Information Security in Medical Robotics: A Survey on the Level of Training, Awareness and Use of the Physiotherapist

Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important aspect to investigate for the adoption and use of care robots, in term of both patients’ safety, and the availability, integrity and privacy of their data. This study focuses on opinions about cybersecurity relevance and related skills for physiotherapists involved in rehabilitation and assistance thanks to the aid of robotics. The goal was to investigate the awareness among insiders about some facets of cybersecurity concerning human–robot interactions. We designed an electronic questionnaire and submitted it to a relevant sample of physiotherapists. The questionnaire allowed us to collect data related to: (i) use of robots and its relationship with cybersecurity in the context of physiotherapy; (ii) training in cybersecurity and robotics for the insiders; (iii) insiders’ self-assessment on cybersecurity and robotics in some usage scenarios, and (iv) their experiences of cyber-attacks in this area and proposals for improvement. Besides contributing some specific statistics, the study highlights the importance of both acculturation processes in this field and monitoring initiatives based on surveys. The study exposes direct suggestions for continuation of these types of investigations in the context of scientific societies operating in the rehabilitation and assistance robotics. The study also shows the need to stimulate similar initiatives in other sectors of medical robotics (robotic surgery, care and socially assistive robots, rehabilitation systems, training for health and care workers) involving insiders.

Scientific societies fostering inclusivity in the life sciences through engagement of undergraduate scientists

Scientific societies serve as communities of practice in which scientists develop many of the skills and connections required for the progression of their careers. For example, scientific societies offer a range of opportunities to attend career development programs, gain experience in communicating science, and receive recognition for achievements within their discipline. Programming for undergraduate student members has recently been increasing, both in prevalence and in its range of offerings. The Alliance to Catalyze Change for Equity in STEM Success, ACCESS, a meta-organization seeking equity and inclusivity in life sciences fields, has examined programs and opportunities focused on undergraduates across its member scientific societies to identify common themes, promising practices and challenges. In this article, we share and discuss our findings.

A Reflection on African Religious Life Through the 21 Conferences of "L'Africa Romana” (1983-2020)

The international conferences of “L’Africa romana”, organized by the University of Sassari since 1983, are the most important events of the last forty years, regarding the history, archaeology and epigraphy of North Africa; they have given the opportunity to well-established and young scholars alike, from dozens of countries, to compare their experience and knowledge. The result is a new vision of the Roman provinces of Africa, due to the presentation of a considerable amount of unpublished material. The African provinces, although included in the Mediterranean koine, have been regarded in their specific characteristics, paying due attention to the essential local religious strata, to the internal and external non-religious aspects of the cult and to the original merging of said elements in the religious life between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of the Great Sirte. Ever since the first conferences it was decided to overcome the ethnocentric view, remnant of the colonial past, and underline how in the African provinces local and imported divinities have come together. The present contribution proposes a first annotated bibliographic overview of the works that involved Universities, Research Centers, Agencies for the Development Heritage and Scientific Societies who carried out international research by comparing methods and going beyond a traditional view that was incapable of understanding the ancient world in depth.

Institutionalized elderly are able to detect small viscosity variations in thickened water with gum-based thickeners: should texture classifications be reviewed?

Background The prevalence of dysphagia is very high in institutionalized elderly. Knowledge of the rheological and sensory characteristics of the various thickeners in elderly is limited, although it has been seen that there are differences between the rheological behaviors of gum-based thickeners with different composition. Moreover, we have not found sensory studies of viscosity in institutionalized elderly. Our hypothesis was that viscosity ranges established by the scientific societies, such as the National Dysphagia Diet Task Force (NDD), seem to be very wide and individuals might be able to detect small differences within the same texture range. The objectives of our study were 1) comparing the rheological characteristics of two commercial gum-based thickeners with different composition, dissolved in water under standard conditions, and 2) perform a sensory analysis (with both adults and institutionalized elderly) to detect different viscosities within the same texture (nectar and honey). Methods Two commercial thickeners based on gums (NC and RC) were studied analyzing their viscosity in water with different concentrations (shear rate: 50 s− 1; temperature: 22–25 °C). A sensory analysis involving 26 elderly and 29 adult controls was carried out to evaluate whether differences within nectar and honey textures among gum-based thickeners could be distinguished. Results As the shear rate increases, viscosity decreases (non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behavior). At the same concentration, each thickener produces a different viscosity (p < 0.05). Institutionalized elderly detected viscosity differences in nectar range of 49.9 (2.5) mPa·s (p < 0.05) and 102.2 (4.7) mPa·s (p < 0.0001). They also detected viscosity differences in honey texture range of 134.6 (9.7) mPa·s (p < 0.05) y 199.3 (9.2) mPa·s (p < 0.0001). Their caregivers also detected viscosity differences in both viscosity ranges (p < 0.0001) and with greater intensity than the elderly in honey texture (p: 0.016). Conclusions Our results suggest that the accepted viscosity ranges by NDD for the different textures might be too wide because institutionalized elderly and their caregivers are able to discern small differences in viscosity in nectar and honey textures. Gum-based thickeners with different composition showed differences in viscosity capacity, so they are not interchangeable.

