A major design aspect of touch tablet operation is the display/control (D/C) gain. The primary objective of this research was the development and optimization of a variable D/C gain to improve human performance with touch tablets. This variable gain minimizes the speed-accuracy trade-off problem associated with traditional D/C gains. An additional objective.of this research was to determine the effect of tablet size on human performance. Display/control (D/C) gain is defined as the amount of movement which occurs on the display in response to a unit amount of movement of the control. With traditional D/C gains, there is a trade-off between low D/C gain which enables fine positioning, but results in very slow cursor movement, and high D/C gain which produces quick cursor movement but results in poor fine positioning ability. A lead-lag compensator which ameliorates this trade-off problem was developed. A lead-lag compensator is composed of a pure position gain component plus an additional velocity gain component. The results indicate that a lead-lag compensator greatly increased the target acquisition rate relative to a traditional D/C gain system. Percentage error increased with lead-lag compensation relative to an uncompensated system. The overall error rates were very low in all cases, however. Tablet size did not appear to significantly affect performance; performance on the three tablet sizes was generally consistent. / M.S.

Yes / In the United Kingdom, stroke is the most significant cause of adult disability. Stroke survivors are frequently left with physical and psychological changes that can profoundly affect their functional ability, independence, and social participation. Research suggests that long-term, intense, task- and context-specific rehabilitation that is goal-oriented and environmentally enriched improves function, independence, and quality of life after a stroke. It is recommended that rehabilitation should continue until maximum recovery has been achieved. However, the increasing demand on services and financial constraints means that needs cannot be met through traditional face-to-face delivery of rehabilitation. Using a participatory design methodology, we developed an information communication technology–enhanced Personalized Self-Managed rehabilitation System (PSMrS) for stroke survivors with integrated insole sensor technology within an “intelligent shoe.”. The intervention model was based around a rehabilitation paradigm underpinned by theories of motor relearning and neuroplastic adaptation, motivational feedback, self-efficacy, and knowledge transfer. To understand the conditions under which this technology-based rehabilitation solution would most likely have an impact on the motor behavior of the user, what would work for whom, in what context, and how. We were interested in what aspects of the system would work best to facilitate the motor behavior change associated with self-managed rehabilitation and which user characteristics and circumstances of use could promote improved functional outcomes. Methods: We used a Realist Evaluation (RE) framework to evaluate the final prototype PSMrS with the assumption that the intervention consists of a series of configurations that include the Context of use, the underlying Mechanisms of change and the potential Outcomes or impacts (CMOs). We developed the CMOs from literature reviews and engagement with clinicians, users, and caregivers during a series of focus groups and home visits. These CMOs were then tested in five in-depth case studies with stroke survivors and their caregivers. Results: While two new propositions emerged, the second importantly related to the self-management aspects of the system. The study revealed that the system should also encourage independent use and the setting of personalized goals or activities. Conclusions: Information communication technology that purports to support the self-management of stroke rehabilitation should give significant consideration to the need for motivational feedback that provides quantitative, reliable, accurate, context-specific, and culturally sensitive information about the achievement of personalized goal-based activities.

Compressive sampling enables signal reconstruction using less than one measurement per reconstructed signal value. Compressive measurement is particularly useful in generating multidimensional images from lower dimensional data. We demonstrate single frame 3D tomography from 2D holographic data. / Dissertation

