Based Smart Walker with Fuzzy Posture Judgement and Power Assistance

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2371
Author(s):  
Yeong-Hwa Chang ◽  
Nilima Sahoo ◽  
Jing-Yuan Chen ◽  
Shang-Yi Chuang ◽  
Hung-Wei Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Application ◽  
Fuzzy Controller ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Robot Operating System ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
The Road ◽  
Smart Walker ◽  
Power Assistance

In recent years the increased rate of the aging population has become more serious. With aging, the elderly sometimes inevitably faces many problems which lead to slow walking, unstable or weak limbs and even fall-related injuries. So, it is very important to develop an assistive aid device. In this study, a fuzzy controller-based smart walker with a distributed robot operating system (ROS) framework is designed to assist in independent walking. The combination of Raspberry Pi and PIC microcontroller acts as the control kernel of the proposed device. In addition, the environmental information and user postures can be recognized with the integration of sensors. The sensing data include the road slope, velocity of the walker, and user’s grip forces, etc. According to the sensing data, the fuzzy controller can produce an assistive force to make the walker moving more smoothly and safely. Apart from this, a mobile application (App) is designed that allows the user’s guardian to view the current status of the smart walker as well as to track the user’s location.

scholarly journals The Road More Travelled: The Differential Effects of Spatial Experience in Young and Elderly Participants

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 709
Author(s):  
Antonella Lopez ◽  
Alessandro Germani ◽  
Luigi Tinella ◽  
Alessandro Oronzo Caffò ◽  
Albert Postma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Representations ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Road ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
Effects Of Aging ◽  
Coordinate Spatial Relations ◽  
Categorical Spatial Relations ◽  
The Relationship

Our spatial mental representations allow us to give refined descriptions of the environment in terms of the relative locations and distances between objects and landmarks. In this study, we investigated the effects of familiarity with the everyday environment, in terms of frequency of exploration and mode of transportation, on categorical and coordinate spatial relations, on young and elderly participants, controlling for socio-demographic factors. Participants were tested with a general anamnesis, a neuropsychological assessment, measures of explorations and the Landmark Positioning on a Map task. The results showed: (a) a modest difference in performance with categorical spatial relations; (b) a larger difference in coordinate spatial relations; (c) a significant moderating effect of age on the relationship between familiarity and spatial relations, with a stronger relation among the elderly than the young. Ceteris paribus, the role of direct experience with exploring their hometown on spatial mental representations appeared to be more important in the elderly than in the young. This advantage appears to make the elderly wiser and likely protects them from the detrimental effects of aging on spatial mental representations.

scholarly journals Designing of an Advanced Compression Bioreactor with an Implementation of a Low-Cost Controlling System Connected to a Mobile Application

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 915
Author(s):  
Gözde Dursun ◽  
Muhammad Umer ◽  
Bernd Markert ◽  
Marcus Stoffel
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Application ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Experimental Information ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Tissue Constructs ◽  
Cost Controlling ◽  
Controlling System ◽  
And Control ◽  
Tissue Models

(1) Background: Bioreactors mimic the natural environment of cells and tissues by providing a controlled micro-environment. However, their design is often expensive and complex. Herein, we have introduced the development of a low-cost compression bioreactor which enables the application of different mechanical stimulation regimes to in vitro tissue models and provides the information of applied stress and strain in real-time. (2) Methods: The compression bioreactor is designed using a mini-computer called Raspberry Pi, which is programmed to apply compressive deformation at various strains and frequencies, as well as to measure the force applied to the tissue constructs. Besides this, we have developed a mobile application connected to the bioreactor software to monitor, command, and control experiments via mobile devices. (3) Results: Cell viability results indicate that the newly designed compression bioreactor supports cell cultivation in a sterile environment without any contamination. The developed bioreactor software plots the experimental data of dynamic mechanical loading in a long-term manner, as well as stores them for further data processing. Following in vitro uniaxial compression conditioning of 3D in vitro cartilage models, chondrocyte cell migration was altered positively compared to static cultures. (4) Conclusion: The developed compression bioreactor can support the in vitro tissue model cultivation and monitor the experimental information with a low-cost controlling system and via mobile application. The highly customizable mold inside the cultivation chamber is a significant approach to solve the limited customization capability of the traditional bioreactors. Most importantly, the compression bioreactor prevents operator- and system-dependent variability between experiments by enabling a dynamic culture in a large volume for multiple numbers of in vitro tissue constructs.

scholarly journals The effects of disease-related knowledge on illness perception and psychological status of patients with COVID-19 in Hunan, China

