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The flu is a contagious respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza viruses. Annually in Catalonia there is a flu season within the months of autumn and winter, that can create a lot of stress to the healthcare system. The main goal of this study is to understand the dynamics of the flu and to be able to make predictions that allow anticipation, with enough time to respond to an increase of infected individuals that requires active action from the healthcare system managers. Computational and mathematical models are a powerful tool that help understand and predict systems behaviours. In this study different models are adapted, developed and implemented to achieve the pursued objective. Therefore, the interaction between meteorological factors and the flu seasonality and transmissivity has been studied, due to the known effects of these factors upon biological systems. The mathematical models developed in this study fit correctly the epidemiological data, they allow the explanation of flu seasonality and perform predictions at short and long term. The base model that has been used proved to be a good fit to the previous seasons and has been applied to produce weakly reports of flu evolution this season 2021-2022. From the base model new models have been created, these include meteorological factors and have been called meteomodels. They have revealed the effect of temperature and absolute humidity upon the epidemic behavior of the flu. This is one of the main results of this study, there is no knowledge of any other published model that describes flu epidemics through meteorological factors as the models in this study do, with the added value that these meteorological models have the potential to predict two weeks ahead. To sum up, predictive mathematical models have been developed, each one with a precision above 95%, for the flu epidemic in Catalonia and incorporating, for the first time, meteorological factors. Further work includes new and different combinations of meteorological factors, the incorporation of social factors, effects of viral interference and statistical analyses to determine the probable load of infected individuals for each center of primary attention in Catalonia. La gripe es una enfermedad infecciosa respiratoria contagiosa causada por los virus de la influenza. En Cataluña anualmente hay una temporada de gripe en los meses de otoño e invierno, que puede llegar a crear mucha tensión en el sistema sanitario. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprender las dinámicas de la gripe y poder realizar predicciones que permitan anticiparse con tiempo a un incremento de casos que requieran de acción activa por parte de los gestores de salud pública. Los modelos matemáticos y computacionales son un potente recurso que permite comprender y predecir el comportamiento de sistemas. En este estudio se adaptan, desarrollan e implementan diferentes modelos para lograr el objetivo propuesto. Así mismo, se estudia la interacción de factores meteorológicos con la transmisión y la estacionalidad de la enfermedad de la gripe, ya que sus efectos sobre los sistemas biológicos son conocidos. Los modelos matemáticos desarrollados se ajustan correctamente a los datos epidemiológicos, permiten explicar la estacionalidad de la gripe y realizar predicciones a corto y largo plazo. El modelo base con el que se ha trabajado muestra un buen ajuste a las temporadas anteriores y se ha usado para realizar informes semanales de la evolución de la gripe esta temporada 2021-2022. Partiendo del modelo base se han creado modelos que incluyen factores meteorológicos, que hemos nombrado meteomodelos, que han conseguido mostrar el efecto de la temperatura y la humedad absoluta sobre el comportamiento epidémico de la gripe. Este es uno de los resultados principales del trabajo, no se tiene constancia de ningún otro modelo publicado que describa la evolución epidémica de la gripe mediante factores meteorológicos como lo hacen los de este estudio, con el valor añadido de que estos modelos meteorológicos tienen el potencial de predecir a dos semanas vista. En definitiva, se han elaborado modelos matemáticos predictivos, todos con una precisión superior al 95%, de la epidemia de gripe en Cataluña y añadiendo, por primera vez, factores meteorológicos. Planteamientos de futuro incluyen nuevas y distintas combinaciones de factores meteorológicos, la incorporación de factores sociales, efectos de interferencia entre virus y análisis estadístico para determinar la probabilidad de carga de infectados en cada centro de atención primaria en la totalidad de Cataluña. La grip és una malaltia infecciosa respiratòria contagiosa causada pels virus de la influença. A Catalunya anualment hi ha temporada de grip en els mesos de tardor i hivern, que pot arribar a crear molta tensió al sistema sanitari. L’objectiu d’aquest treball és entendre les dinàmiques de la grip i poder fer prediccions que permetin anticipar-se amb temps a un augment de casos que requereixin d’acció activa dels gestors de salut pública. Els models matemàtics i computacionals són un potent recurs que permeten entendre i predir comportaments de sistemes. En aquest estudi s’adapten, desenvolupen i implementen diferents models per assolir l’objectiu proposat. Així mateix, s’estudia la interacció de factors meteorològics amb la transmissió i l’estacionalitat de la malaltia de la grip, ja que els seus efectes sobre els sistemes biològics són coneguts. Els models matemàtics desenvolupats s’ajusten correctament a les dades epidemiològiques, permeten explicar l’estacionalitat de la grip i realitzar prediccions a curt i llarg termini. El model base amb el que s’ha treballat mostra un bon ajust a temporades anteriors i s’ha fet servir per realitzar informes setmanals de l’evolució de la grip aquesta temporada 2021-2022. Partint del model base s’han creat models amb la inclusió de factors meteorològics, que hem anomenat meteomodels, que han aconseguit mostrar l’efecte de la temperatura i la humitat absoluta sobre el comportament epidèmic de la grip. Aquest és un dels resultats principals del treball, no es té constància de cap altre model publicat que descrigui l’evolució epidèmica de la grip mitjançant factors meteorològics com ho fan els d’aquest estudi, amb el valor afegit que aquests models meteorològics tenen el potencial de predir a dues setmanes vista. En definitiva, s’han elaborat models matemàtics predictius, tots amb una precisió superior al 95%, de l’epidèmia de grip a Catalunya i incloent, per primer cop, factors meteorològics. Plantejaments de futur inclouen noves i diferents combinacions de factors meteorològics, la incorporació de factors socials, efectes d’interferència entre virus i anàlisi estadístic per determinar la probabilitat de càrrega d’infectats en cada centre d’atenció primària per la totalitat de Catalunya. Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar

