Introdução: Acidentes com ciclistas podem ser bastante sérios especialmente pela possibilidade de trauma cranioencefálico grave. Métodos: O objetivo desse trabalho foi estimar a prevalência do uso de capacetes por ciclistas nos finais de semana e feriados na cidade de Porto Alegre. Durante os finais de semana e feriados da primavera de 2007, foi realizado um estudo transversal. 969 ciclistas foram incluídos na amostra. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Grupo de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Resultados: A prevalência do uso de capacetes pelos ciclistas foi de 5,6% (IC 95% 4,5 a 7,5). Os ciclistas mais jovens (idade ≤ 20 anos) tiveram uma prevalência menor do uso do capacete, quando comparados à observada entre os demais ciclistas (idade > 20 anos), (P< 0,001; 2,1% vs. 7,8%, respectivamente). Discussão: Embora esse estudo tenha sido realizado em fins de semana e feriados, quando se espera que a prevalência do uso do capacete seja maior, nós encontramos somente 5,6% dos ciclistas utilizando esse equipamento de proteção. Medidas educativas e iniciativas que reduzam o preço de tais equipamentos poderiam trazer benefícios consideráveis para a saúde dessa população. / Introduction: Accidents involving cyclists can be very serious, especially due to the possibility of severe traumatic brain injury. Methods: The objective of this work was estimate the prevalence of helmet use among cyclists in weekends and holidays in the city of Porto Alegre. During the spring of 2007 we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 969 cyclists. The survey was carried out during weekends and holidays on 20 randomly distributed observation sites around the city. The Ethics Committee of the Research and Pos-Graduation Group of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre approved this study. Results: The observed prevalence of helmet use was 5.6% (IC 95% 4.5 a 7.5). Younger cyclists (age ≤ 20 years) had a lower prevalence of helmet use than that observed among older cyclists (age > 20 years), (P< 0.001; 2.1% vs. 7.8%, respectively). Discussion: Although this study was carried out on weekends and holidays, when the prevalence of helmet use was expected to be higher, we found only 5.6% of cyclist using this protective device. Educational measures and incentives to reduce the price of such equipment could bring considerable benefits to the safety and health of cyclists in this population.

Introdução: Acidentes com ciclistas podem ser bastante sérios especialmente pela possibilidade de trauma cranioencefálico grave. Métodos: O objetivo desse trabalho foi estimar a prevalência do uso de capacetes por ciclistas nos finais de semana e feriados na cidade de Porto Alegre. Durante os finais de semana e feriados da primavera de 2007, foi realizado um estudo transversal. 969 ciclistas foram incluídos na amostra. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Grupo de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Resultados: A prevalência do uso de capacetes pelos ciclistas foi de 5,6% (IC 95% 4,5 a 7,5). Os ciclistas mais jovens (idade ≤ 20 anos) tiveram uma prevalência menor do uso do capacete, quando comparados à observada entre os demais ciclistas (idade > 20 anos), (P< 0,001; 2,1% vs. 7,8%, respectivamente). Discussão: Embora esse estudo tenha sido realizado em fins de semana e feriados, quando se espera que a prevalência do uso do capacete seja maior, nós encontramos somente 5,6% dos ciclistas utilizando esse equipamento de proteção. Medidas educativas e iniciativas que reduzam o preço de tais equipamentos poderiam trazer benefícios consideráveis para a saúde dessa população. / Introduction: Accidents involving cyclists can be very serious, especially due to the possibility of severe traumatic brain injury. Methods: The objective of this work was estimate the prevalence of helmet use among cyclists in weekends and holidays in the city of Porto Alegre. During the spring of 2007 we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 969 cyclists. The survey was carried out during weekends and holidays on 20 randomly distributed observation sites around the city. The Ethics Committee of the Research and Pos-Graduation Group of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre approved this study. Results: The observed prevalence of helmet use was 5.6% (IC 95% 4.5 a 7.5). Younger cyclists (age ≤ 20 years) had a lower prevalence of helmet use than that observed among older cyclists (age > 20 years), (P< 0.001; 2.1% vs. 7.8%, respectively). Discussion: Although this study was carried out on weekends and holidays, when the prevalence of helmet use was expected to be higher, we found only 5.6% of cyclist using this protective device. Educational measures and incentives to reduce the price of such equipment could bring considerable benefits to the safety and health of cyclists in this population.

No description available.

Product testing and development are essential parts in sports and for the athletes in their quest to reach the podium. Manufacturers of sports equipment often use basic test methods which do not test the equipment in a sports specific way. Much of the equipment used by world-class athletes is chosen based only on subjective tests and the athletes’ feelings. One short term aim was therefore to develop test methods for objective tests of sports equipment that also tested the equipment in a sports  specific  way.  Another  aim  was  to  integrate  mechanics  and  simulations  to  enhance  the understanding of the test results. The more long term aims are to contribute to increased theoretical knowledge regarding test methods for sports equipment and to contribute to the development of test  methods  to  create  new  and  better  sports  equipment.  Experimental  tests  combined  with simulations  can  give  valuable  information  to  improve  the  performance  and  safety  of  sports equipment. Three studies dealt with the issue of objective yet sport specific test methods for sports equipment. The main methodological advancement is the modification of established test methods together  with  conventional  mechanics  calculations.  New  test  devices  and  methodologies  are proposed for alpine ski helmets and cross-country ski poles. Suggestions are given for improved test setups as well as theoretical simulation are introduced for glide tests of skis. The results show how sport   specific   test   methodologies   together   with   theoretical   calculations   can   improve   the objectiveness and relevance when testing sports equipment. However, the collected and used data require high precision to obtain high accuracy in the simulations. High data accuracy can be an issue in field measurements but also due to manufacturers not disclosing key material data. Still, the used methods  and  calculations  in  this  thesis  produce  relevant  and  reliable  results  which  can  be implemented to accurate evaluations of different sports equipment. Even though it has not been a first priority aim in this work, the results from the alpine helmet study have been used by helmet manufacturers to design new helmets with increased safety properties. This further show how an objective and sport specific test approach together with theoretical simulation can improve sports equipment and in the longer perspective, also the athletes’ performances. / <p>QC 20140423</p>

E-scooter riders have an increased crash risk compared to cyclists [1 ]. Hospital data finds increasing numbers of injured e-scooter riders, with head injuries as one of the most common injury types [2]. To decrease this high prevalence of head injuries, the use of e-scooter helmets could present a potential countermeasure [3]. Despite this, studies show a generally low rate of helmet use rates in countries without mandatory helmet use laws [4][5][6]. In countries with mandatory helmet use laws for e-scooter riders, helmet use rates are higher, but generally remain lower than bicycle use rates [7]. As the helmet use rate is a central factor for the safety of e-scooter riders in case of a crash and a key performance indicator in the European Commission's Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 [8], efficient e-Scooter helmet use data collection methods are needed. However, currently, human observers are used to register e-scooter helmet use either in direct roadside observations or in indirect video-based observation, which is time-consuming and costly. In this study, a deep learning-based method for the automated detection of e-scooter helmet use in video data was developed and tested, with the aim to provide an efficient data collection tool for road safety researchers and practitioners.

