Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal Models Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

Neural rehabilitation is a long and complex process that patients undergo after suffering a nervous system injury, such as stroke. These kinds of injuries usually result in brain cells death and partial loss of mobility and coordination. During rehabilitation, the patient performs a series of movements and physical exercises that promote neural plasticity, the brain’s mechanism to regenerate and make new pathways that substitute the damaged connections. Unfortunately, full recovery is almost impossible. The rehabilitation process is tailored to the patient based on the physician’s expertise, and it evolves with the patient’s needs and recovery. However, few computational models for rehabilitation have been developed. For instance, Lee et al. [1] trained a musculoskeletal model of a healthy subject using deep reinforcement learning, and then a prosthetic leg was added to simulate an injury. Results showed how the artificial neural network that controlled muscle contraction was able to adapt and learn to move with the prosthetic leg. Here we show how deep reinforcement learning can be used to control a musculoskeletal model. The algorithm is able to learn new and stable motions by maximizing the so-called reward function. The nervous system is modelled with an artificial neural network, and the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm is used to train the model in a simulated environment.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarPostprint (author's final draft

Enhancement of magnetic relaxation properties with 3d diamagnetic cations in [ZnIILnIII] and [NiIILnIII], LnIII=Kramers lanthanides

Employing the chiral bi-compartmental Schiff-base ligand H2L obtained from the condensation of (RR) or (SS)-1,2-diphenyl-ethylenediamine and o-vanillin, we report the structural characterization of the discrete dinuclear pairs of enantiomers [NiIIEuIII] 1RR, 1SS and [ZnIIEuIII] 2RR, 2SS and the magnetic properties for the series of complexes [NiIILnIII], Ln = Ce, 3RR; Nd, 4RR; Dy, 5RR; Er, 6RR, Yb, 7SS and [ZnIILnIII], Ln = Ce, 8RR; Nd, 9RR; Dy, 10SS; Er, 11SS and Yb, 12RR in which MII is diamagnetic and LnIII is a Kramers lanthanide. Single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that relevant changes in the [ZnIILnIII] structures are produced after a period in open air (2RRb, 2RRc), evidencing that the lability of the ligands bonded to ZnII can modify the structures that will be correlated to the experimental measurements. The dynamic magnetic measurements showed that the [NiIILnIII] and [ZnIILnIII] derivatives exhibit different behaviors in the relaxation of magnetization especially for oblate and prolate LnIII cations

When politics and lobbyism combine to promote white elephants by using PPPs

Theoretical insights into the cooperation between public and private partners (PPPs) suggest that they can be an effective tool for preventing ‘white elephant’ type projects. However, various case studies have shown that this belief is largely dependent on the effective transfer of operational risk to the private partner, and on the application of user-pay funding. This paper goes one step further and explores the idea that private partners that participate in PPPs with no substantial risk transfer – and under heavily subsidized schemes – can act as lobbies, exerting pressure to develop white elephants

Politics, risk, and white elephants in infrastructure PPPs

Theoretical research on cooperation between public and private partners in infrastructure projects suggests that they can be a tool for preventing white elephants. However, various case studies suggest that actual outcomes are largely dependent on the effective transfer of operational risk to the private partner. This paper explores policy and planning dysfunction, and the idea that private entities that participate in public-private partnerships (PPPs) with no substantial risk transfer, and under heavily subsidized schemes, may engage in lobbying and exert pressure to develop white elephant projects

La resonancia magnética en el diagnóstico de los trastornos temporomandibulares

La resonancia magnética-es una técnica exploratoria complementaria en el estudio de los trastornos temporomandibulares. Se pueden obtener imágenes estáticas (a distintos grados de apertura y en todos los movimientos mandibulares) y dinámicas de la articulación en el plano sagital, Así como imágenes en el plano coronal. Entre otras ventajas destaca la posibilidad de obtener imágenes del disco articular y de los tejidos blandos que se implican en la articulación temporomandibular, no siendo ello posible con otras técnicas de diagnóstico por la imagen, que sólo muestran los tejidos duros de la articulación. En este artículo se describen las características de las imágenes de resonancia magnética en una articulación temporomandibular normal, así como las imágenes patológicas en determinados trastornos temporomandibulares como pueden ser los desplazamientos discales, cambios degenerativos articulares, adherentes del disco, patología reumatológica, condromatosis sinovial, tumores óseos y como control postoperatorio en la cirugía de la articulación temporomandibular. Por último, se analizan los inconvenientes de esta técnica de diagnóstico por la imagen

The Transformation of Conflicts into Relational Well-Being in Physical Education: GIAM Model

To educate the relational well-being in order to learn to live together in society is one of the main needs of modern physical education (PE). Teachers are in need of pedagogical models to instruct peaceful coexistence and transform possible conflicts into PE. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of a pedagogical model (GIAM model) designed for conflict transformation on the relational well-being of students in obligatory secondary school (ESO in Spain). This study was an empirical research (associative strategy, comparative study using mixed methods). A number of 287 valid students (M = 14.90; SD = 0.66) participated in this study from 4 different secondary schools (SSs): third ESO (SS1 (n = 75); SS3 (n = 45); SS4 (n = 86)) and fourth ESO (SS2 (n = 81)). A sequence of seven learning sessions was conducted, the intervention of the teachers on the GIAM model and the student’s motivational climate perception caused by this learning sequence was analyzed. The teachers who best adapted their intervention to the GIAM model obtained greater significant changes (p < 0.005) in favor of the relational well-being of their students. This research provides scientific evidence and intervention strategies for students to learn how to transform the conflicts, adopting a collaborating style based on reflection-for, -in- and on-motor action

