158,479 research outputs found
Digital technologies for the design of human-robot collaborative cells
No full textThe growing demand for the customization of products is renewing the efforts of industries in developing systems that are either optimal for a specific product or can rapidly adapt to sudden changes in the production mix. For this reason, companies are showing an increasing interest in using Digital Twins (DT), a technology relying on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that was firstly introduced some years before the outburst of the industry 4.0 paradigm. Today, the adoption of DTs is significantly favored by all the enabling technologies characterizing industry 4.0. As far as the research is concerned, most of the works in the literature are currently focusing on digital twins dealing with a dynamic environment in the production chain, while less attention is paid to the optimal layout design before operation. Within this framework, this work presents a general overview of the most recent technologies in the field of Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC), highlighting their main characteristics and framing them according to the stage in which they are developed, be it pre-deployment or execution. In addition, with regard to the pre-deployment phase, a simulation-guided framework, based on two different optimizers that account for the nature of the variables under exam, is proposed as a way to find the most suitable layout of a collaborative working cell in a static production environment. In such environments, the space and the allocation of tasks between humans and robots is of paramount importance in order to realize a Human-centered Cyber Physical System (HCPS)
Realizzazione di una cella a matrice di elettrodi per la misura della conducibilità elettrolitica
No full textIn questo lavoro sono riportati i risultati ottenuti dagli studi effettuati su una nuova cella per la misura della conducibilità elettrolitica. Si tratta di una cella a matrice di elettrodi (CME), progettata e sviluppata all'I.N.Ri.M.. Lo scopo di questo studio è la caratterizzazione della CME tramite la determinazione delle costanti geometriche risultanti dalle differenti configurazioni di elettrodi che si possono attivare. La particolarità di questa cella è quindi la sua adattabilità, rispetto alla soluzione in esame, alle caratteristiche di accuratezza della strumentazione. Sono state studiate configurazioni di coppie di elettrodi vicini, in differenti posizioni rispetto al bordo della cella, sia lasciando i rimanenti elettrodi flottanti, sia ponendoli ad un unico potenziale
Vision-Based State and Pose Estimation for Robotic Bin Picking of Cables
No full textThis paper deals with the challenging task of picking semi-deformable linear objects (SDLOs) from a bin. SDLOs are deformable elements, such as cables, joined to a rigid part as a connector. We propose a vision-based strategy to detect, classify and estimate the pose and the state (free or occluded) of connectors belonging to an unspecified number of SDLOs, arranged in an unknown configuration in the bin. The connectors can then be grasped and manipulated by a dual-arm robot through a set of manipulation primitives. In this way, a single SDLO can be extracted from the bin and laid on the worktable. A subsequent association between the connectors and the extracted SDLOs is performed, allowing to firmly grasp a SDLO at its ends to further manipulate it. The procedure is tested in bin picking operations with several kinds of SDLOs and is applied to a use case involving a collaborative wire harnesses assembly task
Flu vaccination in elite athletes: A survey among serie a soccer teams
