Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Reading List
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (French: L'élégance du hérisson) is a novel by the French novelist and professor of philosophy Muriel Barbery.
It's wonderful.
It's wonderful.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
IASTED 2010
Virtual Environment Sensorimotor Hand Dexterity Training System
IASTED 2010K.G. August (Switzerland, UK, USA), M. Sellathurai (UK), D. Bleichenbacher,A. Skairek, G. Fluet, A. Merians, and S. Adamovich (USA)
Virtual Environments (VE) can be used to structure, organize, and control sensorimotor experiences (stimuli and feedback), activities, instructions (explicit or implicit), dialogues including those embodied by Virtual Avatar Teachers for observation and imitation of others or by Personal Proxy, provide haptics and kinematic support, enable intensive repetitions and practice, and interactions with real or virtual objects in ways unachievable through conventional means. The Virtual Environment Sign Language Instruction System (VESLI), designed to provide sensorimotor hand dexterity training and performance measurement features, incorporates virtual reality exercises mapped to specific impairments underlying dysfunction of the hand and organized in levels of difficulty. One goal of the VESLI design is to provide hand dexterity training even when the patient is unable to move adequately enough to participate in traditional therapies. Ten control subjects practiced hand dexterity exercises with the VESLI system using a learning and memory protocol. When studying with natural hands, pictures helped in learning the gestures, and text definitions helped in recall. Meanwhile with virtual hands avatars, the picture descriptions resulted in better performance. Sensorimotor experience in VE might be capable of providing safe and appropriate task-based sensory stimulation and feedback to extend available and early therapies to those in need.
NEBEC
Virtual reality, robot, and object touch: Blended reality sensorimotor training experience
August, K.G.; Guidali, M.; Sellathurai, M.; Hepp-Reymond, M.; Adamovich, S.V.; Riener, R.;Inst. of Neuroinf., Univ. & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
This paper appears in: Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC), 2011 IEEE 37th Annual Northeast
Issue Date: 1-3 April 2011
On page(s): 1 - 2
Location: Troy, NY
ISSN: 2160-7001
Print ISBN: 978-1-61284-827-3
References Cited: 32
INSPEC Accession Number: 12030447
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/NEBC.2011.5778716
Date of Current Version: 27 May 2011
Abstract
Loss of body sensations often accompanies injuries to the central or peripheral nervous system and can lead to disintegration of body schema resulting in altered sensory dependent motor skills. Localizing external objects within peripersonal space plays an important role in the strategies of accurate human movement, towards targets and for obstacle avoidance. In our system, practicing viewing and finger-tip contact with real objects is enabled using Blended Reality: Virtual Reality, Robot Assistance, and Real Object Touch. Arm Location exercises accompany multi-sensory experience in the blended reality. Adding vision and touch, salient properties of three dimensional real objects, to the technology assisted training environment increases the number and realistic qualities of sensory modalities for integration to bolster performance of the trainee. A number of exercises have been developed and are being investigated to understand contributions of the multi-sensory experiences upon performance, and to identify appropriate protocols for therapy.
TePRA
A system for sensory motor rehabilitation of the upper limb with virtual reality, exoskeleton robot, and real objects
Technologies for Practical Robot Applications (TePRA), 2011 IEEE Conference onIssue Date: 11-12 April 2011
On page(s): 54 - 63
Location: Woburn, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-61284-482-4
References Cited: 141
INSPEC Accession Number: 11963082
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/TEPRA.2011.5753482
Date of Current Version: 21 April 2011
Abstract
Technology assisted therapy has the potential to transform rehabilitation options available, and to dramatically increase the reach of today's healthcare system. Yet challenges persist in rendering translational application designs that optimize the full potential of technology and create value for the patient and the therapist. In a step towards optimizing value of technologies for practical applications to support very weak patients who might otherwise be unable to participate in traditional therapies, an integrated sensory motor training station was designed and developed. Inspired by recent neuroscientific research findings the goal of the design was to provide concurrent first person perspective immersive action observation of both virtual and real elements for motor and sensory experience; the system incorporates a virtual limb proxy that can be personalized and actuated by the robot and that is accompanied by exercise practice in peripersonal space for a plasticity promoting experience for the hand and arm. The station uses virtual reality and real objects for visual sensory experience, real objects also provide tactile sensory experience, and an exoskeleton upper limb robot provides assistance to patients. For many patients, successful movement and movement intensity required in rehabilitation is not achievable without the robot assistance. The multi-sensory features of the system promote a top-down strategy for training the upper limb (hand and arm) complementing the robot training; the system is ideally targeted for weak patients and those with tactile or proprioception sensory loss and those who are known to benefit from multi-sensory experiences.