Viral coinfection presented in humans has important value in clinical and epidemiological studies. The relationship between viruses determines the consequences of viral coinfection. These consequences could be inhibition of viral growth, increased viral load, or even more severe symptoms in the patient. This work aims to understand the relationship between different viruses and the dynamics of their viral load during coinfection. In this way, it is hoped to be able to make an accurate prediction of the evolution of coinfection between respiratory viruses and, therefore, improve the protocol for the prevention of infectious respiratory diseases. On the other hand, mathematical and computational models are efficient in understanding the dynamics of viruses and predicting the trends of an epidemic. This has also been demonstrated during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Therefore, in this work, a series of mathematical models are developed to study the relationship between viruses under coinfection and to understand how the infection changes in the presence of other pathogens. In addition, the results are expected to be useful for taking measures to control a pandemic or epidemic similar to those experienced in the future. This study focuses on 4 respiratory viruses: SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (IV), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). The models generated in this work are derived from the Pinky and Dobrovoly1 coinfection model, which evaluates the evolution of viral load during coinfection. Viral load is an important variable that indicates what kind of interaction viruses establish: the interaction is positive when the presence of one virus increases the viral load of another virus over time, otherwise the interaction is negative. And when the viral load does not vary in coinfection, this interaction is neutral. The mathematical models developed in this work not only fit well with the experimental data of coinfection but also with those of simple infection. Apart from that, we have studied different scenarios. On the one hand, we have made a model to understand the effect of one virus on the delayed infection with another. Also, the initial viral load has been increased to assess its relationship with the inhibitory effect. Finally, we investigated viral evolution with continuous cell introduction, adding a recruitment parameter to the model. La coinfección viral presentada en humanos tiene un importante valor en estudios clínicos y epidemiológicos. La relación entre virus condiciona las consecuencias de la coinfección viral. Estas consecuencias podrían ser inhibición del crecimiento viral, aumento de carga viral o incluso síntomas más graves en el paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo es entender la relación entre distintos virus y la dinámica de su carga viral durante la coinfección. De esta forma se espera poder hacer una predicción precisa de la evolución de una coinfección entre virus respiratorios y, por tanto, mejorar el protocolo de prevención de las enfermedades respiratorias infecciosas. Por otra parte, los modelos matemáticos y computacionales son eficientes para entender la dinámica de los virus y predecir las tendencias de una epidemia. Esto se ha demostrado también durante la pandemia del SARS-CoV-2. Por eso, en este trabajo se desarrollan una serie de modelos matemáticos para entender la relación entre virus bajo coinfección, para entender cómo cambia la infección en presencia otros patógenos. Además, se espera que los resultados puedan ser de utilidad para tomar medidas de control de una pandemia o epidemia similar a las vividas en el futuro. Este estudio se centra en 4 virus respiratorios: SARS-CoV-2, virus respiratorio sincicial (VRS), influenza (IV) y metapneumovirus humano (hMPV). Los modelos generados en este trabajo derivan del modelo de coinfección Pinky y Dobrovoly1, que evalúa la evolución de la carga viral durante la coinfección. La carga viral es una variable importante que indica qué tipo de interacción establecen los virus: la interacción es positiva cuando la presencia de un virus aumenta la carga viral de otro virus con el tiempo; de lo contrario, la interacción es negativa. Y cuando la carga viral no varía en coinfección, esa interacción es neutral. Los modelos matemáticos desarrollados en este trabajo no solo se ajustan bien a los datos experimentales de coinfección sino también a los de infección simple. Aparte de esto, hemos estudiado diferentes escenarios. Por un lado, hemos realizado un modelo para entender el efecto sobre un virus de la infección retrasada con otro. También se ha aumentado la carga viral inicial para evaluar su relación con el efecto inhibidor. Finalmente, hemos investigado la evolución viral con introducción celular continua, añadiendo al modelo un parámetro de reclutamiento. La coinfecció viral presentada en humans té un valor important en estudis clínics i epidemiològics. La relació que s’estableix entre virus condiciona les conseqüències de la coinfecció viral. Aquestes conseqüències podrien ser inhibició del creixement viral, augment de la càrrega viral o fins i tot símptomes més greus en el pacient. L'objectiu d'aquest treball és entendre la relació entre diferents virus i la dinàmica de la seva càrrega viral durant la coinfecció. D’aquesta manera s’espera poder fer una predicció precisa de l’evolució d’una coinfecció entre virus respiratoris i, per tant, millorar el protocol de prevenció de les malalties respiratòries infeccioses. D’altra banda, els models matemàtics i computacionals són eficients per entendre la dinàmica dels virus i predir les tendències d’una epidèmia. Això s’ha demostrat també durant la pandèmia del SARS-CoV-2. Per això, en aquest treball es desenvolupen una sèrie de models matemàtics per estudiar la relació entre virus sota coinfecció, per tal d’entendre com canvia la infecció en presència d’altres patògens. A més, s’espera que els resultats puguin ser d’utilitat per a prendre mesures de control d’una pandèmia o epidèmia similar a les viscudes, en el futur. Aquest estudi se centra en 4 virus respiratoris: SARS-CoV-2, virus respiratori sincicial (VRS), influenza (IV) i metapneumovirus humà (hMPV). Els models generats en aquest treball deriven del model de coinfecció Pinky i Dobrovoly1, que avalua l'evolució de la càrrega viral durant la coinfecció. La càrrega viral és una variable important que indica quin tipus d'interacció estableixen els virus: la interacció és positiva quan la presència d'un virus augmenta la càrrega viral d'un altre virus amb el temps, en cas contrari, la interacció és negativa. I quan la càrrega viral no varia en coinfecció, aquesta interacció és neutral. Els models matemàtics desenvolupats en aquest treball no només s'ajusten bé a les dades experimentals de coinfecció sinó també a les d’infecció simple. A part d'això, hem estudiat diferents escenaris. D’una banda, hem fet un model per entendre l'efecte sobre un virus de la infecció retardada amb un altre. També, s’ha augmentat la càrrega viral inicial per avaluar la seva relació amb l'efecte inhibidor. Finalment, hem investigat l'evolució viral amb introducció cel·lular continua, afegint al model un paràmetre de reclutament. Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar

Тема выпускной квалификационной работы: «Устройство Ð·Ð°Ñ Ð²Ð°Ñ‚Ð° и намотки на бобину аморфной ленты при её Ð²Ñ‹Ñ Ð¾Ð´Ðµ из литейного комплекса». Целью работы является разработка устройства Ð·Ð°Ñ Ð²Ð°Ñ‚Ð° и намотки на бобину аморфной ленты при её Ð²Ñ‹Ñ Ð¾Ð´Ðµ из литейного комплекса. Для достижения данной цели был проведён патентный поиск устройств Ð·Ð°Ñ Ð²Ð°Ñ‚Ð° и намотки на бобину аморфной ленты и выполнен Ð¸Ñ Ð°Ð½Ð°Ð»Ð¸Ð·. В итоге определена проблематика проектирования устройств данного назначения и разработана собственная концепция Ð·Ð°Ñ Ð²Ð°Ñ‚Ð° и намотки аморфной ленты, создана Ñ‚ÐµÑ Ð½Ð¾Ð»Ð¾Ð³Ð¸Ñ‡ÐµÑÐºÐ°Ñ ÑÑ ÐµÐ¼Ð°. По описанной концепции в программе Solidworks построена 3D-модель устройства. Был подобран ÑÐ»ÐµÐºÑ‚Ñ€Ð¾Ð¼ÐµÑ Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ‡ÐµÑÐºÐ¸Ð¹ привод с Ð½ÐµÐ¾Ð±Ñ Ð¾Ð´Ð¸Ð¼Ñ‹Ð¼Ð¸ комплектующими, главный критерий выбора – обеспечение Ð½ÐµÐ¾Ð±Ñ Ð¾Ð´Ð¸Ð¼Ð¾Ð¹ разгонной динамики, в итоге создана структурно-функциональная ÑÑ ÐµÐ¼Ð° привода. Расчётная часть работы выполнена в программе Mathcad и включает в себя расчёт кинематики проектируемого устройства, проектный расчёт пружин растяжения и проверочный расчёт привода. В результате выполнения данной работы созданы и описаны чертежи общего вида устройства Ð·Ð°Ñ Ð²Ð°Ñ‚Ð° и намотки на бобину аморфной ленты., Topic of the final qualification work: "Device for capturing and winding on a bobbin of amorphous speed when it exits the foundry complex". The aim of the work is to develop a device for capturing and overlaying an amorphous velocity bobbin when it is completed from the foundry complex. To achieve this goal, a patent search for devices for capturing and winding an amorphous tape on a reel was checked and analyzed. As a result, the problematics of designing devices for this purpose were identified and an own concept for capturing and winding an amorphous tape was developed, and a technological scheme was created. According to the described concept, a 3D model of the device was built in the Solidworks program. An electromechanical drive with the necessary components was selected, the main selection criterion was to provide the necessary acceleration dynamics, as a result, a structural and functional diagram of the drive was created. The calculation part of the work was carried out in the Mathcad program and includes the calculation of the kinematics of the device being designed, the design calculation of tension springs and the verification calculation of the drive. As a result of this work, drawings of a general view of a device for capturing and winding an amorphous tape on a bobbin were created and described.

