Gaze-based teleprosthetic enables intuitive continuous control of complex robot arm use: Writing & drawing

Eye tracking is a powerful mean for assistive technologies for people with movement disorders, paralysis and amputees. We present a highly intuitive eye tracking-controlled robot arm operating in 3-dimensional space based on the user's gaze target point that enables tele-writing and drawing. The usability and intuitive usage was assessed by a “tele” writing experiment with 8 subjects that learned to operate the system within minutes of first time use. These subjects were naive to the system and the task and had to write three letters on a white board with a white board pen attached to the robot arm's endpoint. The instructions are to imagine they were writing text with the pen and look where the pen would be going, they had to write the letters as fast and as accurate as possible, given a letter size template. Subjects were able to perform the task with facility and accuracy, and movements of the arm did not interfere with subjects ability to control their visual attention so as to enable smooth writing. On the basis of five consecutive trials there was a significant decrease in the total time used and the total number of commands sent to move the robot arm from the first to the second trial but no further improvement thereafter, suggesting that within writing 6 letters subjects had mastered the ability to control the system. Our work demonstrates that eye tracking is a powerful means to control robot arms in closed-loop and real-time, outperforming other invasive and non-invasive approaches to Brain-Machine-Interfaces in terms of calibration time (<;2 minutes), training time (<;10 minutes), interface technology costs. We suggests that gaze-based decoding of action intention may well become one of the most efficient ways to interface with robotic actuators - i.e. Brain-Robot-Interfaces - and become useful beyond paralysed and amputee users also for the general teleoperation of robotic and exoskeleton in human augmentation

Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and white matter integrity moderated by in-scanner head motion

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common and debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder associated with various negative life impacts. The manifestation of ADHD is very heterogeneous, and previous investigations on neuroanatomical alterations in ADHD have yielded inconsistent results. We investigated the mediating effect of in-scanner head motion and ADHD hyperactivity severity on motion-corrected fractional anisotropy (FA) using diffusion tensor imaging in the currently largest sample (n = 739) of medication-naïve children and adolescents (age range 5–22 years). We used automated tractography to examine whole-brain and mean FA of the tracts most frequently reported in ADHD; corpus callosum forceps major and forceps minor, left and right superior-longitudinal fasciculus, and left and right corticospinal tract (CST). Associations between FA and hyperactivity severity appeared when in-scanner head motion was not accounted for as mediator. However, causal mediation analysis revealed that these effects are fully mediated through in-scanner head motion for whole-brain FA, the corpus callosum forceps minor, and left superior-longitudinal fasciculus. Direct effect of hyperactivity severity on FA was only found for the left CST. This study illustrates the crucial role of in-scanner head motion in the identification of white matter integrity alterations in ADHD and shows how neglecting irremediable motion artifacts causes spurious findings. When the mediating effect of in-scanner head motion on FA is accounted for, an association between hyperactivity severity and FA is only present for the left CST; this may play a crucial role in the manifestation of hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms in ADHD

Decomposing the role of alpha oscillations during brain maturation

Childhood and adolescence are critical stages of the human lifespan, in which fundamental neural reorganizational processes take place. A substantial body of literature investigated accompanying neurophysiological changes, focusing on the most dominant feature of the human EEG signal: the alpha oscillation. Recent developments in EEG signal-processing show that conventional measures of alpha power are confounded by various factors and need to be decomposed into periodic and aperiodic components, which represent distinct underlying brain mechanisms. It is therefore unclear how each part of the signal changes during brain maturation. Using multivariate Bayesian generalized linear models, we examined aperiodic and periodic parameters of alpha activity in the largest openly available pediatric dataset (N=2529, age 5-22 years) and replicated these findings in a preregistered analysis of an independent validation sample (N=369, age 6-22 years). First, the welldocumented age-related decrease in total alpha power was replicated. However, when controlling for the aperiodic signal component, our findings provided strong evidence for an age-related increase in the aperiodic-adjusted alpha power. As reported in previous studies, also relative alpha power revealed a maturational increase, yet indicating an underestimation of the underlying relationship between periodic alpha power and brain maturation. The aperiodic intercept and slope decreased with increasing age and were highly correlated with total alpha power. Consequently, earlier interpretations on age-related changes of total alpha power need to be reconsidered, as elimination of active synapses rather links to decreases in the aperiodic intercept. Instead, analyses of diffusion tensor imaging data indicate that the maturational increase in aperiodic-adjusted alpha power is related to increased thalamocortical connectivity. Functionally, our results suggest that increased thalamic control of cortical alpha power is linked to improved attentional performance during brain maturation