Effect of ball screen and one-on-one on the level of opposition and effectiveness of shots in the ACB

In light of the importance of shots on the final result in basketball matches, this research aims to reveal the predictive ability of variables associated with different game actions (ball screen, one-on-one near the basket and one-on-one far away from the basket), shot zone (near to or far from the basket) and players' position (outside or inside) of the success of shots and of the type of shot, defended or not defended, in three seasons (2014 to 2016) of the Copa del Rey in the ACB (Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto) League in Spain. Observational methodology was used, and an ad hoc instrument was created using Lince software. The study was conducted on a total of 7695 game actions, of which an analysis of 877 shots was made using CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection) classification trees. The results obtained in this research have led us to the following conclusions: (a) the most important variable in the success of shots is to find "open shots", regardless of the game action, (b) one-on-one actions outside and inside the zone have a clear connection to the finishes of the plays and end up in defended shots, (c) shots by ball screen lead to more open shots than in one-on-one and (d) play with passes may facilitate to find "open shots". These results can be of interest for coaches to prepare their teams in the best possible way, but they must be interpreted with caution as the sample was very specific (Copa del Rey in the ACB League) and, therefore, it is necessary to continue investigating this topic in other competition contexts

Time-lapse cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (CHERT) for monitoring seawater intrusion dynamics in a Mediterranean aquifer

Surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a widely used tool to study seawater intrusion (SWI). It is noninvasive and offers a high spatial coverage at a low cost, but its imaging capabilities are strongly affected by decreasing resolution with depth. We conjecture that the use of CHERT (cross-hole ERT) can partly overcome these resolution limitations since the electrodes are placed at depth, which implies that the model resolution does not decrease at the depths of interest. The objective of this study is to test the CHERT for imaging the SWI and monitoring its dynamics at the Argentona site, a well-instrumented field site of a coastal alluvial aquifer located 40¿km NE of Barcelona. To do so, we installed permanent electrodes around boreholes attached to the PVC pipes to perform time-lapse monitoring of the SWI on a transect perpendicular to the coastline. After 2 years of monitoring, we observe variability of SWI at different timescales: (1) natural seasonal variations and aquifer salinization that we attribute to long-term drought and (2) short-term fluctuations due to sea storms or flooding in the nearby stream during heavy rain events. The spatial imaging of bulk electrical conductivity allows us to explain non-monotonic salinity profiles in open boreholes (step-wise profiles really reflect the presence of freshwater at depth). By comparing CHERT results with traditional in situ measurements such as electrical conductivity of water samples and bulk electrical conductivity from induction logs, we conclude that CHERT is a reliable and cost-effective imaging tool for monitoring SWI dynamics.This work was funded by the project CGL2016-77122-C2-1-R/2-R of the Spanish Government. This project also received funding from the European Commission, Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Marie Sklodowska-Curie (grant no. 722028)). The author Albert Folch is a Serra Húnter Fellow.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

High hydrostatic pressure enhances the formation of oleocanthal and oleacein in 'Arbequina' olive fruit

During olive oil production, the activity of endogenous enzymes plays a crucial role in determining the oil's phenolic composition. β-Glucosidase contributes to the formation of secoiridoids, while polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POX) are involved in their oxidation. This study investigated whether high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), known to cause cell disruption and modify enzymatic activity and food texture, could reduce PPO and POX activity. HHP was applied to ‘Arbequina’ olives at different settings (300 and 600 MPa, 3 and 6 min) before olive oil extraction. The tested HHP conditions were not effective in reducing the activity of PPO and POX in olives, resulting in oils with a lower phenolic content. However, HHP increased the secoiridoid content of olives, particularly oleocanthal and oleacein (>50%). The pigments in oils produced from HHP-treated olives were higher compared to the control, whereas squalene and α-tocopherol levels and the fatty acid profile remained the same. © 2023 The Authors</p

Time-lapse cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (CHERT) for monitoring seawater intrusion dynamics in a Mediterranean aquifer

Surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a widely used tool to study seawater intrusion (SWI). It is noninvasive and offers a high spatial coverage at a low cost, but its imaging capabilities are strongly affected by decreasing resolution with depth. We conjecture that the use of CHERT (cross-hole ERT) can partly overcome these resolution limitations since the electrodes are placed at depth, which implies that the model resolution does not decrease at the depths of interest. The objective of this study is to test the CHERT for imaging the SWI and monitoring its dynamics at the Argentona site, a well-instrumented field site of a coastal alluvial aquifer located 40 km NE of Barcelona. To do so, we installed permanent electrodes around boreholes attached to the PVC pipes to perform time-lapse monitoring of the SWI on a transect perpendicular to the coastline. After 2 years of monitoring, we observe variability of SWI at different timescales: (1) natural seasonal variations and aquifer salinization that we attribute to long-term drought and (2) short-term fluctuations due to sea storms or flooding in the nearby stream during heavy rain events. The spatial imaging of bulk electrical conductivity allows us to explain non-monotonic salinity profiles in open boreholes (step-wise profiles really reflect the presence of freshwater at depth). By comparing CHERT results with traditional in situ measurements such as electrical conductivity of water samples and bulk electrical conductivity from induction logs, we conclude that CHERT is a reliable and cost-effective imaging tool for monitoring SWI dynamics