Emerging Medical Technologies and Their Use in Bionic Repair and Human Augmentation.

As both the proportion of older people and the length of life increases globally, a rise in age-related degenerative diseases, disability, and prolonged dependency is projected. However, more sophisticated biomedical materials, as well as an improved understanding of human disease, is forecast to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of conditions ranging from osteoarthritis to Alzheimer's disease as well as impact disease prevention. Another, albeit quieter, revolution is also taking place within society: human augmentation.

Design and Assessment of Bird-Inspired 3D-Printed Models to Evaluate Grasp Mechanics.

Adapting grasp-specialized biomechanical structures into current research with 3D-printed prostheses may improve robotic dexterity in grasping a wider variety of objects. Claw variations across various bird species lend biomechanical advantages for grasping motions related to perching, climbing, and hunting. Designs inspired by bird claws provide improvements beyond a human-inspired structure for specific grasping applications to offer a solution for mitigating a cause of the high rejection rate for upper-limb prostheses.

Utilizing Electromyographic Video Games Controllers to Improve Outcomes for Prosthesis Users.

A study was developed for a limb-different accessible video game controller that utilizes an electromyographic sensor to control gameplay actions. Data was collected from 50 college-aged student participants. This biofeedback-based serious game trains users in a virtual capacity, through the visualization of muscle contraction, via the movement of the video game character.

Improving disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment using novel bionic technologies.

Increased human life expectancy, due in part to improvements in infant and childhood survival, more active lifestyles, in combination with higher patient expectations for better health outcomes, is leading to an extensive change in the number, type and manner in which health conditions are treated. Over the next decades as the global population rapidly progresses toward a super-aging society, meeting the long-term quality of care needs is forecast to present a major healthcare challenge. The goal is to ensure longer periods of good health, a sustained sense of well-being, with extended periods of activity, social engagement, and productivity.

Evaluating surface EMG control of motorized wheelchairs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

Background: This study evaluated a novel control method for patients unable to independently control powered wheelchairs. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis often require a wheelchair but struggle with sufficient hand dexterity required for joystick control making them a population that needs this type of control method.

Methods: The study employed a novel control mechanism, using electromyography surface sensors applied to temporalis muscles able to measure the myoelectric voltage.

A survey dataset to identify industry practices and challenges for mine rehabilitation completion criteria in Western Australia.

The development of acceptable and achievable completion criteria is fundamental to the successful relinquishment of mined land to a post-mining use. Despite the central role of completion criteria, there is still a need to build capacity and understanding of how to set targets and develop measurable completion criteria that are accepted by all stakeholders involved. The work described in this paper aimed to elicit industry practice, barriers, and opportunities for the development of feasible and acceptable completion criteria.

Identifying industry practice, barriers, and opportunities for mine rehabilitation completion criteria in western Australia.

Around the world, the development of acceptable and achievable completion criteria is a necessary part of mine closure planning and fundamental to the successful transition of mined land to a post-mining use. Without adequate completion criteria, a mining company cannot proceed to the process of relinquishment, which is the ultimate goal of most mine closure processes. Despite the central role of completion criteria, there is still a need to build capacity and understanding of how to set targets and develop measurable completion criteria that are accepted by all stakeholders involved.

Mine completion criteria defined by best-practice: A global meta-analysis and Western Australian case studies.

In many mining-intensive areas around the world, knowledge-sharing among companies is critical to advance best-practices in mine rehabilitation and closure. The academic literature documents innovative, best-practices options, yet these are often not accessible to field practitioners. Published mine closure plans provide relevant examples of standards accepted by regulators, however, regulations vary with jurisdiction and can change over time, limiting the utility of these plans.

A framework for developing completion criteria for mine closure and rehabilitation.

The mining industry is a major contributor to Australia's economy. However, such returns may come at high environmental and social costs, including loss of biodiversity or heritage values. Thus, companies worldwide are required to rehabilitate mine sites to a state that is safe, non-polluting and capable of supporting an agreed post-mining land use.

Leveraging 3D Printing Capacity in Times of Crisis: Recommendations for COVID-19 Distributed Manufacturing for Medical Equipment Rapid Response.

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has provided a unique set of global supply chain limitations with an exponentially growing surge of patients requiring care. The needs for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for hospital staff and doctors have been overwhelming, even just to rule out patients not infected. High demand for traditionally manufactured devices, challenged by global demand and limited production, has resulted in a call for additive manufactured (3D printed) equipment to fill the gap between traditional manufacturing cycles.

Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Prosthetics: Past, Present, and Future.

There is an interesting and long history of prostheses designed for those with upper-limb difference, and yet issues still persist that have not yet been solved. Prosthesis needs for children are particularly complex, due in part to their growth rates. Access to a device can have a significant impact on a child's psychosocial development.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Guanajuato, Mexico: The Leon survey.

