01726nas a2200193   4500008004100000022001400041245007900055210006900134300001200203490000700215520110400222653001901326100001501345700001601360700001501376700001601391700001301407856011201420       2010                        eng d  a0938-010800aModification of Pointing Performance in Altered Gravitational Environments0 aModification of Pointing Performance in Altered Gravitational En  a123-1280 v223 a<p>The Fitts’ law describes a correlation between the time needed to complete basic tasks such as pointing movements and the level of knowledge of the specific target to be reached. While it has been largely proved in normal gravity, very few experiments have been carried out in altered gravitational conditions. In our experiment, four subjects were positioned in front of a panel where round targets were placed along a circumference. They carried out pointing movements towards the targets when these were switched on. The task time was acquired and processed off-line. In all the cases, the performance of each subject have been significantly modified in the altered gravitational environment and, in particular, hypergravity seems to affect motor performance more considerably than microgravity. Even if experiments involving several subjects and more complex tasks have to be carried out in order to confirm our findings, these results show that ergonomics could be strongly affected by the modification of gravity, especially during the first phase of exposure to gravity alteration.</p>
10aBioengineering1 aCiofani, G1 aMigliore, A1 aMazzei, D.1 aCarrozza, M1 aDario, P  uhttp://95.110.227.16/publications/modification-pointing-performance-altered-gravitational-environments.html02044nas a2200169   4500008004100000245005700041210005500098300001200153490000600165520153300171653001901704100001501723700001301738700001501751700001601766856009201782       2005                        eng d00aOsmolality control by inhalation or micro-infusions?0 aOsmolality control by inhalation or microinfusions  a559-5700 v93 a<p>A model of osmolarity is proposed in this paper. This model represents a typical example of embedded physiological feedback control in physiology. Extensive simulation tests with a compartmental approach (using the specific software SAAM II) have been performed, showing that the model agrees with the findings published in the literature of endocrine physiology and with medical practice. As a relevant example of application of the models, the diabetes insipidus pathology was considered. In the case of central insipidus diabetes, it is possible to predict effects of a therapy, giving out synthetic ADH (where ADH is the antidiuretic hormone, the vasopressine) for restoring homeostatic conditions. Two kinds of therapy were considered: supply by inhalation or by microinfusion. In the first case, we evaluated the effect of inhalation using a two compartmental model to describe the effect of commercial drug (minirin, that means desmopressine acetate), and compared results with data existing in the literature. In the second case, the aim was to have a helping tool in the study and development of micro-infusors with sensors and controllers embedded so as to be able to release a controlled drug quantity, accorded to the patient and optimized for avoiding hyper- or ipo-concentrations of plasma ADH hormone. In this case, we used a mono-compartmental model, considering that the drug is infused directly in the plasma; results are again compared with data existing in the literature and with experimental data.</p>
10aBioengineering1 aCiofani, G1 aLandi, A1 aMazzei, D.1 aMazzoldi, A  uhttp://95.110.227.16/publications/osmolality-control-inhalation-or-micro-infusions.html00504nas a2200145   4500008004100000245006300041210006200104300001600166653001900182100001500201700001300216700001500229700001600244856009800260       2005                        eng d00aPhysiological Cybernetics: Model of Osmolality and Volemia0 aPhysiological Cybernetics Model of Osmolality and Volemia  a5552–555710aBioengineering1 aCiofani, G1 aLandi, A1 aMazzei, D.1 aMazzoldi, A  uhttp://95.110.227.16/publications/physiological-cybernetics-model-osmolality-and-volemia.html