Influence of the combination of big data technology on the Spark platform with deep learning on elevator safety monitoring efficiency

To effectively minimize elevator safety accidents, big data technology is combined with deep learning technology based on the Spark platform. This study first introduces the relevant theories of elevator safety monitoring technology, namely big data technology and deep learning technology. Then, the fault types that occur in the running state of the elevator are identified, and a finite state machine model is established. An elevator fault monitoring method based on the Spark platform is proposed, namely finite state machine (FSM), and the results of elevator safety fault monitoring are evaluated. Based on deep learning, an elevator fault warning model is constructed and its early warning performance is evaluated. The results show that the study can realize real-time and effective monitoring in the operation state of the elevator, and can determine the fault type of the elevator by binding the abnormal operation state with the corresponding fault. The feasibility of the elevator safety monitoring efficiency is evaluated based on three indexes: mutual information, accuracy, and false positives. Compared with other algorithms, the proposed FSM algorithm has the largest mutual information (0.1337), the highest accuracy (0.9899), the lowest false positive rate (0.0624), and the lowest false negative rate (0.1126); compared with other models, the elevator fault warning model proposed in this study has the lowest root mean-square error (RMSE) value (0.0201), the highest accuracy (0.9834), the lowest Loss value (0.0012), and the shortest convergence time (88.2608s), indicating that the elevator safety monitoring system and elevator fault warning model are feasible. This study establishes a good direction for elevator safety monitoring efficiency in China.

Factors Influencing Escalator-Related Incidents in China: A Systematic Analysis Using ISM-DEMATEL Method

Escalator-related incidents (EIs) have recently resulted in serious injuries and even deaths. Given the frequency and severity of EIs, a systematic exploration of factors influencing EIs is critical in order to identify preventive measures. Twenty-two factors influencing EIs were identified by analyzing 213 EI cases in China and related literatures. A combination of the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods were utilized to establish a hierarchical structure of the influencing factors and to distinguish cause factors and effect factors. The results show: (i) behavior, emergency plan, safety rules, safety supervision, information exchange, safety culture, and safety education are the most important factors influencing EIs; (ii) safety education is the cause factor imposing the greatest influence on other factors while behavior is the effect factor that is the most influenced; and (iii) the structure of influencing factors has five hierarchies, and factors in the root cause layer are settings and components, safety rules, safety supervision, safety culture, and safety education. Management priority should be given according to the hierarchy level, and the interaction of factors should be considered when taking preventive measures. The corresponding five-layer countermeasures are proposed to reduce escalator-related injuries.

A new model for an old friend

JGP study suggests the anion exchanger AE1 operates via an elevator-like mechanism.

How available to European children and young people with cerebral palsy are features of their environment that they need?

BACKGROUND

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires accessibility to the physical and social environments. However, individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have many difficulties in accessing the environment they need for functional independence and social inclusion.

AIMS

To examine the availability of environmental features which children with CP need for optimal participation, and whether availability changed for them between ages 8-12 and 13-17 years.

METHODS

The sample is the 594 children with CP, born 31/07/1991-01/04/1997, who took part in the SPARCLE study at age 8-12 (SPARCLE 1) and again at 13-17 years (SPARCLE 2). Participants were randomly sampled from population registers of children with CP in eight European regions; one further region recruited from multiple sources. Data about environment were captured with the European Child Environment Questionnaire (60 items). Differences in availability of environmental features between childhood and adolescence were assessed using McNemar's test; differences between regions were assessed by ranking regions. Differences in availability between regions were assessed by ranking regions.

RESULTS

For seven environmental features significantly (p<0.01) fewer individuals needed the feature in SPARCLE 2 than in SPARCLE 1, whilst for two features more individuals needed the feature. Nine features in SPARCLE 1 and six features in SPARCLE 2 were available to less than half the participants who needed them. Eight features showed significantly (p<0.01) higher availability in SPARCLE 2 than in SPARCLE 1 (enlarged rooms, adapted toilet, modified kitchen and hoists at home, adapted toilets and lifts at school, an adequate vehicle, grants for home modifications) while none showed significantly lower availability. The relative rankings of the better and less good regions persisted from the age 8-12year age group to the 13-17year age group.

CONCLUSIONS

Needed environmental features are unavailable to many children at ages 8-12 and 13-17 years. This lack of availability is more pronounced in some regions than others, which probably results from their policy, legislative and statutory frameworks.

