Engaging students with profound and multiple disabilities using humanoid robots

Engagement is the single best predictor of successful learning for children with intellectual disabilities yet achieving engagement with pupils who have profound or multiple disabilities (PMD) presents a challenge to educators. Robots have been used to engage children with autism but are they effective with pupils whose disabilities limit their ability to control other technology? Learning objectives were identified for eleven pupils with PMD and a humanoid robot was programmed to enable teachers to use it to help pupils achieve these objectives. These changes were evaluated with a series of eleven case studies where teacher-pupil dyads were observed during four planned video recorded sessions. Engagement was rated in a classroom setting and during the last session with the robot. Video recordings were analysed for duration of engagement and teacher assistance and number of goals achieved. Rated engagement was significantly higher with the robot than in the classroom. Observations of engagement, assistance and goal achievement remained at the same level throughout the sessions suggesting no reduction in the novelty factor

Diffuse Cohesive Energy in Plasticity and Fracture

In this paper we anticipate some results of a work in progress (Del Piero et al., 2012), in which the phenomena of fracture and yielding are described by a cohesive energy model, and fracture is regarded as a consequence of an extreme localization of the inelastic deformation. We first study a local model, which is successful in describing a number of aspects of the experimentally observed response, but fails to describe the phenomenon of strain softening. Indeed the model’s prediction is that, just after its appearance, the inelastic deformation localizes, growing in an uncontrolled way and determining a catastrophic rupture. A more gradual growth is obtained by introducing a non-local energy term. Some numerical experiments show the great flexibility of the improved model: depending on the analytical shape assumed for the cohesive energy, the non-local model describes different types of response, such as yielding without fracture, ductile fracture with and without strain softening, and brittle fracture

The potential of Λ and Ξ− studies with PANDA at FAIR

The antiproton experiment PANDA at FAIR is designed to bring hadron physics to a new level in terms of scope, precision and accuracy. In this work, its unique capability for studies of hyperons is outlined. We discuss ground-state hyperons as diagnostic tools to study non-perturbative aspects of the strong interaction, and fundamental symmetries. New simulation studies have been carried out for two benchmark hyperon-antihyperon production channels: p¯p→Λ¯Λ and p¯p→Ξ¯+Ξ−. The results, presented in detail in this paper, show that hyperon-antihyperon pairs from these reactions can be exclusively reconstructed with high efficiency and very low background contamination. In addition, the polarisation and spin correlations have been studied, exploiting the weak, self-analysing decay of hyperons and antihyperons. Two independent approaches to the finite efficiency have been applied and evaluated: one standard multidimensional efficiency correction approach, and one efficiency independent approach. The applicability of the latter was thoroughly evaluated for all channels, beam momenta and observables. The standard method yields good results in all cases, and shows that spin observables can be studied with high precision and accuracy already in the first phase of data taking with PANDA

IMECE2010-38132 ON THE PERFORMANCES OF HIGH-ORDER ABSORBING BOUNDARY CONDITIONS FOR PROGRESSIVE AND STANDING WAVES

ABSTRACT The performances of three different high order absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) INTRODUCTION To numerically detect the propagation of waves in unbounded domains by the finite element method (FEM), it is required to consider a computational finite domain, and to model accurately the artificial boundaries, by introducing appropriate boundary conditions capable of not reflecting traveling waves. Two main methods were actually developed to not reflect waves at the fictitious boundaries: i) the perfectly matched layer (PML) method, first proposed by Berenger [4] for the absorption of electromagnetic waves, and ii) absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs), which are capable of perfectly filtering a number (equal to the ABCs order) of incident waves with different wave velocities. The study of the accuracy of three high-order (i.e. capable of filtering several different waves) ABCs is the subject of this paper. Absorbing conditions of low-order (up to the order 4) were first rationally deduced by Engquist and Majd

Characterisation of aberrant crypt foci in carcinogen-treated rats: association with intestinal carcinogenesis.