Computing in Cardiology
Computing in Cardiology September, 2011
Heart rate asymmetry and emotional response to robot-assist task challenges in post-stroke patients
Herbert F. Jelinek1,
Katherine G. August2,
Md. Hasan Imam3,
Ahsan H. Khandoker3,4,
Alexander Koenig2,5,
Robert Riener2,5
1Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia; 2University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 3University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 4 Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE 5ETH, Zurich,
Switzerland
Abstract
The level of motivation or stress influences learning
the use of a robot-assist device for walking. Heart rate
asymmetry (HRA) indicates the level of parasympathetic
(HRA<0.5) and sympathetic (HRA>0.5) involvement in heart rate regulation. Three patients and seven controls
were presented increasing levels of task difficulty. During
training patients showed an increase in stress as indicated by the HRA index (0.524±0.02) in contrast to control participants (0.485±0.03). As the task complexity increased, the HRA in the patient group was atypical and
falling below 0.5, compared to control (HRA>0.5). The
latter result reflects an increased cognitive involvement
and a higher sympathetic predominance in accordance
with an increased task difficulty. Thus stroke affected the
response to the task challenges in that the patient response to increasing task challenge leads to an inversion of HRA associated with a decreased mental engagement and higher risk of sudden cardiac death.
Heart rate asymmetry and emotional response to robot-assist task challenges in post-stroke patients
Herbert F. Jelinek1,
Katherine G. August2,
Md. Hasan Imam3,
Ahsan H. Khandoker3,4,
Alexander Koenig2,5,
Robert Riener2,5
1Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia; 2University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 3University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 4 Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE 5ETH, Zurich,
Switzerland
Abstract
The level of motivation or stress influences learning
the use of a robot-assist device for walking. Heart rate
asymmetry (HRA) indicates the level of parasympathetic
(HRA<0.5) and sympathetic (HRA>0.5) involvement in heart rate regulation. Three patients and seven controls
were presented increasing levels of task difficulty. During
training patients showed an increase in stress as indicated by the HRA index (0.524±0.02) in contrast to control participants (0.485±0.03). As the task complexity increased, the HRA in the patient group was atypical and
falling below 0.5, compared to control (HRA>0.5). The
latter result reflects an increased cognitive involvement
and a higher sympathetic predominance in accordance
with an increased task difficulty. Thus stroke affected the
response to the task challenges in that the patient response to increasing task challenge leads to an inversion of HRA associated with a decreased mental engagement and higher risk of sudden cardiac death.
Process for reducing false negative mammography bilateral registration
This paper appears in: Bioengineering Conference, 2004. Proceedings of the IEEE 30th Annual NortheastIssue Date: 17-18 April 2004
On page(s): 69 - 70
ISSN:
Print ISBN: 0-7803-8285-4
Cited by : 1
INSPEC Accession Number: 8096976
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/NEBC.2004.1299997
Date of Current Version: 24 May 2004
August, K.; Biswal, B.; Reisman, S.;
New Jersey Inst. of Technol., Newark, NJ, USA
Abstract
Each woman presents slightly different risk factors that should be considered during mammography image interpretation to reduce the risk of false negative. Given the complexity of the risk situation, and the variety of practical and affordable image processing techniques available, processes and systems sensitive to individual risk factors may reduce false negative reports. Bilateral registration as a process improvement may help to reduce risk of false negative mammography by providing statistical objective metrics to identify regions of interest in screening at risk women for whom historic images are not available, or for whom historic images are not useable.
Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2009;27(3):209-23.
