Consumers and service robots: Power relationships amid COVID-19 pandemic

Data availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Robotics significantly influence retail and consumer services. The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified the rise of service robots (SRs) through social distancing measures. While robots are embraced widely by retailers and service providers, consumers’ interaction with SRs remains an intriguing avenue of research across contexts. By taking a relative social power perspective, we report on a series of pre- and intra-COVID-19 studies. Our findings suggest that Gen-Z consumers hold more positive attitudes towards SRs perceived as lower in power vis-à-vis the human user. The longitudinal nature of our study also reveals that while attitudes towards such low-power services turned more negative during the COVID-19 pandemic, attitudes towards SRs that are high in power vis-à-vis the human user remained stable. In practical terms, while Gen-Z consumers hold more positive attitudes towards low-power robots, such service providers also face the challenge of relatively changeable attitudes towards them, especially during crisis times

Humanoid service robots: The future of healthcare?

Copyright © The Author(s) 2021. Humanoid service robots made swift progress in extending a helping hand to the strained global healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case provides an overview of the robots’ inclusion in healthcare regarding pre- and intra-pandemic contexts. Specific focus is devoted to humanoid service robots as their shape, size, and mobility make them advantageous in using the physical spaces designed for humans. A collection of examples from hospitals worldwide is presented in illustrating the humanoid service robots’ deployment in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pointed future directions aim to facilitate better decision- and policy-making that may ease human anxiety and promote greater acceptance.The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article

TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI

Hair samples taken from 12-year-old boy prediagnosed with Netherton's syndrome were evaluated by using light and electron microscopic methods. Hair samples were prepared according to routine electron microscopic procedures. Semi-thin sections were stained with methylene blue-azure II, thin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate-lead citrate. Besides atopy symptoms, hyperparakeratosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were seen in dermis. Results were in accordance with icthyosis linearis circumflexa. In cortex portion of hair, nodulary thickening and swelling were observed. There was a punctured proximal portion like a telescope in distal hair shaft segment. Cells that make up hair cortex were seen to be loosely arranged and there was detachment between cells exterior of cuticle. In evaluating all results trichorrhexis invaginata was identified. Patients given long term therapy for atopic dermatitis, which have breaking of hair in addition to icthyosis, Netherton's syndrome should be thought and investigation of hair samples for supporting the diagnosis is important

CLINICS IN DERMATOLOGY

The external ear is composed of the auricle (pinna) and the external auditory canal. Both of these structures contain elastic cartilage (except the earlobe) and a small amount of subcutaneous fat, which are covered by skin. The skin of the cartilaginous canal contains hair cells, sebaceous (lipid-producing) glands, and apocrine (ceruminous) glands; this is in contrast with the osseous canal, which contains neither glands nor hair follicles. The auricle is susceptible to environmental influences and trauma. Due to its exposed locale, the ear is particularly vulnerable to the effects of ultraviolet light and, consequently, to preneoplastic and neoplastic skin lesions. The ear also has a sound-receiving function and a location that is both visible and aesthetically obvious, thereby drawing considerable attention from the patient. Dermatologic diseases on the external ear are seen in a variety of medical disciplines. Dermatologists, otorhinolaryngologists, family practitioners, and general and plastic surgeons are regularly consulted about cutaneous lesions on the ear. These lesions can be grouped into three main categories: (1) infectious; (2) tumoral; and (3) noninfectious inflammatory. The purposes of this contribution are to review various dermatologic diseases of the external ear and to update current diagnosis and treatment information related to these conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved