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Fu F, Luximon A, Luximon Y. 3D human ear modelling with parameterization technique and variation analysis. Ergonomics 2024; 67:638-649. [PMID: 37482812 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2236820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Anthropometry is vital to provide design references when seeking proper product fit. Nowadays, 3D anthropometry is widely used to provide more size and shape details for improving product designs. However, 3D ear anthropometry is still at an explorative stage, considering the complex ear morphology and other technical obstacles. The proposed research method in this study is applicable to analyse the 3D point cloud of the entire external ear. With the cross-parameterisation technique, the dataset was used to explore the morphological characteristics of the ear. Ear dimensions were automatically extracted and further analysed to explore the gender and symmetry differences using two-way ANOVA. The 3D ear models were investigated through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The most significant variation was found in the helix and concha region, and the overall ear size is the second important factor determining ear variance. The statistical models were generated as 3D design references for ear-related products.Practitioner summary: This study revealed the morphological variations of the entire 3D external ear with a parameterised 3D ear dataset. Based on the PCA findings, a set of statistical models were generated as design references for product evaluation digitally or physically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Fu
- School of Arts and Design, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Yan Luximon
- School of Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Song Y, Luximon A, Luximon Y. Facial Anthropomorphic Trustworthiness Scale for Social Robots: A Hybrid Approach. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:335. [PMID: 37622940 PMCID: PMC10452404 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8040335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Social robots serve as autonomous systems for performing social behaviors and assuming social roles. However, there is a lack of research focusing on the specific measurement of facial trustworthiness toward anthropomorphic robots, particularly during initial interactions. To address this research gap, a hybrid deep convolution approach was employed in this study, involving a crowdsourcing platform for data collection and deep convolution and factor analysis for data processing. The goal was to develop a scale, called Facial Anthropomorphic Trustworthiness towards Social Robots (FATSR-17), to measure the trustworthiness of a robot's facial appearance. The final measurement scale comprised four dimensions, "ethics concern", "capability", "positive affect", and "anthropomorphism", consisting of 17 items. An iterative examination and a refinement process were conducted to ensure the scale's reliability and validity. The study contributes to the field of robot design by providing designers with a structured toolkit to create robots that appear trustworthy to users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Song
- Digital Convergence Laboratory of Chinese Cultural Inheritance and Global Communication, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China;
- College of Literature and Journalism, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ameersing Luximon
- Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University, Shenzhen 518071, China;
| | - Yan Luximon
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong 999077, China
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Luximon A, Chao H, Goonetilleke RS, Luximon Y. Theory and applications of InfraRed and thermal image analysis in ergonomics research. Front Comput Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcomp.2022.990290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Designing products and services to fit human needs, wants and lifestyle require meaningful data. With Industry 4.0 and the internet of things, we have many ways to capture data using sensors and other means. InfraRed (IR) cameras are quite ubiquitous, especially for screening illness and wellness. They can provide a wealth of data on different objects and even people. However, their use has been limited due to processing complexities. With reducing cost and increasing accuracy of IR cameras, access to thermal data is becoming quite widespread, especially in medicine and people-related applications. These cameras have software to help process the data, with a focus on qualitative analyses and rather primitive quantitative analyses. In ergonomics, data from multiple users are essential to make reasonable predictions for a given population. In this study, using 4 simple experiments, several quantitative analysis techniques such as simple statistics, multivariate statistics, geometric modeling, and Fourier series modeling are applied to IR images and videos to extract essential user and population data. Results show that IR data can be useful to provide user and population data that are important for design. More research in modeling IR data and application software is needed for the increased application of IR information in ergonomics applications.
