Robot Assisted Neurological Rehabilitation at Home: Motivational Aspects and Concepts for Tele-Rehabilitation

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 8-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle J. Johnson ◽  
Henning Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
New Technology ◽  
Neurological Rehabilitation ◽  
Motor Rehabilitation ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Robotic Training ◽  
Training Systems ◽  
Rehabilitation Concepts ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
High Level ◽  
Therapy Robots

SummaryNumerous clinical studies have proved the efficacy of therapy robots in Neurological Motor Rehabilitation and their potential benefits for clinical outcome results. A major challenge of current technological and clinical research is the transfer of this new technology from the rehab hospital to the patient's home, thus enabling him to continue high level rehab training for further improvement of motor control of the affected limbs. This article focuses on motivational aspects and tele-rehabilitation concepts, which play an important role in the development of robotic training systems for home rehabilitation.

Teletinnitus Program at the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Constance Hilory Tomberlin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Care System

There are a multitude of reasons that a teletinnitus program can be beneficial, not only to the patients, but also within the hospital and audiology department. The ability to use technology for the purpose of tinnitus management allows for improved appointment access for all patients, especially those who live at a distance, has been shown to be more cost effective when the patients travel is otherwise monetarily compensated, and allows for multiple patient's to be seen in the same time slots, allowing for greater access to the clinic for the patients wishing to be seen in-house. There is also the patient's excitement in being part of a new technology-based program. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) saw the potential benefits of incorporating a teletinnitus program and began implementation in 2013. There were a few hurdles to work through during the beginning organizational process and the initial execution of the program. Since the establishment of the Teletinnitus program, the GCVHCS has seen an enhancement in patient care, reduction in travel compensation, improvement in clinic utilization, clinic availability, the genuine excitement of the use of a new healthcare media amongst staff and patients, and overall patient satisfaction.

Digital Technology in Clinical Trials for Multiple Sclerosis: a systematic review. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello De Angelis ◽  
Luigi Lavorgna ◽  
Antonio Carotenuto ◽  
Martina Petruzzo ◽  
Roberta Lanzillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Clinical Trial Design ◽  
Motor Rehabilitation ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Treatment Side Effects

BACKGROUND Clinical trials in multiple sclerosis (MS) have leveraged the use of digital technology to overcome limitations in treatment and disease monitoring. OBJECTIVE To review the use of digital technology in concluded and ongoing MS clinical trials. METHODS In March 2020, we searched for “multiple sclerosis” and “trial” on pubmed.gov and clinicaltrials.gov using “app”, “digital”, “electronic”, “internet” and “mobile” as additional search words, separately. Overall, we included thirty-five studies. RESULTS Digital technology is part of clinical trial interventions to deliver psychotherapy and motor rehabilitation, with exergames, e-training, and robot-assisted exercises. Also, digital technology has become increasingly used to standardise previously existing outcome measures, with automatic acquisitions, reduced inconsistencies, and improved detection of symptoms. Some trials have been developing new patient-centred outcome measures for the detection of symptoms and of treatment side effects and adherence. CONCLUSIONS We will discuss how digital technology has been changing MS clinical trial design, and possible future directions for MS and neurology research.

The Economics of the Soy Kit as an Appropriate Household Technology for Food Entrepreneurs

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-115
Author(s):  
Chungmann Kim ◽  
Peter Goldsmith
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Credit Access ◽  
Feed The Future ◽  
High Level

Background: The ability for women to operate as food entrepreneurs presents opportunities to leverage at-home production technologies that not only support family nutrition but also generate income. To these ends, the Feed the Future Malawi Agriculture Diversification Activity recently launched a development project involving a new technology, the Soy Kit. The Activity, a USAID (United States Agency for International Development) funded effort, sought to improve nutrition utilizing an underutilized local and highly nutritious feedstuff, soybean, through a woman’s entrepreneurship scheme. Objective: The USAID funded effort provides the overarching research question, whether the Soy Kit is a sustainable technology for delivering nutrition and income through a women’s entrepreneurship scheme. If true, then development practitioners will have a valuable tool, and the associated evidence, to address the important crosscutting themes, of nutrition, poverty, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment. To answer this research question, the research team first evaluates the underlying production economics of the kit to measure profitability, return on investment, and operational performance. Second, the team qualitatively and quantitatively assesses the kit’s overall appropriateness as a technology for the developing world. Methods: The team follows the schema of Bower and Brown and utilizes descriptive statistics, and financial techniques to conduct an assessment of the economics and technical appropriateness of the Soy Kit technology. Results: The results show a high level of appropriateness across a number of metrics. For example, the payback period from cash flow is under 6 months and the annual return on capital is 163% when entrepreneurs utilize a domestically sourced kit valued at US$80. Conclusion: The technology matches well with the rhythm of household economy, in particular women’s labor availability and resource base. Businesses earn significant returns on capital thus appear to be sustainable without donor subsidy. At the same time, available capital to finance kit entrepreneurs appears to be scarce. More research needs to take place to address the credit access question, in order to make small-scale kit entrepreneur truly self-reliant; the effects on poverty reduction at the household and village level; and nutrition improvement among the consumers.

