Glove-Based Hand Gesture Recognition for Diver Communication.

We have developed a smart dive glove that recognizes 13 static hand gestures used in diving communication. The smart glove employs five dielectric elastomer sensors to capture finger motion and implements a machine learning classifier in the onboard electronics to recognize gestures. Five basic classification algorithms are trained and assessed: the decision tree, support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression, Gaussian naïve Bayes, and multilayer perceptron. These basic classifiers were selected as they perform well in multiclass classification problems, can be trained using supervised learning, and are model-based algorithms that can be implemented on a microprocessor. The training dataset was collected from 24 participants providing for a range of different hand sizes. After training, the algorithms were evaluated in a dry environment using data collected from ten new participants to test how well they cope with new information. Furthermore, an underwater experiment was conducted to assess any impact of the underwater environment on each algorithm's classification. The results show all classifiers performed well in a dry environment. The accuracies and F1-scores range between 0.95 and 0.98, where the logistic regressor and SVM have the highest scores for both the accuracy and F1-score (0.98). The underwater results showed that all algorithms work underwater; however, the performance drops when divers must focus on buoyancy control, breathing, and diver trim.

Controversies and Trends in United Kingdom Bunion Surgery.

Current practice and controversies in UK bunion surgery are discussed. Patients tend to be offered a distally based metatarsal osteotomy, such as a chevron or scarf osteotomy, for mild to moderate symptomatic bunions. Greater deformities are managed with a more extreme scarf, supplemented with a proximal phalangeal osteotomy. A proximal fusion in the form of the Lapidus-type procedure is still reserved for the most severe, hypermobile, or arthritic cases. Minimally invasive techniques for bunions have failed to disseminate into common UK practice. The trends in the United Kingdom regarding litigation, venous thromboembolism, and osteodesis for bunion surgery are also discussed.

First metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis for hallux valgus.

Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is a reliable operation in the treatment of selected cases of hallux valgus. It corrects deformity of hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus, leading to good functional results with a low complication rate. It is a technique well suited to patients with hallux valgus associated with degenerative changes or severe deformity, and those for whom primary hallux valgus surgery has failed.

Intermetatarsal angular change following fusion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

BACKGROUND: Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint with a low profile fixed angle plate allows for a consistent resultant hallux valgus angle. There is no clear consensus on whether a separate corrective osteotomy of the first metatarsal should be performed in addition to the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion in patients with an increased intermetatarsal angle. We quantified the amount of correction of the intermetatarsal angle as well as the position of the tibial sesamoid in this group of patients following fusion of the first MTP joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive cohort of 69 feet (13 bilateral) who underwent a standard primary fusion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint using a dorsal approach between May 2006 and January 2008 were reviewed. Radiological measurements were taken from 6-week postoperative weightbearing radiographs and included the hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle as well as the position of the tibial sesamoid in accordance to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society guidelines. RESULTS: Postoperatively, there was an improvement in the hallux valgus angle from 33.0 degrees to 10.4 degrees (p < 0.001). The mean intermetatarsal angle also improved from 13.1 degrees preoperatively to 8.6 postoperatively (p < 0.001). The position of the tibial sesamoid generally improved by at least one grade (Spearman's r = 0.74). There was a strong correlation (r = 0.77, p < 0.001) between the preoperative intermetatarsal angle and the postoperative intermetatarsal angle. CONCLUSION: Both the intermetatarsal angle and position of the tibial sesamoid reliably improved following arthrodesis of the first MTP joint, negating the need for a separate osteotomy of the first metatarsal.

Toll-like receptor 4 in butylated hydroxytoluene-induced mouse pulmonary inflammation and tumorigenesis.

Because chronic pulmonary diseases predispose to lung neoplasia, the identification of the molecular mechanisms involved could provide novel preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) transduce exogenous and endogenous signals into the production of inflammatory cytokines to coordinate adaptive immune responses. To determine the role of Tlr4 in chronic lung inflammation, we compared lung permeability, leukocyte infiltration, and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) DNA binding in butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-treated (four weekly injections of 125-200 mg/kg each) inbred mouse strains with functional Tlr4 (OuJ and BALB) and mutated Tlr4 (HeJ and BALB(Lps-d)). We also measured primary tumor formation in these mice after single-carcinogen injection (3-methylcholanthrene; 10 microg/kg), followed by BHT treatment (six weekly injections of 125-200 mg/kg each). Mice with functional Tlr4 had reduced lung permeability, leukocyte inflammation, and primary tumor formation (BALB(Lps-d), mean = 22.3 tumors/mouse, versus BALB, mean = 13.9 tumors/mouse, difference = 8.4 tumors/mouse, 95% confidence interval = 4.6 to 12.1 tumors/mouse; P = .025) compared with mice with mutated Tlr4. NFkappaB DNA binding activity was higher in OuJ than in HeJ mice; however, AP-1 activity was elevated in HeJ mice. To our knowledge, this is the first model to demonstrate a modulatory role for Tlr4 in chronic lung inflammation and tumorigenesis.