Working Memory Training Effects on White Matter Integrity in Young and Older Adults

Objectives: Working memory is essential for daily life skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, and problem-solving. Healthy aging of the brain goes along with working memory decline that can affect older people's independence in everyday life. Interventions in the form of cognitive training are a promising tool for delaying age-related working memory decline, yet the underlying structural plasticity of white matter is hardly studied. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study to investigate the effects of an intensive four-week adaptive working memory training on white matter integrity quantified by global and tract-wise mean diffusivity. We compared diffusivity measures of fiber tracts that are associated with working memory of 32 young and 20 older participants that were randomly assigned to a working memory training group or an active control group. Results: The behavioral analysis showed an increase in working memory performance after the four-week adaptive working memory training. The neuroanatomical analysis revealed a decrease in mean diffusivity in the working memory training group after the training intervention in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus for the older adults. There was also a decrease in mean diffusivity in the working memory training group in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus for the older and young participants after the intervention. Conclusion: This study shows that older people can benefit from working memory training by improving their working memory performance that is also reflected in terms of improved white matter integrity in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, where the first is an essential component of the frontoparietal network known to be essential in working memory

"Wink to grasp" – comparing eye, voice & EMG gesture control of grasp with soft-robotic gloves

The ability of robotic rehabilitation devices to support paralysed end-users is ultimately limited by the degree to which human-machine-interaction is designed to be effective and efficient in translating user intention into robotic action. Specifically, we evaluate the novel possibility of binocular eye-tracking technology to detect voluntary winks from involuntary blink commands, to establish winks as a novel low-latency control signal to trigger robotic action. By wearing binocular eye-tracking glasses we enable users to directly observe their environment or the actuator and trigger movement actions, without having to interact with a visual display unit or user interface. We compare our novel approach to two conventional approaches for controlling robotic devices based on electromyo-graphy (EMG) and speech-based human-computer interaction technology. We present an integrated software framework based on ROS that allows transparent integration of these multiple modalities with a robotic system. We use a soft-robotic SEM glove (Bioservo Technologies AB, Sweden) to evaluate how the 3 modalities support the performance and subjective experience of the end-user when movement assisted. All 3 modalities are evaluated in streaming, closed-loop control operation for grasping physical objects. We find that wink control shows the lowest error rate mean with lowest standard deviation of (0.23 ± 0.07, mean ± SEM) followed by speech control (0.35 ± 0. 13) and EMG gesture control (using the Myo armband by Thalamic Labs), with the highest mean and standard deviation (0.46 ± 0.16). We conclude that with our novel own developed eye-tracking based approach to control assistive technologies is a well suited alternative to conventional approaches, especially when combined with 3D eye-tracking based robotic end-point control

Working memory training effects on white matter integrity in young and older adults

Objectives: Working memory is essential for daily life skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, and problem-solving. Healthy aging of the brain goes along with working memory decline that can affect older people’s independence in everyday life. Interventions in the form of cognitive training are a promising tool for delaying age-related working memory decline, yet the underlying structural plasticity of white matter is hardly studied. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study to investigate the effects of an intensive four-week adaptive working memory training on white matter integrity quantified by global and tract-wise mean diffusivity. We compared diffusivity measures of fiber tracts that are associated with working memory of 32 young and 20 older participants that were randomly assigned to a working memory training group or an active control group. Results: The behavioral analysis showed an increase in working memory performance after the four-week adaptive working memory training. The neuroanatomical analysis revealed a decrease in mean diffusivity in the working memory training group after the training intervention in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus for the older adults. There was also a decrease in mean diffusivity in the working memory training group in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus for the older and young participants after the intervention. Conclusion: This study shows that older people can benefit from working memory training by improving their working memory performance that is also reflected in terms of improved white matter integrity in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, where the first is an essential component of the frontoparietal network known to be essential in working memory

The effect of robot therapy assisted by surface EMG on hand recovery in post-stroke patients. A pilot study

