Surgical intervention combined with weight-bearing walking training promotes recovery in patients with chronic spinal cord injury:a randomized controlled study

For patients with chronic spinal cord injury,the co nventional treatment is rehabilitation and treatment of spinal cord injury complications such as urinary tract infection,pressure sores,osteoporosis,and deep vein thrombosis.Surgery is rarely perfo rmed on spinal co rd injury in the chronic phase,and few treatments have been proven effective in chronic spinal cord injury patients.Development of effective therapies fo r chronic spinal co rd injury patients is needed.We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial in patients with chronic complete thoracic spinal co rd injury to compare intensive rehabilitation(weight-bearing walking training)alone with surgical intervention plus intensive rehabilitation.This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT02663310).The goal of surgical intervention was spinal cord detethering,restoration of cerebrospinal fluid flow,and elimination of residual spinal cord compression.We found that surgical intervention plus weight-bearing walking training was associated with a higher incidence of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale improvement,reduced spasticity,and more rapid bowel and bladder functional recovery than weight-bearing walking training alone.Overall,the surgical procedures and intensive rehabilitation were safe.American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale improvement was more common in T7-T11 injuries than in T2-T6 injuries.Surgery combined with rehabilitation appears to have a role in treatment of chronic spinal cord injury patients.

Effect of Brisk Walking on Self-Care Agency or Care Dependency among Colorectal Cancer Patients with Permanent Stoma

Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of brisk walking as an intervention for self-care agency and care dependency in patients with permanent colorectal cancer stoma.Method:This study adopted a quasi-experimental research design,specifically a non-equivalent control group pre-test and post-test design.Utilizing the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale(ESCA)and Care Dependency Scale(CDS),a survey was administered to 64 patients from a hospital in Shandong Province.The statistical methods used for analyzing data included frequency,mean,standard deviation(SD),independent t-test,P-value calculation,and dependent t-test.Result:After two months of a brisk walking exercise program,participants in the experimental group had a higher level of self-care agency than before the experiment(P<0.05),and their level of care dependency was significantly reduced(P<0.05).Participants in the control group also showed higher levels of self-care agency(P<0.05)and lower levels of care dependency(P<0.05)after two months compared to their levels before the two months.Conclusion:The brisk walking program had a positive impact on patients’self-care agency and reduced their care dependency.

Synthesis of Branched Polyethylene via Bulky α-Diimine Nickel(II)-Catalyzed Ethylene Chain-Walking Polymerization

The catalysis of olefin polymerization through the chain-walking process is a subject of great interest. In this contribution, the successful synthesis of a Brookhart-type unsymmetrical α-diimine nickel catalyst Ni, which contains both dibenzhydryl and phenyl groups, was determined by X-ray crystallography. The compound has a pseudo-tetrahedral geometry at the Ni center, showing pseudo-C2-symmetry. Upon activation with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), Ni1 exhibits high catalytic activity up to 1.02 × 107 g PE (mol Ni h)−1 toward ethylene polymerization, enabling the synthesis of high molecular weight branched polyethylene. The molecular weights and branching densities could be tuned over a very wide range. The polymerization results indicated the possibility of precise microstructure control, depending on the polymerization temperature. The branching densities were decreased with increasing the polymerization temperature.

基于随机引物的PCR-Walking技术

染色体步行技术越来越倾向于采用PCR技术,不同随机引物的应用产生了不同的方法。针对目前应用较广的热不对称交错PCR(TAIL-PCR)、单寡核苷酸巢式PCR(SON-PCR)、基于RAPD原理的单引物PCR、位点寻找PCR和自我形成接头式PCR进行了介绍,侧重说明了热不对称交错PCRTAIL-PCR的原理、优缺点及应用。

Kinematics and Dynamics Analysis of a Quadruped Walking Robot with Parallel Leg Mechanism

It is desired to require a walking robot for the elderly and the disabled to have large capacity,high stiffness,stability,etc.However,the existing walking robots cannot achieve these requirements because of the weight-payload ratio and simple function.Therefore,Improvement of enhancing capacity and functions of the walking robot is an important research issue.According to walking requirements and combining modularization and reconfigurable ideas,a quadruped/biped reconfigurable walking robot with parallel leg mechanism is proposed.The proposed robot can be used for both a biped and a quadruped walking robot.The kinematics and performance analysis of a 3-UPU parallel mechanism which is the basic leg mechanism of a quadruped walking robot are conducted and the structural parameters are optimized.The results show that performance of the walking robot is optimal when the circumradius R,r of the upper and lower platform of leg mechanism are 161.7 mm,57.7 mm,respectively.Based on the optimal results,the kinematics and dynamics of the quadruped walking robot in the static walking mode are derived with the application of parallel mechanism and influence coefficient theory,and the optimal coordination distribution of the dynamic load for the quadruped walking robot with over-determinate inputs is analyzed,which solves dynamic load coupling caused by the branches’ constraint of the robot in the walk process.Besides laying a theoretical foundation for development of the prototype,the kinematics and dynamics studies on the quadruped walking robot also boost the theoretical research of the quadruped walking and the practical applications of parallel mechanism.

