1,721,126 research outputs found
The pervivence of time in theater rewriting: the “Greeks” case of La Convención Teatro
No full textEn el presente escrito estableceremos vínculos entre el concepto
de pervivencia de la antigüedad (Nachleben der Antike) de Aby
Warburg y reescritura teatral de Daniela Martín. Luego analizaremos
la obra teatral Griegos de La Convención Teatro a la luz de dicha red
teórica. Buscamos observar, comprender y problematizar la idea de
temporalidad como un estrato dinámico y complejo, que permite la
convivencia del pasado y el presente en un mismo acontecimiento.Fil: Arolfo, Penélope. Universidad Provincial de Córdoba. Facultad de Arte y Diseño. Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes Dr. José Figueroa Alcorta; Argentina.Fil: Arolfo, Penélope. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades. Centro de Investigaciones María Saleme de Burnichon; Argentina
Development and applicability of a soft and flexible robotic arm in digestive surgery
No full textIntroduction
The oncologic adequacy of laparoscopy in digestive surgery is still controversial, especially in some technically demanding operations like Total
Mesorectal Excision (TME). Even if standard robotic platforms, i.e. the da Vinci Surgical System, can improve dexterity and manouvrability of surgical
instruments, there is no evidence supporting its use in digestive and rectal cancer surgery. The only multi-centre prospective RCT (ROLARR trial) suggests that robotic TME has no advantages compared to laparoscopic TME in terms of clinical and oncologic outcomes. A possible explanation of this lack of real advantages is that the articulation is possible only on the tip of the instrument. The opportunity to have a robotic platform with modular flexibility on the whole length of the arm could overcome technical limitations, improving results and allowing standardization and diffusion of the procedures.
Methods
The 7FP STIFF FLOP project was financed by the European Commission in order to develop a STIFFness controllable Flexible and Learn-able manipulator
for surgical operations. Engineers were inspired by the tentacles of an octopus. A prototype was realized, consisting of multiple soft, pneumatically actuated threechamber segments. Additional chambers are integrated within the segments to allow their stiffening, employing an approach based on the concept of granular jamming. The STIFF-FLOP segments are actuated using pressure regulators and the stiffening chambers are interfaced via valves, applying a vacuum to the granules in the chambers. Sensors are embedded in the STIFF-FLOP modules to measure interaction forces (between the robot and its environment) and the robot’s configuration. A newly developed user interface, based on a Delta robot design, is used to move and position the tip of the STIFF-FLOP arm inside the abdomen. Signals obtained from sensors are fed back to the user interface console providing the operator with force feedback. The entire soft robot is equipped with a 4 mm in diameter centre-free lumen, which allows the passage of the electrical wires needed for the laparoscopic miniaturized optic system positioned at the tip of the robot.
Phantom test
The prototype was tested in order to assess learnability and satisfaction of the operators. The test was designed as a spatial motion task, consisting of
movements between predefined target points clockwise and counter clockwise in a 3D phantom of the abdominal cavity. The participants were asked to conclude
the task for the first time with the STIFF-FLOP prototype (SF1), then to repeat the task using conventional laparoscopic instrumentation (LAP) and finally to
perform the task once more with the STIFF-FLOP arm (SF2). Surface EMG signals from the forearm muscles were recorded during the test.
Results
SF1 took a longer time than the other tasks, i.e. 36.4% more than LAP (p=0.0071). However, from SF1 to SF2 there was a 32.1% time reduction
(p=0.0232). EMG amplitude analysis showed a higher overall average muscle activity during LAP. Moving from LAP to SF2 there was a 25.9% reduction in
average muscle activity (p=0.0128).
Cadaver test. The main objective of the test was to validate the compatibility of the system with human anatomy for laparoscopic TME and to determine whether the soft robot could represent a potential improvement compared to standard rigid laparoscopic instrumentation. The study was performed on two cadavers prepared according to the method described by Thiel.
Results
The use of the STIFF-FLOP camera allowed the surgeon to clearly visualize the inferior mesenteric vessels and the autonomic nerves that were subsequently
spared from injury. The ability to smoothly follow the sacral curve due to the flexibility of the manipulator allowed the surgeons to perform a very precise dissection of the posterior part of the mesorectum. The same procedure was performed on both human cadavers, demonstrating the ease of use of the system. Completion times of the procedure were 165 and 145 min, respectively. No intraoperative complications were recorded. No technical failures were registered.
