Time Efficiency and Ergonomic Assessment of a Robotic Wheelchair Transfer System.

: Caregivers experience high rates of occupational injuries, especially during wheelchair transfers, which often result in back pain and musculoskeletal disorders due to the physical demands of lifting and repositioning. While mechanical floor lifts, the current standard, reduce back strain, they are time-consuming and require handling techniques that subject caregivers to prolonged and repeated non-neutral trunk postures, increasing the risk of long-term back injuries. : The aim was to assess the time efficiency and ergonomics of the powered personal transfer system (PPTS), a robotic transfer device designed for bed-to/from-wheelchair transfers.

Effect of Different Slow-Release Urea on the Production Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Blood Parameter of Angus Heifer.

This study investigated the effect of replacing part of the dietary soybean meal with either polymer-coated urea or gelatinized starch urea on the production performance, blood indexes, and ruminal fermentation of Angus heifers. A total of 210 purebred Angus cattle (BW = 314.26 kg) were divided into three groups: the no urea group (CON), the polymer-coated urea group (PCU), and the gelatinized starch urea group (GSU); 20 g/kg polymer-coated urea or 25 g/kg gelatinized starch urea was used to replace part of soybean meal in the concentrate feed, according to the principle of isometabolic energy and isonitrogenous.

Perceptions and assessment of a novel robotic wheelchair transfer system.

Objectives: Wheelchair transfers risk injury to users and caregivers. Conventional transfer devices are injury-prone and time inefficient. The Powered Personal Transfer System (PPTS), utilizing a modified Electric Powered Wheelchair (EPW) and a hospital bed, provides a no-lift solution for bed-to-wheelchair transfers.

Challenges with mobility devices for female Veterans with spinal cord injuries.

Context: The growing number of females entering the armed forces has led to an increase in the number of female Veterans with spinal cord injury and diseases (SCI/D) requiring mobility devices. Limited research exists that explores whether mobility devices meet their needs in terms of comfort, fit and design.

Objective: To characterize respondents with SCI/D who use mobility devices and determine if these devices are meeting their daily needs.

Understanding Travel Considerations and Barriers for People with Disabilities to Using Current Modes of Transportation Through Journey Mapping.

This study aimed to apply a journey mapping methodology to identify travel considerations and barriers for people with disabilities (PWDs) at each travel stage, from considering a trip through to arriving at the destination for their current modes of transportation, with the objective of understanding and avoiding "pain points" during a transition to autonomous driving systems. Twenty PWDs, including those with physical, visual, aural, cognitive, and combined physical/visual impairments, participated in a semistructured one-on-one interview. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic information, and qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the transcribed interviews and extract themes.