Planning and Control of COP-Switch-Based Planar Biped Walking

Efficient walking is one of the main goals of researches on biped robots. A feasible way is to translate the understanding from human walking into robot walking, for example, an artificial control approach on a human like walking structure. In this paper, a walking pattern based on Center of Pressure （COP） switched and modeled after human walking is introduced firstly. Then, a parameterization method for the proposed walking gait is presented. In view of the complication, a multi-space planning method which divides the whole planning task into three sub-spaces, including simplified model space, work space and joint space, is proposed. Furthermore, a finite-state-based control method is also developed to implement the proposed walking pattern. The state switches of this method are driven by sensor events. For convincing verification, a 2D simulation system with a 9-1ink planar biped robot is developed. The simulation results exhibit an efficient walking gait.

Motion Error Compensation of Multi-legged Walking Robots

Existing errors in the structure and kinematic parameters of multi-legged walking robots,the motion trajectory of robot will diverge from the ideal sports requirements in movement.Since the existing error compensation is usually used for control compensation of manipulator arm,the error compensation of multi-legged robots has seldom been explored.In order to reduce the kinematic error of robots,a motion error compensation method based on the feedforward for multi-legged mobile robots is proposed to improve motion precision of a mobile robot.The locus error of a robot body is measured,when robot moves along a given track.Error of driven joint variables is obtained by error calculation model in terms of the locus error of robot body.Error value is used to compensate driven joint variables and modify control model of robot,which can drive the robots following control model modified.The model of the relation between robot＇s locus errors and kinematic variables errors is set up to achieve the kinematic error compensation.On the basis of the inverse kinematics of a multi-legged walking robot,the relation between error of the motion trajectory and driven joint variables of robots is discussed.Moreover,the equation set is obtained,which expresses relation among error of driven joint variables,structure parameters and error of robot＇s locus.Take MiniQuad as an example,when the robot MiniQuad moves following beeline tread,motion error compensation is studied.The actual locus errors of the robot body are measured before and after compensation in the test.According to the test,variations of the actual coordinate value of the robot centroid in x-direction and z-direction are reduced more than one time.The kinematic errors of robot body are reduced effectively by the use of the motion error compensation method based on the feedforward.

Adjustable Mechanism for Walking Robots with Minimum Number of Actuators

Recent literature on walking robots deals predominantly with multi-degrees-of-freedom leg mechanisms and machines capable of adopting several gaits.This paper explores the other end of the spectrum suggesting mechanisms derived from a four bar coupler curve for a one degree of freedom walking robot.Simulation of the walk indicates that body of the robot is able to move with low variation in velocity.The best strategy for changing the gait to enable the robot to walk over obstacles and the effect of change in length of different links are explored to open up the possibility of a two degree of freedom walking robot with the capability of changing its gait,suitable as a low cost unit for several applications.Such rugged units would permit the use of an IC engine as the primary source of power and could be of utility in installations where electronics may not be functional.In simple walking machines the foot of a leg is usually required to trace a D shaped curve with respect to the chassis.In this paper we begin with a Hoecken mechanism capable of tracing such a curve.The foot is required to move parallel to itself and the same could be achieved using a six or eight link mechanism.A few such devices have been synthesized in this paper and their motion properties compared.The study also covers the possibility of providing adjustments to vary the step length and height of the foot＇s movement.

The experimental study on the contact process of passive walking

The passive dynamic walking is a new concept of biped walking. Researchers have been working on this area with both theoretical analysis and experimental analysis ever since McGeer. This paper presents our compass-like pas- sive walking model with a new set of testing system. Two gyroscopes are used for measuring the angles of two legs, and ten FlexiForce sensors are used for measuring the con- tact forces on the feet. We got the experimental data on the passive walking process with the validated testing system. A great emphasis was put on the contact process between the feet and the slope. The contact process of the stance leg was divided into four sections, and differences between the real testing contact process and the classic analytical contact process with no bouncing and slipping were summarized

A novel explosion-proof walking system: Twin dual-motor drive tracked units for coal mine rescue robots

A new explosion-proof walking system was designed for the coal mine rescue robot(CMRR) by optimizing the mechanical structure and control algorithm. The mechanical structure innovation lies mainly in the dual-motor drive tracked unit used, which showed high dynamic performance compared with the conventional tracked unit. The control algorithm, developed based on decision trees and neural networking, facilitates autonomous switching between "Velocity-driven Mode" and "Torquedriven Mode". To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the control strategy, we built a self-designed test platform and used it to debug the control program; we then made a robot prototype and conducted further experiments on single-step, ramp, and rubble terrains. The results show that the proposed walking system has excellent dynamic performance and the control strategy is very efficient, suggesting that a robot with this type of explosion-proof walking system can be successfully applied in Chinese coal mines.