There are no epidemiological data on autism for Mexico. This study was conducted to generate a first estimate of ASD prevalence in Mexico. We surveyed children age eight in Leon (Guanajuato).

Strain response of thermal barrier coatings captured under extreme engine environments through synchrotron X-ray diffraction.

The mechanical behaviour of thermal barrier coatings in operation holds the key to understanding durability of jet engine turbine blades. Here we report the results from experiments that monitor strains in the layers of a coating subjected to thermal gradients and mechanical loads representing extreme engine environments. Hollow cylindrical specimens, with electron beam physical vapour deposited coatings, were tested with internal cooling and external heating under various controlled conditions.

Synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques for thermal barrier coated cylindrical samples under thermal gradients.

Measurement techniques to obtain accurate in situ synchrotron strain measurements of thermal barrier coating systems (TBCs) applied to hollow cylindrical specimens are presented in this work. The Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition coated specimens with internal cooling were designed to achieve realistic temperature gradients over the TBC coated material such as that occurring in the turbine blades of aeroengines. Effects of the circular cross section on the x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements in the various layers, including the thermally grown oxide, are investigated using high-energy synchrotron x-rays.

Vancomycin- and erythromycin-resistant enterococci in a pig farm and its environment.

A high prevalence of vancomycin- and erythromycin-resistant enterococci (VRE and ERE respectively) in a pig farm and its environment was observed. A similar structure and composition of enterococcal populations was detected between urban sewage and those associated with the pig environment. Enterococcus faecium was the most predominant species among VRE isolates from both animal and human origin.

Occurrence and relatedness of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in animals, humans, and the environment in different European regions.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in Europe are thought to have emerged partly due to the use of the glycopeptide avoparcin in animal husbandry. We compared the occurrence of VRE in geographical regions of Europe in which until 1997 large amounts of avoparcin were used (Spain, United Kingdom, and Denmark) with the occurrence of VRE in Sweden, where avoparcin was banned in 1986. We also studied the relatedness between VRE strains from different regions and habitats.

The composition and persistence of faecal coliforms and enterococcal populations in sewage treatment plants.

Aims: The changes in structure and composition of faecal coliforms and enterococcal populations in sewage from different treatment plants, and the elimination of vancomycin- and erythromycin-resistant enterococci (VRE and ERE, respectively) in these treatment plants was analysed to determine any selective reduction.

Methods And Results: Faecal coliforms, enterococci, VRE, ERE and spores of sulphite-reducing bacteria were enumerated using standard methods. Samples were enriched where necessary in order to isolate antibiotic resistant strains.

Comparison of enterococcal populations related to urban and hospital wastewater in various climatic and geographic European regions.

Aims: Scarce knowledge about the distribution of enterococci species in wastewaters limits any statement on their reliability as faecal indicators or the implications of antibiotic resistance transmission by these organisms through the water cycle. Enterococci have been involved in nosocomial infections and the spreading of antibiotic resistance through the food chain. The species distribution of enterococci and the presence of resistant strains to vancomycin and erythromycin were analysed in more than 400 raw and treated urban wastewaters, surface waters receiving these treated wastewaters and hospital wastewaters from three European countries.

Characterization of sewage waters by biochemical fingerprinting of Enterococci.

Three sewage waters with different sources of faecal pollution (human, pig and mixed origin) were analysed. Enumeration of Enterococci was performed and representative strains for each sample were isolated. Biochemical fingerprints of these strains were obtained by using a simple automated microplate system.

Identification of Enterococcus spp. based on specific hybridisation with 16S rDNA probes.

The conventional methods for routine enterococci species identification are usually based on phenotypic characteristics. However, in recent years, some studies have defined specific probes based on both 16S and 23S rRNA genes for the identification of some Enterococcus spp. A set of probes based on the 16S rRNA gene has been developed in order to evaluate the usefulness of a six-step biochemical key for species level identification of enterococci.

The effect of a sewage treatment plant effluent on the faecal coliforms and enterococci populations of the reception river waters.

Aims: A rural sewage treatment plant and the effect of its effluent on the enterococci and faecal coliforms populations of the receiving river waters was evaluated.

Methods And Results: The enumeration of bacteria was performed by membrane filtration. Diversity and population similarity were analysed using the PhP-plates system.

Identification of Enterococcus spp. with a biochemical key.

A six-step biochemical key is presented for the identification of all recognized Enterococcus spp. The key consists of 12 tests, but no more than 6 are needed for the most complicated identification. The reliability of the key has been evaluated with collection type strains and clinical and environmental isolates.

Cholesterol content and fatty acid composition of rhea meat.

The influence of species and muscle on the intramuscular fat content, cholesterol content and fatty acid composition of Greater and Lesser Rhea meat were evaluated. Muscle has no influence (P>0.05) on any of these characteristics.