Search

More problems are involved in collaborating multi-robot-arm systems than in single robot arms. These problems stem from mutual dynamic and kinematic effects between the arms. This work is confined to only the kinematics of two robot arms: other problems like control, force distribution, and so on are not addressed here. A particular case of a material handling problem with two collaborating robot arms loading/unloading long objects from a conveyor is studied. The feasibility, of the task from a kinematics point of view, and the necessary conditions and constraints for the relative set-up of the two manipulators are discussed. These conditions originate from the working envelope of the two arms which depends on three factors: the working envelope of each individual arm, the spacing between them, and the dimensions of the workpiece. To assist this study, an efficient algorithm for determining the two-dimensional contours of the workspace of a single arm is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low levels and function of natural killer (NK) cells are associated with increased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. NK cell immunotherapy may improve immune function to reduce infection severity. We conducted a first-in-human, open-label, phase 1, dose-escalating (100 × 10 6 , 300 × 10 6 , or 900 × 10 6 cells) study of a single dose of DVX201, a cord-blood-derived allogeneic NK cell therapy, in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Participants were followed for 28 days. The maximum allowed steroid dose for eligibility was up to 0.5 mg/kg prednisone (or equivalent) daily. We enrolled nine participants, 3 per dose level. Eight participants had ≥1 comorbidity associated with increased COVID-19 severity, three of whom had a hematologic malignancy. Infusions were well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events. There was no evidence of inflammatory complications related to infusions. Peripheral blood NK cells generally increased after infusion, peaking by day 7. The median time from infusion to discharge was 2 days (range: 1-13). Two patients (both with acute lymphoblastic leukemia) were readmitted with recurrent COVID-19. This trial demonstrates the safety of allogeneic NK cell immunotherapy as a potential antiviral. Larger controlled trials are needed to establish efficacy., Competing Interests: A.T., C.S., J.C., J.B., and C.S.D. are employees of and have equity in Deverra Therapeutics. C.S.D. is also an employee of Coeptis Therapeutics. J.A.H. received research funding from Deverra Therapeutics for the conduct of this trial, has received research funding from Allovir, Gilead, Takeda, and Merck, and served as a consultant for Moderna, Allovir, Gilead, SentiBio, Modulus, Takeda, and CSL Behring., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Nowadays, professions with stronger theoretical background usually have a better standing among other academic fields. The field of Medical Library and Information Science (MLIS) also requires developments in theoretical issues to increase its ranking and provide more effective support services and higher quality research. The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review of publications in MLIS in Scopus and Web of Sciences databases to identify the underlying theoretical issues in this field. The research method was a scoping review conducted in February 2022. Articles published in the field of MLIS for which the main theme or research outcomes were based on theoretical foundations, patterns, frameworks, theories and models, and without limitation on time were retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus databases. The retrieved articles were analyzed after necessary screening and evaluation. Based on the determined criteria, 49 articles were eventually analyzed. Patterns, theories, frameworks, and models used in the articles have been categorized into six general groups: (1) information (general) and information literacy; (2) models of evaluation and support services in libraries and information centers; (3) clinical, embedded librarianship, and professional librarianship; (4) scientometrics, selection and evaluation of articles, journals, and serials; (5) open access content; and (6) psychological and sociological models. The results indicate that published articles in the field of MLIS have used a considerable range of models, theories, and frameworks as the most important elements of theoretical concepts. These models, theories, and frameworks have been categorized into six main groups, a number of which have been involving collection development, organization of material, and most have been overseeing the distribution of information and support services in libraries and information centers. Whereas MLIS is an interdisciplinary field with specific applications for access to and distribution of information, it still has considerable potential for presenting models, frameworks, and theories., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Background: The blood biomarker neurofilament light (NFL) is one of the most widely used for monitoring Alzheimer's disease (AD). According to recent research, a higher NFL plasma level has a substantial predictive value for cognitive deterioration in AD patients. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI-based approach for detecting neurodegeneration, white matter (WM) disruption, and synaptic damage. There have been few studies on the relationship between plasma NFL and WM microstructure integrity., Aims: The goal of the current study is to assess the associations between plasma levels of NFL, CSF total tau, phosphorylated tau181 (P-tau181), and amyloid-β (Aβ) with WM microstructural alterations., Methods: We herein have investigated the cross-sectional association between plasma levels of NFL and WM microstructural alterations as evaluated by DTI in 92 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) provided by Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants. We analyzed the potential association between plasma NFL levels and radial diffusivity (RD), axial diffusivity (AxD), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) in each region of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) atlas, using simple linear regression models stratified by age, sex, and APOE ε4 genotype., Results: Our findings demonstrated a significant association between plasma NFL levels and disrupted WM microstructure across the brain. In distinct areas, plasma NFL has a negative association with FA in the fornix, fronto-occipital fasciculus, corpus callosum, uncinate fasciculus, internal capsule, and corona radiata and a positive association with RD, AxD, and MD values in sagittal stratum, corpus callosum, fronto-occipital