Conclusion
The STIFF FLOP flexible robotic arm is an intuitive technology that can be easily learned. The prolonged use of the STIFF FLOP manipulator is more
comfortable than standard laparoscopic instrumentation and can be used for a long time without exhaustion. The system is compatible with human anatomy and allows to perform a standard surgical abdominal operation. The STIFF FLOP arm seems to improve visualization of the operatory field especially in narrow spaces like the pelvis
Exploring sweetclover potential
No full textPresentación en diapositivas y resumen extendidoWhite sweetclover (Melilotus alba Desr.) is a high-quality annual or biannual forage species that is adapted to various environmental conditions. It tolerates water deficit, moderate flooding, soils with medium to low productive potential, both heavy and sandy soils -and even being able to thrive in saline, alkaline-sodium soils-, but it cannot stand shade. The species has been widely used for multiple purposes, such as forage, honey production, green manure, and cover crop. Belonging to the legume family, sweetclover plants are erect, more or less branched and can reach 1.5 m in height.EEA ManfrediFil: Arolfo, Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; Argentin
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: thirty years experience of an institution
No full textAIM: To report our experience of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) during the last 29 years. METHODS: Thirty two cases of GIST referred to our Institution from the 1st January 1981 to the 10th June 2010 were reviewed. Metastases, recurrence and survival data were collected in relation to age, history, clinical presentation, location, size, resection margins and cellular features. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.7 years (range, 40-90) and incidence was slightly higher in males (56%). R0 resection was performed in 90.7% of cases, R1 in 6.2% (2 cases) and R2 in 3.1% (one case). Using Fletcher's classification 8/32 (25%) had high risk, 9/32 (28%) intermediate and 15/32 (47%) low risk tumors. Follow-up varied from 1 mo to 29 years, with a median of 8 years; overall survival was 75% (24/32), disease-free survival was 72% and tumor-related mortality was 9.3%. Three patients with high risk GIST were treated with imatinib mesylate: one developed a recurrence after 36 mo, and 2 are free from disease at 41 mo. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment remains the gold standard therapy for resectable GISTs. Pathological and biological features of the neoplasm represent the most important factors predicting the prognosi
El concepto de “metamorfosis” como operatoria para la construcción actoral y escénica, inspirada en el ballet “El Lago de los Cisnes”
No full textFil: Arolfo, Penélope. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Artes; Argentina.¿Cómo pensar una investigación para un Trabajo Final de Licenciatura en Teatro? Sin duda, lo más considerable en la búsqueda de respuestas a esta pregunta radica, desde nuestra perspectiva, en la idea de re-definir conceptos teóricos a partir de la propia experiencia escénica, en la búsqueda de generar un cruce entre el plano de la teoría y el de la praxis. Allí, el trabajo y la relación del actor y el director como cuerpos primarios, entre los tantos que intervienen en la construcción de un hecho teatral (iluminador, sonidista, escenógrafo, público, productor, etc.), tejen un paño de experiencias a través de las cuales el propio lenguaje artístico dice y enseña sobre sí mismo, y es ahí donde surge la posibilidad de encontrar lo nuevo, lo propio y los modos de construirlo.
La presente investigación surge entonces, como búsqueda de respuestas a preguntas que nos hacemos sobre el modo de componer en Ballet y en Teatro. Dichos interrogantes se refieren específicamente al concepto de “metamorfosis”, que surge a partir del Ballet que tomamos como punto de partida: “El Lago de los Cisnes” (1895) con música de Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky y versión coreográfica de Marius Petipa- Lev Ivanov. Observamos la obra escogiendo los elementos que nos posibilitan acceder a este concepto. A su vez, nos cuestionamos en torno a ésta para preguntarnos cómo lo entendemos y así componer nuestra propia obra de teatro. Por lo mismo, nos interrogamos acerca de cómo observamos que se desarrolla esta idea en dicho Ballet; nuestra investigación persigue dilucidar si este desarrollo se presenta en el trabajo sobre el cuerpo de los bailarines, sobre los elementos escenotécnicos o, en el caso de vincularse ambos trabajos, si es uno quien “origina” y el otro quien “completa” la metamorfosis, o bien si ambos la producen mutuamente.
En otras palabras, en esta investigación inserta en el marco de un Trabajo Final de Licenciatura en Teatro - UNC, se establecerán “puntos de contacto” entre las formas de componer en Ballet y en Teatro, para generar un campo de tensión entre ambos lenguajes que nos permita arribar a nuestra propia creación escénica y a un modo particular de componerla.Fil: Arolfo, Penélope. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Artes; Argentina
TransAnal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) with SILS™ Port versus Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM): A comparative experimental study
No full textCurrent status of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the emergency setting
No full textLaparoscopic surgery has become well established in the management of both benign as malignant colorectal disease. However there has not been the same enthusiasm for the use of laparoscopy in emergency colorectal surgery. We have critically review the indications and the results of the laparoscopic approach for the treatment of acute colorectal disease. A systemic review based on comprehensive Literature research was made on Pubmed with the primary objective to identify all clinical relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT). However, other reports, population based outcomes studies, case series and case reports were also included. Cross-link control was than performed with Google Scholar and Cochrane library databases. We have reviewed the last years’ evident literature about this last topic and the results reported , although mainly early, controversial and focused on the short term, enabled us to generally conclude that in a proper setting, laparoscopic colorectal emergency surgery is feasible, effective, safe and beneficial for patients to be a part of a common surgical practice, as long as adequate training is obtained and proper preparation observed when more advanced procedures are attempted in critically patients
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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