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Shah P, Luximon Y, Luximon A. Measurement of soft tissue deformation at discomfort and pain threshold in different regions of the head. Ergonomics 2022; 65:1286-1301. [PMID: 35007469 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2028016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding of product-soft tissue interface and related discomfort is essential while designing wearable devices. Although pressure thresholds at the perception of discomfort and pain have been measured in the past, associated tissue deformation is yet to be studied. This data can provide a holistic understanding of user discomfort and be a valuable reference for ergonomic product design. Hence, in the current study, tissue deformation at discomfort and pain threshold was measured using an ultrasound indentation device at 18 landmarks for 83 Chinese adults on the head and face. Results show that deformation was higher in the facial region than the scalp and forehead, with maximum deformation in the cheek area and minimum in the forehead region for both thresholds. Also, for most landmarks, the tissue deformation data showed no significant relationship with age and Body Mass Index (BMI). Nearly half of the landmarks exhibited significant gender-based differences. Overall, the measured data showed acceptable within-session and between-session reliability. Practitioner Summary: In this study, tissue deformation was measured in different head regions for discomfort and pain thresholds, and corresponding deformation maps were developed. Measured tissue deformation data showed no significant relationship with BMI and age. This data can be a useful reference in the design, testing, and evaluation of headgears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Shah
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong S. A. R
- Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design, Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong S. A. R
| | - Yan Luximon
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong S. A. R
- Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design, Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong S. A. R
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Song Y, Luximon A, Luximon Y. The effect of facial features on facial anthropomorphic trustworthiness in social robots. Appl Ergon 2021; 94:103420. [PMID: 33823378 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As the nature of human-robot relationships have become increasingly bound to shift from supervisor-machine to friend-companion, people have exhibited an increasing interest in making social judgments toward such anthropomorphic objects, such as trustworthiness. However, the facial features of social robots and their potential effect on anthropomorphic trustworthiness are seldom analyzed and discussed comprehensively. This study examined whether the trustworthiness perception toward a social robot shared similarity with baby schema features on the human face. It also explored the effects of different combinations of baby schema facial features, especially the positions and sizes of the eyes and mouth, on facial anthropomorphic trustworthiness. A 5-way mixed experiment (N = 270) was conducted accordingly. The results indicated that people would experience a high level of facial anthropomorphic trustworthiness toward robots with baby schema features (i.e., large eyes, with medium vertical and horizontal positions of the eyes and mouth). This paper contributes to the literature on facial anthropomorphic trustworthiness in human-robot interaction and provides suggestions for social robot design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Song
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
| | | | - Yan Luximon
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
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Ganesan B, Yip J, Luximon A, Gibbons PJ, Chivers A, Balasankar SK, Tong RKY, Chai R, Al-Jumaily A. Infrared Thermal Imaging for Evaluation of Clubfoot After the Ponseti Casting Method-An Exploratory Study. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:595506. [PMID: 33959569 PMCID: PMC8093797 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.595506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Conservative treatment, Ponseti method, has been considered as a standard method to correct the clubfoot deformity among Orthopedic society. Although the result of conservative methods have been reported with higher success rates than surgical methods, many more problems have been reported due to improper casting, casting pressure or bracing discomfort. Nowadays, infrared thermography (IRT) is widely used as a diagnostic tool to assess musculoskeletal disorders or injuries by detecting temperature abnormalities. Similarly, the foot skin temperature evaluation can be added along with the current subjective evaluation to predict if there is any casting pressure, excessive manipulation, or overcorrections of the foot, and other bracing pressure-related complications. Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to explore the foot skin temperature changes before and after using of manipulation and weekly castings. Methods: This is an explorative study design. Infrared Thermography (IRT), E33 FLIR thermal imaging camera model, was used to collect the thermal images of the clubfoot before and after casting intervention. A total of 120 thermal images (Medial region of the foot-24, Lateral side of the foot-24, Dorsal side of the foot-24, Plantar side of the foot-24, and Heel area of the foot-24) were collected from the selected regions of the clubfoot. Results: The results of univariate statistical analysis showed that significant temperature changes in some regions of the foot after casting, especially, at the 2nd (M = 32.05°C, SD = 0.77, p = 0.05), 3rd (M = 31.61, SD = 1.11; 95% CI: 31.27-31.96; p = 0.00), and 6th week of evaluation on the lateral side of the foot (M = 31.15°C, SD = 1.59; 95% CI: 30.75-31.54, p = 0.000). There was no significant temperature changes throughout the weekly casting in the medial side of the foot. In the heel side of the foot, significant temperature changes were noticed after the third and fourth weeks of casting. Conclusion: This study found that a decreased foot skin temperature on the dorsal and lateral side of the foot at the 6th week of thermography evaluation. The finding of this study suggest that the infrared thermography (IRT) might be useful as an adjunct assessment tool to evaluate the thermophysiological changes, which can be used to predict the complications caused by improper casting, over manipulative or stretching and casting-pressure related complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasankar Ganesan