Walking of spider on water surface studied from its leg shadows

Different from sculling forward of water striders with their hairy water-repellent legs, water spiders walked very quickly on water surfaces. By using a shadow method, the walking of water spiders had been studied. The three-dimensional trajectories and the supporting forces of water spider legs during walking forward were achieved. Results showed that the leg movement could be divided into three phases： slap, stroke, and retrieve. Employing an effective strategy to improving walking efficiency, the sculling legs supported most of its body weight while other legs were lifted to reduce the lateral water resistance, which was similar to the strategy of water striders. These findings could help guiding the design of water walking robots with high efficiency.

Impactless biped walking on a slope

Walking without impacts has been considered in dynamics as a motion/force control problem. In order to avoid impacts, an approach for both the specified motion of the biped and its ground reaction forces was presented yielding a combined motion and force control problem. As an application, a walker on a horizontal plane has been considered. In this paper, it is shown how the control of the ground reaction forces and the energy consumption depend on the gradient of a slope. The biped dynamics and the constraints within the biped system and on the ground are discussed. A motion control synthesis is developed using the inverse dynamics principle proven to be most efficient for human walking research, too. The impactless walking with controlled legs is illustrated by a seven-link biped. The ＂flying＂ biped has nine degrees of freedom, with six control inputs. During locomotion, the standing leg has three scleronomic constraints, and the trunk has three rheonomic constraints. However, there are three rheonomic constraints for the prescribed leg motion or three scleronomic constraints for reaction forces of the trailing leg, respectively. The nominal control action for impactless walking can be precomputed and stored. The model proposed allows the investigation of several problems： uphill and downhill walking, optimization of step length,stiction of the feet on the slope and many more. All these findings are also of interest in biomechanics. C 2013 The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. [doi：10.1063/2.1301302]

Comparison of walking quality variables between incomplete spinal cord injury patients and healthy subjects by using a footscan plantar pressure system

The main goal of spinal cord rehabilitation is to restore walking ability and improve walking quality after spinal cord injury(SCI). The spatiotemporal parameters of walking and the parameters of plantar pressure can be obtained using a plantar pressure analysis system. Previous studies have reported step asymmetry in patients with bilateral SCI. However, the asymmetry of other parameters in patients with SCI has not been reported. This was a prospective, cross-sectional study, which included 23 patients with SCI, aged 48.1 ± 14.5 years, and 28 healthy subjects, aged 47.1 ± 9.8 years. All subjects underwent bare foot walking on a plantar pressure measurement device to measure walking speed and spatiotemporal parameters. Compared with healthy subjects, SCI patients had slower walking speed, longer stride time and stance time, larger stance phase percentage, and shorter stride length. The peak pressures under the metatarsal heads and toe were lower in SCI patients than in healthy subjects. In the heel, regional impulse and the contact area percentage in SCI patients were higher than those in healthy subjects. The symmetry indexes of stance time, step length, maximum force, impulse and contact area were increased in SCI patients, indicating a decline in symmetry. The results confirm that the gait quality, including spatiotemporal variables and plantar pressure parameters, and symmetry index were lower in SCI patients compared with healthy subjects. Plantar pressure parameters and symmetry index could be sensitive quantitative parameters to improve gait quality of SCI patients. The protocols were approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University(approval No. 2015 PS54 J) on August 13, 2015. This trial was registered in the ISRCTN Registry(ISRCTN42544587) on August 22, 2018. Protocol version: 1.0.

A review on the coordinative structure of human walking and the application of principal component analysis

Walking is a complex task which includes hundreds of muscles, bones and joints working together to deliver smooth movements. With the complexity, walking has been widely investigated in order to identify the pattern of multi-segment movement and reveal the control mechanism. The degree of freedom and dimensional properties provide a view of the coordinative structure during walking, which has been extensively studied by using dimension reduction technique. In this paper, the studies related to the coordinative structure, dimensions detection and pattern reorganization during walking have been reviewed. Principal component analysis, as a popular technique, is widely used in the processing of human movement data. Both the principle and the outcomes of principal component analysis were introduced in this paper. This technique has been reported to successfully reduce the redundancy within the original data, identify the physical meaning represented by the extracted principal components and discriminate the different patterns. The coordinative structure during walking assessed by this technique could provide further information of the body control mechanism and correlate walking pattern with injury.