Carcinogen-treated rats develop foci of aberrant crypts in the colon (ACFs) that have been interpreted as preneoplastic lesions. To characterise ACFs further, we studied in the unsectioned colon of rats the number, multiplicity, some morphological characteristics and the type of mucin production in ACFs. In ACFs observed 115 days after the administration of 50 mg kg-1 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), crypt multiplicity [number of aberrant crypts (AC) per focus] was positively correlated (P < 0.0001) with the reduction of goblet cells, and with luminal and nuclear alterations in the cells surrounding the lumen of the ACs. We studied mucin production in the unsectioned colon, demonstrating that ACFs producing sulphomucins (like the normal distal rat colon) were progressively reduced when ACF multiplicity increased, whereas ACFs containing sialomucins (correlated with an increased risk of colon cancer) or both sulphomucins and sialomucins increased with crypt multiplicity. We also studied ACFs in the colon and the occurrence of intestinal tumours in rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM; 64 mg kg-1). A significant association was found (P = 0.04) between tumours and the presence of 'large' ACFs (AC/ACF > 14 crypts) and a borderline significant association (P = 0.057) between the presence of tumours and sialomucin-producing ACFs. We found no association between the number of ACFs, ACF multiplicity and the presence of tumours

Retraso Diagnóstico en Oncología Pediátrica

Fueron revisados retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de 550 pacientes menores de 19 años de edad con diagnóstico citohistológico de malignidad, admitidos entre 01/01/1980 a 31/12/2000. La revisión de datos incluyó: tiempo del inicio de síntomas a la primera consulta (retraso familiar), tiempo desde primera consulta médica hasta la referencia a Centro especializado (con o sin diagnóstico de enfermedad tumoral) (retraso médico) y el tiempo desde la admisión al Centro de Referencia hasta el diagnóstico (Retraso del Centro de Referencia). Del total de 550 pacientes 204 (36%) reclutados en el Grupo A (ingresados entre 1979-89) y 346 (64%) en Grupo B (ingresados entre 1990-2000). De ellos, 189 (92.5%) del grupo A y 342 (98.5%) del grupo B (n: 531) fueron evaluables. Diecinueve pacientes (3.4%) fueron excluidos debido a datos incompletos (8 pacientes), sin seguimiento o referido a otro centro luego del diagnóstico (11 pacientes). En esta serie fue claro que aquellos pacientes con diagnóstico temprano (menor de 30 días) tuvieron una sobrevida alta (83.5%), siendo menor con retrasos mayores (53.3% en 30-60 días y 30.8% en retrasos mayores del 90 días), pero el periodo de seguimiento del Grupo A (1979- 1989) fue más largo. Igualmente se notifica que el incremento de la sobrevida entre ambos períodos fue comparado (1979- 89 vs. 1990-2000) fue de 54.8% al 72.8%, sin cambios significativos en el retraso diagnóstico. Esta observación sostiene el hecho de que los avances terapéuticos pueden disminuir el efecto de los retrasos. De cualquier manera, el retraso diagnóstico determina cambios metabólicos y nutricionales, y progresion de la enfermedad que pueden prevenirse con el uso protocolos cortos y agresivos. La pobre respuesta a la to quimioterapia es más frecuente en pacientes con estadios avanzados of disease. Dichos pacientes también presentan regularmente complicaciones infecciosas y malnutricion que resulta en pobre tolerancia al tratamiento.We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 550 patients of less than 19 years of age with cyto-histological diagnosis of malignancy, admitted from January 1979 to December2000. Retrieved data included: time from the beginning of symptoms to first consultation (family delay), time from first medical consultation to reference to the specialized Centre (with or without diagnosis of tumor disease) (Medical delay) and time from admission at the Reference Centre to diagnosis (Reference Centre delay). Of the grand total of 550 patients 204 (36%) belonged to group A (1979-89) and 346 (64%) to group B (1990-2000). Of these, 189 (92.5%) of group A and 342 (98.5%) of group B (n:531) were adequate for evaluation. Nineteen patients (3.4%) were excluded due to incomplete data (8 patients), no follow-up, or referral to another center after diagnosis (11 patients). As grand total from this series it is clear that those patients with early diagnosis (less than 30 days) had a high survival (83.5%), while this number decreased with longer delays (53.3% in 30-60 days and 30.8% in longer than 90 days), but the period of follow-up of Group A (1979-1989) was longer. At the same it was noticed that the survival increased when both periods were compared (1979-89 vs. 1990-2000) from 54.8% to 72.8%, even with no significant changes in the diagnostic delay. This observation sustains the fact that therapeutic advances may disregard the delays. Anyway, delay in diagnosis determines metabolic and nutritional changes, and progression of the disease all of which prevent the use of aggressive and short therapeutic protocols. So, poor response to chemotherapy is more frequent in patients with advanced stages of disease. These patients also present more regularly infectious complications and malnutrition which result in poor tolerance to the treatment

