הייתי רוצה להכיר את העזרה הטכנית של בריאן Zenowich, דניאל Evestedt ו Winsean לין.

<ol>
	<li>Solis, J., Takeshi, N., Petersen, K., Takeuchi, M., Takanishi, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+the+anthropomorphic+saxophonist+robot+WAS-1:+Mechanical+design+of+the+simulated+organs+and+implementation+of+air+pressure.">Development of the anthropomorphic saxophonist robot WAS-1: Mechanical design of the simulated organs and implementation of air pressure.</a> Advanced Robotics Journal. 24, 629-650 (2010).</li><li>Zufferey, J. C., Floreano, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evolving+Won-Based+Flying+Robots.">Evolving Won-Based Flying Robots.</a> , 592-600 (2002).</li><li>Conditt, M. A., Gandolfo, F., Mussa-Ivaldi, F. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+motor+system+does+not+learn+the+dynamics+of+the+arm+by+rote+memorization+of+past+experience.">The motor system does not learn the dynamics of the arm by rote memorization of past experience.</a> Journal of Neurophysiology. 78, 554-554 (1997).</li><li>Krebs, H. I., Palazzolo, J. J., Dipietro, L., Ferraro, M., Krol, J., Rannekleiv, K., Volpe, B. T., Hogan, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rehabilitation+robotics:+Performance-based+progressive+robot-assisted+therapy.">Rehabilitation robotics: Performance-based progressive robot-assisted therapy.</a> Autonomous Robots. 15, 7-20 (2003).</li><li>Wei, K., Kording, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Relevance+of+error:+what+drives+motor+adaptation.">Relevance of error: what drives motor adaptation.</a> Journal of neurophysiology. 101, 655-65 (2009).</li><li>Wei, Y., Bajaj, P., Scheidt, R., Patton, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visual+error+augmentation+for+enhancing+motor+learning+and+rehabilitative+relearning.">Visual error augmentation for enhancing motor learning and rehabilitative relearning.</a> IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics. , 505-510 (2005).</li></ol>

כיתות מעטפת במדריך זה הן תחת זכויות היוצרים של איאן שארפ.

שיטה זו של יישום בכיתה מעטפת מאפשר רובוטים שונים כדי לשמש, מבלי לשנות את קוד המקור, בעת שימוש H3DAPI. באופן ספציפי, החוקרים שכתבו לתחושה שלהם / סביבת גרפי H3D ונבדק הניסוי שלהם עם רובוט רוח רפאים יהיה מסוגל לבצע את הניסוי זהים או דומים באמצעות בארט WAM, ולהיפך. זה סוג של מכשיר עצמאי תקשורת הנגדית נושאת השלכות על מחקר בינלאומי רובוטיקה השיקום. השלכות כאלה להקל לתחושה מהיר / פיתוח גרפי, שיתוף פעולה מחקרי בינלאומי, בין מחקר תקשורת מעבדה. שיקום רובוטיקה טרם לחשוף את הפרמטרים הרבים הכרוכים למידה מוטורית. אחד הצעדים זמן רב במהלך לתחושה / פיתוח גרפיקה כולל זמן הידור. עם פרמטרים שיקום רבים, מורכב עם הזמן הידור עבור כל תוכנית, מחזור חיי הפיתוח כדי לבחון את כל ההיבטים קבוצת אפשרי עולה במהירות. H3D, עם העדרו של דרישות לקט, מאפשרת פיתוח מהיר של מספר רב של סצינות מציאות מדומה. זה בא כיתרון עבור אלה השואפים החוקרים לחקור את ההשפעות של תרחישים הכשרה שונים. מגבלות זה &quot;בקידוד קשיח&quot; הגישה בכיתה מעטפת אינטגרציה כוללים את העובדה כי הליך זה יש לחזור בכל פעם יש חלוקה חדשה של H3DAPI. שינויים אפשריים לשילוב בכיתה העטיפה לתוך ההפצה האחרונה שלך של H3DAPI יהיה ליצור את המעמד מעטפת בנפרד H3DAPI. היית אז לשים בכיתה העטיפה שלך לתוך קובץ *. ספריה כך. זה יהיה לבודד את המעמד שלך מהפצת H3DAPI המקורי.