A virtual reality-based system integrated with fmri to study neural mechanisms of action observation-execution: a proof of concept study.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, NJ, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Emerging evidence shows that interactive virtual environments (VEs) may be a promising tool for studying sensorimotor processes and for rehabilitation. However, the potential of VEs to recruit action observation-execution neural networks is largely unknown. For the first time, a functional MRI-compatible virtual reality system (VR) has been developed to provide a window into studying brain-behavior interactions. This system is capable of measuring the complex span of hand-finger movements and simultaneously streaming this kinematic data to control the motion of representations of human hands in virtual reality.
METHODS:
In a blocked fMRI design, thirteen healthy subjects observed, with the intent to imitate (OTI), finger sequences performed by the virtual hand avatar seen in 1st person perspective and animated by pre-recorded kinematic data. Following this, subjects imitated the observed sequence while viewing the virtual hand avatar animated by their own movement in real-time. These blocks were interleaved with rest periods during which subjects viewed static virtual hand avatars and control trials in which the avatars were replaced with moving non-anthropomorphic objects.
RESULTS:
We show three main findings. First, both observation with intent to imitate and imitation with real-time virtual avatar feedback, were associated with activation in a distributed frontoparietal network typically recruited for observation and execution of real-world actions. Second, we noted a time-variant increase in activation in the left insular cortex for observation with intent to imitate actions performed by the virtual avatar. Third, imitation with virtual avatar feedback (relative to the control condition) was associated with a localized recruitment of the angular gyrus, precuneus, and extrastriate body area, regions which are (along with insular cortex) associated with the sense of agency.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our data suggest that the virtual hand avatars may have served as disembodied training tools in the observation condition and as embodied "extensions" of the subject's own body (pseudo-tools) in the imitation. These data advance our understanding of the brain-behavior interactions when performing actions in VE and have implications in the development of observation- and imitation-based VR rehabilitation paradigms.
- PMID:
- 19531876
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006;1:3692-5.
FMRI analysis of neural mechanisms underlying rehabilitation in virtual reality: activating secondary motor areas.
Source
Biomed. Eng. Dept., New Jersey Inst. of Technol., Newark, NJ, USA. ka38@njit.edu
Abstract
A pilot functional MRI study on a control subject investigated the possibility of inducing increased neural activations in primary, as well as secondary motor areas through virtual reality-based exercises of the hand. These areas are known to be important in effective motor output in stroke patients with impaired corticospinal systems. We found increased activations in these brain areas during hand exercises in VR when compared to vision of non-anthropomorphic shapes. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential of virtual reality-based rehabilitation for tapping into the properties of the mirror neuron system to stimulate plasticity in sensorimotor areas.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Heading back to the U.S. Apparently, in Switzerland, the residency renewal process is complex. You apply; the nice people at Migrationsamt tell you they're processing the renewal. Then you find out they never processed the application. They sent you a letter last year regarding your previous residency application telling you the last day you can remain in the country. That means that this year, they will not process another residency application. Even though they take your money and accept the form and you go for an appointment and get your fingerprints taken and an official photograph, etc. You ask them in person. They tell you they're processing the application. They will send you a letter in two to three weeks. Some time passes, and you call them on the phone, they tell you they didn't process the application. You paid the money to the "Community" who sends it to the Migrationsamt. Migrationsamt says you can go to the "Community" to get the money back. You go there, and they laugh. You can't get your money back. Furthermore, they tell you they have 'nothing to do with Migrationsamt'. You wonder why they take the money for Migrationsamt applications if they truly have nothing to do with Migrationsamt. Interesting. You return your residency card to the "City" offices. They charge you 30 CHF for a receipt. They tell you to go to the "Community" to get your 122 CHF money back for the renewal application. How did the "City" become involved with the Migrationsamt? Difficult to imagine. And everyone points fingers at everyone else. I asked the nice lady at the "Community" how I could get the truth from the Migrationsamt. She asked me, "What is the truth?" Then it all made sense to me.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Miss America
I had one of those really weird days -- a story that would curl your hair. One day maybe I'll muster up the courage to write it in its entirety. It's much stranger than fiction. I finally had to ask friends in the U.S. to accept an order for me from Victoria's Secret and forward it on to me here. The mad lingerie burglar of our laundry room has struck so many times, I was reduced to only four pair of panties. One simply cannot live with only four pair of panties... And this country is SOOOO expensive that I cannot afford to purchase them here. Not to mention that I wouldn't know which brands to purchase. I have had no luck identifying the appropriate quality of anything. I would truly hate to be disappointed by making a foolish panty purchase.
