Validity of self-reporting and video-recording for measuring knee-straining work postures

The aim of this study was to compare the validity of self-reporting and video-recording as methods of measuring the duration of knee-straining work postures, and to evaluate the reproducibility of timings of the video-recordings. Thirty-nine carpenters and 33 floorlayers were video-filmed while working, and were asked immediately afterwards to quantify the amount of time spent in knee-straining positions. The investigators recorded the periods of knee-straining work with a stopwatch during playback of the video-film, and the agreement between the two investigators' measurements was studied in 13 pairs of measurements. The video observation method was very effective for timing knee-strain work. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation coefficient (0.88) indicated a good association between observed and self-reported knee-straining work. Estimation of self-reported kneestraining work collected by interview showed good correlation with measurements of video-recordings. When judging the repeatability of timings of kneestraining work from the video-recordings, a high level of agreement was seen between the two observers in the 13 dual measurements of time spent in knee-straining work positions.     

A method for the reduction of skin marker artifacts during walking : Application to the knee

Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of joint angle errors mainly due to skin artifact and measurement errors during gait analysis. Joint angle errors lead to unreliable kinematics and kinetic analyses in the investigation of human motion. The purpose of this paper is to present the Joint Averaging Coordinate System (JACS) method for human gait analysis. The JACS method is based on the concept of statistical data reduction of anatomically referenced marker data. Since markers are not attached to rigid bodies, different marker combinations lead to slightly different predictions of joint angles. These different combinations can be averaged in order to provide a “best” estimate of joint angle. Results of a gait analysis are presented using clinically meaningful terminology to provide better communication with clinical personal. In order to verify the developed JACS method, a simple three-dimensional knee joint contact model was developed, employing an absolute coordinate system without using any kinematics constraint in which thigh and shank segments can be derived independently. In the experimental data recovery, the separation and penetration distance of the knee joint is supposed to be zero during one gait cycle if there are no errors in the experimental data. Using the JACS method, the separation and penetration error was reduced compared to well-developed existing methods such as ACRS and Spoor & Veldpaus method. The separation and penetration distance ranged up to 15 mm and 12 mm using the Spoor & Veldpaus and ACRS method, respectively, compared to 9 mm using JACS method. Statistical methods like the JACS can be applied in conjunction with existing techniques that reduce systematic errors in marker location, leading to an improved assessment of human gait.     

The effect of displacement control input parameters on tibiofemoral prosthetic knee wear

The mechanisms of UHMWPE wear at the tibiofemoral articulation of a total knee replacement are potentially highly dependent on the cyclic direction of motion, the relative amounts of rolling versus sliding, and the loading of the contacting surfaces as previously described for hip components [3]. The simulated wear rate, for a standard test protocol utilizing the Insall-Burstein^®1 II Modular Knee System (IB-II) knee prosthesis, for normal walking gait was found to be 17.0 mg/10⁶ cycles on a Boston AMTI knee simulator. When the anterior/posterior (A/P) translation input was reduced by 50%, the wear rate was reduced approximately 37% to 10.6 mg/10⁶ cycles. Eliminating either the A/P translation or tibial rotation reduced the wear rate to 1.7 mg/10⁶ cycles and 0.69 mg/10⁶ cycles, respectively. These results cannot be explained by sliding distance effects alone and suggest that the UHMWPE wear rate is sensitive to other parameters, such as the magnitude of multidirectional shear motion and the ratio of rolling/sliding contact kinematics in combination with the applied load.     

In-vitro measurement of the human knee joint motion during quadriceps leg raising

This paper represents a three-dimensional motion analysis of the human knee joint under given conditions of loading and constraint. As the knee is extended by a known force applied to the quadriceps tendon, relative displacements of the femur, tibia, and patella are measured using a video motion analysis system. The most prominent motion of the tibia is external rotation and anterior displacement relative to the femur during knee extension. The patellar flexion angle decreases from 70° to 0°. The moment arm of the knee extensor mechanism exhibits a characteristic bell shape which peaks somewhere in the 40°–60° region of flexion. In general, the quadriceps force results primarily from an increase in the torque exerted by the weight of the lower leg. In the range of 20°–60°, the quardricep force needed to extend the leg remains relatively constant. As the knee approaches full extension, the moment arm decreases due to the fact that the posterior capsule and the ACL begin to tighten in this region. Consequently, the quadriceps force increases rapidly.     

Ankle–knee prosthesis with active ankle and energy transfer: Development of the CYBERLEGs Alpha-Prosthesis

This paper presents the development of the CYBERLEGs Alpha-Prototype prosthesis, a new transfemoral prosthesis incorporating a new variable stiffness ankle actuator based on the MACCEPA architecture, a passive knee with two locking mechanisms, and an energy transfer mechanism that harvests negative work from the knee and delivers it to the ankle to assist pushoff. The CYBERLEGs Alpha-Prosthesis is part of the CYBERLEGs FP7-ICT project, which combines a prosthesis system to replace a lost limb in parallel with an exoskeleton to assist the sound leg, and sensory array to control both systems. The prosthesis attempts to produce a natural level ground walking gait that approximates the joint torques and kinematics of a non-amputee while maintaining compliant joints, which has the potential to decrease impulsive losses, and ultimately reduce the end user energy consumption. This first prototype consists of a passive knee and an active ankle which are energetically coupled to reduce the total power consumption of the device. Here we present simulations of the actuation system of the ankle and the passive behavior of the knee module with and without the energy transfer effects, the mechanical design of the prosthesis, and empirical results from testing of the physical device with amputee subjects.     

