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- Bajones, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Hobbit : Providing Fall Detection and Prevention for the Elderly in the Real World
- 2018
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In: Journal of Robotics. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1687-9600 .- 1687-9619. ; 2018, s. 1-20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the robot developed within the Hobbit project, a socially assistive service robot aiming at the challenge of enabling prolonged independent living of elderly people in their own homes. We present the second prototype (Hobbit PT2) in terms of hardware and functionality improvements following first user studies. Our main contribution lies within the description of all components developed within the Hobbit project, leading to autonomous operation of 371 days during field trials in Austria, Greece, and Sweden. In these field trials, we studied how 18 elderly users (aged 75 years and older) lived with the autonomously interacting service robot over multiple weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a multifunctional, low-cost service robot equipped with a manipulator was studied and evaluated for several weeks under real-world conditions. We show that Hobbit’s adaptive approach towards the user increasingly eased the interaction between the users and Hobbit. We provide lessons learned regarding the need for adaptive behavior coordination, support during emergency situations, and clear communication of robotic actions and their consequences for fellow researchers who are developing an autonomous, low-cost service robot designed to interact with their users in domestic contexts. Our trials show the necessity to move out into actual user homes, as only there can we encounter issues such as misinterpretation of actions during unscripted human-robot interaction.
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| 2. |
- Bajones, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Results of Field Trials with a Mobile Service Robot for Older Adults in 16 Private Households
- 2019
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In: ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction. - : Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). - 2573-9522. ; 9:2, s. 10:1-10:27
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this article, we present results obtained from field trials with the Hobbit robotic platform, an assistive, social service robot aiming at enabling prolonged independent living of older adults in their own homes. Our main contribution lies within the detailed results on perceived safety, usability, and acceptance from field trials with autonomous robots in real homes of older users. In these field trials, we studied how 16 older adults (75 plus) lived with autonomously interacting service robots over multiple weeks. Robots have been employed for periods of months previously in home environments for older people, and some have been tested with manipulation abilities, but this is the first time a study has tested a robot in private homes that provided the combination of manipulation abilities, autonomous navigation, and nonscheduled interaction for an extended period of time. This article aims to explore how older adults interact with such a robot in their private homes. Our results show that all users interacted with Hobbit daily, rated most functions as well working, and reported that they believe that Hobbit will be part of future elderly care. We show that Hobbit's adaptive behavior approach towards the user increasingly eased the interaction between the users and the robot. Our trials reveal the necessity to move into actual users' homes, as only there, we encounter real-world challenges and demonstrate issues such as misinterpretation of actions during non-scripted human-robot interaction.
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| 6. |
- Kobiela, A, et al.
(author)
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Exposure of Keratinocytes to Candida Albicans in the Context of Atopic Milieu Induces Changes in the Surface Glycosylation Pattern of Small Extracellular Vesicles to Enhance Their Propensity to Interact With Inhibitory Siglec Receptors
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 13, s. 884530-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection is a potential complication in the individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) and can affect clinical course of the disease. Here, using primary keratinocytes we determined that atopic milieu promotes changes in the interaction of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) with dendritic cells and that this is further enhanced by the presence of C. albicans. sEV uptake is largely dependent on the expression of glycans on their surface; modelling of the protein interactions indicated that recognition of this pathogen through C. albicans-relevant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is linked to several glycosylation enzymes which may in turn affect the expression of sEV glycans. Here, significant changes in the surface glycosylation pattern, as determined by lectin array, could be observed in sEVs upon a combined exposure of keratinocytes to AD cytokines and C. albicans. This included enhanced expression of multiple types of glycans, for which several dendritic cell receptors could be proposed as binding partners. Blocking experiments showed predominant involvement of the inhibitory Siglec-7 and -9 receptors in the sEV-cell interaction and the engagement of sialic acid-containing carbohydrate moieties on the surface of sEVs. This pointed on ST6 β-Galactoside α-2,6-Sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) and Core 1 β,3-Galactosyltransferase 1 (C1GALT1) as potential enzymes involved in the process of remodelling of the sEV surface glycans upon C. albicans exposure. Our results suggest that, in combination with atopic dermatitis milieu, C. albicans promotes alterations in the glycosylation pattern of keratinocyte-derived sEVs to interact with inhibitory Siglecs on antigen presenting cells. Hence, a strategy aiming at this pathway to enhance antifungal responses and restrict pathogen spread could offer novel therapeutic options for skin candidiasis in AD.
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