Metabolic costs of load carriage with different container sizes

Abstract

Six well-trained male subjects carried boxes of varying box width and weight at varying speeds on a level treadmill until steady-state heart rates were obtained. Analysis of the steady-state data for heart rate and metabolic cost led to development of highly accurate predictor models for both factors. The metabolic-cost model accounted for over 94% of the variance (R²>0·94), and the heart-rate model accounted for over 81% of the variance present (R²>0·81). Evaluation of other models for predicting physiological response to carrying loads found their predictions to differ significantly from the data of the present study.     

Biomechanical assessment of lateral stiffness elements in the suspension system of a backpack

The purpose of this study was to examine the change in load distribution characteristics associated with adding lateral stiffness elements (rods) to a rucksack (backpack). A load distribution mannequin was instrumented with two 3D load cells to allow determination of the load applied to the shoulders and upper torso independent of the load applied to the hips and lower trunk. Position and mass of the payload (25?kg) were fixed at the centre of the volume of the rucksack and held constant during all testing. It was hypothesized that lateral rods would provide a force bridge that transfers part of the vertical load of the pack from the upper back and shoulders to the hip belt thereby reducing the vertical load on the torso, and possibly reducing the horizontal reaction force that produces a shear load on the spine. Results showed that these active stiffness elements shifted 14% of the vertical load from the upper torso to the pelvic region with lumbar shear load remaining relatively unchanged for all combinations of shoulder strap and waist belt tension. The lateral rods also provided a mean increase of 12% in the extensor moment at the L3?–?L4 level, thus reducing some demand on the erector spinae muscles.     

Trunk muscle activity in different modes of carrying schoolbags

The daily load of carrying schoolbags is influenced by the mode of carriage. Electromyographic (EMG) activity from rectus abdominis and erector spinae was recorded bilaterally in five static conditions: no bag; shoulder bag; backpack; front pack; double pack. Nineteen students carried a load of 15% of their body weight. A double pack, with the load equally distributed in a front and a backpack, showed no significant differences in EMG activity compared with unloaded standing. The activity levels of erector spinae significantly decreased while carrying a backpack and increased with a shoulder bag and a front pack. Rectus abdominis revealed significantly higher EMG levels in the backpack trial. Asymmetrical activity between the right and the left part of the back muscles was clearly observed while carrying a shoulder bag with the weight at the right side of the body. The abdominal muscles revealed a slightly significant asymmetry for the shoulder bag and, surprisingly, also for the backpack. These findings suggest that the physical stresses associated with carrying book bags can be minimized by the design of a double pack. Asymmetry in muscle activity may indicate a failure of trunk stabilization and contribute to the development back pain.     

云计算环境中基于访问量和依赖性评价的数据分配算法

大量的大规模密集型数据需要存储在多个数据存储中心,而应用越来越广泛的云计算环境很好地解决了大规模密集型数据在分配中遇到的规模性问题。但是,云计算环境中多数据存储中心的数据分配会带来数据存储中心之间数据量的传输,从而导致数据访问效率低下。同时,单位时间上数据访问量的不平衡性会引起数据存储中心的访问瓶颈。以大规模密集型数据中的数据流为建模对象,提出了一种数据分配算法,它在保证数据存储中心负载平衡的基础上兼顾了密集型数据之间的依赖性。实验表明,相比于同类的数据分配算法,所提算法具有更好的综合表现,特别是在保证数据存储中心的负载平衡方面,效果突出。     

云环境下基于改进蚁群算法的虚拟机批量部署研究

针对云计算中虚拟机批量部署问题,在定义虚拟机与服务器匹配距离的基础上,使用蚁群优化思路进行部署方案搜索,并有针对性地对蚁群算法进行了扩展改进。首先在蚁群算法随机比例规则中加入性能感知策略,以尽量避免将相同性能偏好的虚拟机部署在同一台服务器上,造成对硬件资源竞争的危险。同时增加了单一蚂蚁信息素更新规则,以减少错误先验知识对蚂蚁后续选择的误导。通过在CloudSim中的仿真实验,对算法参数选择进行了研究。与现有部署算法相比,本算法具有更好的系统负载均衡性能和资源利用率,以及比基本蚁群算法更快的收敛速度。     

利用Apache Jmeter进行Web性能测试的研究

性能测试是保证Web服务器性能的重要手段,也是开发过程中的一个重要环节。在性能测试软件中,Apache JMeter因其开源、100%纯Java界面以及简单方便的操作等特点在Web应用的相关性能测试方面表现得十分出色,通过介绍使用JMeter对Web服务器进行性能测试, 并结合具体案例根据JMeter提供的图形化界面分析Web服务器在不同的负载及压力环境下的性能。     

Dynamics of polymer electrolyte fuel cells undergoing load changes

Numerical simulations are carried out for a single-channel polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) undergoing a step increase in current density. The objective is to elucidate profound interactions between the cell voltage response and water transport dynamics occurring in a low-humidity PEFC where the membrane hydration and hence resistance hinges upon the product water. Detailed results are presented to show that a step increase in the current density leads to anode dryout due to electroosmotic drag, while it takes several seconds for water back-diffusion and anode humidified gas to re-wet the anode side of the polymer membrane. The water redistribution process is controlled by water production, membrane hydration, electroosmotic drag, and water diffusion in the membrane. The anode dryout results in a substantial drop in cell voltage and hence temporary power loss. Under extreme situations such as dry anode feed, large step increase in the current density, and/or lower temperatures, the cell voltage may even reverse, resulting in not only power loss but also cell degradation. Finally, the dynamics of current distribution after a step change in gas humidification is numerically examined.     

Load combination analysis by ‘Directional simulation in the load space’

The reliability of structures subjected to multiple time-varying random loads is considered herein. It is well-known that the reliability of such systems may be evaluated by considering outcrossings of the load process vector out of a safe domain, and the contribution of individual loads to structural failure may be evaluated by considering outcrossings caused by combinations of one or more loads. In this paper the ‘Directional Simulation in the Load Space’ approach to reliability analysis is developed to consider explicitly outcrossings caused by all possible combinations of loads, during analysis of systems comprising stationary continuous Gaussian loads. To do this, the direction of the load process vector is ‘fixed’ at each point of outcrossing (to physically represent the particular combination of loads causing the outcrossing), and, by considering each possible load combination, all loads not causing an outcrossing are then held constant during radial integration (to model correctly that they do not contribute to each outcrossing). A numerical example demonstrating the validity of the proposed formulation is presented.     

城市居民负荷特性调查研究分析

在城市居民负荷特性调查研究分析方法、现有负荷特性指标研究成果的基础上,提出了城市居民负荷特性指标体系及其定义,探讨了城市居民负荷特性分析方法,认为回归分析法、区间分析法、平均值法等方法能够有效进行居民负荷特性的计算分析。文中以上述方法对义乌城市居民负荷特性进行了分析。     

电子设备的建模研究

本文首先介绍了开关电源的基本工作原理和电路构成,在此基础上,通过试验研究,建立了计算机和电视机等电子设备的静态负荷模型。所得结论,为电力系统稳定分析计算提供了依据。