fasciculus, corona radiata, internal capsule, thalamic radiation, hippocampal cingulum, fornix, and cingulum. Lower FA and higher RD, AxD, and MD values are related to demyelination and degeneration in WM., Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the level of NFL in the blood is linked to WM alterations in MCI patients. Plasma NFL has the potential to be a biomarker for microstructural alterations. However, further longitudinal studies are necessary to validate the predictive role of plasma NFL in cognitive decline., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: The concept of mobile health has attracted considerable attention across the globe, as it provides both healthcare professionals and patients with a distinct means of information and resources., Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of utilising mobile health (mHealth) applications by nurses and presenting a scenario of how and why they are utilised., Methods: This study was a scoping review. Data collection was carried out by searching the related keywords in Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane, EMBASE, Ovid, and PubMed databases from January 2000 to March 2019., Results: Regarding the reasons for using mobile applications by nurses, five objectives were identified, including learning and knowledge enhancement, treatment and improvement of the patient care process, diagnostic process, data and patient management, and health promotion. Effective factors in the nurses' use of mobile applications were categorised into eight themes: ease of use, usefulness, security and confidentiality, feasibility and functionality, design and use-interface, effectiveness, infrastructure, versatility, and social norms., Conclusions: Mobile health applications have considerable potential in enhancing nurses' professional activities. This study contributes to both nursing and health policy by providing a scenario of how and why nurses use mobile health applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive impairments that hinder daily activities and lead to personal and behavioral problems. Plasma hyperphosphorylated tau protein at threonine 181 (p-tau181) has recently emerged as a new sensitive tool for the diagnosis of AD patients. We herein investigated the association of plasma P-tau181 and white matter (WM) microstructural changes in AD. We obtained data from a large prospective cohort of elderly individuals participating in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), which included baseline measurements of plasma P-tau181 and imaging findings. A subset of 41 patients with AD, 119 patients with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), and 43 healthy controls (HC) was included in the study, all of whom had baseline blood P-tau181 levels and had also undergone Diffusion Tensor Imaging. The analysis revealed that the plasma level of P-tau181 has a positive correlation with changes in Mean Diffusivity (MD), Radial Diffusivity (RD), and Axial Diffusivity (AxD), but a negative with Fractional Anisotropy (FA) parameters in WM regions of all participants. There is also a significant association between WM microstructural changes in different regions and P-tau181 plasma measurements within each MCI, HC, and AD group. In conclusion, our findings clarified that plasma P-tau181 levels are associated with changes in WM integrity in AD. P-tau181 could improve the accuracy of diagnostic procedures and support the application of blood-based biomarkers to diagnose WM neurodegeneration. Longitudinal clinical studies are also needed to demonstrate the efficacy of the P-tau181 biomarker and predict its role in structural changes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Despite the multitude of studies comparing teacher burnout with an ample of variables, a need for seeking what English language teachers think about their job and the interfering variables regarding the context seems essential. The aim of this study was primarily to investigate the relationship between teacher burnout and job satisfaction of English language teachers and, then, to find out the impact of teaching experience and gender on teacher burnout and job satisfaction., Materials and Methods: It was a mixed-methods study conducted on 103 teachers who were conveniently sampled and were investigated through questionnaires and interviews among high school English language teachers in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The sampling method was purposive, and data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Data analyses were performed using mixed-methods approach., Results: The results revealed a moderate negative correlation between the first two elements of teacher burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization) and job satisfaction ( P < 0.01), whereas a positive correlation was found between the next element, i.e., personal accomplishments and job satisfaction ( P < 0.05). Afterward, no statistically significant difference was detected between demographic characteristics (i.e., gender and teaching experience) ( P < 0.01). Then, 15 teachers voluntarily participated in the interview sessions and expressed their opinions about the way teachers see the environment they work in., Conclusions: There are factors that influence on the quality of teaching and learning processes and lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction; therefore, it seems advisable to remove them to reduce their negative effects., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is among the most common diseases affecting brain and spinal cord. MS progression is characterized by breakdown of blood brain barrier which leads to increased vascular permeability and angiogenesis. Consequently, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) and its receptors are considered to be important components of MS progression. VEGFA and fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1) play important roles in various aspects of MS. In this study, we investigated the relationship between these genes and MS. For this purpose, the expression levels of VEGFA and FLT1 were measured in the blood of 50 relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients and 50 healthy individuals using TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR. A significant upregulation of VEGFA expression was observed among MS patients compared with controls (p = 0.04). However, the difference in FLT1 gene expression between study groups was insignificant (p = 0.947). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between VEGFA and FLT1 genes expressions (r = 0.769, p < 0.0001). In spite of the highly complex molecular mechanisms behind this, the findings imply participation of VEGFA in the pathogenesis of MS.