<ol style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> הצגת קרא פריז (אישי בתוספת טבילה מערכת מציאות), ניתן למצוא בכתובת <a href="http://www.evl.uic.edu">www.evl.uic.edu</a> </li><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> הרובוט אפור גדול בארט WAM: <a href="http://www.barrett.com">www.barrett.com</a> </li><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> קטן יותר, רובוט שחור רזה הוא פנטום: <a href="http://www.sensable.com">www.sensable.com</a> </li><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> הר זרוע הוא T-WREX, שפותחה על RIC: <a href="http://www.ric.org/research/centers/mars2/Projects/development/d3.aspx">http://www.ric.org/research/centers/mars2/Projects/development/d3.aspx</a> </li><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> תריס משקפיים 3D Vision: <a href="http://www.vrlogic.com">www.vrlogic.com</a> </li><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> ראש תוכנת מעקב. <a href="http://www.mechdyne.com">www.mechdyne.com</a> </li><li style=";text-align:right;direction:rtl"> H3DAPI עצמה: <a href="http://www.h3dapi.org">www.h3dapi.org</a> </li></ol>

haptic/graphic rehabilitation: integrating a robot into a virtual environment library and applying it to stroke therapy

מחקר שנערך לאחרונה כי בדיקות התקנים אינטראקטיבי לתרגול טיפול ממושך חשף בפנינו סיכויים חדשים הרובוטיקה בשילוב עם צורות גרפיות אחרות של ביופידבק. קודם אדם רובוט מערכות אינטראקטיביות נדרש פקודות תוכנה שונות תיושם עבור כל רובוט המוביל זמן מיותר ממעל התפתחותי בכל פעם מערכת חדשה הופכת לזמינה. לדוגמה, כאשר לתחושה / מציאות גרפי סביבה וירטואלית כבר מקודד עבור רובוט אחד ספציפי לספק משוב לתחושה, כי רובוט מסוים לא יהיה מסוגל להיות הנסחרות לרובוט אחר ללא קידוד מחדש את התוכנית. עם זאת, המאמצים האחרונים בקהילת הקוד הפתוח הציעו בכיתה מעטפת גישה זו יכולה לעורר תגובה כמעט זהה ללא קשר הרובוט בשימוש. התוצאה יכולה להוביל חוקרים ברחבי העולם לבצע ניסויים דומים באמצעות קוד משותף. לכן &quot;מיתוג החוצה&quot; מודולרי של רובוט אחד אחר לא תשפיע על זמן הפיתוח. במאמר זה, אנו המתאר את יצירת יישום מוצלח של מעמד מעטפת עבור רובוט אחד לתוך הקוד הפתוח H3DAPI, המשלבת תוכנה הפקודות הנפוץ ביותר על ידי כל הרובוטים.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Haptic/Graphic Rehabilitation: Integrating a Robot into a Virtual Environment Library and Applying it to Stroke Therapy at JoVE.com

Haptic/Graphic Rehabilitation: Integrating a Robot into a Virtual Environment Library and Applying it to Stroke Therapy

לאחרונה, כמות עצומה של לקוחות פוטנציאליים הגיעו זמין עבור אדם רובוט מערכות אינטראקטיביות. במאמר זה אנו המתאר את השילוב של מכשיר רובוטי חדש עם תוכנות קוד פתוח שיכולות להפוך במהירות ספריה אפשרי של פונקציונליות אינטראקטיבית. לאחר מכן מתאר יישום קליני עבור יישום neurorehabilitation.

