Measurement of the growth of children at weekly intervals: Results.

In our previous paper [M. Repalska et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 90, 024103 (2019)], a new method for measuring the growth of children based on the measurement of the lower leg length during foot movement was described. This current paper presents more measurements being conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the proposed arrangement. The study was carried out at weekly intervals with a research group amounting to 20 participants. The presented results show that the method allows for the identification of even a weekly increase in the lower leg length at different velocities of growth. In addition, the method enables the estimation of the trend characterizing each individual and can distinguish the periods of time during which perturbative factors in the process of growth may arise. A metrological analysis was also conducted, allowing a qualitative evaluation of the results, which are presented together with the measurement uncertainties.

Wireless Motion Sensors-Useful in Assessing the Effectiveness of Physiotherapeutic Methods Used in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis-Preliminary Report.

Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) is characterized by pain, limitation of joint mobility, and significant deterioration of proprioception resulting in functional decline. This study assessed proprioception in OAK patients following two ten-day rehabilitation programs using the Orthyo® system. Fifty-four study participants with clinical symptoms and radiological signs of OAK were randomly divided into an exercise group (n = 27) or a manual therapy group (n = 27). The control group consisted of 27 volunteers with radiological signs of OAK, but with no clinical symptoms or prior history of rehabilitation. The following parameters were assessed: knee proprioception using inertial sensors and a mobile application, patients' function using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), and pain intensity using the visual analog scale (VAS). Following rehabilitation, knee proprioception tests did not improve in either study group. Both study groups showed significant improvement of the WOMAC-assessed function (exercise group: p < 0.01, manual therapy group: p = 0.01) and a significant decrease (p < 0.01) of VAS-assessed pain following rehabilitation, but the post-therapy results did not differ significantly between the aforementioned groups. The Orthyo® system provided a quick and accurate assessment of the knee joint position sense. There was no direct relationship between functionality, pain, and proprioception threshold in the knee joint.

Measurement of the growth of children at weekly intervals.

A new method for measuring the growth of children is presented, based on the measurement of the lower leg length during foot movement. This is a touch measurement, but the obtained characteristic of the measured lower leg length, as a function of the pressure force, is reduced to a non-contact measurement. A setup prototype is built and preliminary research conducted. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that the method allows the observation of increases in child lower leg length at frequent intervals (e.g., weekly). The developed measurement method has a high accuracy, and the results allow for differentiation between periods of child good health and indisposition.

Accuracy of X-ray computed tomography for dimensional metrology with employment of a new threshold selection method.

The article presents and discusses results of an experimental study regarding the accuracy of measurements performed with X-ray CT scanners. One of the main factors affecting the measurement result is definition of the threshold value between the air and the material. In this study, the results of measurements using two methods to determine the threshold value namely, the newly developed method and a well-known and commonly used method of ISO50%, were compared. A novel method is based on the measurement of an additional reference workpiece. The correction value, based on the measurement, is determined, and then it takes account when determining the threshold value between the air and the material. The study was performed using two types of gauges. These were workpieces of a specified volume of material (consisting of reference balls) and with the defined values of linear dimensions (in the form of cubes and cylinder). Using five different CT scanners, the conducted study yielded increase in the accuracy of measurements by applying the developed method in relation to the ISO50% automated method. In the case of volumetric test workpieces, relative measurement errors were reduced by 3 to 10 times for metrological CT scanners and from 50 to 30% for defectoscopy CT scanners. In the case of linear dimension measurements, average measurement errors were reduced twice.