Guido De Bruyne

Evaluation of an anthropometric shape model of the human scalp

This paper presents the evaluation a 3D shape model of the human head. A statistical shape model of the head is created from a set of 100 MRI scans. The ability of the shape model to predict new head shapes is evaluated by considering the prediction error distributions. The effect of using intuitive anthropometric measurements as parameters is examined and the sensitivity to measurement errors is determined. Using all anthropometric measurements, the average prediction error is 1.60 ± 0.36 mm, which shows the feasibility of the new parameters. The most sensitive measurement is the ear height, the least sensitive is the arc length. Finally, two applications of the anthropometric shape model are considered: the study of the male and female population and the design of a brain-computer interface headset. The results show that an anthropometric shape model can be a valuable tool for both research and design.

Ergonomic design of an EEG headset using 3D anthropometry

Although EEG experiments over the past decades have shown numerous applications for brain-computer interfacing (BCI), there is a need for user-friendly BCI devices that can be used in real-world situations. 3D anthropometry and statistical shape modeling have been shown to improve the fit of devices such as helmets and respirators, and thus they might also be suitable to design BCI headgear that better fits the size and shape variation of the human head. In this paper, a new design method for BCI devices is proposed and evaluated. A one-size-fits-all BCI headset frame is designed on the basis of three digital mannequins derived from a shape model of the human head. To verify the design, the geometric fit, stability and repeatability of the prototype were compared to an EEG cap and a commercial BCI headset in a preliminary experiment. Most design specifications were met, and all the results were found to be similar to those of the commercial headset. Therefore, the suggested design method is a feasible alternative to traditional anthropometric design for BCI headsets and similar headgear.

The impact of interest subsidies on the inter- regional allocation of capital: An econometric analysis for Belgium

Abstract Regionally differentiated interest rate subsidies are assumed to have on theoretical grounds both a generative and a redistributive impact on investment. In the conventional econometric approach, these effects are captured by the interest rate parameters that appear in regional investment functions which are usually estimated by single equation methods. This paper focusses on the redistributive impact of regional interest subsidies. The theoretical framework choosen for the analysis is that of a multiregional firm that maximizes overall profits subject to a capital cost constraint. The resulting allocation model for capital stock is similar to a system of consumer demand equations. It is estimated by a maximum likelihood method. The empirical results indicate that the redistributive effects of interest rate subsidies are significant.

Full Body Statistical Shape Modeling with Posture Normalization

Realistic virtual mannequins, that represent body shapes that occur in the target population, are valuable tools for product developers who design near-body products. Statistical shape modeling is a promising approach to map out the variability of body shapes. The strength of statistical shape models (SSM) is their ability to capture most of the shape variation with only a few shape modes. Unfortunately, the shape variation captured by SSMs of human bodies is often polluted by variations in posture, which substantially reduces the compactness of those models. In this paper, we propose a fast and data driven framework to build a posture invariant SSM. The normalized SSM is shown to be substantially more compact than the non-normalized SSM. Using five shape modes, the normalized SSM is 23% more compact than the non-normalized SSM.

Thermal effects of headgear: state-of-the-art and way forward

Headgear is widely used in both work and leisure. Much research attention has been spent on optimizing impact properties of helmets [1], [2]. However, thermal comfort of headgear is suboptimal in neutral and warm environments. In fact, thermal discomfort is often given as a reason to not wear protective headgear [3], [4]. Enhanced thermal comfort of headgear is likely to improve the willingness to wear protective headgear, and motivated an increasing number of studies, of which most were published in the last decade. The available body of literature allows for a valuable first review on the thermal effects of headgear.

Cold-induced vasoconstriction for preventing onycholysis during cancer treatment

Chemotherapy induced nail toxicity is observed in up to 88 % of cancer patients. Onycholysis, a severe form of nail toxicity in which the nail is detached from the nail bed, is observed in 0 % to 44 % of cancer patients undergoing a taxanes based chemotherapy. The use of ice gloves may reduce incidence rates for chemotherapy induced onycholysis, but cause cold and pain. In this research it was hypothesized that the use of local active cooling would reduce blood flow in the distal phalanxes, whilst inducing less discomfort as compared to an ice glove.

Wage Indexation and the Exchange Rate Regime: A Strategic Analysis

Abstract The output and inflation effects of various kinds of shocks depend to a large extent on the degree of wage indexation and on the degree of foreign exchange market intervention. In this paper we focus on the strategic interactions which arise if the degree of wage indexation belongs to the strategy space of a large trade union. The foreign exchange market intervention rule and the indexation parameter are then the outcome of a game between the government and the trade union.

Rematerializing the User Interface of a Digitized Toy Through Tokens: A Comparative User Study with Children Aged Five to Six

This research aims to measure and empirically validate the effect of tangible interaction on children’s play experience. During this study a Research Through Design approach was followed. A prototype of a programmable toy train with a Tangible User Interface based on tokens, was build. Afterwards a comparative user test with 34 children aged five to six, was carried out to verify the prototype. The prototype was compared to two similar established toys, one with a Physical User Interface and one with a Graphical User Interface. After the user tests, the participants were questioned to gain insight in which type of user interface is preferred and why. Preference was asked with the use of the This-or-That method. Insight into the reasons of preference towards a user interface was gained through a Laddering method.

Usefulness of Skin Punch Tools for Corneal Biopsy

Keratitis is a common eye disease where a biopsy is required to determine the underlying cause of the inflammation of the cornea. Currently, no standardized tool is available for this purpose and corneal scrapings are performed with a scalpel or wide needle, frequently with inconclusive results as too little material is removed for fear of penetration. Consequently, biopsies are rarely performed and a broad-spectrum antibiotic is prescribed, which may result in untoward sequelae. This study investigated the usefulness of a skin punch tool to obtain corneal biopsies as compared to a regular scalpel. The punch tool was more accurate to reach the objective biopsy radius of 2 mm. Additionally, biopsy duration was about half (88.4 s) when using the punch tool as compared to the use of the scalpel (162.4 s). This research shows a verification method that can be used to evaluate corneal biopsy tools.

A Combined Statistical Shape Model of the Scalp and Skull of the Human Head

In this paper, we describe a framework to build a combined statistical shape model (SSM) of the outer surface of the scalp and the inner and outer surface of the skull of the human head. Such an SSM is a valuable tool when designing headgear, as it captures the variability of head geometry of a given population, enabling detailed analysis of the relation between the shape of the scalp and the skull. A combined SSM of the head may allow to work towards population based Finite Element (FE) models e.g. for safety and comfort predictions when wearing headgear. Therefore, a correspondence between the skull and scalp surfaces, originating from MRI scans, is determined using elastic surface registration. The combined SSM shown to be compact, to be able to generalize to unseen instances by adjusting the shape parameters and to be shape specific. Therefore, we can assure that, by adjusting the shape parameters, a broad range of realistic head shapes can be formed.