לתחושה / שיקום גרפי: שילוב רובוט לתוך ספריית סביבה וירטואלית וליישם אותו שבץ תרפיה

Recent research that tests interactive devices for prolonged therapy practice has revealed new prospects for robotics combined with graphical and other ...

hapticgraphic-rehabilitation-integrating-robot-into-virtual

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

13.7K Views.  University of Illinois at Chicago and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. לאחרונה, כמות עצומה של לקוחות פוטנציאליים הגיעו זמין עבור אדם רובוט מערכות אינטראקטיביות. במאמר זה אנו המתאר את השילוב של מכשיר רובוטי חדש עם תוכנות קוד פתוח שיכולות להפוך במהירות ספריה אפשרי של פונקציונליות אינטראקטיבית. לאחר מכן מתאר יישום קליני עבור יישום neu...

Video: Haptic/Graphic Rehabilitation: Integrating a Robot into a Virtual Environment Library and Applying it to Stroke Therapy

Adaptation of a Haptic Robot in a 3T fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides excellent functional brain imaging via the BOLD signal 1 with advantages including non-ionizing radiation, millimeter spatial accuracy of anatomical and functional data 2, and nearly real-time analyses 3. Haptic robots provide precise measurement and control of position and force of a cursor in a reasonably confined space. Here we combine these two technologies to allow precision experiments involving motor control with haptic/tactile environment interaction such as reaching or grasping. The basic idea is to attach an 8 foot end effecter supported in the center to the robot 4 allowing the subject to use the robot, but shielding it and keeping it out of the most extreme part of the magnetic field from the fMRI machine (Figure 1).
The Phantom Premium 3.0, 6DoF, high-force robot (SensAble Technologies, Inc.) is an excellent choice for providing force-feedback in virtual reality experiments 5, 6, but it is inherently non-MR safe, introduces significant noise to the sensitive fMRI equipment, and its electric motors may be affected by the fMRI's strongly varying magnetic field. We have constructed a table and shielding system that allows the robot to be safely introduced into the fMRI environment and limits both the degradation of the fMRI signal by the electrically noisy motors and the degradation of the electric motor performance by the strongly varying magnetic field of the fMRI. With the shield, the signal to noise ratio (SNR: mean signal/noise standard deviation) of the fMRI goes from a baseline of &tilde;380 to &tilde;330, and &tilde;250 without the shielding. The remaining noise appears to be uncorrelated and does not add artifacts to the fMRI of a test sphere (Figure 2). The long, stiff handle allows placement of the robot out of range of the most strongly varying parts of the magnetic field so there is no significant effect of the fMRI on the robot. The effect of the handle on the robot's kinematics is minimal since it is lightweight (&tilde;2.6 lbs) but extremely stiff 3/4" graphite and well balanced on the 3DoF joint in the middle. The end result is an fMRI compatible, haptic system with about 1 cubic foot of working space, and, when combined with virtual reality, it allows for a new set of experiments to be performed in the fMRI environment including naturalistic reaching, passive displacement of the limb and haptic perception, adaptation learning in varying force fields, or texture identification 5, 6.

The adaptation and use of a haptic robot in a 3T fMRI is described.

ההסתגלות של רובוט לתחושה ב fMRI 3T

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides excellent functional brain imaging via the BOLD signal 1 with advantages including non-ionizing ...

Designing a Bio-responsive Robot from DNA Origami

Nucleic acids are astonishingly versatile. In addition to their natural role as storage medium for biological information1, they can be utilized in parallel computing2,3 , recognize and bind molecular or cellular targets4,5 , catalyze chemical reactions6,7 , and generate calculated responses in a biological system8,9. Importantly, nucleic acids can be programmed to self-assemble into 2D and 3D structures10-12, enabling the integration of all these remarkable features in a single robot linking the sensing of biological cues to a preset response in order to exert a desired effect.
Creating shapes from nucleic acids was first proposed by Seeman13, and several variations on this theme have since been realized using various techniques11,12,14,15 . However, the most significant is perhaps the one proposed by Rothemund, termed scaffolded DNA origami16. In this technique, the folding of a long (&gt;7,000 bases) single-stranded DNA 'scaffold' is directed to a desired shape by hundreds of short complementary strands termed 'staples'. Folding is carried out by temperature annealing ramp. This technique was successfully demonstrated in the creation of a diverse array of 2D shapes with remarkable precision and robustness. DNA origami was later extended to 3D as well17,18 .
 