INTRODUÇÃO: O sucesso da terapia com ventilação não invasiva com pressão positiva (VNIPP) está associada com a escolha adequada da interface. A máscara Total face® (TF) é considerada mais confortável, porém possui grande espaço morto (875 ml) e vazamento constante elevado. Os ventiladores próprios para ventilação mecânica invasiva (convencionais) têm sido utilizados, habitualmente, para ventilação não invasiva em ambiente de UTI. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o desempenho de nove ventiladores convencionais com uso da máscara TF e compará-los com um ventilador próprio para VNIPP (Respironics BiPAP Vision). MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se um modelo com dois simuladores mecânicos do sistema respiratório conectados a uma cabeça de manequim onde foi adaptada a máscara TF que foi conectada aos ventiladores testados. O esforço inspiratório foi simulado utilizando-se o modo pressão controlada. Os ventiladores foram testados na modalidade espontânea ventilação com pressão suporte sendo ajustados dois valores de PEEP (5 e 10cmH2O) e 3 valores de pressão suporte (5, 10 e 15 cmH2O). Foi testado se os ventiladores funcionavam com a máscara TF e seu desempenho em relação à compensação de vazamento, pressurização, pico de fluxo atingido, atrasos inspiratório e expiratório. RESULTADOS: O ventilador Vision funcionou em todas as situações. Quatro ventiladores convencionais funcionaram (Horus, Vela, E500 e Servo i). O principal problema com os ventiladores que não funcionaram foi o autodisparo e o desligamento do fluxo inspiratório. O pico de vazamento medido foi maior que 1L/s, em média, e o pico de fluxo gerado, muitas vezes, atingia a capacidade máxima em alguns ventiladores. A capacidade de compensar vazamento foi variável entre os ventiladores, mas aqueles com maior dificuldade (E500 e Horus) foram os que mantiveram os menores valores de PEEP e, também, maiores atrasos no disparo, os demais ventiladores, apresentaram atrasos iniciais menores que 100ms. A ciclagem ocorreu por critérios de segurança nos ventiladores Horus, Vela e E500 em algumas medidas. A capacidade de pressurização foi avaliada pelo cálculo do PTP com 500ms e com 1 segundo. A área de pressurização com 1 segundo ficou abaixo de 50% da área esperada para todos os ventiladores, inclusive para o Vision, específico para VNIPP, sendo que o pior desempenho foi do ventilador Horus. CONCLUSÕES: Entre nove ventiladores convencionais testados, apenas quatro funcionaram com a TF. O desempenho entre os ventiladores foi variável, sendo que, alguns deles não se mostraram adequado para uso com VNIPP usando a máscara TF. A maior dificuldade para o funcionamento dos ventiladores convencionais foi lidar com o grande vazamento, com ocorrência de autodisparos ou desligamento do fluxo de ar do ventilador, acusando desconexão. O vazamento de ar pelos orifícios da máscara é elevado. Os ventiladores Horus e E500 tiveram atrasos maiores que 100ms no disparo; e a ciclagem ocorreu por critérios de segurança em todos ventiladores convencionais, em algumas medidas, exceto o Servo i / BACKGROUND: The success of therapy with noninvasive ventilation with positive pressure (VNIPP) is associated with interface choice. The Total face® mask (TFM) is an interface considered more comfortable than other, but it has a large dead space (875 ml) and constant high leakage. However, intensive care ventilators have been usually used for noninvasive ventilation in the ICU environment, their ability to operate with high air leakage is not known. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of nine ICU ventilators using TFM and compare them with a VNIPP mode only ventilator (Respironics BiPAP Vision). METHODS: a mechanical respiratory system simulator with two compartments was adapted to TFM what was connected to tested ventilators. The inspiratory effort was simulated using pressure control mode in Newport E500 ventilator. The ventilators were tested in spontaneous mode being adjusted at two values of PEEP (5 and 10cmH2O) and 3 values of pressure support (5, 10 and 15 cmH2O). It was tested if ventilators worked properly with TFM and its performance to compensation for leakage, its pressurization, the capability to reach peak flow target, and trigger and cycling delays. RESULTS: The Vision ventilator worked properly in all situations. Four conventional ventilators (Horus, Vela, E500 and Servo) worked. The main problem with failed ventilator was auto triggering and inspiratory flow turning off. Among worked ventilators, peak inspiratory leakage average was greater than 1L / s , generated peak flow reached maximum capacity in some settings with NIV mode only ventilator. The ability to compensate for leak was variable between ventilators, but those with greater difficulty (E500 and Horus) maintained the lowest values of PEEP and also had great trigger delays, the other ventilators showed trigger delays smaller than 100ms. The cycling occurred by security criteria on Horus, Vela and E500 ventilators in some settings. The ability of pressurization was evaluated by calculating the PTP with 500ms and 1 second. The area of pressurization with 1 second remained below 50% of target area for all ventilators, including for Vision, specifically for VNIPP. Horus ventilator has the worst pressurization performance. CONCLUSIONS: Among nine conventional tested ventilators, only four worked with the TFM. The performance among the ventilators was variable; as a result some of them were not suitable for use with NIV using TFM. The greatest difficulty for conventional ventilator operation was dealing with the large leakage, occurring auto triggering or inspiratory flow turning off, alarming disconnection. The air leakage through the mask holes (exhalation port) was high. Horus and E500 ventilators had trigger delays greater than 100ms and cycling occurred by security criteria for all conventional ventilators, except the Servo, in some setting