Seven Things Every Trainer Must Know about Artificial Intelligence

1991 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-156
Author(s):  
Mahima Ranjan Kundu
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Expert Systems ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Training Systems ◽  
Potential Benefits

This article provides information about the prospects and limitations of the Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems as they relate to training systems and educational programs. The article describes the potential benefits of expert systems and how it can be gainfully employed in training environment, industry, and business management to perform complex jobs. The limitations of the applications of the Artificial Intelligence are discussed as some tend to believe that human mind and computers think alike and AI machines can function like a real expert in every aspect of training and education.

scholarly journals A Taxonomy in Robot-Assisted Training: Current Trends, Needs and Challenges

Technologies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Tsiakas ◽  
Maria Kyrarini ◽  
Vangelis Karkaletsis ◽  
Fillia Makedon ◽  
Oliver Korn
Keyword(s):  
Training Session ◽  
Training System ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Robot Assisted ◽  
Robot Interaction ◽  
Training Systems ◽  
Robot Perception ◽  
Educational Environments ◽  
And Behavior

In this article, we present a taxonomy in Robot-Assisted Training; a growing body of research in Human–Robot Interaction which focuses on how robotic agents and devices can be used to enhance user’s performance during a cognitive or physical training task. Robot-Assisted Training systems have been successfully deployed to enhance the effects of a training session in various contexts, i.e., rehabilitation systems, educational environments, vocational settings, etc. The proposed taxonomy suggests a set of categories and parameters that can be used to characterize such systems, considering the current research trends and needs for the design, development and evaluation of Robot-Assisted Training systems. To this end, we review recent works and applications in Robot-Assisted Training systems, as well as related taxonomies in Human–Robot Interaction. The goal is to identify and discuss open challenges, highlighting the different aspects of a Robot-Assisted Training system, considering both robot perception and behavior control.

Graft is good: the economic and environmental benefits of grafted naranjilla in the Andean region

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Clements ◽  
Jeffrey Alwang ◽  
Victor Barrera ◽  
Juan Manuel Dominguez
Keyword(s):  
New Technology ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Pesticide Application ◽  
Economic Surplus ◽  
Potential Market ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Resistant Rootstock ◽  
Market Benefits

AbstractNaranjilla cultivation is highly profitable in many parts of the Andean foothills in Colombia and Ecuador. Its susceptibility to soil-borne diseases, however, lowers its economic benefits, reduces sustainability of production and increases its contribution to environmental degradation. This paper presents an analysis of the potential market and non-market benefits of research that developed and tested the grafting of common naranjilla onto disease-resistant rootstock. Grafting reduces the need for pesticide application and increases the longevity and sustainability of the plant. An economic surplus approach, carefully calibrated to reflect the realities of naranjilla production, was employed to show the large benefits from such research. Environmental and health benefits are very close in magnitude to market-mediated surplus gains. The results show substantial potential benefits from an outreach program to diffuse the new technology.

Linking Cost Control Measures to Health Care Services by Using Activity-Based Information

1995 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Hoyt ◽  
Colin M. Lay
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Management Information ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Cost Variability ◽  
The Impact

Canada's health care institutions are under pressure to limit expenditures, maintain or increase productivity, and assimilate new technology. Even though more than 75% of hospital operating expenditures are controllable, according to a study by the Economic Council of Canada, cost systems are needed to provide essential management information. The new Canadian Management Information System (MIS) Guidelines for health care are designed to provide accurate cost measurement of patient treatment and to help managers evaluate the impact of planned program changes on areas of operational responsibility. Other potential benefits of implementing the MIS guidelines include correcting dysfunctional funding of health care units with benchmarking and setting high reporting standards for resource use at the patient level (MIS, 1991). This paper focuses on one important aspect of bringing these costs under control by examining the relation between cost deviations (variances) and underlying cost drivers. Our discussion will lead to the conclusion that incompatibility of DRG methodology and traditional cost accounting models may be an important source of cost variability within diagnostically-related disease groupings.

