Is hugging a robot weird? Investigating the influence of robot appearance on users' perception of hugging

Humanoid robots are expected to be able to communicate with humans using physical interaction, including hug, which is a common gesture of affection. In order to achieve that, their physical embodiment has to be carefully planned, as a user-friendly design will facilitate interaction and minimise repulsion. In this paper, we investigate the effect of manipulating the visual/tactile appearance of a robot, covering wires and metallic parts with clothes, and the auditory effect by enabling or disabling the connector of the hand. The experiment consists in a hugging interaction between the participants and the humanoid robot ARMAR-IIIb. Results after participation of 24 subjects confirm the positive effect from using clothes to modify the appearance and the negative effect of noise and vibration

The Effect of Nonthermal Plasma on the Push‑Out Bond Strength of Two Different Root Canal Sealers

Background: An optimum bonding between the sealer and dentin is important for impermeable root canal filling and many procedures were applied to improve root canal dentin and in turn the bond strength between the sealer and dentine. There is lack of sufficient data on the effect of nonthermal plasma application on the bond strength of sealers to the root canal dentin. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of NAP on the push‑out bond strength (PBS) of a bioceramic and resin‑based root canal sealer (RCS) to root canal dentin. Materials and Methods: Forty single‑rooted mandibular premolars were decoronated. After preparation and final irrigation, the specimens were divided into four groups (n = 10). Group AH: Root canals were filled with gutta‑percha (GP) and AH Plus RCS, Group P‑AH: Root canals were filled with GP and AH Plus RCS following the NAP application, Group BC: Root canals were filled with GP and Endosequence BC RCS, and Group P‑BC: Root canals were filled with GP and Endosequence BC RCS following the NAP application. Then roots were sectioned horizontally to obtain ~1 mm thick dentin disks. PBS test was performed to the second (coronal) and fourth (middle) slices. Data were analyzed with the Kruskal–Wallis and t‑test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference among the groups for both coronal and middle regions (P < 0.05). P‑BC group showed higher PBS than AH and P‑AH groups in the coronal region. P‑BC group showed higher PBS than the other groups in the middle region. Conclusions: The use of NAP did not influence the push‑out bond strength of AH‑Plus sealer to the root canal dentin. The Endosequence‑BC sealer showed a better bond strength than the AH‑Plus sealer after NAP application

Comparison of the pull-out bond strength of endodontically treated anterior teeth with monolithic zirconia endocrown and post-and-core crown restorations

MakaleWOS:000918375800001PubMed ID: 36385051Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the pull-out bond strength (PBS) of endodontically treated anterior teeth that had been restored with monolithic zirconia endocrowns using different extension depths (EDs) and post-and-core crowns after chewing simulation.Methods: Thirty-six maxillary central teeth were used (n = 12). Group I: Glass fiber post-and-core crown, Group II: Endocrown with 3-mm EDs, Group III: Endocrown with 5-mm EDs. Restorations were fabricated from monolithic zirconia blocks using a CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) device. For cementation, conventional resin luting agent (Multilink N) was used. All samples were aged with a chewing simulator and PBS tests were conducted at a speed of 1 mm/min using an electromechanical servo universal testing machine. The values were recorded in MPa by dividing the failure load by the bonding area. One-way ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey test were used for statistical analysis (P = 0.05).Results: Group III demonstrated significantly greater PBS values than Groups I and II (P = 0.001). No significant difference was found between Groups I and II (P = 0.072).Conclusion: Increasing the ED of an endocrown influences the PBS of endodontically treated anterior teeth restored with monolithic zirconia endocrowns

T-cell subsets and interleukin-6 response in Rasmussen's encephalitis

WOS: 000230781300006PubMed ID: 15876522To evaluate the immunopathogenesis in Rasmussen's encephalitis, peripheral lymphocyte subsets and interleukin-6 analysis were performed in three patients. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were performed to assess neuronal injury in the affected hemisphere. Before initiation of immune therapy, percentage of cytotoxic T cells was found to be increased in peripheral blood obtained from patients compared with a group of age-matched normal control subjects. During follow-up, percentage of cytotoxic T cells returned to the normal ranges only in one patient who had an early functional hemispherectomy. All three patients had significantly increased interleukin-6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum compared with the mean values of patients with acute viral encephalitis. The magnitude of interleukin-6 response in the patients correlated with the neuronal loss and atrophy on magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging studies. The patient, who had a fulminant course and an early hemispherectomy, had higher interleukin-6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum than those of the other two. Detection of an increased percentage of cytotoxic T cells in peripheral blood supports the presence of a T cell-mediated inflammatory pathogenesis in Rasmussen's encephalitis. However, elevated interleukin-6 response might reflect the magnitude of the inflammatory process in the affected hemisphere. (c) 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All lights reserved