A expansão craniana com o uso de molas tem demonstrado eficácia no tratamento das anormalidades craniofaciais, tais como as craniossinostoses. A ação expansora exercida pelas molas tem sido observada tanto quando colocadas entre as margens parietais dos ossos do crânio, como quando lateralmente à sutura sagital, principalmente nas escafocefalias. No presente estudo foi criado um modelo experimental com coelhos, e feita uma avaliação descritiva do comportamento da calota craniana e das suturas sob ação de molas. Foram utilizados 13 coelhos Nova Zelândia com quatro semanas de vida, divididos em quatro grupos: grupo I, foram implantados no crânio marcadores de amálgama para controle; no grupo II, marcadores de amálgama e osteotomia da sutura sagital; no grupo III, marcadores de amálgama, osteotomia da sutura sagital e colocação de uma mola expansora na região interparietal e, no grupo IV, marcadores de amálgama, craniotomia parassagital linear com colocação da mola. Os animais foram sacrificados com duas, quatro, oito e doze semanas. Foi realizado controle radiológico com avaliação do afastamento dos marcadores de amálgama, da variação dos ângulos cefalométricos e das medidas da base do crânio, bem como um estudo histopatológico da região de colocação das molas. Nos grupos com o uso de molas a separação dos bordos da craniotomia foi maior do que naqueles sem a utilização de mola. Houve ossificação em todos os grupos, com maior rapidez no grupo II. O crescimento ósseo deu-se a partir dos bordos e da profundidade. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas no padrão histopatológico da regeneração óssea entre os grupos com colocação de mola na região interparietal e parassagital. O modelo experimental com coelhos se mostrou adequado às análises propostas pelo estudo. Concluiu-se que houve osteogênese por distração nos grupos III e IV e que apresentaram uma expansão craniana semelhantes. / Spring-mediated skull expansion has proven to be effective in the treatment of craniofacial abnormalities, such as craniosynostosis. The use of springs in cranial expansion has been studied both in the sagittal and in parasagittal regions, especially in scaphocephaly. A rabbit model was used in the present study to analyze the effects of springs on the cranial vault and sutures. Thirteen 4-week-old New Zealand rabbits were used and divided into 4 groups: group I, amalgam markers were used as control; in group II, amalgam markers and osteotomy of the sagittal suture; in group III, amalgam markers and osteotomy of the sagittal suture with implant of an expansible spring in the interparietal region and in group IV, amalgam markers and linear parasagittal craniectomy with springs. Animals were sacrificed after 2, 4 and 12 weeks. Radiological control with assessment of the amalgam markers, variation of cephalometric angles and cranial base measurements, as well as the histopathological analysis of the spring implant area were carried out. In the groups using springs distraction of the craniectomy borders was greater than in those that did not use springs. Ossification was observed in all of the groups and was faster in group II. Bone growth started from the borders and depth. There were no significant differences in the histopathological pattern of bone regeneration between the groups with spring implant in the interparietal and parasagittal region. The rabbit model proved to be adequate for the analysis proposed by the study. It was concluded that there was osteogenesis caused by distraction in groups III and IV, with similar skull expansion rates.

A new heuristic method to improve the I/O pad assignment for the sea-of-gates placement algorithm "PROUD" is proposed. In PROUD, the preplaced I/O pads are used as the boundary conditions in solving sparse linear equations to obtain the optimal module placement. Due to the total wire length determined by the module positions is the strong function of the preplaced I/O pad positions, the optimization of the I/O pad circular order and their assignment to the physical locations on the chip are attempted in the thesis. The proposed I/O pad assignment program is used as a predecessor of PROUD. The results have revealed excellent improvement.

Bibliography: p. 199-207. Electronic publication; full text available in PDF format; abstract in HTML format. Describes the basis of a theoretical and experimental project, directed at the design and evaluation of a practical active noise control system suitable for a single light engine aircraft. The performance of virtual sensors were evaluated both analytically and experimentally in progressively more complex environments to identify their capabilities and limitations. Electronic reproduction.[Australia] :Australian Digital Theses Program,2001.

Thesis--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaf 24.

Bibliography: p. 199-207. Describes the basis of a theoretical and experimental project, directed at the design and evaluation of a practical active noise control system suitable for a single light engine aircraft. The performance of virtual sensors were evaluated both analytically and experimentally in progressively more complex environments to identify their capabilities and limitations.