The current paper will focus on the caDNAno 2.0 software19 developed by Douglas and colleagues. caDNAno is a robust, user-friendly CAD tool enabling the design of 2D and 3D DNA origami shapes with versatile features. The design process relies on a systematic and accurate abstraction scheme for DNA structures, making it relatively straightforward and efficient.
In this paper we demonstrate the design of a DNA origami nanorobot that has been recently described20. This robot is 'robotic' in the sense that it links sensing to actuation, in order to perform a task. We explain how various sensing schemes can be integrated into the structure, and how this can be relayed to a desired effect. Finally we use Cando21 to simulate the mechanical properties of the designed shape. The concept we discuss can be adapted to multiple tasks and settings.

DNA origami is a powerful method for fabricating precise nanoscale objects by programming the self-assembly of DNA molecules. Here, we describe how DNA origami can be utilized to design a robotic robot capable of sensing biological cues and responding by shape shifting, subsequently relayed to a desired effect.

עיצוב רובוט ביו תגובה מ-DNA אוריגמי

Nucleic acids are astonishingly versatile. In addition to their natural role as storage medium for biological information1, they can be utilized in ...

A Method for Evaluating Timeliness and Accuracy of Volitional Motor Responses to Vibrotactile Stimuli

Artificial sensory feedback (ASF) systems can be used to compensate for lost proprioception in individuals with lower-limb impairments. Effective design of these ASF systems requires an in-depth understanding of how the parameters of specific feedback mechanism affect user perception and reaction to stimuli. This article presents a method for applying vibrotactile stimuli to human participants and measuring their response. Rotating mass vibratory motors are placed at pre-defined locations on the participant's thigh, and controlled through custom hardware and software. The speed and accuracy of participants' volitional responses to vibrotactile stimuli are measured for researcher-specified combinations of motor placement and vibration frequency. While the protocol described here uses push-buttons to collect a simple binary response to the vibrotactile stimuli, the technique can be extended to other response mechanisms using inertial measurement units or pressure sensors to measure joint angle and weight bearing ratios, respectively. Similarly, the application of vibrotactile stimuli can be explored for body segments other than the thigh.

This article describes a technique for applying vibrotactile stimuli to the thigh of a human participant, and measuring the accuracy and reaction time of the participant&#39;s volitional response for various combinations of stimulation location and frequency.

שיטה להערכת עתוי דיוק של תגובות מוטוריות רצוניות כדי Vibrotactile גירויים

Artificial sensory feedback (ASF) systems can be used to compensate for lost proprioception in individuals with lower-limb impairments.  Effective design ...

Using Extraordinary Optical Transmission to Quantify Cardiac Biomarkers in Human Serum

For a biosensing platform to have clinical relevance in point-of-care (POC) settings, assay sensitivity, reproducibility, and ability to reliably monitor analytes against the background of human serum are crucial.
Nanoimprinting lithography (NIL) was used to fabricate, at a low cost, sensing areas as large as 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm. The sensing surface was made of high-fidelity arrays of nanoholes, each with an area of about 140 nm2. The great reproducibility of NIL made it possible to employ a one-chip, one-measurement strategy on 12 individually manufactured surfaces, with minimal chip-to-chip variation. These nanoimprinted localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) chips were extensively tested on their ability to reliably measure a bioanalyte at concentrations varying from 2.5 to 75 ng/mL amidst the background of a complex biofluid-in this case, human serum. The high fidelity of NIL enables the generation of large sensing areas, which in turn eliminates the need for a microscope, as this biosensor can be easily interfaced with a commonly available laboratory light source. These biosensors can detect cardiac troponin in serum with a high sensitivity, at a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.55 ng/mL, which is clinically relevant. They also show low chip-to-chip variance (due to the high quality of the fabrication process). The results are commensurable with widely used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based assays, but the technique retains the advantages of an LSPR-based sensing platform (i.e., amenability to miniaturization and multiplexing, making it more feasible for POC applications).