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Man Ye ◽  
Shi-hao Chen ◽  
Xu-ting Li ◽  
Jin Huang ◽  
Ran-ran Mei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Illness Perception ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess the current status of disease-related knowledge and to analyze the relationship among the general condition, illness perception, and psychological status of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 118 patients using convenience sampling. The general questionnaire, disease-related knowledge questionnaire of COVID-19, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), and Profile of Mood States (POMS) were used to measure the current status of participants. RESULTS: The overall average score of the disease-related knowledge of patients with COVID-19 was (79.19 ± 14.25), the self-care situation was positively correlated with knowledge of prevention and control (r=0.265, P=0.004) and total score of disease-related knowledge (r= 0.206, P= 0.025); the degree of anxiety was negatively correlated with the knowledge of diagnosis and treatment (r= -0.182, P= 0.049). The score of disease-related knowledge was negatively correlated with negative cognition (volatility, consequences, emotional statements) and negative emotions (tension, fatigue, depression) (P<0.05); positively correlated with positive cognition (disease coherence) and positive emotion (self-esteem) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION It was recommended that we should pay more attention to the elderly and low-income groups, and increase the knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and self-care in the future health education for patients.

scholarly journals Current Status of Traditional Korean Medicine Services in Public Sector: A Study for Integrating Traditional Korean Medicine into Community Care System

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 493
Author(s):  
Soo-Hyun Sung ◽  
Minjung Park ◽  
Jihye Kim ◽  
Sun-Woo Jeon ◽  
Angela Dong-Min Sung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Community Care ◽  
Central Government ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Traditional Korean Medicine ◽  
Korean Medicine ◽  
Service Programs ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Care System

Korea is currently executing a pilot program for community care of its aging population and aims to implement community care systems on a national scale by 2025. This study examines the traditional Korean medicine (TKM) service to be provided within community care by understanding the current status of TKM services. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW) sent official letters to 242 local governments (cities, districts, and counties) from October to November 2019 to survey the status of the public TKM services provided in 2018. The items of the survey included basic demographic information as well as information that could reveal how the program was implemented. In 112 local government jurisdictions (response rate 46.3%), a total of 867 TKM service programs were in place. As a result of the survey, it was revealed that they did not have any service manuals or evaluation results. To provide home-care-based TKM service for the elderly as an integrated part of a community care system, it is necessary to develop, distribute, and evaluate a standard service manual including an evaluation index by the central government.

Road Sign System Design for Aging Population

2013 ◽  
Vol 869-870 ◽  
pp. 247-250
Author(s):  
Wen Li Lu ◽  
Ming Wei Liu
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
System Design ◽  
Experimental Method ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Road Sign ◽  
Sign System ◽  
Board System

With the growth with the citys population of elderly people, the symptoms of aging are becoming more and more significant. Older people are faced with complex circumstances when they are outdoors, a correct and efficient system of road signs should help them reach their destinations safely. Therefore, a well designed system for the elderly is vital. The following research is concentrated on the design of the road sign system focusing upon the aspects of placement positions, height of the text and symbols, and the amount of information included on the sign. This will assist in the design of the most useful and efficient sign board system for the elderly. This will be determined through the experimental method.

i1-net: The Iran Strong Motion Network

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Pourmohammad Shahvar ◽  
Esmaeil Farzanegan ◽  
Attiyeh Eshaghi ◽  
Hossein Mirzaei
Keyword(s):  
Earthquake Engineering ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Primary Input ◽  
The Road ◽  
Leading Position ◽  
Hazard And Risk ◽  
Ground Motion Records ◽  
Strong Motion Network ◽  
Strong Ground

Abstract Strong ground-motion records are the primary input data in earthquake engineering studies to improve understanding of seismic hazard and risk. As the overseer of the Iran Strong Motion Network (i1-net), the Road, Housing, and Urban Development Research Center occupies the leading position in this field in the country. With more than 1260 active accelerometers and a collection of over 14,129 earthquake recordings since 1973, the Iran Strong Motion Network is the major Iranian source of information for engineering seismology and earthquake engineering. The present article describes the current status and developments of the i1-net in the last 46 yr.

Modeling and Controlling of Anti-Slip Regulation Based on Limited-Slip Differential

2011 ◽  
Vol 86 ◽  
pp. 762-766
Author(s):  
Jian Jun Hu ◽  
Peng Ge ◽  
Zheng Bin He ◽  
Da Tong Qin
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Fuzzy Controller ◽  
Rear Wheel ◽  
Pi Controller ◽  
Hydraulic Control ◽  
Electronic Throttle ◽  
Adhesion Coefficient ◽  
The Road ◽  
Wheel Drive ◽  
Hydraulic Control System

The dynamic models of whole rear-wheel drive vehicle, limited-slip differential, hydraulic control system and electronic throttle were established. Simulations of acceleration course on split-µ road, checkerboard-µ road, low-µ road and step-µ road were carried out combining electronic throttle PI controller and limited-slip differential fuzzy controller. The results show that the Anti-slip Regulation quickly works according to the road adhesion coefficient, effectively inhibits the slip of driving wheels on low adhesion coefficient road, the acceleration performance driving on bad roads was improved obviously, and show a good adaptability.

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