Grasp and remember: the impact of human and robotic actions on object preference and memory.

Goal contagion, the tendency to adopt others' goals, significantly impacts cognitive processes, which gains particular importance in the emerging field of human-robot interactions. The present study explored how observing human versus robotic actions affects preference and memory. Series of objects undergoing either human or robotic grasping actions together with static (no action) objects were presented, while participants indicated their preference for each object.

The sense of agency shapes body schema and peripersonal space.

Body schema, a sensorimotor representation of the body used for planning and executing movements, is plastic because it extends by using a tool to reach far objects. Modifications of peripersonal space, i.e.

Deoxynivalenol induces structural alterations in epidermoid carcinoma cells A431 and impairs the response to biomechanical stimulation.

Morphology together with the capability to respond to surrounding stimuli are key elements governing the spatial interaction of living cells with the environment. In this respect, biomechanical stimulation can trigger significant physiological cascades that can potentially modulate toxicity. Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp.

An experimental setup to test dual-joystick directional responses to vibrotactile stimuli.

In this paper we investigate the influence of the location of vibrotactile stimulation in triggering the response made using two handheld joysticks. In particular, we compare performance with stimuli delivered either using tactors placed on the palm or on the back of the hand and with attractive (move toward the vibration) or repulsive prompts (move away from the vibration). The experimental set-up comprised two joysticks and two gloves, each equipped with four pager motors along the cardinal directions.

Upper limb rehabilitation robotics after stroke: a perspective from the University of Padua, Italy.

Rehabilitation robotics is an emerging research field that aims to employ leading-edge robotic technology and virtual reality systems in the rehabilitation treatment of neuro-logical patients. In post-stroke patients with upper limb impairment, clinical trials have so far shown positive results in terms of motor recovery, but poor efficacy in terms of functional outcome. Much work is needed to develop a new generation of rehabilitation robots and clinical protocols that will be more effective in helping patients to regain their abilities in activities of daily living.

Design, implementation and clinical tests of a wire-based robot for neurorehabilitation.

This paper presents the development of and clinical tests on NeReBot (NEuroREhabilitation roBOT): a three degrees-of-freedom (DoF), wire-driven robot for poststroke upper-limb rehabilitation. Basically, the robot consists of a set of three wires independently driven by three electric motors. The wires are connected to the patient's upper limb by means of a splint and are supported by a transportable frame, located above the patient.

Implementation of a water compensator for total body irradiation.

This paper presents the design, implementation, and testing of an integrated system for improving dose homogeneity in total body irradiation (TBI). TBI is a radiation therapy technique that consists in delivering a uniform X-ray dose to the entire body of the patient. Because of variations in patient's tissues thickness and density, achieving a uniform dose over the entire body is one of the major challenges in TBI.