Live delivery of neurosurgical operating theater experience in virtual reality

A system for assisting in microneurosurgical training and for delivering interactive mixed reality surgical experience live was developed and experimented in hospital premises. An interactive experience from the neurosurgical operating theater was presented together with associated medical content on virtual reality eyewear of remote users. Details of the stereoscopic 360‐degree capture, surgery imaging equipment, signal delivery, and display systems are presented, and the presence experience and the visual quality questionnaire results are discussed. The users reported positive scores on the questionnaire on topics related to the user experience achieved in the trial.     

How Different Characterization Techniques Elucidate the Nature of the Gold Species in a Polycrystalline Au/TiO2 Catalyst

TiO₂‐supported gold species were prepared via the deposition‐precipitation route, with conservation of the initial speciation by freeze‐drying. The structural and electronic properties of the Au species were investigated by X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO in four states. Exclusively Au^III was deposited on the TiO₂ surface in patches ranging from isolated Au ions to three‐dimensional clusters. This paper illustrates in detail the unique contributions of all characterization techniques to this structural model.     

A Modular Composite Device of Poly(Ethylene Oxide)/Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) Nanofibers and Gelatin as a Dual Drug Delivery System for Local Therapy of Soft Tissue Tumors

In the clinical management of solid tumors, the possibility to successfully couple the regeneration of injured tissues with the elimination of residual tumor cells left after surgery could open doors to new therapeutic strategies. In this work, we present a composite hydrogel–electrospun nanofiber scaffold, showing a modular architecture for the delivery of two pharmaceutics with distinct release profiles, that is potentially suitable for local therapy and post-surgical treatment of solid soft tumors. The composite was obtained by coupling gelatin hydrogels to poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(butylene terephthalate) block copolymer nanofibers. Results of the scaffolds’ characterization, together with the analysis of gelatin and drug release kinetics, displayed the possibility to modulate the device architecture to control the release kinetics of the drugs, also providing evidence of their activity. In vitro analyses were also performed using a human epithelioid sarcoma cell line. Furthermore, publicly available expression datasets were interrogated. Confocal imaging showcased the nontoxicity of these devices in vitro. ELISA assays confirmed a modulation of IL-10 inflammation-related cytokine supporting the role of this device in tissue repair. In silico analysis confirmed the role of IL-10 in solid tumors including 262 patients affected by sarcoma as a negative prognostic marker for overall survival. In conclusion, the developed modular composite device may provide a key-enabling technology for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.     

Single‐Step Deposition of Au‐ and Pt‐Nanoparticle‐Functionalized Tungsten Oxide Nanoneedles Synthesized Via Aerosol‐Assisted CVD,and Used for Fabrication of Selective Gas Microsensor Arrays

Tungsten oxide nanostructures functionalized with gold or platinum NPs are synthesized and integrated, using a single‐step method via aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition, onto micro‐electromechanical system (MEMS)‐based gas‐sensor platforms. This co‐deposition method is demonstrated to be an effective route to incorporate metal nanoparticles (NP) or combinations of metal NPs into nanostructured materials, resulting in an attractive way of tuning functionality in metal oxides (MOX). The results show variations in electronic and sensing properties of tungsten oxide according to the metal NPs introduced, which are used to discriminate effectively analytes (C₂H₅OH, H₂, and CO) that are present in proton‐exchange fuel cells. Improved sensing characteristics, in particular to H₂, are observed at 250 °C with Pt‐functionalized tungsten oxide films, whereas non‐functionalized tungsten oxide films show responses to low concentrations of CO at low temperatures. Differences in the sensing characteristics of these films are attributed to the different reactivities of metal NPs (Au and Pt), and to the degree of electronic interaction at the MOX/metal NP interface. The method presented in this work has advantages over other methods of integrating nanomaterials and devices, of having fewer processing steps, relatively low processing temperature, and no requirement for substrate pre‐treatment.     

Time-optimal velocity planning along predefined path for static formations of mobile robots

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - This paper is concerned with the problem of finding a time-optimal velocity profile along the predefined path for static formations of...     

A posteriori error estimators for the fully discrete time dependent Stokes problem with some different boundary conditions

In this paper we study the time dependent Stokes problem with some different boundary conditions. We establish a decoupled variational formulation into a system of velocity and a Poisson equation for the pressure. Hence, the velocity is approximated with curl conforming finite elements in space and Euler scheme in time and the pressure with standard continuous elements in space and Euler scheme in time. Finally, we establish optimal a priori and a posteriori estimates.     

Alternate models of sibling status effects on health in later life.

Although siblings are thought to be influential in child development, little is known about the influence of sibling status on the health of older adults. Using structural equation modeling, the authors created and tested a series of models with data from a sample (N = 3,968) of 1957 high school graduates from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. The results indicated that socioeconomic status of origin, adolescent aptitude, and educational attainment did have significant total effects on health in later life, but sibling status did not. Adults who grew up in families of higher socioeconomic status and who had greater aptitude in high school attained more education, and this advantage, in turn, led to better health in later life. Although the final model was cross-validated, it was not equally plausible for men and women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parallel flow measurements in microstructures by use of a multifocal 4 x 1 diffractive optical fan-out element

We have developed a multifocal optical fluorescence correlation spectroscopy system for parallel flow analyses. Multifocal excitation was made possible through a 4 x 1 diffractive optical fan-out element, which produces uniform intensity in all four foci. Autocorrelation flow analyses inside a 20 microm x 20 microm square microchannel, with the 4 x 1 fan-out foci perpendicular to the flow direction, made it possible to monitor different flows in all four foci simultaneously. We were able to perform cross-correlation flow analyses by turning the microstructure, thereby having all four foci parallel to the direction of flow. Transport effects of the diffusion as a function of flow and distance could then also be studied.     

Measuring color breakup of stationary images in field‐sequential‐color displays

Abstract— Color breakup is an artifact perceivable on field‐sequential‐color (FSC) displays, both in stationary and in moving images. In this work, a unique device and a method for measuring color breakup on stationary images is proposed. Rotating the field of view of a high‐speed measurement camera in milliseconds simulates saccadic behavior. The target can be a virtual display, a direct‐view display or a projector image. Captured images can be used for quantifying the color breakup of a target display. The results along with an exploration of their application to breakup characterization will be presented.     

'Ergonomics in the Nordic European countries--a historical perspective': paper presented at IEA 2000/HFES 2000 Congress. International Ergonomics Association

The Nordic Ergonomic Society was founded more than 30 years ago to represent Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Recently Iceland has also been included. The Nordic Ergonomics Society has, to a large extent, traditionally been oriented towards work in the area of physiology, and a large number of its members have backgrounds within such areas as work physiology, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. However, from its inception the society has had members who are experienced within, such fields as work psychology, design, engineering and occupational health and safety. Over the last decade we have also had new members from such areas as work sociology, organizational psychology, leadership, training, information technology and cybernetics. Members have been concerned mainly with the application and practice of ergonomics. The number of members involved in research has also increased over the years. The principal areas of application for such research have been within industry and government.