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joanne Yip
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | | | - Paul J. Gibbons
- Orthopaedic Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead (Sydney Children's Hospitals Network), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison Chivers
- Physiotherapy Department, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Raymond Kai-Yu Tong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, China
| | - Rifai Chai
- Department of Telecommunications, Electrical, Robotics and Biomedical Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Adel Al-Jumaily
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Ganesan B, Yip J, Al-Jumaily A, Fong SSM, Kothe Balasankar S, Ey Batlle AM, Fong KNK, Luximon A. A novel 3D evaluation method for assessing bone to bone relationships in clubfoot. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 23:1882-1890. [PMID: 30915730 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201903_17225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Clubfoot is a complex congenital three-dimensional foot deformity, which affects 150,000-200,000 newborn babies annually around the world. A good understanding of the alignment of the two osseous columns and the lower leg of the ankle and foot complex is essential for evaluating the severity of clubfoot. The purposes of this study were to (1) develop an automated three-dimensional (3D) surface model of severe clubfoot based on two-dimensional (2D) slices of computed tomography (CT) images, (2) evaluate the alignment of foot bones relative to the ankle in severe clubfoot, and (3) examine the structural changes in the shape of the clubfoot. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two-dimensional CT image was taken from a four-year-old child with a severe clubfoot. Subsequently, an automated and detailed 3D surface model of the severe clubfoot was developed from the 2D images by using MATLAB software programming. Then, the x, y, and z coordinate angles were automatically calculated for each bone in the foot relative to the ankle (lower end of the tibia) to determine the orientations and relationships among the bones. RESULTS The relative position or orientation of each bone of the foot to the ankle of the severe clubfoot was objectively measured which was used to determine the orientation of each bone in the foot. Among the x, y, and z axes of the interested tarsal bones, the z axis represents the smallest moment of inertia, and the results showed that the bones in the x axis shifted medially with higher relative angle. CONCLUSIONS This 3D objective measurement method for assessing clubfoot can be used to determine and classify the severity of clubfoot, as well as evaluate and monitor the progress of the clubfoot intervention based on the relative position of the tarsal bones. The method can also be used to quantify the relationship between the tarsal bones of the foot and lower end of the tibia. In addition, angular measurements can be used to assess other pathological conditions of the foot such as pes cavus and pes planus.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ganesan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, FEIT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
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Chen TLW, Wong DWC, Xu Z, Tan Q, Wang Y, Luximon A, Zhang M. Lower limb muscle co-contraction and joint loading of flip-flops walking in male wearers. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193653. [PMID: 29561862 PMCID: PMC5862437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Flip-flops may change walking gait pattern, increase muscle activity and joint loading, and predispose wearers to foot problems, despite that quantitative evidence is scarce. The purpose of this study was to examine the lower limb muscle co-contraction and joint contact force in flip-flops gait, and compare with those of barefoot and sports shoes walking. Ten healthy males were instructed to perform over-ground walking at self-selected speed under three footwear conditions: 1) barefoot, 2) sports shoes, and 3) thong-type flip-flops. Kinematic, kinetic and EMG data were collected and input to a musculoskeletal model to estimate muscle force and joint force. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to compare footwear conditions. It was hypothesized that flip-flops would induce muscle co-contraction and produce different gait kinematics and kinetics. Our results demonstrated that the musculoskeletal model estimation had a good temporal consistency with the measured EMG. Flip-flops produced significantly lower walking speed, higher ankle and subtalar joint range of motion, and higher shear ankle joint contact force than sports shoes (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between flip-flops and barefoot conditions in terms of muscle co-contraction index, joint kinematics, and joint loading of the knee and ankle complex (p > 0.05). The variance in walking speed and footwear design may be the two major factors that resulted in the comparable joint biomechanics in flip-flops and barefoot walking. From this point of view, whether flip-flops gait is potentially harmful to foot health remains unclear. Given that shod walking is more common than barefoot walking on a daily basis, sports shoes with close-toe design may be a better footwear option than flip-flops for injury prevention due to its constraint on joint motion and loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Lin-Wei Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Duo Wai-Chi Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, Department of Applied Mechanics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qitao Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ameersing Luximon