Fostering Functional Occupation and Mobility in People with Intellectual Disability and Visual Impairment Through Technology-Aided Support

Objectives: The study assessed a smartphone-based technology system, which was designed to support functional occupation and mobility in people with severe to profound intellectual disability and visual impairment. Methods: The technology system provided (a) verbal orientation cues to guide the participants to a desk with two containers (and two groups of 10 objects that were to be transported to two different destinations), (b) verbal instructions to take the objects (one at a time), (c) verbal orientation cues to reach the destinations where the objects taken had to be transported, (d) instructions to put away the objects at the destinations, and (e) praise and brief periods of preferred stimulation. Seven participants were involved in the study, which was carried out according to a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design. Results: During the baseline (when the technology system was not available), the participants produced few or no correct responses (i.e., failed to collect, transport, and deposit objects at the right destinations). During the intervention phase (i.e., with the support of the technology system), their mean frequency of correct responses per session was between close to 19 and close to 20 (out of a maximum possible of 20) and their mean session duration varied between about 16 and 29&nbsp;min. Conclusions: The data suggest that the technology system used in this study may be a viable resource to support activity and mobility in people with intellectual and visual disabilities

Persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease improve activities and mood via instruction technology.

Background: Three studies assessed the (a) effectiveness of verbal instructions presented via technology in helping persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities and (b) impact of activity engagement on mood. Methods: The 3 studies targeted coffee preparation with 2 women, use of make-up with 2 women, and use of make-up and tea preparation with 3 women. Intervention effects on activity performance were assessed through nonconcurrent multiple baseline designs across participants or multiple baseline designs across activities. The impact of activity on mood was assessed by recording indices of happiness during activity trials and parallel nonactivity periods. Results: Verbal instructions presented via technology were effective in helping all participants perform the target activities. The participants also showed mood improvement (ie, increases in indices of happiness) during the activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that the approach reported may be a useful strategy for helping persons with Alzheimer's disease

Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on severe trauma trends and healthcare system reassessment in Lombardia, Italy: an analysis from the regional trauma registry

Backgrounds: The COVID-19 pandemic drastically strained the health systems worldwide, obligating the reassessment of how healthcare is delivered. In Lombardia, Italy, a Regional Emergency Committee (REC) was established and the regional health system reorganized, with only three hospitals designated as hubs for trauma care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this reorganization of regional care, comparing the distribution of patients before and during the COVID-19 outbreak and to describe changes in the epidemiology of severe trauma among the two periods. Methods: A cohort study was conducted using retrospectively collected data from the Regional Trauma Registry of Lombardia (LTR). We compared the data of trauma patients admitted to three hub hospitals before the COVID-19 outbreak (September 1 to November 19, 2019) with those recorded during the pandemic (February 21 to May 10, 2020) in the same hospitals. Demographic data, level of pre-hospital care (Advanced Life Support-ALS, Basic Life Support-BLS), type of transportation, mechanism of injury (MOI), abbreviated injury score (AIS, 1998 version), injury severity score (ISS), revised trauma score (RTS), and ICU admission and survival outcome of all the patients admitted to the three trauma centers designed as hubs, were reviewed. Screening for COVID-19 was performed with nasopharyngeal swabs, chest ultrasound, and/or computed tomography. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, trauma patients admitted to the hubs increased (46.4% vs 28.3%, p &lt; 0.001) with an increase in pre-hospital time (71.8 vs 61.3 min, p &lt; 0.01), while observed in hospital mortality was unaffected. TRISS, ISS, AIS, and ICU admission were similar in both periods. During the COVID-19 outbreak, we observed substantial changes in MOI of severe trauma patients admitted to three hubs, with increases of unintentional (31.9% vs 18.5%, p &lt; 0.05) and intentional falls (8.4% vs 1.2%, p &lt; 0.05), whereas the pandemic restrictions reduced road- related injuries (35.6% vs 60%, p &lt; 0.05). Deaths on scene were significantly increased (17.7% vs 6.8%, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 outbreak affected the epidemiology of severe trauma patients. An increase in trauma patient admissions to a few designated facilities with high level of care obtained satisfactory results, while COVID-19 patients overwhelmed resources of most other hospitals