186 research outputs found
Electronic systems for the restoration of the sense of touch in upper limb prosthetics
In the last few years, research on active prosthetics for upper limbs focused
on improving the human functionalities and the control. New methods have
been proposed for measuring the user muscle activity and translating it into
the prosthesis control commands. Developing the feed-forward interface so
that the prosthesis better follows the intention of the user is an important
step towards improving the quality of life of people with limb amputation.
However, prosthesis users can neither feel if something or someone is
touching them over the prosthesis and nor perceive the temperature or
roughness of objects. Prosthesis users are helped by looking at an object,
but they cannot detect anything otherwise. Their sight gives them most
information. Therefore, to foster the prosthesis embodiment and utility,
it is necessary to have a prosthetic system that not only responds to the
control signals provided by the user, but also transmits back to the user
the information about the current state of the prosthesis.
This thesis presents an electronic skin system to close the loop in prostheses
towards the restoration of the sense of touch in prosthesis users. The
proposed electronic skin system inlcudes an advanced distributed sensing
(electronic skin), a system for (i) signal conditioning, (ii) data acquisition,
and (iii) data processing, and a stimulation system. The idea is to integrate
all these components into a myoelectric prosthesis.
Embedding the electronic system and the sensing materials is a critical issue
on the way of development of new prostheses. In particular, processing
the data, originated from the electronic skin, into low- or high-level information
is the key issue to be addressed by the embedded electronic system.
Recently, it has been proved that the Machine Learning is a promising
approach in processing tactile sensors information. Many studies have
been shown the Machine Learning eectiveness in the classication of input
touch modalities.More specically, this thesis is focused on the stimulation system, allowing
the communication of a mechanical interaction from the electronic skin
to prosthesis users, and the dedicated implementation of algorithms for
processing tactile data originating from the electronic skin. On system
level, the thesis provides design of the experimental setup, experimental
protocol, and of algorithms to process tactile data. On architectural level,
the thesis proposes a design
ow for the implementation of digital circuits
for both FPGA and integrated circuits, and techniques for the power
management of embedded systems for Machine Learning algorithms
Evaluating Semantic Knowledge Through a Semantic Association Task in Individuals With Dementia
Conceptual knowledge is supported by multiple semantic systems that are specialized for the analysis of different properties associated with object concepts. Various types of semantic association between concrete conceptsâcategorical (CA), encyclopedic (EA), functional (FA), and visual-encyclopedic (VEA) associationsâwere tested through a new picture-to-picture matching task (semantic association task, SAT). Forty individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 13 with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD), 6 with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and 37 healthy participants were tested with the SAT. Within-group comparisons highlighted a global impairment of all types of semantic association in bv-FTD individuals but a disproportionate impairment of EA and FA, with relative sparing of CA and VEA, in AD individuals. Single-case analyses detected dissociations in all dementia groups. Conceptual knowledge can be selectively impaired in various types of neurodegenerative disease on the basis of the specific cognitive process that is disrupted
When Rey-Osterrieth's Complex Figure Becomes a Church: Prevalence and Correlates of Graphic Confabulations in Dementia
Verbal confabulation (VC) has been described in several pathological conditions characterized by amnesia and has been defined as âstatements that involve distortion of memoriesâ. Here we describe another kind of confabulation (graphic confabulation, GC), evident at the recall of the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF). In a retrospective study of 267 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia, 14 patients (4.9 %) recalled the abstract ROCF as drawings with recognizable semantic meaning. VC was evident at the story recall test in 19.8% of the study participants. VC and GC were homogeneously distributed among the different types of dementia. VC has been proposed to originate from complex interactions of amnesia, motivational deficit and dysfunction of monitoring systems. On the contrary, GC seems to be the result of a deficit in visual memory replaced by the semantic translation of isolated parts of the ROCF along with a source monitoring deficit
Influence of Parental Health Locus of Control on Behavior, Self-Management and Metabolic Control, in Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Background: Precision medicine in type 1 diabetes (T1D) treatment considers context and environmental data to subclassify patients. Parental Health Locus of Control PHLOC) could influence behavior, self-management, and metabolic control of children with T1D. Methods: No. 135 pediatric patients with T1D (No. 57 with HbA1c †7.0%, âoptimalâ group, and No. 78 with >7.0%, âsub-optimalâ group) were enrolled in the study. History, anthropometric and diabetes management data were collected, as well as caregiverâs data about socioeconomic status (SES). The PHLOC scale questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were administered. Results: Access to technology was lower in the âsub-optimalâ group and, in particular, in the ethnic minority subgroup, only 8% used them. In the âsub-optimalâ group ethnic minority status was higher (24%), the caregiver had a lower SES and showed lower internal HLOC. Conclusions: New care models have to be implemented to ensure equity in diabetes care and precision treatment, particularly for ethnic minority groups, because SES and external PHLOC are still an important barrier to âoptimalâ diabetes control. In the âsub-optimalâ group, we have to implement strategies aimed at increasing self-efficacy, while in the âoptimalâ one, a personalised approach should be considered to facilitate the shifting of responsibilities within the family, avoiding psychological distress