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- * E-mail:
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Ganesan B, Luximon A, Al-Jumaily AA, Yip J, Gibbons PJ, Chivers A. Developing a Three-Dimensional (3D) Assessment Method for Clubfoot-A Study Protocol. Front Physiol 2018; 8:1098. [PMID: 29354068 PMCID: PMC5758584 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.01098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) or clubfoot is a common pediatric congenital foot deformity that occurs 1 in 1,000 live births. Clubfoot is characterized by four types of foot deformities: hindfoot equinus; midfoot cavus; forefoot adductus; and hindfoot varus. A structured assessment method for clubfoot is essential for quantifying the initial severity of clubfoot deformity and recording the progress of clubfoot intervention. Aim: This study aims to develop a three-dimensional (3D) assessment method to evaluate the initial severity of the clubfoot and monitor the structural changes of the clubfoot after each casting intervention. In addition, this study explores the relationship between the thermophysiological changes in the clubfoot at each stage of the casting intervention and in the normal foot. Methods: In this study, a total of 10 clubfoot children who are <2 years old will be recruited. Also, the data of the unaffected feet of a total of 10 children with unilateral clubfoot will be obtained as a reference for normal feet. A Kinect 3D scanner will be used to collect the 3D images of the clubfoot and normal foot, and an Infrared thermography camera (IRT camera) will be used to collect the thermal images of the clubfoot. Three-dimensional scanning and IR imaging will be performed on the foot once a week before casting. In total, 6–8 scanning sessions will be performed for each child participant. The following parameters will be calculated as outcome measures to predict, monitor, and quantify the severity of the clubfoot: Angles cross section parameters, such as length, width, and the radial distance; distance between selected anatomical landmarks, and skin temperature of the clubfoot and normal foot. The skin temperature will be collected on selected areas (forefoot, mid foot, and hindfoot) to find out the relationship between the thermophysiological changes in the clubfoot at each stage of the casting treatment and in the normal foot. Ethics: The study has been reviewed and approved on 17 August 2016 by the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee (SCHN HREC), Sydney, Australia. The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) registration number for this study is: HREC/16/SCHN/163.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasankar Ganesan
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Department of FEIT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Ameersing Luximon
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Adel A Al-Jumaily
- Department of FEIT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Joanne Yip
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Paul J Gibbons
- University of Sydney and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison Chivers
- Department of Physiotherapy, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Shah P, Luximon Y, Luximon A. Use of Soft Tissue Properties for Ergonomic Product Design. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60825-9_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Kwok G, Yip J, Yick KL, Cheung MC, Tse CY, Ng SP, Luximon A. Postural Screening for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with Infrared Thermography. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14431. [PMID: 29089528 PMCID: PMC5663704 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14556-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a multifactorial, three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk. School scoliosis screening (SSS) is recommended by researchers as a means of early detection of AIS to prevent its progression in school-aged children. The traditional screening technique for AIS is the forward bending test because it is simple, non-invasive and inexpensive. Other tests, such as the use of Moiré topography, have reduced the high false referral rates. The use of infrared (IR) thermography for screening purposes based on the findings of previous studies on the asymmetrical paraspinal muscle activity of scoliotic patients compared with non-scoliotic subjects was explored in this study. IR thermography is performed with an IR camera to determine the temperature differences in paraspinal muscle activity. A statistical analysis showed that scoliotic subjects demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the left and right sides of the regions of interest. This difference could be due to the higher IR emission of the convex side of the observed area, thereby creating a higher temperature distribution. The findings of this study suggest the feasibility of incorporating IR thermography as part of SSS. However, future studies could also consider a larger sample of both non-scoliotic and scoliotic subjects to further validate the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garcia Kwok
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Joanne Yip
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Kit-Lun Yick
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mei-Chun Cheung
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi-Yung Tse
- Centre for Orthopaedic Surgery, Central, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sun-Pui Ng
- Division of Science & Technology, Hong Kong Community College, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ameersing Luximon
