Advanced Technologies: Health Care Anytime... Anywhere?

Advanced technology in the medical profession has had a significant impact on the access, efficiency, and cost of health care delivery services over the past decade. Technological advancements in the medical profession can be bucketed into two main categories: mobile and biological/physiological. Some examples of mobile technology include web apps that can monitor a patient’s vital signs remotely and mobile phone attachments that can provide medical imaging data for doctors in the most remote areas of the globe. Remote patient monitoring and the use of mobile health apps to deliver timely, useful information to the patient about their health decision represent a significant shift in health care information delivery. Research conducted with a biological/physiological intent ranging from nanotechnology to molecularly modified proteins and genes designed to provide personalized medicine based on the “context of a patient’s unique biological state.” The health care industry is among the first to develop the semantic web through WC3 which launched the Health Care Life Sciences Interest Group to improve interaction and collaboration through adaptive data mining using the semantic web. “Connected devices” refers to the premise that the semantic web will make the meaningful connections between disparate bits of information through smart and connected devices. EHRs already use APIs (application programming interfaces) to securely share clinical content.https://fuse.franklin.edu/forum-2013/1019/thumbnail.jp

Pioniere: nell'archeologia, nella storia, nell'arte italiane. Omaggio a Eva Tea (1886-1971)

The volume discusses the role of pioneering women in Italian archaeology (end of 19th-beginning of the 20th century)

Sampling-Based Threat Assessment Algorithms for Intersection Collisions Involving Errant Drivers

This paper considers the decision-making problem for a vehicle crossing a road intersection in the presence of other, potentially errant, drivers. This problem is considered in a game-theoretic framework, where the errant drivers are assumed to be capable of causing intentional collisions. Our approach is to simulate the possible behaviors of errant drivers using RRT-Reach, a modi ed application of rapidly-exploring random trees. A novelty in RRT-Reach is the use of a dual exploration-pursuit mode, which allows for e cient approximation of the errant reachability set for some xed time horizon. Through simulation and experimental results with a small autonomous vehicle, we demonstrate that this threat assessment algorithm can be used in real-time to minimize the risk of collision

Rationale and design of a randomized controlled clinical trial of functional electrical stimulation cycling in persons with severe multiple sclerosis

AbstractBackgroundThis randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the efficacy of supervised functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling on walking performance and physiological function among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) with severe mobility disability.Methods/designThis RCT will recruit 16 persons with MS that require unilateral or bilateral assistance for ambulation (i.e., Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score = 6.0–6.5). Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: supervised FES cycling or passive cycling. The FES cycling condition will involve mild electrical stimulation that will generate an activation pattern that results in cycling the leg ergometer. The passive cycling condition will not provide any electrical stimulation, rather the movement of the pedals will be controlled by the electrical motor. Both conditions will be delivered 3 days/week for the same duration, over 6 months. Primary outcomes will include walking performance assessed as walking speed, endurance, and agility. Secondary outcomes will include physiological function assessed as cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and balance. Assessments will take place at baseline, mid-point (3-months), and immediately following the intervention (6-months).DiscussionThis study will lay the foundation for the design of a future RCT by: (1) providing effect sizes that can be included in a power analysis for optimal sample size estimation; and (2) identifying cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and balance (i.e., physiological function) as mechanisms for the beneficial effects of FES cycling on walking performance. This trial will provide important information on a novel exercise rehabilitation therapy for managing walking impairment in persons with severe MS

Osservazioni introduttive

In 2020, the Osservatorio regionale del paesaggio of the Regione del Veneto (Landscape Observatory of the Veneto Region) promoted an international conference to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the European Landscape Convention adopted by the Committee of Ministers of Culture and Environment of the Council of Europe. Adopting an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, this volume collects the outputs of critical thinking about the impact and effects of the European Landscape Convention on the social, environmental, juridical, architectural, archaeological and managerial spheres, and presents a wide selection of theoretical and research essays, critical remarks and case studies

La Convenzione Europea del Paesaggio vent'anni dopo (2000-2020). Ricezione, criticità, prospettive

In 2020, the Osservatorio regionale del paesaggio of the Regione del Veneto (Landscape Observatory of the Veneto Region) promoted an international conference to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the European Landscape Convention adopted by the Committee of Ministers of Culture and Environment of the Council of Europe. Adopting an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, this volume collects the outputs of critical thinking about the impact and effects of the European Landscape Convention on the social, environmental, juridical, architectural, archaeological and managerial spheres, and presents a wide selection of theoretical and research essays, critical remarks and case studies