Företaget Mips har utformat en teknik vilket ökar skyddet mot hjärnskador vid olyckor då det sker ett islag mot huvudet och hjälm används. Tekniken är ett utformat glidskikt mellan hjälmens yttre skal och användaren som minskar rotationsvåldet mot hjärnans nervtrådar i huvudet. Vid islag mot bakhuvudet hjälper däremot inte glidskiktet i den mån som önskas enligt Mips. Detta är på grund av att storleksjusteringen vid bakhuvudet för hjälmen agerar som en fast punkt för det annars roterande glidskiktet. Gruppen har därför undersökt alternativa lösningar och utformningar av glidskiktet för att öka den positiva effekten vid islag mot bakhuvudet. Gruppen har som mål att komma med flera lösningsförslag på utformning av glidskiktet för att undkomma den fasta punkten och integrera glidskikt med storleksjusteringen. Under projektet ska gruppen göra en förstudie av dagens lösningar och varför det finns ett problem idag. Förutom att göra en förstudie ska gruppen även tillverka fysiska prototyper och utföra funktionstester som påvisar en förbättring enligt uppdragsgivarens testmetod. De flesta av dagens lösningar för justering i höjdled av justersystemet använder sig av ett snäppförband. Gruppen har valt att använda ett standardiserat justersystem från uppdragsgivaren som konceptframtagningen kommer utgå från. Gruppen valde därefter att skapa tre olika prototyper som berör stiften. De tre olika innefattar ändringar av stiftens utformning, ta bort stiften och behålla stiftens ursprungliga utformning. Gruppen genomförde därefter tester enligt uppdragsgivarens testmetod för att komma fram till effekten av de olika koncepten. För att väga de olika idéerna mot varandra användes en beslutsmatris där olika relevanta parametrar värderas. Gruppen har med hjälp av beslutsmatrisen beslutat om rekommendationer för vidare arbete. De två lösningsförslag som gruppen rekommenderar vidare arbete med är idé 1 och idé 3 då de ses med störst potential enligt beslutsmatrisen. Båda de presenterade lösningsförslagen har olika potential beroende på förutsättningar. / The company Mips has developed a technology that enhances protection against brain injuries in accidents where there is an impact to the head while wearing a helmet. The technology consists of a designed low friction layer between the helmet's outer shell and the user, reducing the rotational force on the brain's nerve fibers inside the head. In cases of impacts to the back of the head, the low friction layer doesn't provide as much help as desired by Mips. This is because the size adjustment acts as a fixed point in the back of the head for the otherwise rotating low friction layer. Therefore, the group has investigated alternative solutions and designs of the low friction layer to enhance its effectiveness in impacts to the back of the head. The group aims to propose several design solutions for the low friction layer to avoid the fixed point and integrate it with the size adjustment. During the project, the group will conduct a preliminary study of current solutions and why there is a problem today. In addition to the preliminary study, the group will manufacture physical prototypes and perform functional tests demonstrating improvement according to the client's testing method. Most of today's solutions for height adjustment of the adjustment system use a snap-fit solution. The group has chosen to use a standardized adjustment system from the client as the basis for concept development. The group then decided to create three different prototypes concerning the pins. The three different prototypes include changes to the design of the pins, removing the pins, and retaining the original design of the pins. The group then conducted tests according to the client's testing method to determine the effectiveness of the different concepts. To weigh the different ideas against each other, a decision matrix was used where various relevant parameters were evaluated. With the help of the decision matrix, the group has decided on recommendations for further work. The two solution proposals that the group recommends for further work are idea 1 and idea 3 as they are seen to have the greatest potential according to the decision matrix. Both presented solution proposals have different potential depending on the conditions.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