This work describes a nanoimprinting lithography method to fabricate high-quality sensing arrays that work on the principle of extraordinary optical transmission. The biosensor is low-cost, robust, easy to use, and can detect cardiac troponin I in serum at clinically relevant concentrations (99th percentile cutoff &#8764;10-400 pg/mL, depending on the assay).

באמצעות תמסורת אופטית יוצאת דופן לכמת סמנים לב בנסיוב אדם

For a biosensing platform to have clinical relevance in point-of-care (POC) settings, assay sensitivity, reproducibility, and ability to reliably monitor ...

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Mechanical properties of complex, polymer-based soft matter, such as cells or biopolymer networks, can be understood in neither the classical frame of flexible polymers nor of rigid rods. Underlying filaments remain outstretched due to their non-vanishing backbone stiffness, which is quantified via the persistence length (lp), but they are also subject to strong thermal fluctuations. Their finite bending stiffness leads to unique, non-trivial collective mechanics of bulk networks, enabling the formation of stable scaffolds at low volume fractions while providing large mesh sizes. This underlying principle is prevalent in nature (e.g., in cells or tissues), minimizing the high molecular content and thereby facilitating diffusive or active transport. Due to their biological implications and potential technological applications in biocompatible hydrogels, semiflexible polymers have been subject to considerable study. However, comprehensible investigations remained challenging since they relied on natural polymers, such as actin filaments, which are not freely tunable. Despite these limitations and due to the lack of synthetic, mechanically tunable, and semiflexible polymers, actin filaments were established as the common model system. A major limitation is that the central quantity lp cannot be freely tuned to study its impact on macroscopic bulk structures. This limitation was resolved by employing structurally programmable DNA nanotubes, enabling controlled alteration of the filament stiffness. They are formed through tile-based designs, where a discrete set of partially complementary strands hybridize in a ring structure with a discrete circumference. These rings feature sticky ends, enabling the effective polymerization into filaments several microns in length, and display similar polymerization kinetics as natural biopolymers. Due to their programmable mechanics, these tubes are versatile, novel tools to study the impact of lp on the single-molecule as well as the bulk scale. In contrast to actin filaments, they remain stable over weeks, without notable degeneration, and their handling is comparably straightforward.

Semiflexible polymers display unique mechanical properties that are extensively applied by living systems. However, systematic studies on biopolymers are limited since properties such as polymer rigidity are inaccessible. This manuscript describes how this limitation is circumvented by programmable DNA nanotubes, enabling experimental studies on the impact of filament rigidity.

ה-DNA צינוריות כמו כלי רב-תכליתי ללמוד פולימרים Semiflexible

Mechanical properties of complex, polymer-based soft matter, such as cells or biopolymer networks, can be understood in neither the classical frame of ...

Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana

Chemical genetics is increasingly being employed to decode traits in plants that may be recalcitrant to traditional genetics due to gene redundancy or lethality. However, the probability of a synthetic small molecule being bioactive is low; therefore, thousands of molecules must be tested in order to find those of interest. Liquid handling robotics systems are designed to handle large numbers of samples, increasing the speed with which a chemical library can be screened in addition to minimizing/standardizing error. To achieve a high-throughput forward chemical genetics screen of a library of 50,000 small molecules on Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), protocols using a bench-top multichannel liquid handling robot were developed that require minimal technician involvement. With these protocols, 3,271 small molecules were discovered that caused visible phenotypic alterations. 1,563 compounds induced short roots, 1,148 compounds altered coloration, 383 compounds caused root hair and other, non-categorized, alterations, and 177 compounds inhibited germination.

Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana

A high throughput screen of synthetic small molecules was conducted on the model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana. This protocol, developed for a liquid handling robot, increases the speed of forward chemical genetics screens, accelerating the discovery of novel small molecules affecting plant physiology.

אופטימיזציה של השימוש של רובוט טיפול נוזלי לנהל גבוהה תפוקה קדימה כימי גנטיקה מסך של תודרנית לבנה

Chemical genetics is increasingly being employed to decode traits in plants that may be recalcitrant to traditional genetics due to gene redundancy or ...

A Converging Strategy for the Generation of a Virtually Sequenced cDNA Library from Unreferenced Pacific Oysters

The access to biological material of reference species, which were used previously in key experiments such as in the development of novel cell lines or genome sequencing projects, are often difficult to provide for further studies or third parties due to the consumptive nature of the samples. Although now widely distributed over the Pacific coasts of Asia, Australia and North America, individual Pacific oyster specimens are genetically quite diverse and are therefore not directly suitable as the starting material for gene libraries. In this article, we demonstrate the use of unreferenced Pacific oyster specimens obtained from regional seafood markets to generate cDNA libraries. These libraries were then compared to the publicly available oyster genome, and the closest related library was selected using the mitochondrial reference genes Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit I (COX1) and NADH Dehydrogenase (ND). The suitability of the generated cDNA library is also demonstrated by cloning and expression of two genes encoding the enzymes UDP-glucuronic acid dehydrogenase (UGD) and UDP-xylose synthase (UXS), which are responsible for the biosynthesis of UDP-xylose from UDP-glucose.

We describe a strategy for how to use RNA samples from unreferenced Pacific oyster specimens, and evaluate the genetic material by comparison with publicly available genome data to generate a virtually sequenced cDNA library.

אסטרטגיה מתכנס לדור של ספריית דנ א בלתי מופנה מצדפות פסיפיק

The access to biological material of reference species, which were used previously in key experiments such as in the development of novel cell lines or ...

Three-dimensional Patterning of Engineered Biofilms with a Do-it-yourself Bioprinter

Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria embedded in a self-produced spatially-patterned extracellular matrix. Bacteria within a biofilm develop enhanced antibiotic resistance, which poses potential health dangers, but can also be beneficial for environmental applications such as purification of drinking water. The further development of anti-bacterial therapeutics and biofilm-inspired applications will require the development of reproducible, engineerable methods for biofilm creation. Recently, a novel method of biofilm preparation using a modified three-dimensional (3D) printer with a bacterial ink has been developed. This article describes the steps necessary to build this efficient, low-cost 3D bioprinter that offers multiple applications in bacterially-induced materials processing. The protocol begins with an adapted commercial 3D printer in which the extruder has been replaced with a bio-ink dispenser connected to a syringe pump system enabling a controllable, continuous flow of bio-ink. To develop a bio-ink suitable for biofilm printing, engineered Escherichia coli bacteria were suspended in a solution of alginate, so that they solidify in contact with a surface containing calcium. The inclusion of an inducer chemical within the printing substrate drives expression of biofilm proteins within the printed bio-ink. This method enables 3D printing of various spatial patterns composed of discrete layers of printed biofilms. Such spatially-controlled biofilms can serve as model systems and can find applications in multiple fields that have a wide-ranging impact on society, including antibiotic resistance prevention or drinking water purification, among others.

This article describes a method of transforming a low-cost commercial 3D printer into a bacterial 3D printer that can facilitate printing of patterned biofilms. All necessary aspects of preparing the bioprinter and bio-ink are described, as well as verification methods to assess the formation of biofilms.