PoLA/CFPiP/PCS/PSLD/PSD/PSH guidelines on diagnosis and therapy of lipid disorders in Poland 2021

In Poland there are still nearly 20 million individuals with hypercholesterolaemia, most of them are unaware of their condition; that is also why only ca. 5% of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia have been diagnosed; that is why other rare cholesterol metabolism disorders are so rarely diagnosed in Poland. Let us hope that these guidelines, being an effect of work of experts representing 6 main scientific societies, as well as the network of PoLA lipid centers being a part of the EAS lipid centers, certification of lipidologists by PoLA, or the growing number of centers for rare diseases, with a network planned by the Ministry of Health, improvements in coordinated care for patients after myocardial infarction (KOS-Zawał), reimbursement of innovative agents, as well as introduction in Poland of an effective primary prevention program, will make improvement in relation to these unmet needs in diagnostics and treatment of lipid disorders possible.

Enhancing Diversity in STEMM

Professional and scientific societies can foster inclusive environments that can enhance the diversity of their respective fields and disciplines, but some associations are doing a better job than others. This paper reviewed more than a dozen professional associations and their efforts to support diversity as reported online in an effort to identify successful examples. It finds that resources generally fall into two categories: 1) Websites highlighting the accomplishments of specific individuals, which raise the profile of diverse practitioners in the field. 2) Membership associations that support under-represented communities within a particular field. This article will offer a review of the resources available and some recommendations for how professional associations can better enhance their support for diversity and inclusion in their fields.

Análisis de los programas para la presencia de familiares en la parada cardiorrespiratoria extrahospitalaria en paciente adulto

Objetivo: Explorar los programas orientados a la participación de familiares en situaciones de PCR en adultos en el medio extrahospitalario.Método: Revisión narrativa de la literatura científica, en bases de datos primarias (Scielo, PubMed, Cuiden y Cochrane Plus y CINAHL), con empleo de lenguaje estructurado DeCS y MeSH, de 2005 a 2020, en español e inglés. Se obtienen 23 estudios.Resultados: Los estudios muestran que el duelo de los familiares de una parada cardiorrespiratoria en el medio extrahospitalario es menos traumática si se les permite estar presentes. Permanecer junto a la víctima debe asegurarse salvo que el profesional considere que es perjudicial. Las ventajas de la presencia de familiares son tanto para el familiar como para el equipo asistencial. A pesar de existir una necesidad social y ética de acuerdo con el principio de autonomía del paciente para la implementación de estos programas apenas existen y esto suele ser debido a las resistencias generadas por los propios profesionales o los gestores.Conclusiones: Las principales sociedades científicas internacionales recomiendan en caso de PCR en el adulto en el medio extrahospitalario, la implantación de programas para la presencia de familiares, lo que hace que se convierta en una necesidad. La literatura científica demuestra más ventajas que inconvenientes, fundamentalmente en cuanto a un mejor duelo en familiares y mayor satisfacción y menor posibilidad de demandas jurídicas en los sanitarios, promoción de la humanización de los cuidados que se traduciría en un gasto asistencial menor en prevalencia de duelo patológico. Objective: Explore programs aimed at the participation of family members in situations of CRP in adults in the out-of-hospital setting.Method: Narrative review of the scientific literature, in primary databases (Scielo, PubMed, Cuiden and Cochrane Plus and CINAHL), using DeCS and MeSH structured language, from 2005 to 2020, in Spanish and English. 23 studies are obtained.Results: Studies show that mourning for family members of a cardiorespiratory arrest in the out-of-hospital setting is less traumatic if they are allowed to be present. Staying with the victim must be ensured unless the professional considers that it is harmful. The advantages of the presence of family members are as much for the family member as for the healthcare team. Despite the existence of a social and ethical need in accordance with the principle of patient autonomy for the implementation of these programs, they hardly exist and this is usually due to the resistance generated by the professionals or managers themselves.Conclusions: In the case of cardiorespiratory arrest in adults in the out-of-hospital setting, the main international scientific societies recommend the implementation of programs for the presence of family members, which makes it a necessity. The scientific literature demonstrates more advantages than disadvantages, fundamentally in terms of better grief in family members and greater satisfaction and less possibility of legal claims in health professionals, promoting the humanization of care that would translate into lower healthcare costs in the prevalence of grief pathological. Objetivo: explorar programas voltados à participação de familiares em situação de PCR em adultos no ambiente extra-hospitalar.Método: revisão narrativa da literatura científica, em bases de dados primárias (Scielo, PubMed, Cuiden e Cochrane Plus e CINAHL), utilizando a linguagem estruturada DeCS e MeSH, de 2005 a 2020, em espanhol e inglês. 23 estudos foram obtidos.Resultados: estudos mostram que o luto de familiares por parada cardiorrespiratória em ambiente extra-hospitalar é menos traumático se eles puderem estar presentes. A permanência com a vítima deve ser assegurada, a menos que o profissional considere prejudicial. As vantagens da presença de familiares são tanto para o familiar quanto para a equipe de saúde. Apesar da existência de uma necessidade social e ética de acordo com o princípio da autonomia do paciente para a implantação desses programas, eles quase não existem e isso geralmente se deve às resistências geradas pelos próprios profissionais ou pelos gestores.Conclusões: as principais sociedades científicas internacionais recomendam, no caso da PCR em adultos em ambiente extra-hospitalar, a implantação de programas de presença de familiares, o que a torna uma necessidade. A literatura científica mostra mais vantagens do que desvantagens, fundamentalmente em termos de melhor luto nos familiares e maior satisfação e menor possibilidade de demandas judiciais nos trabalhadores da saúde, promovendo a humanização da assistência que se traduziria em menores gastos com saúde nas prevalências do luto patológico.