Computational Models to Synthesize Human Walking

The synthesis of human walking is of great interest in biomechanics and biomimetic engineering due to its predictive capabilities and potential applications in clinical biomechanics, rehabilitation engineering and biomimetic robotics. In this paper, the various methods that have been used to synthesize humanwalking are reviewed from an engineering viewpoint. This involves a wide spectrum of approaches, from simple passive walking theories to large-scale computational models integrating the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems. These methods are roughly categorized under four headings： models inspired by the concept of a CPG （Central Pattern Generator）, methods based on the principles of control engineering, predictive gait simulation using optimisation, and models inspired by passive walking theory. The shortcomings and advantages of these methods are examined, and future directions are discussed in the context of providing insights into the neural control objectives driving gait and improving the stability of the predicted gaits. Future advancements are likely to be motivated by improved understanding of neural control strategies and the subtle complexities of the musculoskeletal system during human locomotion. It is only a matter of time before predictive gait models become a practical and valuable tool in clinical diagnosis, rehabilitation engineering and robotics.

Stability and control of dynamic walking for a five-link planar biped robot with feet

During dynamic walking of biped robots, the underactuated rotating degree of freedom （DOF） emerges between the support foot and the ground, which makes the biped model hybrid and dimension-variant. This paper addresses the asymptotic orbit stability for dimension-variant hybrid systems （DVHS）. Based on the generalized Poincare map, the stability criterion for DVHS is also presented, and the result is then used to study dynamic walking for a five-link planar biped robot with feet. Time-invariant gait planning and nonlinear control strategy for dynamic walking with fiat feet is also introduced. Simulation results indicate that an asymptotically stable limit cycle of dynamic walking is achieved by the proposed method.

STUDIES ON MECHANICS PROBLEM OF DYNAMIC WALKING OF ANTHROPOMORPHIC BIPED ROBOTS

This paper deals with the mechanics problem of dynamic walking of anthropomorphic biped robots. Through analysing the mechanics system of this kind of robots in detail, the motion constraint equations are established, three mechanics laws describing the r

Description of a Propulsion Unit Used in Guiding a Walking Machine by Recognizing a Three-point Bordered Path

A reconfigurable propulsion unit based on the Peaucellier-Lipkin mechanism has the ability to describe exact straight or curved paths depending on the selected ratio between the lengths of two of its links. The Peaucellier-Lipkin mechanism with one degree of freedom is transformed into a more sophisticated parallel kinematic chain by including four more degrees of freedom. The resulting propulsion unit is able to adapt its kinematic structure and reach instant centers of rotation, in accordance with the presence of three points that border a geometric path. A laser sensor mounted on the body of the machine detects each point. Once the machine has detected the exact location of the border of the road, it walks along a curve parallel to that border. Although the proposed research describes only one propulsion unit or leg, the methodology can be applied to all the legs of the walking machine. The novel 5-DOF leg is able to reach different centers of rotation, providing either the concave or convex arcs that satisfy the basic principle of displacement of walking machines.

Influence of Slope Angle on the Walking of Passive Dynamic Biped Robot

In this paper, we modeled a simple planer passive dynamic biped robot without knee with point feet. This model has a stable, efficient and natural periodic gait which depends on the values of parameters like slope angle of inclined ramp, mass ratio and length ratio. The described model actually is an impulse differential equation. Its corresponding poincare map is discrete case. With the analysis of the bifurcation properties of poincare map, we can effectively understand some feature of impulse model. The ideas and methods to cope with this impulse model are common. But, the process of analysis is rigorous. Numerical simulations are reliable.

Dynamic Walking of AIBO with Hopf Oscillators

More and more biological evidences have been found that neural networks in the spinal cord, referred to as ＂central pattern generators＂ （CPGs）, govern locomotion. CPGs are capable of producing rhythmic movements, such as swimming, flying, and walking, even when isolated from the brain and sensory inputs. If we could build up any models that have similar functions as CPGs, it will be much easier to design better locomotion for robots. In this paper, a self-training environment is designed and through genetic algorithm （GA）, walking trajectories for every foot of AIBO are generated at first. With this acquired walking pattern, AIBO gets its fastest locomotion speed. Then, this walking pattern is taken as a reference to build CPGs with Hopf oscillators. By changing corresponding parameters, the frequencies and the amplitudes of CPGs＇ outputs can be adjusted online. The limit cycle behavior of Hopf oscillators ensures the online adjustment and the walking stability against perturbation as well. This property suggests a strong adaptive capacity to real environments for robots. At last, simulations are carried on in Webots and verify the proposed method.