Pressure distribution on the anatomic landmarks of the knee and the effect of kneepads

This study examines stress transmitted to anatomic landmarks of the knee (patella, combined patella tendon and tibial tubercle) while in static kneeling postures without kneepads and while wearing two kneepads commonly worn in the mining industry. Ten subjects (7 male, 3 female) simulated postures utilized in low-seam mines: kneeling in full flexion; kneeling at 90° of knee flexion; and kneeling on one knee while in one of three kneepad states (no kneepads, non-articulated kneepads, and articulated kneepads). For each posture, peak and mean pressure on the anatomic landmarks of the knee were obtained. The majority of the pressure was found to be transmitted to the knee via the combined patellar tendon and tibial tubercle rather than through the patella. While the kneepads tested decreased the maximum pressure experienced at the combined patellar tendon and tibial tubercle, peak pressures of greater than 25 psi were still experienced over structures commonly injured in mining (e.g. bursa sac - bursitis/Miner’s Knee). The major conclusion of this study is that novel kneepad designs that redistribute the stresses at the knee across a greater surface area and to other regions of the leg away from key structures of the knee are needed.     

X5030立式升降台铣床的数控改造

随着计算机集成制造技术、智能制造、网络制造等的新的概念和方法的研究与发展，发展数控技术已成为我国振兴机械工业的重中之重。实践证明数控改造是发展我国机械工业可行的必由之路。     

A better estimation of wave arrival time in water distribution networks using WAvelet kNEe (WANE)

A transient pressure wave is a sudden pressure change that occurs in a short time, which can be induced by sudden changes in valve and pump operation, and pipe bursts in a Water Distribution Network (WDN). An accurate estimation of a transient wave arrival time is crucial because it facilitates pipe condition assessment, hydraulic model calibration, and accurate localization of pipe burst events. Due to the noisy and highly fluctuating nature of the pressure signals, estimating an accurate transient pressure wave arrival time is not a trivial task. Among many methodologies proposed for detecting abrupt pressure changes, Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) were the two most popular approaches. However, several limitations involved with these two approaches can easily lead to unsatisfactory results. Moreover, some of the existing methodologies were only tested on either a single pipeline, engineered events, or a small sample size of events, making these methodologies suitable and accurate only for a limited number of scenarios. Driven by these limitations, a novel approach is proposed to estimate the wave arrival time in water distribution networks (WDNs). The backbone of this approach is the integration of wavelet decomposition and a knee point detection algorithm, thus gaining the name WAvelet kNEe (WANE). Through a comparative study against the other methodologies using 90 recorded transient events detected in a real WDN, WANE is found to provide the best wave arrival time estimation, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.4 s. Based on the result, our estimation error is at least 15 s lesser than the other methodologies. With an improved wave arrival time estimation, WANE has the potential to minimize the response time of repair crews, service disruption time, as well as the associated water losses due to a pipe break.     

Pull-Out Response of a Steel Post Inserted in a Pre-Drilled HDPE Cylinder: Analytical and Finite Element Analyses Using Pressure-Dependent Friction

Abstract

For the aim of fixing and stabilizing the Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) tibial component, pull-out strength of the post is one of the most important factors to be considered. The material properties of bone, coupled with the principal dimensions of bone/post assembly such as diameter, interference fit and implantation length, may affect the pull-out strength of the post fixation. In this study, a cylindrical stainless steel post inserted in a pre-drilled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) cylinder with an initial interference fit was taken as a model to assess the contribution of post fixation to the initial stability of TKA tibial component. Pull-out experiments were carried out for different initial interference fits and implantation lengths. Under pull-out loading, the micro-slip initiation and propagation at the post/cylinder interface was found to be progressive and was modeled using Coulomb friction at the interface. In order to examine the experimental ultimate pull-out force results, an analytical model was developed. The analytical model was fitted to the experimental results by adjusting the friction coefficient for the considered ranges of initial interference fit and implantation length. It was found that friction coefficient depends on initial interference fit (Δr) as well as on the initial contact pressure (σ0). For the considered interference fit values Δr = 01 mm, Δr = 02 mm and Δr = 03 mm (σ₀ = 1362 MPa, σ₀ = 2724 MPa and σ₀ = 4086 MPa), the values of adjusted friction coefficient are 0.091, 0.067 and 0.058, respectively. Finite Element simulation was also carried out for the pull-out test using the ABAQUS program. It was found that numerical, analytical and experimental results are all in good agreement.