Introduction: Health authorities use different systems of influenza surveillance. Sentinel networks, which are recommended by the World Health Organization, provide information on weekly influenza incidence in a monitored population, based on laboratory-confirmed cases. In Catalonia there is a public website, DiagnostiCat, that publishes the number of weekly clinical diagnoses at the end of each week of disease registration, while the sentinel network publishes its reports later. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is concordance between the number of cases of clinical diagnoses and the number of confirmed cases of influenza, in order to evaluate the predictive potential of a clinical diagnosis-based system. Methods: Population-based ecological time series study in Catalonia. The period runs from the 2010–2011 to the 2018–2019 season. The concordance between the clinical diagnostic cases and the confirmed cases was evaluated. The degree of agreement and the concordance were analysed using Bland–Altman graphs and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: There was greater concordance between the clinical diagnoses and the sum of the cases confirmed outside and within the sentinel network than between the diagnoses and the confirmed sentinel cases. The degree of agreement was higher when influenza rates were low. Conclusions: There is concordance between the clinical diagnosis and the confirmed cases of influenza. Registered clinical diagnostic cases could provide a good alternative to traditional surveillance, based on case confirmation. Cases of clinical diagnosis of influenza may have the potential to predict the onset of annual influenza epidemics.

During the past 20 years, multi-channel radar emerged as a key tool for deciphering an ice sheet's internal architecture. To assign ages to radar reflections and connect them over large areas in the ice sheet, the layer genesis has to be understood on a microphysical scale. Synthetic radar trace modelling based on the dielectric profile of ice cores allows for the assignation of observed physical properties’ variations on the decimetre scale to radar reflectors extending from the coring site to a regional or even whole-ice-sheet scale. In this paper we rely on the available dielectric profiling data of the northern Greenland deep ice cores: NGRIP, NEEM and EGRIP. The three records are well suited for assigning an age model to the stratigraphic radar-mapped layers, and linking up the reflector properties to observations in the cores. Our modelling results show that the internal reflections are mainly due to conductivity changes. Furthermore, we deduce fabric characteristics at the EGRIP drill site from two-way-travel-time differences of along and across-flow polarized radarwave reflections of selected horizons (below 980 m). These indicate in deeper parts of the ice column an across-flow concentrated c-axis fabric.

Aim: Mechanical principles successfully guide the construction of polymer material composites in engineering. Since the abdominal wall is a polymer composite augmented with a textile during incisional hernia repair we ask: can incisional hernia be repaired safely and durably based on biomechanical principles?Material and Methods: Repair materials were assessed on a self-built bench test using pulse loads to elude influences on the reconstruction of the abdominal wall. Tissue elasticity was analyzed preoperatively as needed with computed tomography at rest and during Valsalva's maneuver. Preoperatively, the critical retention force of the reconstruction to pulse loads was calculated and a biomechanically durable repair was designed based on the needs of the individual patient. Intraoperatively, the design was adjusted as needed. Hernia meshes with high grip factors (Progrip®, Dahlhausen® Cicat) were used for the repairs. Mesh sizes, fixation elements and reconstructive details were oriented on the biomechanical design. All patients recieved single-shot antibiosis. Patients were discharged after full ambulation was achieved.Results: A total of 163 patients (82 males and 81 females) were treated for incisional hernia in four hospitals by ten surgeons. Primary hernia was repaired in 119 patients. Recurrent hernia was operated on in 44 cases. Recurrent hernia was significantly larger (median 161 cm2 vs. 78 cm2; u-test: p = 0.00714). Re-do surgery took significantly longer (median 229 min vs. 150 min; p < 0.00001) since recurrent disease required more often transversus abdominis release (70% vs. 47%). GRIP tended to be higher in recurrent repair (p = 0.01828). Complication rates (15%) and hospital stay were the same (6 vs. 6 days; p = 0.28462). After 1 year, no recurrence was detected in either group. Pain levels were equally low in both primary and recurrent hernia repairs (median NAS = 0 in both groups at rest and under load, p = 0.88866).Conclusion: Incisional hernia can safely and durably be repaired based on biomechanical principles both in primary and recurrent disease. The GRIP concept provides a base for the application of biomechanical principles in incisional hernia repair.

