Utilizing social virtual reality robot (V2R) for music education to children with high-functioning autism

Virtual Reality (VR) technology is a growing technology that has been used in various fields of psychology, education, and therapy. One group of potential users of VR are children with autism who need education and have poor social interactions; this technology could help them improve their social skills through real-world simulation. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of conducting virtual music education programs with automatic assessment system for children with autism at treatment/research centers without the need to purchase a robot, resulting in the possibility of offering schedules on a larger scale and at a lower cost. Intervention sessions were conducted for five children with high-functioning autism ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old during 20 weeks which includes a baseline session, a pre-test, training sessions, a post-test, and a follow-up test. Each music education sessions involved teaching different notes and pieces of music according to the child’s cooperation, accuracy, and skill level utilizing virtual reality robots and virtual musical instruments. Actually, by analysis of psychological tests, and questionnaires conducted by a psychologist, we observe slight improvements in cognitive skills because of the ceiling effect. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the proposed method was proved by conducting statistical analysis on the child’s performance data during the music education sessions which were obtained by using both video coding and the proposed automatic assessment system. Consequently, a general upward trend in the musical ability of participants was shown to occur in these sessions, which warrants future studies in this field

A comprehensive review on novel targeted therapy methods and nanotechnology-based gene delivery systems in melanoma.

Melanoma, a malignant form of skin cancer, has been swiftly increasing in recent years. Although there have been significant advancements in clinical treatment underlying a well-understanding of melanoma-susceptible genes and the molecular basis of melanoma pathogenesis, the permanency of response to therapy is frequently constrained by the emergence of acquired resistance and systemic toxicity. Conventional therapies, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, have already been used to treat melanoma and are dependent on the cancer stage. Nevertheless, ineffective side effects and the heterogeneity of tumors pose major obstacles to the therapeutic treatment of malignant melanoma through such strategies. In light of this, advanced therapies including nucleic acid therapies (ncRNA, aptamers), suicide gene therapies, and gene therapy using tumor suppressor genes, have lately gained immense attention in the field of cancer treatment. Furthermore, nanomedicine and targeted therapy based on gene editing tools have been applied to the treatment of melanoma as potential cancer treatment approaches nowadays. Indeed, nanovectors enable delivery of the therapeutic agents into the tumor sites by passive or active targeting, improving therapeutic efficiency and minimizing adverse effects. Accordingly, in this review, we summarized the recent findings related to novel targeted therapy methods as well as nanotechnology-based gene systems in melanoma. We also discussed current issues along with potential directions for future research, paving the way for the next-generation of melanoma treatments.Sección Deptal. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (Biológicas)Fac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEEuropean UnionNextGeneration (EU/PRTR)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI)Ministerio de UniversidadesUniversidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)pu

Ketamine versus Ketamine / magnesium Sulfate for Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) in procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) when combined with ketamine in patients with fractures in emergency departments and required short and painful emergency procedures. Materials and Methods: In this study, 100 patients with fractures and dislocations who were presented to the emergency departments and required PSA for short and painful emergency procedures were randomly allocated to groups of ketamine plus MgSO4or ketamine alone. Train of four (TOF) stimulation pattern was assessed using nerve stimulator machine and compared between groups. Results: The mean age of studied patients was 46.9 ± 9.3 years old. 48% were male and 52% were female. No significant differences were noted between groups in demographic variables. The status of TOF, 2 min after the injection of ketamine (1.5 mg/kg), in both groups was similar. After the injection of the second dose of ketamine (1 mg/kg) the status of TOF in four patients in ketamine plus MgSO4 (0.45 mg/kg) group changed, it was three quarters but in ketamine group, the status of TOF in all patients was four quarters. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Conclusion: The findings revealed that for muscle relaxation during medical procedures in the emergency department, ketamine in combination with MgSO4with this dose was not effective for muscle relaxation during procedures

Screw theory-based stiffness analysis for a fluidic-driven soft robotic manipulator

Soft robotic manipulators have been created and investigated for a number of applications due to their advantages over rigid robots. In minimally invasive surgery, for instance, soft robots have successfully demonstrated a number of benefits due to the compliant and flexible nature of the material they are made of. However, these type of robots struggle with performing tasks that require on-demand stiffness i.e. exerting higher forces to the surrounding environment. A number of semi-active and active mechanisms have been investigated to change and control the stiffness of soft robotic manipulators. Embedding these mechanisms in soft manipulators for spacerestricted applications can be challenging though. To better understand the inherent passive stiffness properties of soft manipulators, we propose a screw theory-based stiffness analysis for fluidic-driven continuum soft robotic manipulators. First, we derive the forward kinematics based on a parameterbased piece-wise constant curvature model. It is worth noting, our stiffness analysis can be conducted based on any freespace forward kinematic model. Then our stiffness analysis and mapping methodology is conducted based on screw theory. Initial results of our approach demonstrate the feasibility comparing computational and experimental data

Modelling the inflation of an elastic membrane with a load

One way to achieve large deformations and elongation in soft material robots involves the creation of structures made of a number of inflatable elastic membranes. Physical interactions between the inflated membranes or with their environment can lead to shape changes resulting in forces being exerted to the environment. In this paper, we present an analytical model to describe the inflation of a circular elastic membrane, which is constrained by a load, based on finite deformation theory. Our model will allow to understand the deformation, volume change and the height of the membrane. Our model can predict the height-pressure trend of the deformed membrane shape. Experimental validation includes the investigation of the membrane inflation under load, open-loop force control involving an inflated membrane, and the inflation of a stack of three actuators. The height-pressure model results lay within the experimental data and predict the nonlinear trend well. The model can be used for open-loop force control within a ±15% error. Also, we present the results for a manipulator made of a series of inflated membranes under load conditions