No full textScant data is available on immunization policies and practices among professional athletes. Following up on a recent review on the topic, we conducted a survey among Italian Serie A soccer teams during the influenza season 2015-16, to explore vaccination practices and attitudes as well as influenza vaccine uptake. The survey covered a sample of over 600 professional athletes from 20 teams and was carried out in collaboration with the Italian Association of Physicians of Professional Football Teams (L.A.M.I.CA.). For each team, the head of the medical staff was interviewed (structured telephone interviews, 100% response rate). Seasonal influenza vaccine was actively offered in 75% of Serie A teams with a median coverage rate of 40% (range 0%-100%). Vaccines are often administered after matches or training sessions. We report vaccine hesitancy associated with fear of adverse events, poor communication and other selected determinants. Vaccination in elite athletes, if correctly managed, represents a powerful, cost-effective and long lasting preventive tool. In times where vaccines are losing public confidence, our findings are a useful basis to inform the planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions to promote prevention in sports medicine. (www.actabiomedica.it)
Generic Language for Social and Animal Kinds: An Examination of the Asymmetry Between Acceptance and Inferences
No full textGenerics (e.g., "Ravens are black") express generalizations about categories or their members. Previous research found that generics about animals are interpreted as broadly true of members of a kind, yet also accepted based on minimal evidence. This asymmetry is important for suggesting a mechanism by which unfounded generalizations may flourish; yet, little is known whether this finding extends to generics about groups of people (heretofore, "social generics"). Accordingly, in four preregistered studies (n = 665), we tested for an inferential asymmetry for generics regarding novel groups of animals versus people. Participants were randomly assigned to either an Implied Prevalence task (given a generic, asked to estimate the prevalence of a property) or a Truth-Conditions task (given prevalence information, asked whether a generic was true or false). A generic asymmetry was found in both domains, at equivalent levels. The asymmetry also extended to properties varying in valence (dangerous and neutral). Finally, there were differences as a function of property valence in the Implied Prevalence task and a small but consistent interaction between domain and prevalence in the Truth-Conditions task. We discuss the implications of these results for the semantics of generics, theoretical accounts of the asymmetry, and the relation between generics and stereotyping
Childhood vaccine coverage in Italy after the new law on mandatory immunization
No full textBackground. The Italian National Immunization Prevention Plan (PNPV) identifies vaccines actively offered free of charge to target populations within the National Health Service. Despite this, childhood immuniza- tion coverage has been declining in Italy in recent years. As a response, the Italian Parliament in July 2017 approved law n. 119 extending mandatory childhood vaccines from four to ten, this stimulating a lively debate at both the scientific and policy level.
Methods. We analysed and critically interpreted 2000-2017 Italian national childhood immunization cov- erage trends, by different vaccine, target population, birth cohort and by Region. In particular, in order to preliminarily assess the impact of the new law, we computed percentage changes in 2016-2017 vaccine coverage for both mandatory and recommended vaccine programs. Data were provided by the Directorate General of Health Prevention of the Italian Ministry of Health.
Results. In 2017 national-level vaccine coverage at 24 months of age was 94.5% for Polio and 91.7% for Measles, this representing, respectively 1.2% and 4.4% increase, as compared to 2016. Conjugate Pneu- mococcal and Meningococcal C vaccines coverage increased, respectively, by +2.5% and +2.4% between 2016 and 2017. National-level polio vaccine coverage remained above the 95% PNPV coverage target between 2000 and 2013 and has remained below since then. In particular, it has had been steadily declin- ing between 2011 and 2016 (-2.8%). Measles coverage remained well below the 95% coverage target for the entire study period. In recent times, it declined by 4.8% between 2011 and 2015 with the lowest cover- age rate reported for year 2015 (85.3%). There is high heterogeneity in coverage within Regions for both mandatory and recommended vaccines.