Background: This study evaluated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of spinach (HES) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the prevention phase, 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus 400 mg kg -1 HES, or a chow diet for 7 weeks. For the treatment phase, after the induction of NAFLD, they were fed a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus 400 mg kg -1 HES, a chow diet, or chow diet plus 400 mg kg -1 HES for 4 weeks (n = 6)., Results: Weight gain (P = 0.01), food intake (P < 0.01), serum glucose (P = 0.01), triglyceride (TG) (P = 0.02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (P = 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.02), liver steatosis, and the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS) (P < 0.01) in the high-fat group were statistically higher than in the other groups at the end of the prevention phase. Feeding spinach extract to rats on a high-fat diet decreased serum glucose (P = 0.01), total cholesterol (TCh) (P < 0.01), AST (P = 0.01), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P < 0.01), and liver steatosis (P < 0.01) in the treatment phase., Conclusion: Overall, spinach extract showed beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with different epidemiological, genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Although its etiology is not fully understood, immune dysfunction is implicated in this disease. Recently, a large number of genes encoding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were discovered which act as positive or negative regulators of neighboring target genes. The lncRNA, Interferon gamma-antisense RNA (IFNG-AS1), regulates expression levels of the Interferon gamma (IFNG) gene. In the present study, we investigated expression of IFNG and IFNG-AS1 in 50 children with ASD (15 females and 35 males, mean age: 6 ± 1.4 years) and 50 healthy controls (14 females and 36 males, mean age: 6 ± 1.74 years) by real time PCR technique. The results showed significant up-regulation of IFNG and down-regulation of IFNG-AS1 expression in children with ASD compared to controls (Fold change = 1.5, P < 0.0001; Fold change = -0.143, P = 0.013, respectively). The IFNG expression level increase was more pronounced in male ASD children (Fold change = 1.621; p < 0.0001). Our data reveal a functional disruption in the interactive network of IFNG/IFNG-AS1 regulation, which could be a contributing factor in the chronic inflammatory aspect of ASD. Our findings can help understanding the underlying contributors to ASD pathogenesis and find novel treatment options for children with ASD.

Celiac disease (CD) is a common autoimmune disease that is manifested by inflammation of the small intestine and varying extra intestinal symptoms, also considered to be associated with human HLA-DQ genes. In this study, 40 patients of CD and 40 healthy control samples were genotyped for HLA-DQB1 and 14 patients of CD and 14 healthy control samples were genotyped for HLA-DQA1genes using the SSP-PCR technique and a commercial kit.The DQA1*05 allele had the highest frequency among the patient group (42.86%). The frequency of this allele was 28.57% in healthy controls, and there was no statistically significant difference in this case (p= 0.771).The DQB1*02 allele was the most common in patients (33.75%) followed by the DQB1*03 allele (31.25%).The difference in frequency of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele in the patient and control groups was statistically significant (P= 0.0002, OR = 4.72). The remarkable differences in the distribution of HLA-DQ2 in Iranian patients compared to controls and relative risks signified the role of these alleles in the development of CD in Iranian patients and confirmed the likelihood of using HLA-DQ typing in the substantiation of the disease.

Schizophrenia and epilepsy are two prevalent neurological disorders with high global burden to the society. Genome-wide studies have identified potential underlying causes for these neurological diseases. In the present case-control study, we have assessed expression of CYFIP1 and CAMKK2 genes in the blood samples of epileptic and schizophrenic patients compared with healthy subjects. A total of 180 subjects including 40 epileptic patients, 50 schizophrenic patients, and 90 healthy individuals participated in the study. Expression of the mentioned genes was measured using TaqMan real-time PCR. The results demonstrated a significant upregulation of CYFIP1 gene expression in epileptic patients (P = 0.029). CAMKK2 was downregulated in female schizophrenic patients compared with female healthy individuals (P = 0.048). These results may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of epilepsy and schizophrenia and suggest these genes as potential therapeutic targets for these neurological disorders. Future studies should evaluate these results in larger cohorts of patients.