Impaired proâresolving mechanisms promote abnormal NETosis , fueling autoimmunity in sickle cell disease
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a worldwide distributed hereditary red cell disorders with still high mortality and morbidity and limited therapeutic options. SCD is characterized by anemia, chronic hemolysis, and acute vaso-occlusive painful crises. The biocomplexity of SCD goes beyond red cells, involving neutrophils and soluble factors such as cytokines or alternative complement pathway intensively cross-talking with vascular endothelial cells. In addition, in SCD, the overactivation of neutrophils contributes to the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) (1, 2). This might trigger endothelial vascular injury, promoting acute sickle cell related events and increasing the risk of infections in patients with SC
Fonderia Caratteri Nebiolo, 1878â1978. Nuovi studi critici
La SocietĂ Nebiolo di Torino Ăš stata la piĂč importante fonderia italiana di caratteri da stampa a livello nazionale e internazionale per gran parte del Novecento, fino alla sua chiusura avvenuta nel 1978. Nata da una piccola fonderia aperta nel 1852 e rilevata da Giovanni Nebiolo nel 1878, la Nebiolo venne ufficialmente costituita nel 1880. Una rapida espansione commerciale la porterĂ , entro la fine dellâOttocento, a sviluppare con successo la produzione di macchine da stampa, settore nel quale dominerĂ il mercato italiano fino agli anni Settanta del secolo scorso. Nebiolo Ăš ricordata soprattutto per il suo contributo nel campo dei caratteri da stampa. Lo Studio artistico â guidato in successione da Giulio Da Milano, Alessandro Butti e Aldo Novarese â ha progettato caratteri importanti che hanno segnato la storia della grafica italiana e non solo. A causa della dispersione degli archivi dellâazienda, Ăš mancata finora una valutazione critica del suo patrimonio storico. Attraverso questo primo convegno internazionale e la pubblicazione dei suoi atti, il Nebiolo History Project offre finalmente unâampia panoramica delle ricerche piĂč aggiornate su aspetti finora poco indagati riguardanti la SocietĂ Nebiolo e il suo ruolo nella storia industriale e delle arti grafiche in Italia
SĂndrome alcoĂłlica fetal: Relato de caso na clĂnica odontolĂłgica
A ingestĂŁo de bebida alcoĂłlica Ă© aceita social e culturalmente no Brasil. Surpreendentemente, o consumo entre as mulheres cresce severa e precocemente, bem como entre gestantes, aumentando o nĂșmero de crianças afetadas, portadoras de anomalias devido Ă ingestĂŁo moderada ou abusiva de bebidas alcoĂłlicas durante o perĂodo gestacional. A incidĂȘncia dessa sĂndrome Ă© subestimada e muitas vezes nĂŁo diagnosticada pelo preconceito das prĂłprias mĂŁes em expor o assunto; e desse modo, o profissional da ĂĄrea da saĂșde encontra dificuldade em diferenciar o diagnĂłstico precocemente. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo descrever um relato de caso clĂnico sobre a SĂndrome do Alcoolismo Fetal (SAF) atendido nas dependĂȘncias da ClĂnica de Odontopediatria e ClĂnica Integrada da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina Campus de Joaçaba, de 2004 a 2009, correlacionando com estudos clĂnicos da literatura cientĂfica, aspectos histĂłricos, incidĂȘncia/prevalĂȘncia, diagnĂłstico e prevenção da SAF, alcoolismo materno na gestação e no aleitamento, sĂndrome de abstinĂȘncia do recĂ©m-nascido, manifestaçÔes sistĂȘmicas e as manifestaçÔes e implicaçÔes da SAF na odontologia.Palavras-chave: SĂndrome do alcoolismo fetal. Gestante. SĂndrome alcoĂłlica fetal. Ălcool. Gravidez.
Changing from a Western to a Mediterranean-style diet does not affect iron or selenium status:Results of the New Dietary Strategies Addressing the Specific Needs of the Elderly Population for Healthy Aging in Europe (NU-AGE) 1-year randomized clinical trial in elderly Europeans
Background: Mediterranean diets limit red meat consumption and increase intakes of high-phytate foods, a combination that could reduce iron status. Conversely, higher intakes of fish, a good source of selenium, could increase selenium status. Objectives: A 1-y randomized controlled trial [New Dietary Strategies Addressing the Specific Needs of the Elderly Population for Healthy Aging in Europe (NU-AGE)] was carried out in older Europeans to investigate the effects of consuming a Mediterraneanstyle diet on indices of inflammation and changes in nutritional status. Methods: Selenium and iron intakes and status biomarkers were measured at baseline and after 1 y in 1294 people aged 65â79 y from 5 European countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom) who had been randomly allocated either to a Mediterranean-style diet or to remain on their habitual, Western diet. Results: Estimated selenium intakes increased significantly with the intervention group (P < 0.01), but were not accompanied by changes in serum selenium concentrations. Iron intakes also increased (P < 0.001), but there was no change in iron status. However, when stratified by study center, there were positive effects of the intervention on iron status for serum ferritin for participants in Italy (P = 0.04) and France (P = 0.04) and on soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) for participants in Poland (P < 0.01). Meat intake decreased and fish intake increased to a greater degree in the intervention group, relative to the controls (P < 0.01 for both), but the overall effects of the intervention on meat and fish intakes were mainly driven by data from Poland and France. Changes in serum selenium in the intervention group were associated with greater changes in serum ferritin (P = 0.01) and body iron (P = 0.01), but not sTfR (P = 0.73); there were no study center Ă selenium status interactions for the iron biomarkers. Conclusions: Consuming a Mediterranean-style diet for 1 y had no overall effect on iron or selenium status, although there were positive effects on biomarkers of iron status in some countries. The NU-AGE trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01754012. Am J Clin Nutr 2019;00:1â12
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