Quick diagnosis regarding mild bacteriophage using a simple mobility analysis
Lower body segment trajectory and gait phase prediction is crucial for the control of assistance-as-needed robotic devices, such as exoskeletons. In order for a powered exoskeleton with phase-based control to determine and provide proper assistance to the wearer during gait, we propose an approach to predict segment trajectories up to 200 ms ahead (angular velocity of the thigh, shank and foot segments) and five gait phases (loading response, mid-stance, terminal stance, preswing and swing), based on collected data from inertial measurement units placed on the thighs, shanks, and feet. The approach we propose is a long-short term memory (LSTM)-based network, a modified version of recurrent neural networks, which can learn order dependence in sequence prediction problems. The algorithm proposed has a weighted discount loss function that places more weight in predicting the next three to five time frames but also contributes to an overall prediction performance for up to 10 time frames. The LSTM model was designed to learn lower limb segment trajectories using training samples and was tested for generalization across participants. All predicted trajectories were strongly correlated with the measured trajectories, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98. The proposed LSTM approach can also accurately predict the five gait phases, particularly swing phase with 95% accuracy in inter-subject implementation. The ability of the LSTM network to predict future gait trajectories and gait phases can be applied in designing exoskeleton controllers that can better compensate for system delays to smooth the transition between gait phases.Widespread use of face coverings is a key public health strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, few studies have examined why Americans use or do not use face coverings, and little is known about the most effective messaging strategies. This study explored perceptions of face coverings, including motivations and barriers for use, and examined reactions to messaging promoting the use of face coverings. Six virtual focus groups were conducted with 34 North Carolina residents in July 2020. Participants reported high compliance with face covering recommendations but often did not wear them around family, friends, and colleagues. The most prevalent motivation for the use of face coverings was to protect or respect other people, including high-risk populations and individuals. Other motivators were self-protection, responsibility, desire for control, requirements, and expert advice. Barriers included physical and social discomfort, confusion or misinformation, low perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, and perceptions of identity and autonomy. Even among individuals who frequently wear face coverings, there are opportunities to improve compliance. Messaging should highlight how face coverings protect the wearer and others around them, normalize the use of face coverings in social settings, and emphasize requirements. Positive messages that focus on unity, personal experiences and the rationale for face coverings are recommended.Chronic diseases can be controlled through effective self-management. The purpose of this study is to explore the regularity of clinical visits and medication adherence of patients with hypertension or diabetes (PWHD), and its association with the first experience with care and individual factors in rural Southwestern China. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Yunnan province in 2018 and recruited 292 PWHD and 122 village clinics from 122 villages in 10 counties. Trametinib Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results show around 39% of hypertensive and 25% of diabetic patients neither visited physicians nor took medicine regularly during the preceding three months of the interview date. The regression results further indicated that individual characteristics of the PWHD, including patient age, health status, and economic level, as well as their first experience with care, were significantly associated with their regular healthcare behavior. In addition to providing medical services, on average each sample village clinic, with around two physicians, simultaneously managed 180 hypertensive and 45 diabetic patients. This study revealed the need for further reforms in terms of improving self-management and thus recommends an increase in the quantity and the quality of human resources in the primary healthcare realm in rural China.The main goal of this work was to evaluate the thermal insulation and sound absorption properties of open-cell rigid polyurethane foams synthesized with different contents of cooking oil-based polyol. The content of the applied bio-polyol as well as flame retardant (triethyl phosphate) in the foam formulation had a significant influence on the cellular structures of the materials. The open-cell polyurethane foams were characterized by apparent densities in the range 16-30 kg/m3. The sound absorption coefficients of the polyurethanes with various contents of bio-polyol were determined using the standing wave method (Kundt's tube) in the frequency range of 100-6300 Hz. The effect of the content of the bio-polyol and flame retardant on the coefficient of thermal conductivity (at average temperatures of 0, 10 and 20 °C) as well as the compressive strength (at 20 and -10 °C) was analyzed. Different trends were observed in terms of the thermal insulation properties and sound absorption ability of the open-cell polyurethanes due to the addition of bio-polyol. In conclusion, it is necessary to use systems containing both petrochemical and bio-based raw materials.The knowledge of the isotopic composition of virgin olive oil (VOO) allows the evaluation of authenticity and geographical origin, being an important tool against fraud. This study aimed to assess if VOOs produced in three Mediterranean regions could be discriminated on the basis of multivariate statistical analysis of geoclimatic and isotopic data. A total of 138 geo-referenced VOO samples from Portugal, France and Turkey from two different cultivation years were collected. The isotopic composition (δ13C, δ2H and δ18O) of VOOs was obtained using an elemental analyzer coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (EA-IRMS). One-way analysis of variance for δ13C, δ2H and δ18O showed some significant differences either between crop years or geoclimatic conditions. Based on multiple regression analyses using meteorological and geographical parameters, a meteoric water line for olive oil from Portugal, France and Turkey, in two harvest years, were created to assess the impact of climate change on their δ2H and δ18O values.