Conclusion. Preliminary data show that childhood immunization coverage increased since the approval of the new law on mandatory vaccination. Nonetheless, as additional data are accumulating and will make it possible to further assess the impact of the new law, strengthened efforts are needed in Italy to promote informed and proactive vaccine uptake
Childhood vaccine coverage in Italy after the new law on mandatory immunization
No full textBackground. The Italian National Immunization Prevention Plan (PNPV) identifies vaccines actively offered free of charge to target populations within the National Health Service. Despite this, childhood immunization coverage has been declining in Italy in recent years. As a response, the Italian Parliament in July 2017 approved law n. 119 extending mandatory childhood vaccines from four to ten, this stimulating a lively debate at both the scientific and policy level. Methods. We analysed and critically interpreted 2000-2017 Italian national childhood immunization coverage trends, by different vaccine, target population, birth cohort and by Region. In particular, in order to preliminarily assess the impact of the new law, we computed percentage changes in 2016-2017 vaccine coverage for both mandatory and recommended vaccine programs. Data were provided by the Directorate General of Health Prevention of the Italian Ministry of Health. Results. In 2017 national-level vaccine coverage at 24 months of age was 94.5% for Polio and 91.7% for Measles, this representing, respectively 1.2% and 4.4% increase, as compared to 2016. Conjugate Pneumococcal and Meningococcal C vaccines coverage increased, respectively, by +2.5% and +2.4% between 2016 and 2017. National-level polio vaccine coverage remained above the 95% PNPV coverage target between 2000 and 2013 and has remained below since then. In particular, it has had been steadily declining between 2011 and 2016 (-2.8%). Measles coverage remained well below the 95% coverage target for the entire study period. In recent times, it declined by 4.8% between 2011 and 2015 with the lowest coverage rate reported for year 2015 (85.3%). There is high heterogeneity in coverage within Regions for both mandatory and recommended vaccines. Conclusion. Preliminary data show that childhood immunization coverage increased since the approval of the new law on mandatory vaccination. Nonetheless, as additional data are accumulating and will make it possible to further assess the impact of the new law, strengthened efforts are needed in Italy to promote informed and proactive vaccine uptake
Cognitive remediation for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A network meta-analysis
No full textCognitive remediation (CR) is a treatment targeting cognitive difficulties in
people with schizophrenia. Recent research suggested that CR may also have a
positive effect on negative symptoms. This meta-analysis investigates the effect
of CR on negative symptoms. A systematic search was used to identify all
randomized-controlled trials of CR in people with schizophrenia reporting
negative symptoms outcomes. Levels of negative symptoms at baseline, post-therapy
and follow-up, sample demographics and treatment length were extracted. Study
methodological quality and heterogeneity were addressed. Negative symptoms
standardized mean change was calculated using Hedges's g and used as the main
outcome. The search identified 45 studies reporting results for 2511
participants; 15 studies reported follow-up outcomes. CR was associated with a
reduction of negative symptoms (most conservative model g=-0.30; 95% CI: -0.36,
-0.22) at post-therapy compared with treatment as usual and this effect was
larger at follow-up (g=-0.36; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.21). Drop-out rate was comparable
between conditions. Network meta-analysis confirmed CR was superior to TAU and
TAU plus active control or adjunctive treatment. No evidence of publication bias
was found. Studies with more rigorous methodology were associated with larger
negative symptom reduction (g=-0.40; 95% CI: -0.51 to -0.30). Although negative
symptoms have not been considered a primary target for CR, this intervention can
have small to moderate beneficial effects on this symptom cluster. Future
research should explore in detail the active mechanisms responsible for negative
symptom reduction and the relationship between cognitive and negative symptoms in
schizophrenia
Risk factors for binge eating severity among adolescent girls and boys. A structural equation modeling approach
No full textObjective: Parental bonding, low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, and eating style are correlated with each other and are associated with binge eating among adolescents. However, no studies have yet examined all these variables simultaneously. In the current study, the independent and combined influences of such constructs on binge eating were tested with structural equation modeling. Method: A sample of 973 students aged between 12 and 16 (M = 14.17, SD = 1.25) years was screened by means of self-report measures assessing parental bonding, self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, eating styles and binge eating severity. Results: Self-esteem (β = −0.205) and eating styles (emotional β = 0.313, external β = 0.133, and restrained β = 0.178) had a direct effect on binge eating severity. The model (χ2(22) = 57.679; RMSEA = 0.041; CFI = 0.987; TLI = 0.949; SRMR = 0.024) revealed that the paths from both maternal and paternal care and maternal overprotection to binge eating were mediated through low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation and each eating style, explaining 35% of the variance. Discussion: Findings provide support for a comprehensive theoretical-based model of risk factors for binge eating and suggest the possible mechanisms through which the quality of early parental relationships contribute to developing dysfunctional eating patterns. Treatment and prevention efforts should improve self-esteem and emphasize emotion regulation capabilities
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