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Ensino de Música, O presente Relatório de Estágio foi desenvolvido no âmbito do projeto de estágio da Prática Pedagógica Supervisionada do Mestrado em Ensino de Música da Universidade do Minho, tendo sido realizado no Conservatório de Música do Porto. A investigação teve como principais objetivos relevar a importância da correção do grip nas baquetas de caixa e, ainda, reunir diversas estratégias para a sua melhor aprendizagem. Desta forma, a problemática do presente projeto de intervenção pedagógica centrou-se na seguinte estratégia implementada: a inclusão de um acessório de controlo do grip nas baquetas de caixa, colocado na zona da sua pega. Partindo do princípio de que a técnica é uma componente essencial no desenvolvimento do instrumentista, pode dizer-se que uma aprendizagem menos eficiente na fase inicial dos estudos, pode causar limitações futuras de difícil debelação. Da mesma forma, para que se possa evitar um conjunto de lesões associadas aos movimentos repetidos, é crucial que os alunos aprendam a técnica correta dos instrumentos desde um estádio inicial e, sendo possível, de uma forma simples e interativa. No caso da implementação do acessório de controlo do grip nas baquetas, o principal objetivo seria compreender qual o seu impacto na técnica dos alunos no curto espaço de tempo de implementação do projeto. Através dos dados recolhidos no questionário aplicado a professores de Percussão, foi possível aferir que a maioria dos docentes afirma que, com a utilização do acessório de auxílio nas baquetas de caixa, poderá existir um impacto positivo na técnica de caixa dos alunos. No que diz respeito aos dados recolhidos nos questionários destinados os alunos, foi possível aferir que estes revelaram melhorias com a adição do acessório, tanto no grip como também no movimento da baqueta e, consequentemente, do resultado final da performance., The present Internship Report was developed in the context of the Supervised Pedagogical Practice internship project of the Master’s Degree in Music Education of University of Minho, and it was held at Music Conservatory of Porto. The main objectives of the research were to emphasize the importance of the grip correction in the snare drumsticks and also to gather several strategies for its better learning. Therefore, the issue of this pedagogical intervention project was focused on the following implemented strategy: the inclusion of a grip control accessory in the drumsticks, placed in the grip area. Assuming that technique is an essential component in the development of the instrumentalist, it can be stated that a less efficient learning at the initial phase of studies can cause future limitations difficult to overcome. Likewise, in order to avoid a number of injuries associated with repeated movements, it is crucial that students learn the correct technique of the instruments form an early stage and, if possible, in a simple and interactive way. In the case of the implementation of the grip control accessory on the drumsticks, the main objective would be to understand what impact it would have on the students’ technique in the short timeframe of the project’s implementation. Through the data collected in the questionnaire applied to percussion pedagogues, it was possible to appraise that most teachers say that, with the use of the helpful accessory for the drumsticks, there may be a positive impact on the technique of the students. The data collected from the student questionnaires, allowed us to assess that students improved when using the accessory, both in the grip and in the movement of the drumstick as, consequently, in the final result of the performance.

Aim: Hernia repair strengthens the abdominal wall with a textile mesh. Recurrence and pain indicate weak bonds between mesh and tissue. It remains a question which biomechanical factors strengthen the mesh-tissue interface, and whether surgeons can enhance the bond between mesh and tissue.Material and Methods: This study assessed the strength of the mesh-tissue interface by dynamic loads. A self-built bench test delivered dynamic impacts. The test simulated coughing. Porcine and bovine tissue were used for the bench test. Tissue quality, mesh adhesiveness, and fixation intensity influenced the retention power. The influences were condensed in a formula to assess the durability of the repair. The formula was applied to clinical work. The relative strength of reconstruction was related to the individual human abdominal wall. From computerized tomography at rest and during Valsalva's Maneuver, the tissue quality of the individual patient was determined before surgery.Results: The results showed that biomechanical parameters observed in porcine, bovine, and human tissue were in the same range. Tissues failed in distinct patterns. Sutures slackened or burst at vulnerable points. Both the load duration and the peak load increased destruction. Stress concentrations elevated failure rates. Regional areas of force contortions increased stress concentrations. Hernia repair improved strain levels. Measures for improvement included the closure of the defect, use of higher dynamic intermittent strain (DIS) class meshes, increased mesh overlap, and additional fixation. Surgeons chose the safety margin of the reconstruction as desired.Conclusion: The tissue quality has now been introduced into the concept of a critical and a gained resistance toward pressure-related impacts. A durable hernia repair could be designed from available coefficients. Using biomechanical principles, surgeons could minimize pain levels. Mesh-related complications such as hernia recurrence can potentially be avoided in incisional hernia repair.

Ever since the first deep ice cores were drilled, it has been a challenge to determine their original, in-situ orientation. In general, the orientation of an ice core is lost as the drill is free to rotate during transport to the surface. For shallow ice cores, it is usually possible to match the adjacent core breaks, which preserves the orientation of the ice column. However, this method fails for deep ice cores, such as the EastGRIP ice core in Northeast Greenland. We provide a method to reconstruct ice core orientation using visual stratigraphy and borehole geometry. As the EastGRIP ice core is drilled through the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream, we use information about the directional structures to perform a full geographical re-orientation. We compared the core orientation with logging data from core break matching and the pattern of the stereographic projections of the crystals’c-axis orientations. Both comparisons agree very well with the proposed orientation method. The method works well for 441 out of 451 samples from a depth of 1375–2120 m in the EastGRIP ice core. It can also be applied to other ice cores, providing a better foundation for interpreting physical properties and understanding the flow of ice.

