Evaluation of automated decisionmaking methodologies and development of an integrated robotic system simulation, appendix A

A generic computer simulation for manipulator systems (ROBSIM) was implemented and the specific technologies necessary to increase the role of automation in various missions were developed. The specific items developed were: (1) Capability for definition of a manipulator system consisting of multiple arms, load objects, and an environment; (2) Capability for kinematic analysis, requirements analysis, and response simulation of manipulator motion; (3) Postprocessing options such as graphic replay of simulated motion and manipulator parameter plotting; (4) Investigation and simulation of various control methods including manual force/torque and active compliance control; (5) Evaluation and implementation of three obstacle avoidance methods; (6) Video simulation and edge detection; and (7) Software simulation validation. This appendix is the user's guide and includes examples of program runs and outputs as well as instructions for program use

Evaluation of automated decision making methodologies and development of an integrated robotic system simulation: Study results

The implementation of a generic computer simulation for manipulator systems (ROBSIM) is described. The program is written in FORTRAN, and allows the user to: (1) Interactively define a manipulator system consisting of multiple arms, load objects, targets, and an environment; (2) Request graphic display or replay of manipulator motion; (3) Investigate and simulate various control methods including manual force/torque and active compliance control; and (4) Perform kinematic analysis, requirements analysis, and response simulation of manipulamotion. Previous reports have described the algorithms and procedures for using ROBSIM. These reports are superseded and additional features which were added are described. They are: (1) The ability to define motion profiles and compute loads on a common base to which manipulator arms are attached; (2) Capability to accept data describing manipulator geometry from a Computer Aided Design data base using the Initial Graphics exchange Specification format; (3) A manipulator control algorithm derived from processing the TV image of known reference points on a target; and (4) A vocabulary of simple high level task commands which can be used to define task scenarios

Evaluation of automated decisionmaking methodologies and development of an integrated robotic system simulation. Appendix A: ROBSIM user's guide

The purpose of the Robotics Simulation Program is to provide a broad range of computer capabilities to assist in the design, verification, simulation, and study of robotics systems. ROBSIM is program in FORTRAN 77 for use on a VAX 11/750 computer under the VMS operating system. This user's guide describes the capabilities of the ROBSIM programs, including the system definition function, the analysis tools function and the postprocessor function. The options a user may encounter with each of these executables are explained in detail and the different program prompts appearing to the user are included. Some useful suggestions concerning the appropriate answers to be given by the user are provided. An example user interactive run in enclosed for each of the main program services, and some of the capabilities are illustrated

Evaluation of automated decisionmaking methodologies and development of an integrated robotic system simulation

A generic computer simulation for manipulator systems (ROBSIM) was implemented and the specific technologies necessary to increase the role of automation in various missions were developed. The specific items developed are: (1) capability for definition of a manipulator system consisting of multiple arms, load objects, and an environment; (2) capability for kinematic analysis, requirements analysis, and response simulation of manipulator motion; (3) postprocessing options such as graphic replay of simulated motion and manipulator parameter plotting; (4) investigation and simulation of various control methods including manual force/torque and active compliances control; (5) evaluation and implementation of three obstacle avoidance methods; (6) video simulation and edge detection; and (7) software simulation validation

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Job Satisfaction in Long-Term Care: A Comparison between Licensed Nurses and Nursing Assistants

Knowledge, attitudes, and job satisfaction of long-term care workers were examined to determine if a relationship existed between these factors and if differences existed between licensed nurses and nursing assistants. Participants included 36 nurses and 60 assistants from five nursing homes in the Midland/Odessa area. Results indicated that nurses had significantly more positive attitudes toward (t(94) = -5.72, p\u3c.05) and increased knowledge of older adults (t(94) = 2.71, p\u3c.05) than assistants. In addition, more positive attitudes were significantly associated with more knowledge of the elderly (r(96) = -0.36, p\u3c.05) as well as increased levels of job satisfaction (r(96) = -0.53, p\u3c.05)

Code of Ethics for Robotics: A Surgery Case Study

The future of robotics is broad and varied. New developments that delve deeper into the use of artificial intelligence and automation, for practices ranging from driver less cars to doctor less surgeries, calls for a defined code of cultural, ethical, and legal regulations that can guide engineers around the most delicate issues that may arise. With the reputation of the field resting on the evolution of a code of ethics this paper compares and discusses existing literature on the subject. With the foundation and influence of the existing literature this paper proposes a refined code of ethics designed to target the specific area of robotic engineering. It is also designed to remain applicable for future developments in the field. Having laid out the code it is then be applied to a case study focusing on surgery robots. Final recommendations and conclusions are made to advise future developments for an ethical code targeted at robotic engineers

Reversal of gastrointestinal carcinoma-induced immunosuppression and induction of antitumoural immunity by a combination of cyclophosphamide and gene transfer of IL-12