המשך תלת-מימדי של ביוריאמים מהונדסים עם מעשה-זה-בעצמך ביורינטר

Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria embedded in a self-produced spatially-patterned extracellular matrix. Bacteria within a biofilm develop enhanced ...

Isokinetic Robotic Device to Improve Test-Retest and Inter-Rater Reliability for Stretch Reflex Measurements in Stroke Patients with Spasticity

Measuring spasticity is important in treatment planning and determining efficacy after treatment. However, the current tool used in clinical settings has been shown to be limited in inter-rater reliability. One factor in this poor inter-rater reliability is the variability of passive motion while measuring the angle of catch (AoC) measurements. Therefore, an isokinetic device has been proposed to standardize the manual joint motion; however, the benefits of isokinetic motion for AoC measurements has not been tested in a standardized manner. This protocol investigates whether isokinetic motion itself can improve inter-rater reliability for AoC measurements. For this purpose, a robotic isokinetic device was developed that is combined with surface electromyography (EMG). Two conditions, manual and isokinetic motions, are compared with the standardized method to measure the angle and subjective feeling of catch. It is shown that in 17 stroke patients with mild elbow flexor spasticity, isokinetic motion improved the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for inter-rater reliability of AoC measurements to 0.890 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.685&#8211;0.961] by the EMG criteria, and 0.931 (95% CI: 0.791&#8211;0.978) by the torque criteria, from 0.788 (95% CI: 0.493&#8211;0.920) by manual motion. In conclusion, isokinetic motion itself can improve inter-rater reliability of AoC measurements in stroke patients with mild spasticity. Given that this system may provide greater standardized angle measurements and catch of feeling, it may be a good option for the evaluation of spasticity in a clinical setting.

Using a robotic isokinetic device with electromyography (EMG) measurements, this protocol illustrates that isokinetic motion itself can improve inter-rater reliability for the angle of catch measurements in stroke patients with mild elbow flexor spasticity.

Isokinetic התקן רובוטי כדי לשפר את הבדיקה-Retest ואת האמינות הבין-למתוח עבור מדידות רפלקס מתיחה בחולי שבץ עם ספסטיות

Measuring spasticity is important in treatment planning and determining efficacy after treatment. However, the current tool used in clinical settings has ...

התקנת התקן מיקרופלואידי לייצור תקע קומבינטורי

Bilayer Microfluidic Device for Combinatorial Plug Production

Droplet microfluidics is a versatile tool that allows the execution of a large number of reactions in chemically distinct nanoliter compartments. Such systems have been used to encapsulate a variety of biochemical reactions - from incubation of single cells to implementation of PCR reactions, from genomics to chemical synthesis. Coupling the microfluidic channels with regulatory valves allows control over their opening and closing, thereby enabling the rapid production of large-scale combinatorial libraries consisting of a population of droplets with unique compositions. In this paper, protocols for the fabrication and operation of a pressure-driven, PDMS-based bilayer microfluidic device that can be utilized to generate combinatorial libraries of water-in-oil emulsions called plugs are presented. By incorporating software programs and microfluidic hardware, the flow of desired fluids in the device can be controlled and manipulated to generate combinatorial plug libraries and to control the composition and quantity of constituent plug populations. These protocols will expedite the process of generating combinatorial screens, particularly to study drug response in cells from cancer patient biopsies.

מחבר זרקור: שילוב גישות חישוביות וניסוייות באונקולוגיה מדויקת

The fabrication of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based bilayer device for the production of combinatorial libraries in water-in-oil emulsions (plugs) is presented here. The necessary hardware and software required to automate plug production are detailed in the protocol, and the production of a quantitative library of fluorescent plugs is also demonstrated.

התקן מיקרופלואידי דו-שכבתי לייצור תקע קומבינטורי

Droplet microfluidics is a versatile tool that allows the execution of a large number of reactions in chemically distinct nanoliter compartments. Such ...