Background: Hemiparesis caused by a stroke negatively limits a patient's motor function. Nowadays, innovative technologies such as robots are commonly used in upper limb rehabilitation. The main goal of robot-aided therapy is to provide a maximum number of stimuli in order to stimulate brain neuroplasticity. Treatment applied in this study via the AMADEO robot aimed to improve finger flexion and extension. Aim: To assess the effect of rehabilitation assisted by a robot and enhanced by surface EMG. Research project: Before-after study design. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 10 post-stroke patients enrolled for therapy with the AMADEO robot for at least 15 sessions. At the beginning and at the end of treatment, the following tests were used for clinical assessment: Fugl-Meyer scale, Box and Block test and Nine Hole Peg test. In the present study, we used surface electromyography (sEMG) to maintain optimal kinematics of hand motion. Whereas sensorial feedback, provided by the robot, was vital in obtaining closed-loop control. Thus, muscle contraction was transmitted to the amplifier through sEMG, activating the mechanism of the robot. Consequentially, sensorial feedback was provided to the patient. Results: Statistically significant improvement of upper limb function was observed in: Fugl-Meyer (p = 0.38) and Box and Block (p = 0.27). The Nine Hole Peg Test did not show statistically significant changes in motor skills of the hand. However, the functional improvement was observed at the level of 6% in the Fugl-Meyer, 15% in the Box and Block, and 2% in the Nine Hole Peg test. Conclusions: Results showed improvement in hand grasp and overall function of the upper limb. Due to sEMG, it was possible to implement robot therapy in the treatment of patients with severe hand impairment

Recreational sea fishing in Europe in a global contextParticipation rates, fishing effort, expenditure, and implications for monitoring and assessment

Marine recreational fishing (MRF) is a high-participation activity with large economic value and social benefits globally, and it impacts on some fish stocks. Although reporting MRF catches is a European Union legislative requirement, estimates are only available for some countries. Here, data on numbers of fishers, participation rates, days fished, expenditures, and catches of two widely targeted species were synthesized to provide European estimates of MRF and placed in the global context. Uncertainty assessment was not possible due to incomplete knowledge of error distributions; instead, a semi-quantitative bias assessment was made. There were an estimated 8.7 million European recreational sea fishers corresponding to a participation rate of 1.6%. An estimated 77.6 million days were fished, and expenditure was Euro5.9 billion annually. There were higher participation, numbers of fishers, days fished and expenditure in the Atlantic than the Mediterranean, but the Mediterranean estimates were generally less robust. Comparisons with other regions showed that European MRF participation rates and expenditure were in the mid-range, with higher participation in Oceania and the United States, higher expenditure in the United States, and lower participation and expenditure in South America and Africa. For both northern European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Moronidae) and western Baltic cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae) stocks, MRF represented 27% of the total removals. This study highlights the importance of MRF and the need for bespoke, regular and statistically sound data collection to underpin European fisheries management. Solutions are proposed for future MRF data collection in Europe and other regions to support sustainable fisheries management.Institut Francais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer; French Ministry of Fisheries Management; Greek National Data Collection Programme; European Commission, Data Collection Framework; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [MF1221, MF1230, MI001]; Norges Forskningsrad [267808]; State Department of Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania; Interreg IVa 2 Seas; Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs; European Fishery Fund; Government of Galicia [ED481B2014/034-0

Komentarze internetowe do dwóch polskich tłumaczeń The Wee Free Men Terry’ego Pratchetta

The online community of science fiction and fantasy fans constitutes a rich source of material for analysing reader response to translations as its members often reflect not only on the books they read but also on the quality of their translations. The Polish translations of Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men are a good example of translations which evoked ample response online, with criticism focusing on the reasons for initially not employing the usual translator of the Discworld series, the treatment of names and dialect in the translation, and the issues connected with defining the target reader of the text and adjusting the text to their needs. The analysis of online reactions shows that translation solutions are considered problematic by readers especially when the reasons behind them are not clear.Internetowa społeczność fanów fantastyki stanowi bogate źródło materiału do badań nad reakcjami czytelników na tłumaczenia, gdyż jej członkowie często wyrażają opinie nie tylko o książkach, które czytają, ale też o jakości ich tłumaczeń. Polskie przekłady The Wee Free Men Terry’ego Pratchetta są dobrym przykładem tłumaczeń, które zainspirowały wiele komentarzy. Krytyka w nich zawarta skupia się na powodach, dla których tłumaczenia nie powierzono od razu tłumaczowi pozostałych książek w serii Świat Dysku, sposobie tłumaczenia imion i dialektu, oraz zagadnieniach związanych z określeniem docelowego czytelnika i dopasowaniem tekstu do jego potrzeb. Na podstawie analizy można wnioskować, że poszczególne wybory tłumacza są uważane przez czytelników za problematyczne zwłaszcza tam, gdzie nie dostrzegają oni ich uzasadnienia