Recent designs of soft robots and nano robots feature locomotion mechanisms thatentail orchestrating changes to intrinsic curvature or length to enable the robot’s limbs toeither stick, adhere, or slip on the robot’s workspace. The resulting locomotion mechanismhas several features in common with peristaltic locomotion that can be found in the animalworld. One of the purposes of this dissertation is to examine the feasibility of, and designguidelines for, a locomotion mechanism that exploits the control of intrinsic curvature ona rough surface featuring stick, slip, and adhesion interaction. Our work complements theever-increasing body of work on soft robots that is primarily focused on the design andfabrication of these systems. Modeling and analyzing these robots is challenging becauseof the difficulties in faithfully modeling the flexible nature of their components.The study of locomotion presented in this dissertation is composed of two parts. First,we consider the simplest possible model for a soft robot. The resulting model is a lumpedparameter system featuring a pair of mass particles and a spring with a variable naturallength. By appropriately varying the natural length as a function of time ℓ0(t), we showhow locomotion can be achieved and examine the energy efficiency for a variety of choicesof ℓ0(t). We then take the lessons gained from this model and use them to understandthe locomotion of a block that is propelled on a rough surface with the aid of a flexiblearm. Our analysis of the rod-based model for this system focuses on the development of astructurally stable mechanism to move the block. This analysis exploits recent results onstability of adhered rods that we supplement with a new discretized stability criterion.Beyond locomotion, soft robots have the ability to gently grip and maneuver objectswith open-loop kinematic control. Guided by several recent designs and implementationsof soft robot hands, we exploit our earlier works on locomotion and analyze a rod-basedmodel for the fingers in the hand of a soft robot. We show precisely how gripping isachieved and how the performance can be affected by varying the system’s parameters. Thedesigns of interest feature pneumatic control of the soft robot and we model this actuationas a varying intrinsic curvature profile of the rod. Our work provides a framework for thetheoretical analysis of the soft robot and the resulting analysis can also be used to developsome design guidelines.

Altres ajuts: Programme of Prevention, Surveillance and Control of Transmissible Diseases (PREVICET); CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP). Influenza is an important cause of severe illness and death among patients with underlying medical conditions and in the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with ICU admission and death in patients hospitalized with severe laboratory-confirmed influenza during the 2017-2018 season in Catalonia. An observational epidemiological case-to-case study was carried out. Reported cases of severe laboratory-confirmed influenza requiring hospitalization in 2017-2018 influenza season were included. Mixed-effects regression analysis was used to estimate the factors associated with ICU admission and death. A total of 1306 cases of hospitalized severe influenza cases were included, of whom 175 (13.4%) died and 217 (16.6%) were ICU admitted. Age 65-74 years and ≥ 75 years and having ≥ 2 comorbidities were positively associated with death (aOR 3.19; 95%CI 1.19-8.50, aOR 6.95, 95%CI 2.76-1.80 and aOR 1.99; 95%CI 1.12-3.52, respectively). Neuraminidase inhibitor treatment and pneumonia were negatively associated with death. The 65-74 years and ≥ 75 years age groups were negatively associated with ICU admission (aOR 0.41; 95%CI 0.23-0.74 and aOR 0.30; 95%CI 0.17-0.53, respectively). A factor positively associated with ICU admission was neuraminidase inhibitor treatment. Our results support the need to investigate the worst outcomes of hospitalized severe cases, distinguishing between death and ICU admission.