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Ganesan B, Luximon A, Al-Jumaily A, Balasankar SK, Naik GR. Ponseti method in the management of clubfoot under 2 years of age: A systematic review. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178299. [PMID: 28632733 PMCID: PMC5478104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), also known as clubfoot, is common congenital orthopedic foot deformity in children characterized by four components of foot deformities: hindfoot equinus, hindfoot varus, midfoot cavus, and forefoot adduction. Although a number of conservative and surgical methods have been proposed to correct the clubfoot deformity, the relapses of the clubfoot are not uncommon. Several previous literatures discussed about the technical details of Ponseti method, adherence of Ponseti protocol among walking age or older children. However there is a necessity to investigate the relapse pattern, compliance of bracing, number of casts used in treatment and the percentages of surgical referral under two years of age for clear understanding and better practice to achieve successful outcome without or reduce relapse. Therefore this study aims to review the current evidence of Ponseti method (manipulation, casting, percutaneous Achilles tenotomy, and bracing) in the management of clubfoot under two years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS Articles were searched from 2000 to 2015, in the following databases to identify the effectiveness of Ponseti method treatment for clubfoot: Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), PubMed, and Scopus. The database searches were limited to articles published in English, and articles were focused on the effectiveness of Ponseti method on children with less than 2 years of age. RESULTS Of the outcome of 1095 articles from four electronic databases, twelve articles were included in the review. Pirani scoring system, Dimeglio scoring system, measuring the range of motion and rate of relapses were used as outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, all reviewed, 12 articles reported that Ponseti method is a very effective method to correct the clubfoot deformities. However, we noticed that relapses occur in nine studies, which is due to the non-adherence of bracing regime and other factors such as low income and social economic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasankar Ganesan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR
- Centre for Health Technology (CHT), Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Adel Al-Jumaily
- Centre for Health Technology (CHT), Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Ganesh R. Naik
- Centre for Health Technology (CHT), Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo, Sydney, Australia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated silent versus speaking situations while wearing various types of facemasks over a period of time. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study is the evaluation of temperature changes with time and the thermal comfort of facemasks under different verbal output conditions. METHODS A two-way within-subject experiment was conducted to find the effects of facemask types and verbal output conditions. The infrared thermographic technology was used to record the video during the experiment. A subjective questionnaire was applied to measure the perception ratings of thermal discomfort. RESULTS Wearing a facemask could result in a higher face temperature compared to the condition in which a facemask was not worn. The N95 mask created the highest temperature value in the cheeks and nose/mouth regions. The speaking condition did not present significant difference on face temperature compared to the silent condition. Participants tended to provide higher subjective ratings of perceived humidity, heat, breathing difficulty and overall discomfort while wearing facemasks, especially while wearing the N95 mask and during the speaking conditions. CONCLUSIONS Facial temperature distribution demonstrated various trends with time under different conditions. Facemask types had significant effects on facial temperature and perceived thermal comfort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Luximon
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | | | - Ameersing Luximon
- The Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
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Abstract
Clubfoot, known as congenital talipes equinovarus, is one of the complex paediatric foot deformity with the incidence of 1 in every 1000 live births. It consists of four complex foot abnormalities such as forefoot adductus, midfoot cavus, and hindfoot varus and ankle equinus. There are a number of surgical techniques (soft tissue releases, arthrodesis) used to correct clubfoot. However currently the conservative management (manipulation, serial casting, and braces) of clubfoot is considered as the best choice and it is widely accepted among orthopaedists. Clubfoot treated with surgical techniques might suffer various complications such as soft tissues contractures, neurovascular complications, infections, and shortening of the limbs. Although conservative method is generally considered as an effective method, it is still challenging to cure clubfoot in advance stages. Also, the classification of the initial severity of clubfoot is essential to evaluate the outcome of the treatment. In this review, the aim is to review the different types of conservative method and the assessment of clubfoot severity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adel Al-Jumaily
- Department of FEIT, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
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15
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Abstract
Even though fit ranks as one of the most important considerations in the purchase of a shoe, the quality of fit has no metric and is hence poorly assessed. Manufacturers, retailers, and customers tend to use trial and error techniques to improve footwear fit. This approach is rather cumbersome and very unscientific. In this paper, we present a methodology to assess and thereby quantify footwear fit so that comfort can be predicted and consequently improved lasts and shoes can be produced that match different shapes of feet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra S. Goonetilleke
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | - Ameersing Luximon
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | - Kwok L. Tsui
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
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16