The destructive nature of conventional analytical techniques, coupled with the finite nature of ancient/historical artefacts, has long restricted technical examinations of museum collections, mainly due to ethical constraints. However, over the past few decades, the application of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques has become increasingly popular within the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage diagnostics. The application of such techniques has facilitated the examination of objects that have long remained uninvestigated. However, this positive development also held a slight drawback, in that researchers tend to now focus on technical analyses alone, while excluding more traditional means of analyses, such as comparative stylistic analysis and surface investigation. By employing a combination of stylistic analysis, visual surface investigation (by means of SLR photography and digital microscopy) and nuclear imaging (by means of Microfocus X-Ray Computed Tomography), the thesis sets out to justify the application of mixed methodologies as part of a more holistic integrated authentication approach. Thus stated, the thesis presents a mixed-methodological approach towards the analysis of selected metal objects from the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria, South Africa. The objects under investigation include a small collection of ancient Egyptian bronze statuettes, a Samurai helmet (kabuto) and mask (menpó), a European gauntlet, and an Arabian dagger (jambiya/khanjar). While all the objects are curated as part of the museum’s archaeology and military history collections, the exact production dates, manufacturing techniques and areas of origin remain a mystery. By using a combination of techniques, the thesis aims to identify diagnostic features that can be used to shed light on their relative age, culturo-chronological framework and, by extension, their authenticity. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Grounded theory analysis, informed by a socio-cultural lens, was applied to the narratives of eighteen motorcycle riders in order to understand, from the rider’s perspective, receptivity to warning messages regarding motorcycle helmet use. This study relied upon narrative analysis to identify patterns in communication that surround motorcycle riders’ experiences. Socio-cultural cues identified importance in the process of interest development in motorcycle riding, search for information regarding motorcycle riding, response to danger within the motorcycle riding experience, and attitude toward protection messages. Narratives specific to danger, or experiences of motorcycle accidents were analyzed for comparison with fear appeal theory. Special focus was applied to Terror Management Theory (TMT) and applied to the communication surrounding the real experiences of motorcycle accident and the perceived threat of danger while motorcycle riding. Communication evidencing relational influence was examined for examples of socially constructed interpretation of social identity and an individual rider's perspective of their lifeworld. The analysis revealed evidence of the TMT concept of burying or denying thoughts of danger. The TMT concept of lifeworld influence on behavior was evidenced in riders who did not accept warning messages involving helmet use. Examples of attitude and behavior change where present in two study participants’ narratives that described experience of severe injury and also the death of a friend. The riders cited these occurrences as experiences that inhibited their previous behavior of placing thoughts of motorcycle injury and death in the back of mind. Although small in number, this participant group offered multiple categorizations of rider descriptions. The narratives offered distinction in time of life when riding interest developed. As well, motorcycle training facilities were often noted as a source of communication from which riders obtained influence on their future behaviors. From this information insight was gained to offer suggestions for future research on time of message delivery. Riders who develop interest in riding as adults represent a category on which to focus preliminary educational messages. Individuals who have not yet developed an interest in motorcycle riding may benefit from societal cues that demonstrate safe riding behavior. Future research in mass media appeals focused on motorcycle riders are suggested, as is development of educational programs for delivery to high school audiences.

Le rôle de la communauté militaire internationale dans le cadre des opérations de maintien de la paix (OMP) s’est profondément transformé depuis la fin de la Guerre froide. En effet, elle intervient de plus en plus fréquemment dans des guerres civiles ou intra-étatiques, particulièrement lorsque les autorités en place ne sont plus en mesure d’assurer la sécurité de la population. Par ailleurs, le rôle des militaires ne se limite plus à la fonction traditionnelle de combattants. Ils doivent maintenant assumer des tâches qui visent beaucoup plus le développement de relations avec la population civile dont la coopération est un élément essentiel à la réussite de ce type d’intervention. L’objectif de ce mémoire est d’analyser l’opinion de la population civile de la région de Bihać par rapport à l’intervention des militaires dans le cadre de l’OMP en Bosnie-Herzégovine. L’historique du conflit dans cette région, l’état des connaissances sur les sources d’insatisfaction de la population par rapport au déroulement des OMP en général, ainsi que des entrevues avec des informateurs-clés nous permettent d’identifier deux problématiques distinctes, soit : (1) l’écart important entre les attentes et les besoins de la population et le mandat confié par l’ONU; et (2) la dichotomie entre la formation de base des militaires et ce qui est attendu d’eux dans le cadre de ces interventions. / The role of the international military community in the peacekeeping operations (PKOs) has been transformed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. Indeed, the community is called to intervene more and more frequently in civil wars, especially when local authorities in the country are no longer able to guarantee citizens’ safety. Furthermore, the role of the military is no longer limited to traditional combat. It must now undertake tasks aimed at developing a relationship with the civilian population whose cooperation is essential for the success of this type of intervention. The goal of this thesis is to examine the opinions of the civilian population from the Bihać area with respect to the military intervention as part of the PKO in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The history of the conflict, the state of knowledge about the sources of dissatisfaction of the population during PKOs, and interviews with expert witnesses enable us to identify two distinct issues: (1) the large gap between the expectations and the needs of civilians and the mandate given by UN, and (2) the insufficient training of militaries as regards what is expected from them during these operations.