Immunotherapy-based strategies for gastrointestinal carcinomas (GIC) have been exploited so far, but these approaches have to face strong mechanisms of immune escape induced by tumours. We previously demonstrated that sub-therapeutic doses of an adenovirus expressing IL-12 genes (AdIL-12) mediated a potent antitumour effect against subcutaneous (s.c.) colorectal carcinomas (CRC) in mice pre-treated with low doses of cyclophosphamide (Cy). In our study we used this combination to assess its impact on the immunosuppressive microenvironment. In s.c. CRC model we demonstrated that non-responder mice failed to decrease Tregs in tumour, spleen and peripheral blood. Reconstitution of Tregs into tumour-bearing mice treated with combined therapy abolished the antitumoural effect. In addition, Cy + AdIL-12 modified Tregs functionality by inhibiting the in vitro secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β and their ability to inhibit dendritic cells activation. Combined treatment decreased the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in comparison to non-treated mice and, interestingly, administration of Tregs restored splenic MDSCs population. Furthermore, combined therapy potently generated specific cytotoxic IFN-γ-secreting CD4+ T cells able to eradicate established CRC tumours after adoptive transfer. Finally, we evaluated the combination on disseminated CRC and pancreatic carcinoma (PC). Cy + AdIL-12 were able to eradicate liver metastatic CRC (47%) and PC tumour nodules (40%) and to prolong animal survival. The results of this study support the hypothesis that Cy + AdIL-12 might be a valid immunotherapeutic strategy for advanced GIC.Fil: Malvicini, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Ingolotti, Mariana. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Piccioni, Flavia Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: García, Mariana Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Bayo Fina, Juan Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Atorrasagasti, María Catalina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Alaniz, Laura Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Aquino, Jorge Benjamin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Espinoza, Jaime A.. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; Chile. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Gidekel, Manuel. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; ChileFil: Scharovsky, Olga Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas. Instituto de Genetica Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Matar, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas. Instituto de Genetica Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Mazzolini Rizzo, Guillermo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Austral; Argentin

The Effect Of Competitive Advantages On Corporate Tax Avoidance: A Determinant Or Excuse?

Recently, managers of U.S. corporations have explained the motivation behind engaging in extreme and public forms of tax avoidance (i.e. corporate inversions) as addressing the inability to gain or maintain global competitive advantages (Security 2014, 1). While prior research explores how a corporation’s overall business strategy can affect tax avoidance behavior (Higgins et al. 2015) and measures the effects of different components of competitive advantages on tax avoidance (Kubick et al. 2015; Gao et al. 2015), how total global competitive advantages impact tax avoidance remains an unanswered empirical question. Therefore, this study considers the following research questions: 1)How does the effective tax rate of a corporation affect the future competitive advantages of a corporation? and 2) How do competitive advantages affect future tax avoidance? To address these questions, this dissertation uses competitive effort proxies derived from accounting data (Dickinson and Sommers 2012), to develop a composite score measuring the corporation’s total global competitive advantages and examines the impact of total global competitive advantages on different proxies for tax avoidance. The results of several univariate and multivariable tests indicate that while effective tax rate measurements do not appear to inhibit the competitive advantages of corporations, corporate executives behave as if they believe the tax rate hinders their ability to compete; as competitive advantages rise, so does the likelihood that the corporation will engage in tax avoidance activities. However, a trend reversal occurs and those corporations with the highest competitive advantages decrease tax avoidance activities. An analysis of the corporations that invert show that they actually decrease in their competitive advantages in the second year after the inversion, which makes them significantly lower than their closest industry peers based on profitability. This study adds to the growing research on the determinants of tax avoidance. It also develops a new composite measurement of total global competitive advantages, which can be useful to future research in strategic management. The results of these analyses should also be of interest to legislators. Corporations continually call for legislation to overhaul the tax code; before doing so, legislators should be aware of the true determinants of problems (such as inversions) before trying to devise a solution

IRX-2, a Novel Immunotherapeutic, Enhances Functions of Human Dendritic Cells

Background: In a recent phase II clinical trial for HNSCC patients, IRX-2, a cell-derived biologic, promoted T-cell infiltration into the tumor and prolonged overall survival. Mechanisms responsible for these IRX-2-mediated effects are unknown. We hypothesized that IRX-2 enhanced tumor antigen-(TA)-specific immunity by up-regulating functions of dendritic cells (DC). Methodology/Principal Findings: Monocyte-derived DC obtained from 18 HNSCC patients and 12 healthy donors were matured using IRX-2 or a mix of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 ("conv. mix"). Multicolor flow cytometry was used to study the DC phenotype and antigen processing machinery (APM) component expression. ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays were used to evaluate tumor-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). IL-12p70 and IL-10 production by DC was measured by Luminex® and DC migration toward CCL21 was tested in transwell migration assays. IRX-2-matured DC functions were compared with those of conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of CD11c, CD40, CCR7 as well as LMP2, TAP1, TAP2 and tapasin than conv. mix-matured DC. IRX-2-matured DC migrated significantly better towards CCL21, produced more IL-12p70 and had a higher IL12p70/IL-10 ratio than conv. mix-matured DC (p<0.05 for all). IRX-2-matured DC carried a higher density of tumor antigen-derived peptides, and CTL primed with these DC mediated higher cytotoxicity against tumor targets (p<0.05) compared to the conv. mix-matured DC. Conclusion: Excellent ability of IRX-2 to induce ex vivo DC maturation in HNSCC patients explains, in part, its clinical benefits and emphasizes its utility in ex vivo maturation of DC generated for therapy. © 2013 Schilling et al