Vulcano: A new robotic challenge for legged robots.

The Vulcano challenge is a new and innovative robotic challenge for legged robots in a physical and simulated scenario of a volcanic eruption. In this scenario, robots must climb a volcano's escarpment and collect data from areas with high temperatures and toxic gases. This paper presents the main idea behind this challenge, with a detailed description of the simulated and physical scenario of the volcano ramp, the rules proposed for the competition, and the conception of a robot prototype, Vulcano, used in the competition. Finally, it discusses the performance of teams invited to participate in the challenge in the context of Azorean Robotics Open, the Azoresbot 2022. This first test for this challenge provided insights into what the participants found exciting and positive and what they found less positive.

Educational Robotics and Tangible Devices for Promoting Computational Thinking.

Recently, efforts have been made to add programming activities to the curriculum that promote computational thinking and foster 21st-century digital skills. One of the programming modalities is the use of Tangible Programming Languages (TPL), used in activities with 4+ year old children. In this review, we analyze solutions proposed for TPL in different contexts crossing them with non-TPL solutions, like Graphical Programming Languages (GPL). We start to characterize features of language interaction, their use, and what learning activities are associated with them. Then, in a diagram, we show a relation between the complexity of the languages with factors such as target age and output device types. We provide an analysis considering the type of input (e.g., TPL versus GPL) and output devices (e.g., physical robot versus graphical simulation) and evaluate their contribution to further insights about the general trends with respect to educational robotic systems. Finally, we discuss the opportunities to extend and improve TPLs based on the different solutions identified.

Nephrotic syndrome in African children: lack of evidence for 'tropical nephrotic syndrome'?

BACKGROUND: Infections such as malaria, schistosomiasis, hepatitis B and HIV have been suggested as major causes of the nephrotic syndrome (NS) in African children. We retrospectively analysed the course of the NS in 32 children from Ghana and reviewed the literature on NS from 18 different African countries for the presence of 'the tropical nephrotic syndrome'. METHODS: Thirty-two children (22 boys, 10 girls, median age 12 years, range 1-18 years) with NS were treated from 2000-2003 at Battor Hospital, Ghana. Thirteen out of 32 children underwent a renal biopsy which was investigated by light, immune and electron microscopy. All 32 patients were initially treated with oral prednisone (PRED) therapy (29 with standard therapy for 8 weeks and three individually tailored), and steroid-resistant children received also intravenous methylprednisolone pulses (three children) or oral cyclophosphamide (two children). RESULTS: All patients fulfilled the clinical and laboratory criteria of a NS. The initial median serum creatinine was 65 micromol/l (range 44-133 micromol/l). Renal biopsy was performed in 13/32 children and revealed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 10 patients, minimal change disease (MCNs) in two and no conclusive result in one patient. Glomerular immune complex deposition was absent in all biopsies. After treatment with PRED, oedema disappeared in 24/32 patients; however, proteinuria normalized in 16/32 patients only. The NS relapsed in 9/16 steroid-sensitive patients after cessation of PRED therapy, and two children were frequent relapsers. The steroid-resistant NS did not respond to an intensified immunosuppression in 5/16 children receiving methylprednisolone or cyclophosphamide. Five out of 32 children died, all were steroid resistant. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence for a dominating role of steroid-resistant 'tropical glomerulopathies' in children with a NS in Ghana. Similar to South Africa, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease were the most frequent findings on histology. Contrary to Nigeria, membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis was not found in these patients. We conclude from this data and from the literature that the histological pattern of NS may vary between different African countries. Concerning therapy of NS under tropical conditions, we emphasize that despite the limited therapeutic facilities half of these patients may benefit from corticosteroids; however, steroid resistance and FSGS resulted in a high mortality.

Implementation of WHO guidelines on management of severe malnutrition in hospitals in Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the problems, benefits, feasibility, and sustainability of implementation of WHO guidelines on management of severe malnutrition. METHODS: A postal survey invited staff from 12 African hospitals to participate in the study. Five hospitals were evaluated and two were selected to take part in the study: a district hospital in South Africa and a mission hospital in Ghana. At an initial visit, an experienced paediatrician reviewed the situation in the hospitals and introduced the principles of the guidelines through a participatory approach. During a second visit about six months later, the paediatrician reviewed the feasibility and sustainability of the introduced changes and helped find solutions to problems. At a final visit after one year, the paediatrician reassessed the overall situation. FINDINGS: Malnutrition management practices improved at both hospitals. Measures against hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, and infection were strengthened. Early, frequent feeding was established as a routine practice. Some micronutrients for inclusion in the diet were not locally available and needed to be imported. Problems were encountered with monitoring of weight gain and introducing a rehydration solution for malnutrition. CONCLUSION: Implementation of the main principles of the WHO guidelines on severe malnutrition was feasible, affordable, and sustainable at two African hospitals. The guidelines could be improved by including suggestions on how to adapt specific recommendations to local situations. The guidelines are well supported by experience and published reports, but more information is needed about some components and their impact on mortality.