“Do not harden your hearts...”. The problem of sclerocardia in the works of Waclaw Potocki (based on <i>Nowy Zaciąg... and Dyjalog o zmartwychwstaniu Pańskim</i>). Part 1: Rhetorical aspects of sclerocardia

This article is the first of two parts of a study devoted to the biblical issue of hardness of heart, present in two works by Waclaw Potocki – Nowy Zaciąg... (1698) and Dyjalog o zmartwychwstaniu Pańskim (1676). The discourse of this sketch focuses primarily on rhetorical issues, on showing the strategies of imagery and the ways of presenting the characters affected by the title sclerocardia (Judas, Annas and Caiaphas, the chief priests and the Jews as collectives demanding the killing of Jesus, the Jewish and Roman executioners), as well as points out the differences and points of convergence in the indicated areas, occurring in the genre-different works. Indicated are the most expressive elements and aspects of the linguistic fabric of the works, which Potocki used to show the essence of the problem, as well as rhetorical techniques and tricks, which were used by the author to build numerous expressive descriptions that strongly affect the senses of the recipient (e.g.: comparisons, amplifications, poetics of contrast, privileging detail and concrete). The multifaceted and artistic construction of descriptions was created by the poet from Łużna using phraseology and lexis from various thematic areas (mainly biology, medicine and the natural world). Animalistic aspects of sclerocardia - the most dominant- together with elements of biologism, naturalism, physiology and anatomy, both prove Potocki’s high sensitivity to stimuli coming from the sensual and material world, as well as testify to the poet’s fascination with the spheres of corporeality and sensuality; this, in turn, is a characteristic element of his poetic imagination. The vision of characters and reality affected by sclerocardia, present in the pages of Nowy Zaciąg... and Dyjalog..., is dominated by falsehood, hypocrisy and lies, marked by extreme brutality, ruthlessness, violence and cruelty. It has no room for pity or any scruples.Artykuł jest pierwszą z dwóch części studium poświęconego biblijnej problematyce zatwardziałości serca obecnej w dwóch dziełach Wacława Potockiego – mesjadzie Nowy zaciąg… (1698) oraz Dyjalogu o zmartwychwstaniu Pańskim (1676). Dyskurs niniejszego szkicu koncentruje się przede wszystkim na zagadnieniach retorycznych, na ukazaniu strategii obrazowania oraz sposobach prezentacji bohaterów dotkniętych tytułową sklerokardią (Judasz, Annasz i Kajfasz, arcykapłani i Żydzi jako zbiorowości domagające się zabicia Jezusa, żydowscy i rzymscy oprawcy), jak też wskazuje różnice i punkty zbieżne we wskazanych obszarach, występujących w odmiennych gatunkowo utworach. Wskazano najbardziej wyraziste elementy i aspekty językowej tkanki utworów, które Potocki wykorzystał w celu ukazania istoty problemu, a także techniki i chwyty retoryczne, które posłużyły autorowi do zbudowania licznych ekspresyjnych, silnie oddziałujących na zmysły odbiorcy opisów (np. porównania, amplifikacje, poetyka kontrastu, uprzywilejowanie szczegółu i konkretu). Wieloaspektową i plastyczną konstrukcję opisów poeta z Łużnej stworzył za pomocą frazeologii i leksyki pochodzących z różnorakich obszarów tematycznych (głównie z zakresu biologii, medycyny i świata natury). Animalistyczne aspekty sklerokardii – najbardziej dominujące – wespół z elementami biologizmu, naturalizmu, fizjologii i anatomii, dowodzą wysokiej wrażliwości Potockiego na pochodzące ze świata zmysłowego i materialnego bodźce oraz są świadectwem fascynacji poety sferami cielesności i zmysłowości; to zaś stanowi charakterystyczny element jego poetyckiej wyobraźni. Wizja bohaterów i rzeczywistości dotkniętych sklerokardią, obecna na kartach Nowego zaciągu… i Dyjalogu…, jest zdominowana przez fałsz, hipokryzję i kłamstwo, naznaczona skrajną brutalnością, bezwzględnością, przemocą i okrucieństwem. Brak w niej miejsca na litość czy jakiekolwiek skrupuły