Smartphone-Based Escalator Recognition for the Visually Impaired

It is difficult for visually impaired individuals to recognize escalators in everyday environments. If the individuals ride on escalators in the wrong direction, they will stumble on the steps. This paper proposes a novel method to assist visually impaired individuals in finding available escalators by the use of smartphone cameras. Escalators are recognized by analyzing optical flows in video frames captured by the cameras, and auditory feedback is provided to the individuals. The proposed method was implemented on an Android smartphone and applied to actual escalator scenes. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is promising for helping visually impaired individuals use escalators.

Developing Point-of-Decision Prompts to Encourage Airport Walking: The Walk to Fly Study

BACKGROUND

Point-of-decision prompts may be appropriate to promote walking, instead of using a mechanized mode of transport, such as a train, in airports. To our knowledge, no current studies describe the development of messages for prompts in this setting.

METHODS

In-person interviews were conducted with 150 randomly selected airport travelers who rode the train to their departure gate. Travelers reported various reasons for riding the train to their gate. They were asked about messages that would encourage them to walk. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted for reasons for riding the train. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for messages to encourage walking to the departure gate.

RESULTS

Travelers reported not knowing walking was an option (23.8%), seeing others riding the train (14.4%), and being afraid of getting lost (9.2%) as reasons for riding the train. Many indicated that directional signs and prompts promoting walking as exercise would encourage them to walk instead of riding the train.

CONCLUSIONS

Some reasons for riding the train in an airport may be modifiable by installing point-of-decision prompts. Providing directional signs to travelers may prompt them to walk to their gate instead of riding the train. Similar prompts may also be considered in other community settings.

Diversity of Bacterial Communities on Four Frequently Used Surfaces in a Large Brazilian Teaching Hospital

Frequently used hand-touch surfaces in hospital settings have been implicated as a vehicle of microbial transmission. In this study, we aimed to investigate the overall bacterial population on four frequently used surfaces using a culture-independent Illumina massively parallel sequencing approach of the 16S rRNA genes. Surface samples were collected from four sites, namely elevator buttons (EB), bank machine keyboard buttons (BMKB), restroom surfaces, and the employee biometric time clock system (EBTCS), in a large public and teaching hospital in São Paulo. Taxonomical composition revealed the abundance of Firmicutes phyla, followed by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, with a total of 926 bacterial families and 2832 bacterial genera. Moreover, our analysis revealed the presence of some potential pathogenic bacterial genera, including Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of these pathogens in frequently used surfaces enhances the risk of exposure to any susceptible individuals. Some of the factors that may contribute to the richness of bacterial diversity on these surfaces are poor personal hygiene and ineffective routine schedules of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. Strict standards of infection control in hospitals and increased public education about hand hygiene are recommended to decrease the risk of transmission in hospitals among patients.

Intrahospital Transfer of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: Increase in Intracranial Pressure

AIM

To assess the dynamic of intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and dynamic pressure reactivity index (PRx) during intrahospital transport.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

There were 33 comatose patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The mean age was 36.3 ± 4.8 years (range 19-45 years), and there were 17 men and 16 women. The median Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission was 6.2 ± 0.7. Computed tomography (CT) included native CT, perfusion CT, and CT angiography.

RESULTS

The mean CPPs before and after the CT scans were 95.9 ± 10.7 and 81.5 ± 12.5 mmHg respectively. The mean ICP before transport was 19.98 ± 5.3 mmHg (minimum 11.7; maximum 51.7). It was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001) than during the transfer (26.1 ± 13.5 mmHg). During the period described all patients had increased ICP, especially during vertical movement in an elevator. During horizontal movement on the floor ICP remained higher (p < 0.05). The mean dynamic PRx before and after intrahospital transport was 0.23 ± 0.14 and 0.52 ± 0.04, respectively (p < 0.001). Average duration of the transfer and CT study was 15.3 ± 3.4 min.

CONCLUSION

Intrahospital transport of patients with TBI may lead to a significant increase in ICP, dynamic PRx, and decreased CPP. The results suppose that the decision to perform brain CT in comatose patients with TBI should be carefully considered by clinicians.