But I also have to wonder: WHO would steal the panties belonging to a little old lady???
(At 52 I would think such problems are long ago and in the distant past.)
One considers: it's a stalker, or maybe a lady who finds it more convenient to swipe some else's panties -- naaaa!!!, or maybe it's a weird guy with a panty fetish, or who knows? It *is* a foreign country after all. There could be some idea with which I am unfamiliar that would make all of this seem perfectly rational.
And the city is just filled with foreigners.
What I failed to notice until it was too late was that my panty hose were also being pinched. I'm left with only summer and evening weight. And only beige panties. Very inconvenient. The situation had grown to crisis proportions. I tried making a purchase at Globus. Sixty Francs for a pair and they fell apart when I opened the package.
Then I came to discover quite by accident how the lingerie had gone missing. Turns out it's not a stalker. It's an 'activist' who hates Americans and the economically priviledged. Which apparently among some of the locals is considered to be the same thing. American women are princesses and queens; American men are princes and kings. I never knew!
Yes, wearing black I am told is an emblem of the economically priviledged. Who knew?
Part of the market economy imported to Zurich by Reaganomics and the Bush agendas where apartment rents are set by what the market can bear and are not based on notions of equitable housing. Everybody in Zurich could have experienced a peaceful and comfortable existance until the Americans corrupted the global economy. There are even posters all around the city warning of the problems foreigners will bring to the local economy.
I never considered myself to be an activist.
Now I have to pay with my panties.
But I also have to wonder: WHO would steal the panties belonging to a little old lady???
(At 52 I would think such problems are long ago and in the distant past.)
One considers: it's a stalker, or maybe a lady who finds it more convenient to swipe some else's panties -- naaaa!!!, or maybe it's a weird guy with a panty fetish, or who knows? It *is* a foreign country after all. There could be some idea with which I am unfamiliar that would make all of this seem perfectly rational.
And the city is just filled with foreigners.
What I failed to notice until it was too late was that my panty hose were also being pinched. I'm left with only summer and evening weight. And only beige panties. Very inconvenient. The situation had grown to crisis proportions. I tried making a purchase at Globus. Sixty Francs for a pair and they fell apart when I opened the package.
Then I came to discover quite by accident how the lingerie had gone missing. Turns out it's not a stalker. It's an 'activist' who hates Americans and the economically priviledged. Which apparently among some of the locals is considered to be the same thing. American women are princesses and queens; American men are princes and kings. I never knew!
Yes, wearing black I am told is an emblem of the economically priviledged. Who knew?
Part of the market economy imported to Zurich by Reaganomics and the Bush agendas where apartment rents are set by what the market can bear and are not based on notions of equitable housing. Everybody in Zurich could have experienced a peaceful and comfortable existance until the Americans corrupted the global economy. There are even posters all around the city warning of the problems foreigners will bring to the local economy.
I never considered myself to be an activist.
Now I have to pay with my panties.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Miss America 2011
On the anniversary of 9-11, I cannot help but think of what America means to me. For the past two years, I have lived abroad. I consider many things about the America of my youth, and the post 9-11 America.
I miss America.
There are many freedoms in America.
I hear many comments from people outside of America. They question America. What is it all about? The details are not so important.
Where ever I go, I am an American. I carry the freedom inside me. The ability to choose how I will live each and every day. The ability and inclination to have an individual opinion and endeavor to make tomorrow a better day, to change and grow.
There are many voices, people with varying opinions and backgrounds who are Americans.
An American can get up each morning and decide exactly what he or she wishes to be. It is a great thing, Freedom.
I miss America.
There are many freedoms in America.
I hear many comments from people outside of America. They question America. What is it all about? The details are not so important.
Where ever I go, I am an American. I carry the freedom inside me. The ability to choose how I will live each and every day. The ability and inclination to have an individual opinion and endeavor to make tomorrow a better day, to change and grow.
There are many voices, people with varying opinions and backgrounds who are Americans.
An American can get up each morning and decide exactly what he or she wishes to be. It is a great thing, Freedom.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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