United Nations Peace Operations: Reconsidering the Principles, Reforming the Practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-26
Author(s):  
A. Nikitin
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Peace Operations ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
National Coalition ◽  
Peace Enforcement ◽  
High Level ◽  
Self Defence

The article describes and debates main points and recommendations of the Report-2015 of the Independent High Level Group on the UN Peace Operations. The author analyses doctrinal innovations and practical guidelines suggested by the Group and debates consequences of the recommended “politicizing” of the UN operations (assuring the leading role for the UN in any political peace process supported by UN peacekeepers, and avoiding operations where the UN role is limited to passive disengagement of conflict sides). Necessity for and limits of reconsidering traditional principles of peacekeeping, such as impartiality, consent of conflict parties, and use of force for self-defence are questioned. Trends in UN operations are compared with trends in operations related to conflicts in the Post-Soviet space (South Ossetia/Georgia, Abkhazia/Georgia, Tajikistan, Transnistria/Moldova, etc.). The author advocates timeliness for an extended interpretation of the “defence of the mandate” formula instead of the classical “self-defence of the contingent”. It is suggested to practically erase the dividing line between operations of the “peacekeeping” type under the UN DPKO, and “political missions” under the UN Political Department. The arsenal of the UN instruments for conflict resolution must be widened from non-intrusive observation missions, conflict prevention and mediation, through support of ceasefire agreements and implementation of peace accords, down to coercive peace enforcement, offensive elements, and UN Charter Chapter VII-based collective operations against aggressive regimes and states. Poorly defined functions and insufficiently clarified use of force limits for the SC-mandated “UN Intervention Brigade” in Democratic Republic of Congo lead to unnecessary involvement of the UN into coercive actions. The experience of the UN “infrastructural hubs” establishing, like the one in Entebbe (Uganda) used for supplying eight African UN operations, is described. New technology for peacekeeping, like the use of unpiloted flying drones, opens new opportunities, but creates legal and practical problems. A distinction of functions between “blue helmets” (specially trained multinational UN contingents) and “green helmets” (regular national armies used by states in foreign conflicts) is recommended, including avoidance of counter-terrorism tasks and strong coercive tasks for the UN peacekeepers. Parallel and interfaced “partnerships” between the limited UN operations and more forceful national/coalition operations in the same areas are suggested instead.

ArgoMoon: the Italian cubesat for Artemis1 mission

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pirrotta ◽  
Biagio Cotugno ◽  
Valerio di Tana ◽  
Silvio Patruno ◽  
Francesca Ingiosi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Flight Control ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Recognition Algorithm ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Ground Segment ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Flight Operations ◽  
High Level

<p>In order to increase the scientific and technological return of the Artemis I mission, NASA has directed the SLS Program to accommodate Secondary Payloads on board of the Space Launch System (SLS), to be deployed with the Orion capsule; among them, ArgoMoon cubesat has been selected as European contribution. It is a 6U platform designed by Argotec on behalf of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and will be released from the launch vehicle Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). The main objectives of the satellite are: i) taking photographs to document the ICPS after the deployment of the Orion capsule and the deployment of the other secondary payloads mounted on-board; ii) taking photographs of the Earth and the Moon; iii) validate guidance and autonomous targeting technology and iv) verifying a new technology for power distribution, satellite data acquisition and processing suitable for nanosatellite volume. In fact, the cubesat will be the first national spacecraft working in near Deep Space and operated through a Ground Segment mainly based in Italy.</p> <p>ArgoMoon design is based on the HAWK platform, designed by Argotec following an “all in-house” concept. Some of the main features of this platform are the focus on rad-hard subsystem components, a high level of autonomy capability supported by artificial intelligence, and the scalability towards larger bus sizes.</p> <p>Early after deployment, ArgoMoon will be able to operate autonomously and perform SLS tracking and proximity flight navigation, making use of a complex image recognition algorithm based on artificial intelligence. These operations are carried out by two optical payloads and the obtained photography will be used to support the NASA and payload communities in providing information regarding the status of their deployment and the condition of the second stage as it completes the final phase of its mission. After that, ArgoMoon will be operative for another six months for technological validation and Moon observation purposes.</p> <p>During the communication windows throughout the entire satellite lifetime, ArgoMoon will be operated and monitored entirely by the Argotec Mission Control Centre, connected to the Deep Space Network (DSN). The Flight Control Team (FCT) will follow the flight operations with in-house developed software able to plan and validate in orbit activities, verifying the on-board.</p> <p>After a successfully integration and test campaign, the cubesat has been shipped to USA for the filling activities on the propulsion tanks and the final delivery to NASA for the integration in the SLS, expected in July 2021.</p> <p>The results of this mission will strongly contribute to future of Space Exploration based on small satellite platforms in Deep Space.</p>

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