Evaluation and improvement of air quality in school public elevator

Public elevators are an essential requirement in modern high-rise buildings. However, the confined, crowded interior of an elevator provides an ideal breeding ground for all manners of biological aerosols. Consequently, when using an elevator at a university in Taiwan as the research target, this study performs an experimental investigation into the effectiveness of hand-sprayed gaseous chlorine dioxide as a disinfection agent. The air quality before and after disinfection is evaluated by measuring the bioaerosol concentrations of bacteria and fungi, respectively. The average background levels of bacteria and fungi before disinfection are found to be 635.7 ± 469.6 and 1296.8 ± 966.6 colony-forming unit (CFU)/m(3), respectively. Following disinfection, the bacteria and fungi concentrations reduced by an average of 35 and 25 %, respectively. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results showed that the residual bacteria and fungi concentration levels were determined primarily by the number of individuals within the elevator and the elapsed time following disinfection. In general, the present results show that given a maximum of five individuals within the elevator, a disinfection schedule of once every 40 min is sufficient to reduce the bioaerosol concentrations of bacteria and fungi to the levels specified by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Stair descending exercise using a novel automatic escalator: effects on muscle performance and health-related parameters

A novel automatic escalator was designed, constructed and used in the present investigation. The aim of the present investigation was to compare the effect of two repeated sessions of stair descending versus stair ascending exercise on muscle performance and health-related parameters in young healthy men. Twenty males participated and were randomly divided into two equal-sized groups: a stair descending group (muscle-damaging group) and a stair ascending group (non-muscle-damaging group). Each group performed two sessions of stair descending or stair ascending exercise on the automatic escalator while a three week period was elapsed between the two exercise sessions. Indices of muscle function, insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profile and redox status were assessed before and immediately after, as well as at day 2 and day 4 after both exercise sessions. It was found that the first bout of stair descending exercise caused muscle damage, induced insulin resistance and oxidative stress as well as affected positively blood lipid profile. However, after the second bout of stair descending exercise the alterations in all parameters were diminished or abolished. On the other hand, the stair ascending exercise induced only minor effects on muscle function and health-related parameters after both exercise bouts. The results of the present investigation indicate that stair descending exercise seems to be a promising way of exercise that can provoke positive effects on blood lipid profile and antioxidant status.

The use of point-of-decision prompts to increase stair climbing in Singapore

Physical inactivity is a significant contributor to worldwide mortality and morbidity associated with non-communicable diseases. An excellent avenue to incorporate lifestyle physical activity into regular routine is to encourage the use of stairs during daily commutes. We evaluated the effectiveness of point-of-decision prompts (PODPs) in promoting the use of stairs instead of the escalators in a Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station. We measured the number of stair climbers before the PODPs were put up, during the 4 weeks that they were in use, and 2 weeks after they were removed. Measurements at a no intervention control site were additionally taken. The use of stair-riser banners was associated with an increase in the number of people using the stairs by a factor of 1.49 (95% CI 1.34–1.64). After the banners were removed, the number of stair climbers at the experimental station dropped to slightly below baseline levels. The Singapore MRT serves a diverse multi-ethnic population with an average daily ridership of over 2 million and 88 stations island-wide. An increase of physical activity among these MRT commuters would have a large impact at the population level. Our findings can be translated into part of the national strategy to encourage an active lifestyle in Singaporeans.

Unusual head and neck injury in elevator: autopsy study

Industrial injuries related to auto-load-carrying vehicles were not frequently reported in the literature. Presented case was, 31-year-old male furniture worker. Deceased was found in awkward position in furniture workshop. Victim was observed on his knees in front of the elevator, head and neck lodged within openings of the elevator, and head and neck structures compressed-guillotined by the lower platform of the elevator were detected. We presented rare case of head and neck compression by elevator. Key words: head - neck - accidents - elevator - autopsy.

Labor Saved, Calories Lost: The Energetic Impact of Domestic Labor-saving Devices

OBJECTIVE

As the prevalence of obesity has increased, so has sedentariness. Progressive sedentariness has been attributed to greater use of labor saving devices, such as washing machines, and less nonexercise walking (e.g., walking to work). However, there is a paucity of data to support this conclusion. In this study, we address the hypothesis that domestic mechanization of daily tasks has resulted in less energy expenditure compared with performing the same tasks manually.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Energy expenditure was measured in four groups of subjects (122 healthy adult men and women total) from Rochester, Minnesota. Energy expenditure was measured using indirect calorimetry while subjects performed structured tasks such as cleaning dishes and clothes, stair climbing, and work-associated transportation, and these values were compared with the respective mechanized activity.