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Ganesan B, Fong KNK, Luximon A, Al-Jumaily A. Kinetic and kinematic analysis of gait pattern of 13 year old children with unilateral genu valgum. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2016; 20:3168-3171. [PMID: 27466987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Genu valgum is a common knee deformity in growing children. It alters the alignment of the lower extremity, body posture, and gait pattern of the children. Understanding of kinematic and kinetic parameters of gait in genu valgum is essential for planning and implementing the intervention to correcting the valgus deformity. The aim of this paper is to investigate the kinetic and kinematic gait differences in children with genu valgum. PATIENTS AND METHODS A 13-year old girl with left side unilateral genu valgum and a closely matched healthy counterpart were recruited to compare the kinetic and kinematic parameters of their gait performances, and they were captured by The VICON motion analysis system. RESULTS The results showed that the child with genu valgum had lower left and right knee angles (39.6˚; 30.2˚) and higher ankle angles (35.6˚; 28.4˚) than the healthy subject (64.2˚, 60.2˚). In addition, the child with genu valgum had lower moments on the left side of the knee (42.1 mm.N) than unaffected right knee (73.9 mm.N). Also, the ground reaction force was (0.7 N) lower in the affected knee of the child with genu valgum than the normal subject. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that there were decreased knee and ankle moments and lower knee and ankle ground reaction forces in the affected genu valgum extremity when compared with the healthy counterpart. These changes might be responsible for the altering gait pattern of the child with genu valgum.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ganesan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
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17
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Luximon Y, Cong Y, Luximon A, Zhang M. Effects of heel base size, walking speed, and slope angle on center of pressure trajectory and plantar pressure when wearing high-heeled shoes. Hum Mov Sci 2015; 41:307-19. [PMID: 25910862 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High-heeled shoes are associated with instability and a high risk of fall, fracture, and ankle sprain. This study investigated the effects of heel base size (HBS) on walking stability under different walking speeds and slope angles. The trajectory of the center of pressure (COP), maximal peak pressure, pressure time integral, contact area, and perceived stability were analyzed. The results revealed that a small HBS increased the COP deviations, shifting the COP more medially at the beginning of the gait cycle. The slope angle mainly affected the COP in the anteroposterior direction. An increased slope angle shifted the COP posterior and caused greater pressure and a larger contact area in the midfoot and rearfoot regions, which can provide more support. Subjective measures on perceived stability were consistent with objective measures. The results suggested that high-heeled shoes with a small HBS did not provide stable plantar support, particularly on a small slope angle. The changes in the COP and pressure pattern caused by a small HBS might increase joint torque and muscle activity and induce lower limb problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Luximon
- School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yan Cong
- Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China; Key Lab of Prosthetics and Orthotics Technology, Beijing College of Social Administration, Beijing, China
| | - Ameersing Luximon
- The Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
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18
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Khandual A, Luximon A, Sachdeva A, Rout N, Sahoo P. Enhancement of Functional Properties of Cotton by Conventional Dyeing with Tio2 Nanoparticles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2015.07.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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19
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Zou KS, Chan CK, Peng SX, Luximon A, Chen ZQ, Ip WH. Shape-based retrieval and analysis of 3D models using fuzzy weighted symmetrical depth images. Neurocomputing 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2012.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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21
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Goonetilleke RS, Hoffmann ER, Luximon A. Effects of pen design on drawing and writing performance. Appl Ergon 2009; 40:292-301. [PMID: 18501332 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2007] [Revised: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 04/04/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Two experiments are reported with the aim of determining the effect of pen shape and size on two different types of task: drawing and writing. Experiment 1 attempted to determine the optimum shape and size of shank for ball-point pens used to perform an accurate drawing task. Twenty-seven participants used a total of nine different pens. Drawing performance was measured by having the subjects follow mazes of different size. The dependent variables were drawing movement time and drawing accuracy. The results indicate that the pen with an equivalent diameter of 8mm had the best accuracy during drawing, even though it had the lowest speed. The results confirm the applicability and validity of the Drury tracking model for such a task. Even though users tended to prefer larger pens, their accuracy with such pens tended to be low. In a second experiment, subjects performed a writing task (with no accuracy constraints) and rated their preference for types of pen. An attempt was made to determine the preferred dimensions of ball-point pens for writing in Chinese and English. A total of 36 'bare-bodied' pens and 20 Chinese subjects were used to evaluate the effects of shape, size and weight on time to write a sentence. The Writing Ability, Comfort and an Overall Rating were given by the subjects. The results indicate that the Chinese subjects preferred a circular shaped pen for writing in both languages. A factor analysis showed that speed, comfort and writing ability are independent parameters in pen evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravindra S Goonetilleke
- Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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22
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Abstract
Two methods to generate an individual 3D foot shape from 2D information are proposed. A standard foot shape was first generated and then scaled based on known 2D information. In the first method, the foot outline and the foot height were used, and in the second, the foot outline and the foot profile were used. The models were developed using 40 participants and then validated using a different set of 40 participants. Results show that each individual foot shape can be predicted within a mean absolute error of 1.36 mm for the left foot and 1.37 mm for the right foot using the first method, and within a mean absolute error of 1.02 mm for the left foot and 1.02 mm for the right foot using the second method. The second method shows somewhat improved accuracy even though it requires two images. Both the methods are relatively cheaper than using a scanner to determine the 3D foot shape for custom footwear design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameersing Luximon
- Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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23
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Abstract
This study is an attempt to show how a "standard" foot can be parameterized using foot length, foot width, foot height, and a measure of foot curvature so that foot shape can be predicted using these simple anthropometric measures. The prediction model was generated using 40 Hong Kong Chinese men, and the model was validated using a different group of 25 Hong Kong Chinese men. The results show that each individual foot shape may be predicted to a mean accuracy of 2.1 mm for the left foot and 2.4 mm for the right foot. Application of this research includes the potential design and development of custom footwear without the necessity of expensive 3-D scanning of feet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameersing Luximon
- Ameersing Luximon and Ravindra S. Goonetilleke, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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24
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Abstract
As consumers are becoming increasingly selective of what they wear on their feet, manufacturers are experiencing problems developing and fitting the right footwear. Literature suggests that shoes with a shape similar to feet may be comfortable because they attempt to maintain the feet in a neutral posture. The objective of this paper is to develop a metric to quantify mismatches between feet and lasts and also to be able to generate the two-dimensional outline of the foot using the minimum number of landmarks. Fifty Hong Kong Chinese were participants in the experiment. In addition to subject weight, height, foot length and foot width, the left foot outlines were drawn and 18 landmarks were marked on each of the two-dimensional foot outlines. A step-wise procedure was used to reduce the chosen 18 landmarks to eight, such that the mean absolute negative error (an indicator of 'tightness') between the foot outline and the modelled curve was 1.3 mm. These eight landmarks seem to show an improvement over those proposed by other researchers, thus showing the importance of choosing the right landmarks for modelling the foot. The positive and negative absolute errors were on average 1.8 mm and 1.3 mm respectively. Moreover, the mean errors for the toe region and for the rest of the foot were 1.7 mm and 1.6 mm respectively. The results indicate that the foot outline, an important component for footwear functionality and fitting, may be modelled using eight critical landmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameersing Luximon
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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25
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Abstract
Although the subjective workload assessment technique (SWAT) has been widely used, it has two main problems: it is not very sensitive for low mental workloads and it requires a time-consuming card sorting pretask procedure. In this study are presented five variations of SWAT in an effort to overcome the limitations. Four of the variants used the continuous SWAT subscales while one used the discrete SWAT subscale. Fifteen subjects participated in the experiment. The scales were compared with the original SWAT scale in terms of sensitivity and pretask procedure completion time when performing arithmetic tasks. The results show that all four variants are more sensitive than the conventional SWAT scale and that the pairwise comparison procedure takes significantly less pretask completion time compared with the original SWAT scale. Thus, the conventional pretask procedure can be replaced by a simple unweighted averaging to yield a scale of high sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Luximon
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon
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26
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Abstract
Most commercial footwear is designed and manufactured on a curved last, although the amount of curvature of the last and the turning point of the last centerline have not been formally determined. In this study, we used principal component analysis to determine the foot axis so that lasts that match feet can be produced, resulting in a good fit. In evaluating 50 Hong Kong Chinese participants, we found that the center of the foot is located at approximately 52% of the foot length measuring from the back of the foot (SD = 0.65%) and that Hong Kong participants have a mean inflare (inward curvature) of 3.2 degrees. The foot center and inflare measures will help determine the fit between footwear and feet. Applications of this research include the ability to incorporate foot flare into the design and manufacture of footwear.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Goonetilleke
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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