Amaç: Hemşirelik öğrencilerinin mevsimsel grip ve pnömoni aşısına ilişkin farkındalıklarının belirlenmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel tipte tanımlayıcı bir araştırmadır. Bu araştırma 331 öğrenci ile yapılmıştır. Veriler araştırmacılar tarafından literatür bilgisine dayalı olarak oluşturulan anket formu ile yüz yüze görüşme yöntemi ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde SSPS paket programından yararlanılarak sayı, yüzde ve ki kare testi kullanılmıştır. BULGULAR: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin %80,7’nin kız ve birinci sınıf, %54,7’nin “alt gelir” düzeyinde ve %54,7’nin “evde” kaldıkları, %45,0’nin sağlıklarını “iyi’’ olarak algıladıklarını belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin %90,9’nun influenza hakkında,%94,9'unun ise pnömoni hakkında herhangi bir eğitime katılmadıkları, %58,8’nin ise yaşlılara ve kronik hastalığı olanlara grip ve pnömoni aşısının ücretsiz olduğunu bilmedikleri saptanmıştır. SONUÇLAR: Araştırmada öğrencilerin mevsimsel grip ve pnömoni aşısına ilişkin hiç bir eğitim almadıkları ancak büyük bir kısmının sağlık personelinin mevsimsel grip aşısı yaptırmasını gerekli gördüğü saptanmıştır. Yaşlılar ile kronik hastalığı olanlarda ciddi komplikasyonlara ve ölüme sebebiyet verebileceği için hemşirelik eğitiminde mevsimsel grip ve pnömoninin önemine ilişkin eğitim verilerek farkındalıklarının artırılmasının gerektiği düşünülmektedir. Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the awareness among nursing students about seasonal influenza and pneumonia vaccination. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted among 331 students. The data of this study were collected through face to face interviews using a questionnaire created by the researchers based on the literature. In the evaluation of the data, numbers, percentages and chi-square test were used through SSPS package program. Findings: Of the students participated in the study, 80,7% were female first-grade students, 54,7% were low income, 54,7 % were living at “home“ (not at the dormitory or hostel), 45 % were perceiving their health as “good“. 90,9% of the students stated that they had not participated in a training on pneumonia previously; 94,9% of them reported that they had never attended an educational program about pneumonia. It was seen that 58 % of the students did not know that influenza and pneumonia vaccinations were free of charge for the elderly and those with chronic diseases. DİSCUSSİON: It was determined that the students who participated in this study have not received any education about seasonal influenza and pneumonia vaccination, but most of them considered it necessary for health personnel to have seasonal influenza vaccine. As it may cause serious complications and death in elderly patients and those with chronic diseases, it is thought that the awareness about this issue should be increased among nursing students by providing them with training during the nursing education programs on the importance of seasonal influenza and pneumonia.

The understanding of tire’s adherence with a rough surface is a common goal for several fields in the automotive sector. In fact, grip is synonym of safety and performance, playing a decisive role for braking distance and vehicle stability, fuel consumption, wear rate [1], noise generation and for the vehicle dynamics control system (e.g. ABS, TCS, AYC and other) [2]. This paper deals with tire tread grip experimental investigation and evaluation under different conditions that influence it during the sliding contact [3]. In this regard the test campaign involves the use of different tire compounds (in terms of viscoelastic characteristics), tested in several conditions: different contact pressure, sliding speed, temperature, sliding contact length and road surface. The test bench employed by the UniNa Vehicle Dynamic Research Group is an upgrade of the British Pendulum, an instrument for outdoor tribological tests on road sections. The principal sensors installed on the test bench are an encoder, for the evaluation of the sliding speed of the tire specimen, and a load cell, for the measurement of the force arising at tire/road interface in the longitudinal and vertical directions [4]. In fact, the grip shall be determined as the ratio of the longitudinal force and corresponding load on the tire. The paper's aim is the description of the experimental campaign after an accurate introduction on the test setup and an illustration of the equipment. Finally, the preliminary results and the methodologies used to process the acquired data are described.

This paper presents an algorithm that calculates the nominal torque for friction grip joints, followed by its implementation in a Microsoft Excel worksheet that is automated by a macro written in Visual Basic. The algorithm outputs not only the optimum nominal torque (the value for which the margin of safety is maximum) but also the interval of acceptable values so that the user can easily choose the torque according to his preferences.

Modern geotechnical pile manufacturing technologies allow to solve many engineering problems in construction with significant economic effect and reduction of work schedule. However a theoretical justification for these technologies is significantly lagging behind from their practical application. A constrained dilatancy factor is considered as the main reserve of pile bearing capacity in loose soils. Understanding of such approach opens a way to improvement of geotechnical pile manufacturing technologies that provide an active impact on base soil and its ultimate stress state which is determined by the ratio of soil resistance to shearing and normal stresses, or main stresses on a shear site at the moment of failure. Determination of total normal stresses in the shearing plane according to density of loose soil, its granulometric composition and constrained dilatancy conditions makes it possible to determine an ultimate resistance of the soil to shear, and, consequently, its strength. The proposed elastic-plastic model of dilatant soil in shear state being realized according to the adopted technology which was developed while using a special dilatometric shearing device has made it possible to obtain additional data on dilatant normal stresses and strength parameters of the soil depending on its density, granulometric composition and constrained dilatancy conditions. The use of artificial neural networks in the mathematical processing of experimental data has permitted to develop an analytical method for determining an ultimate resistance of loose soil to shearing process under constrained dilatancy conditions and carry out calibration of the calculated parameters of the adopted soil model. It has been proved that soil strength is a function of fracture conditions, which are determined by friction and dilatancy. In this case a conventional Coulomb-Mora strength theory for loose soils is valid both for free dilatation conditions and constrained shear but with due account of additional normal dilatant stresses.