RESULTS

Energy expenditure was significantly greater and numerically substantial when daily domestic tasks were performed without the aid of machines or equipment (clothes washing: 45 +/- 14 vs. 27 +/- 9 kcal/d; dish washing: 80 +/- 28 vs. 54 +/- 19 kcal/d; transportation to work: 83 +/- 17 vs. 25 +/- 3 kcal/d; stair climbing: 11 +/- 7 vs. 3 +/- 1 kcal/d; p < 0.05). The combined impact of domestic mechanization was substantial and equaled 111 kcal/d.

DISCUSSION

The magnitude of the energetic impact of the mechanized tasks we studied was sufficiently great to contribute to the positive energy balance associated with weight gain. Efforts focused on reversing sedentariness have the potential to impact obesity.

Accelerative forces associated with routine inhouse transportation of rodent cages

Transportation of rodents has repeatedly been demonstrated to potentially affect research outcomes. In addition, rapid acceleration and deceleration have marked physiologic effects. The current study determined the accelerative forces associated with common types of animal transportation within the institution and means of reducing these effects. A rodent-sized (24 g) accelerometer was placed in a standard polycarbonate mouse cage, which then was hand-carried or loaded onto a plastic, small metal, or large metal cart. The cage then moved along a set path that included several flooring types and obstacles. Accelerative forces within the mouse cage varied by as much as 35 m/s(2) in as little as 1 s, primarily along the vertical axis (Z-axis). Measured acceleration was greatest with the plastic cart and lowest during hand-carrying. The placement of a towel under the cage dampened in-cage acceleration due to cart use by more than 50%, whereas a similarly located underpad had no significant effect. These data document that small rodents typically are exposed to considerable motion during transportation. The resulting physical and physiologic effects could affect study outcomes.

Respiratory health of two cohorts of terminal grain elevator workers studied 30 years apart

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the respiratory health of two cohorts of grain terminal elevator workers who participated in one of either respiratory health surveys undertaken in 1978 and 2008.

METHODS

Questionnaire and spirometry data from 584 workers from the 1978 survey and 215 workers from the 2008 survey were compared using logistic regression and general linear modeling.

RESULTS

The geometric means of area samples of grain dust averaged 8.28 mg/m(3) in 1978 and 2.06 mg/m(3) in 2008. Workers in the 1978 survey had a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms (with the largest adjusted odds ratio of 3.78, 95% CI 2.07-7.25, for shortness of breath), a lower prevalence of atopic conditions and lower mean lung function.

CONCLUSION

Current grain workers had a lower risk of respiratory health consequences and a greater prevalence of atopic conditions than workers surveyed 30 years prior, most likely associated with reduced exposure to grain dust in the terminal elevator environment.

[Evaluation on the effect of Point of Decision Prompt to increase the use of stairs]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether Point of Decision Prompt (PDP) could effectively increase the use of stairs in the Chinese university dormitory buildings.

METHODS

Number and certain features of students who used stairs and lifts were respectively recorded through observation in both buildings A (intervened) and building B (not intervened) simultaneously one week before the intervention (stage I), the first week after the intervention (stage II) and the fourth week after the intervention (stage III). Self-questionnaires were also used to evaluate the effect of the intervention program in building A.

RESULTS

According to the observation, the overall stair-use in building A increased from 34.3% in stage I to 37.5% (P < 0.05, compared with stage I) in stage II and dropped to 35.4% (P < 0.05, compared with stage I) in stage III. In contrast, the change in the overall stair-use in building B between these three stages was not statistically significant. The change of the stair-use varied with different sexes, different directions (up or down) and different days (weekday or weekend). Data from the questionnaires showed that 97.3% of the students being surveyed reported that they had noticed the PDPs and 26.4% of whom reported that they had increased the frequency of stair-use. Results from the logistic analysis of the questionnaire showed that girls (OR = 8.78, 95%CI: 3.23 - 23.87, deff = 1.24) and those who lived under the fifth floor (OR = 2.78, 95%CI: 1.28 - 6.06, deff = 1.38) were more inclined to increase the stair-use.

CONCLUSION

PDP could effectively increase the frequency of stair-use in the Chinese university dormitory buildings.

