WikiRate.org - leveraging collective awareness to understand companies' environmental, social and governance performance

Abstract. WikiRate is a Collective Awareness Platform for Sustainability and Social Innovation (CAPS) project with the aim of \crowdsourcing better companies" through analysis of their Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) performance. Research to inform the design of the platform involved surveying the current corporate ESG information landscape, and identifying ways in which an open approach and peer production ethos could be e ffectively mobilised to improve this landscape's fertility. The key requirement identi ed is for an open public repository of data tracking companies' ESG performance. Corporate Social Responsibility reporting is conducted in public, but there are barriers to accessing the information in a standardised analysable format. Analyses of and ratings built upon this data can exert power over companies' behaviour in certain circumstances, but the public at large have no access to the data or the most infuential ratings that utilise it. WikiRate aims to build an open repository for this data along with tools for analysis, to increase public demand for the data, allow a broader range of stakeholders to participate in its interpretation, and in turn drive companies to behave in a more ethical manner. This paper describes the quantitative Metrics system that has been designed to meet those objectives and some early examples of its use

A Human-Robot Interaction Perspective on Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics

Assistive and rehabilitation devices are a promising and challenging field of recent robotics research. Motivated by societal needs such as aging populations, such devices can support motor functionality and subject training. The design, control, sensing, and assessment of the devices become more sophisticated due to a human in the loop. This paper gives a human–robot interaction perspective on current issues and opportunities in the field. On the topic of control and machine learning, approaches that support but do not distract subjects are reviewed. Options to provide sensory user feedback that are currently missing from robotic devices are outlined. Parallels between device acceptance and affective computing are made. Furthermore, requirements for functional assessment protocols that relate to real-world tasks are discussed. In all topic areas, the design of human-oriented frameworks and methods is dominated by challenges related to the close interaction between the human and robotic device. This paper discusses the aforementioned aspects in order to open up new perspectives for future robotic solutions

The Chimeric Versatility of the Subscapular System Revisited: Backup Options, Coverage for Bone Transplants and Vascularized Lymph Nodes

Summary:. Traumatic soft tissue and bone defects are demanding challenges for the reconstructive microsurgeons. Common and safe workhorses for these reconstructions are free microvascular flaps based on the subscapular system. In this article, we want to demonstrate the versatility of the serratus anterior muscle combined with other components of the subscapular system for reconstruction of complex lower extremity defects. Three patients with traumatic soft tissue and bone defects of the lower extremity were planned for reconstruction. The defects varied in size and could be covered by 1 or 2 slips of the serratus muscle or split muscle combined with latissimus dorsi muscle flap. In 1 case, the thoracodorsal lymph node package was included for addressing severe posttraumatic lymphedema after burn injury. In another case, the serratus slips served as coverage for a free scapula bone transplant. The chimeric flaps healed without complications; no further operations were needed for reconstruction. By the use of only 1 or 2 slips of the serratus muscle, we could prevent functional impairments for the patients and reduced further scarring compared with classic latissimus dorsi—(para-) scapular combinations

Aquatische Optische Technologien in Deutschland

Optische Technologien und Verfahren sind sowohl in der limnischen als auch marinen Forschung Deutschlands über alle Bereiche und Skalen etabliert und entwickeln sich rasant weiter. Die Arbeitsgruppe „Aquatische Optische Technologien“ (AOT) will Forschern und Anwendern eine Plattform bieten, die Wissenstransfer fördert, der nationalen Entwicklergemeinschaft ein synergistisches Umfeld eröffnet und die internationale Sichtbarkeit der deutschen Aktivitäten in diesem Forschungsfeld erhöht. Diese Zusammenfassung dokumentiert erstmalig die AOT-Verfahren und -Technologien, die von nationalen Forschungsinstitutionen eingesetzt werden. Wir erwarten, dass die Dokumentation einen Trend in Richtung institutsübergreifender Harmonisierung initiiert. Dies wird die Etablierung offener Standards, eine Verbesserung im Zugang zu Dokumentationen und gegenseitige technischer Hilfestellung bei (System-) Integrationen ermöglichen. Effizienz und Leistungsfähigkeit der AOT-Entwicklung und Anwendung auf nationaler Ebene werden von diesen Bestrebungen profitieren. Weitere Arbeitsgruppen und Entwickler werden ausdrücklich ermutigt, Kontakt aufzunehmen, um in einer späteren Auflage berücksichtigt zu werden