Incisional hernia is a frequent consequence of major surgery. Most repairs augment the abdominal wall with artificial meshes fixed to the tissues with sutures, tacks, or glue. Pain and recurrences plague at least 10–20% of the patients after repair of the abdominal defect. How should a repair of incisional hernias be constructed to achieve durability? Incisional hernia repair can be regarded as a compound technique. The biomechanical properties of a compound made of tissue, textile, and linking materials vary to a large extent. Tissues differ in age, exercise levels, and comorbidities. Textiles are currently optimized for tensile strength, but frequently fail to provide tackiness, dynamic stiction, and strain resistance to pulse impacts. Linking strength with and without fixation devices depends on the retention forces between surfaces to sustain stiction under dynamic load. Impacts such a coughing or sharp bending can easily overburden clinically applied composite structures and can lead to a breakdown of incisional hernia repair. Our group developed a bench test with tissues, fixation, and textiles using dynamic intermittent strain (DIS), which resembles coughing. Tissue elasticity, the size of the hernia under pressure, and the area of instability of the abdominal wall of the individual patient was assessed with low-dose computed tomography of the abdomen preoperatively. A surgical concept was developed based on biomechanical considerations. Observations in a clinical registry based on consecutive patients from four hospitals demonstrate low failure rates and low pain levels after 1 year. Here, results from the bench test, the application of CT abdomen with Valsalva's maneuver, considerations of the surgical concept, and the clinical application of our approach are outlined.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı birinci basamakta çalışan aile hekimlerinin mevsimsel grip aşısına bakış açısını öğrenmek ve aşıyı kendilerine uygulama ve hastalarına önerme durumları arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır.Araçlar ve Yöntem: Kesitsel tanımlayıcı türdeki anket çalışmamızın evrenini Erzurum il merkezindeki Aile Sağlığı Merkezlerinde Mart-Mayıs 2019 tarihleri arasında çalışan aile hekimleri oluşturmaktadır. Ankette ilk kısmında katılımcıların sosyodemografik özellikleri hakkında 6 tane soru sorulmuştur. Anketin ikinci kısmında ise mevsimsel grip aşısı hakkındaki tutumları değerlendiren 11 soru yer almıştır. Analizler IBM SPSS 20 istatistik analiz programı ile yapılmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya dâhil edilen 137 aile hekiminin %37.2’si (n=51) kadın, %62.8’i (n=86) erkektir. Aile hekimlerine daha önce mevsimsel grip aşısı yaptırıp yaptırmadıkları sorulmuş ve 137 hekimden %48.2’si (n=66) daha önce mevsimsel grip aşısı ile aşılandığı, ancak %51.8’i (n=71) daha önce mevsimsel grip aşısı yaptırmadığı saptanmıştır. Katılımcıların %6.6’sının (n=9) hiçbir hastasına mevsimsel grip aşısını önermediği, %8.8’inin (n=12) ise tüm hastalarına önerdiği öğrenilmiştir. Kalan hekimlerin %84.7’sinin (n=116) riskli hastalarına önermiş olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Pratisyen aile hekimleri arasında mevsimsel grip aşısının önerilme sıklığı ile aile hekimliği uzmanları arasında mevsimsel grip aşısını önerilme sıklığına göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı yüksek olduğu görülmüştür (p, Purpose: The aims of this study was to determine the perspective of family physicians working in primary care on the seasonal influenza vaccine and to investigate the relationship between administering the vaccine to themselves and recommending of the vaccine to their patients.Materials and Methods: The sample of our questionnaire study, which is a cross-sectional study, consists of family physicians working in the Family Health Centers in Erzurum city center between March and May 2019. A questionnaire with 17 questions was applied to the participants.Results: The 137 family physicians were included in the study. Family physicians were asked whether they had a seasonal flu vaccine before, and it was determined that 66 (48.2%) of 137 physicians had been vaccinated with the seasonal flu vaccine before, but 71 (51.8%) of them did not have the seasonal flu vaccine before. It was learned that 9 of the participants (6.6%) did not recommend the seasonal flu vaccine to any of their patients, whereas 12 (8.8%) of them recommended it to all their patients. The remaining 116 (84.7%) physicians recommended it to their risky patients. It was observed that there was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of recommending seasonal influenza vaccine to the patients between general practitioners and family medicine specialists (p

Objective: To analyse influenza surveillance data obtained from sentinel pharmacies of Catalonia, Spain, in 2017−18, 2018−19 and 2019-20 influenza seasons. Methods: Influenza surveillance information was collected from a representative sample of community pharmacies of Catalonia. Influenza-like cases were identified based on the ECDC criteria.The Chi-square test and Odds ratios were used to compare percentages between different population groups, with a p

Objective: Handwriting is a critical functional skill that impacts academic participation and progress. Occupational therapists address components of grasp in their handwriting intervention as it is commonly assumed that grasp affects legibility, fluency, and endurance, yet research studies examining this relationship are limited., Method: We used scoping review methodology to map existing research on grasp and handwriting performance in school-age children and to identify gaps in the literature., Results: Thirteen articles met search criteria and were categorized by grasp patterns and handwriting performance, and grasp force and handwriting performance. Findings suggest an inefficient grasp can lead to decreased handwriting legibility and fatigue. The current literature is inconclusive and several gaps were identified., Conclusion: Additional studies should address research gaps through inclusion of children with special needs and interventions including lengthier handwriting tasks representative of a typical school day.