Wheelchair accessibility of public buildings in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the accessibility to public buildings for wheelchair users in Al Ain, the fourth largest city of the United Arab Emirates.

METHOD

Data were collected at 17 buildings, randomly chosen using the local telephone book as source. The instrument used was a survey form covering eight accessibility areas: parking, ramps, entrances, accessible routes, toilets, elevators, public telephones and water fountains. The survey comprized 79 items based on the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines (ADAAG).

RESULTS

The highest overall compliance scored was 73%, and the lowest was 13%. The highest compliant accessibility area was accessible route with a mean of 76%, and the lowest was parking with a mean of 19%. None of the buildings recorded 100% compliance with the items in the survey form.

CONCLUSIONS

A wheelchair user would have encountered many and difficult architectural barriers if he had visited any of the public sites surveyed in the city of Al Ain. the results of this study show that much has actually been accomplished in the field of wheelchair accessibility of public buildings in the UAE city of Al Ain, despite the absence of legislation. This study could be seen as an example of what happens when the modern urban environment evolves in a non regulated context, lacking legislation protecting and ensuring the accessibility for the wheelchair bound member of society.

MEASURING THE EMS PATIENT ACCESS TIME INTERVAL andTHE IMPACT OF RESPONDING TO HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS

OBJECTIVES

To measure the patient access time interval and characterize its contribution to the total emergency medical services (EMS) response time interval; to compare the patient access time intervals for patients located three or more floors above ground with those less than three floors above or below ground, and specifically in the apartment subgroup; and to identify barriers that significantly impede EMS access to patients in high-rise apartments.

METHODS

An observational study of all patients treated by an emergency medical technician paramedics (EMT-P) crew was conducted using a trained independent observer to collect time intervals and identify potential barriers to access.

RESULTS

Of 118 observed calls, 25 (21%) originated from patients three or more floors above ground. The overall median and 90th percentile (95% confidence interval) patient access time intervals were 1.61 (1.27, 1.91) and 3.47 (3.08, 4.05) minutes, respectively. The median interval was 2.73 (2.22, 3.03) minutes among calls from patients located three or more stories above ground compared with 1.25 (1.07, 1.55) minutes among those at lower levels. The patient access time interval represented 23.5% of the total EMS response time interval among calls originating less than three floors above or below ground and 32.2% of those located three or more stories above ground. The most frequently encountered barriers to access included security code entry requirements, lack of directional signs, and inability to fit the stretcher into the elevator.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient access time interval is significantly long and represents a substantial component of the total EMS response time interval, especially among ambulance calls originating three or more floors above ground. A number of barriers appear to contribute to delayed paramedic access.

Odd sensation induced by moving-phantom which triggers subconscious motor program

Our motor actions are sometimes not properly performed despite our having complete understanding of the environmental situation with a suitable action intention. In most cases, insufficient skill for motor control can explain the improper performance. A notable exception is the action of stepping onto a stopped escalator, which causes clumsy movements accompanied by an odd sensation. Previous studies have examined short-term sensorimotor adaptations to treadmills and moving sleds, but the relationship between the odd sensation and behavioral properties in a real stopped-escalator situation has never been examined. Understanding this unique action-perception linkage would help us to assess the brain function connecting automatic motor controls and the conscious awareness of action.

Here we directly pose a question: Does the odd sensation emerge because of the unfamiliar motor behavior itself toward the irregular step-height of a stopped escalator or as a consequence of an automatic habitual motor program cued by the escalator itself. We compared the properties of motor behavior toward a stopped escalator (SE) with those toward moving escalator and toward a wooden stairs (WS) that mimicked the stopped escalator, and analyzed the subjective feeling of the odd sensation in the SE and WS conditions. The results show that moving escalator-specific motor actions emerged after participants had stepped onto the stopped escalator despite their full awareness that it was stopped, as if the motor behavior was guided by a “phantom” of a moving escalator. Additionally, statistical analysis reveals that postural forward sway that occurred after the stepping action is directly linked with the odd sensation.

The results suggest a dissociation between conscious awareness and subconscious motor control: the former makes us perfectly aware of the current environmental situation, but the latter automatically emerges as a result of highly habituated visual input no matter how unsuitable the motor control is. This dissociation appears to yield an attribution conflict, resulting in the odd sensation.