INTRODUÇÃO: O sucesso da terapia com ventilação não invasiva com pressão positiva (VNIPP) está associada com a escolha adequada da interface. A máscara Total face® (TF) é considerada mais confortável, porém possui grande espaço morto (875 ml) e vazamento constante elevado. Os ventiladores próprios para ventilação mecânica invasiva (convencionais) têm sido utilizados, habitualmente, para ventilação não invasiva em ambiente de UTI. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o desempenho de nove ventiladores convencionais com uso da máscara TF e compará-los com um ventilador próprio para VNIPP (Respironics BiPAP Vision). MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se um modelo com dois simuladores mecânicos do sistema respiratório conectados a uma cabeça de manequim onde foi adaptada a máscara TF que foi conectada aos ventiladores testados. O esforço inspiratório foi simulado utilizando-se o modo pressão controlada. Os ventiladores foram testados na modalidade espontânea ventilação com pressão suporte sendo ajustados dois valores de PEEP (5 e 10cmH2O) e 3 valores de pressão suporte (5, 10 e 15 cmH2O). Foi testado se os ventiladores funcionavam com a máscara TF e seu desempenho em relação à compensação de vazamento, pressurização, pico de fluxo atingido, atrasos inspiratório e expiratório. RESULTADOS: O ventilador Vision funcionou em todas as situações. Quatro ventiladores convencionais funcionaram (Horus, Vela, E500 e Servo i). O principal problema com os ventiladores que não funcionaram foi o autodisparo e o desligamento do fluxo inspiratório. O pico de vazamento medido foi maior que 1L/s, em média, e o pico de fluxo gerado, muitas vezes, atingia a capacidade máxima em alguns ventiladores. A capacidade de compensar vazamento foi variável entre os ventiladores, mas aqueles com maior dificuldade (E500 e Horus) foram os que mantiveram os menores valores de PEEP e, também, maiores atrasos no disparo, os demais ventiladores, apresentaram atrasos iniciais menores que 100ms. A ciclagem ocorreu por critérios de segurança nos ventiladores Horus, Vela e E500 em algumas medidas. A capacidade de pressurização foi avaliada pelo cálculo do PTP com 500ms e com 1 segundo. A área de pressurização com 1 segundo ficou abaixo de 50% da área esperada para todos os ventiladores, inclusive para o Vision, específico para VNIPP, sendo que o pior desempenho foi do ventilador Horus. CONCLUSÕES: Entre nove ventiladores convencionais testados, apenas quatro funcionaram com a TF. O desempenho entre os ventiladores foi variável, sendo que, alguns deles não se mostraram adequado para uso com VNIPP usando a máscara TF. A maior dificuldade para o funcionamento dos ventiladores convencionais foi lidar com o grande vazamento, com ocorrência de autodisparos ou desligamento do fluxo de ar do ventilador, acusando desconexão. O vazamento de ar pelos orifícios da máscara é elevado. Os ventiladores Horus e E500 tiveram atrasos maiores que 100ms no disparo; e a ciclagem ocorreu por critérios de segurança em todos ventiladores convencionais, em algumas medidas, exceto o Servo i / BACKGROUND: The success of therapy with noninvasive ventilation with positive pressure (VNIPP) is associated with interface choice. The Total face® mask (TFM) is an interface considered more comfortable than other, but it has a large dead space (875 ml) and constant high leakage. However, intensive care ventilators have been usually used for noninvasive ventilation in the ICU environment, their ability to operate with high air leakage is not known. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of nine ICU ventilators using TFM and compare them with a VNIPP mode only ventilator (Respironics BiPAP Vision). METHODS: a mechanical respiratory system simulator with two compartments was adapted to TFM what was connected to tested ventilators. The inspiratory effort was simulated using pressure control mode in Newport E500 ventilator. The ventilators were tested in spontaneous mode being adjusted at two values of PEEP (5 and 10cmH2O) and 3 values of pressure support (5, 10 and 15 cmH2O). It was tested if ventilators worked properly with TFM and its performance to compensation for leakage, its pressurization, the capability to reach peak flow target, and trigger and cycling delays. RESULTS: The Vision ventilator worked properly in all situations. Four conventional ventilators (Horus, Vela, E500 and Servo) worked. The main problem with failed ventilator was auto triggering and inspiratory flow turning off. Among worked ventilators, peak inspiratory leakage average was greater than 1L / s , generated peak flow reached maximum capacity in some settings with NIV mode only ventilator. The ability to compensate for leak was variable between ventilators, but those with greater difficulty (E500 and Horus) maintained the lowest values of PEEP and also had great trigger delays, the other ventilators showed trigger delays smaller than 100ms. The cycling occurred by security criteria on Horus, Vela and E500 ventilators in some settings. The ability of pressurization was evaluated by calculating the PTP with 500ms and 1 second. The area of pressurization with 1 second remained below 50% of target area for all ventilators, including for Vision, specifically for VNIPP. Horus ventilator has the worst pressurization performance. CONCLUSIONS: Among nine conventional tested ventilators, only four worked with the TFM. The performance among the ventilators was variable; as a result some of them were not suitable for use with NIV using TFM. The greatest difficulty for conventional ventilator operation was dealing with the large leakage, occurring auto triggering or inspiratory flow turning off, alarming disconnection. The air leakage through the mask holes (exhalation port) was high. Horus and E500 ventilators had trigger delays greater than 100ms and cycling occurred by security criteria for all conventional ventilators, except the Servo, in some setting