Motion sensors for knee angle recognition in muscle rehabilitation solutions

The progressive loss of functional capacity due to aging is a serious problem that can compromise human locomotion capacity, requiring the help of an assistant and reducing independence. The NanoStim project aims to develop a system capable of performing treatment with electrostimulation at the patient’s home, reducing the number of consultations. The knee angle is one of the essential attributes in this context, helping understand the patient’s movement during the treatment session. This article presents a wearable system that recognizes the knee angle through IMU sensors. The hardware chosen for the wearables are low cost, including an ESP32 microcontroller and an MPU-6050 sensor. However, this hardware impairs signal accuracy in the multitasking environment expected in rehabilitation treatment. Three optimization filters with algorithmic complexity O(1) were tested to improve the signal’s noise. The complementary filter obtained the best result, presenting an average error of 0.6 degrees and an improvement of 77% in MSE. Furthermore, an interface in the mobile app was developed to respond immediately to the recognized movement. The systems were tested with volunteers in a real environment and could successfully measure the movement performed. In the future, it is planned to use the recognized angle with the electromyography sensor.This work was funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (COMPETE 2020), under Portugal 2020 in the framework of the NanoStim (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-045908) project, and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under Projects UIDB/05757/2020, UIDB/00319/2020, and PhD grant 2020.05704.BD

Subprodutos agroindustriais na ensilagem de Pennisetum purpureum/ Agroindustrial by-products in Pennisetum purpureum silage

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusão de níveis crescentes (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%) de polpa cítrica peletizada (PCP) e melaço em pó (MP) na ensilagem de capim-elefante. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com 10 tratamentos e cinco repetições. Determinou-se o conteúdo de matéria seca (MS), teores de proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e ácido (FDA), lignina (LIG), proteína insolúvel em detergente ácido (PIDA), carboidratos solúveis (CS), potencial hidrogeniônico (pH), nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH3), perdas por efluentes (PE), perdas por gases (PG) e recuperação da matéria seca (RMS). Foram observados efeitos dos níveis de inclusão da PC e do MP sobre a massa de forragem ensilada. A PCP promoveu aumento de MS e CS, diminuição de FDN, FDA e LIG, e efeito quadrático para a PB. Observou-se redução na PE e PG, resultando em maior RMS com a inclusão deste aditivo. O MP aumentou o teor de MS e diminuiu a FDN, FDA e LIG linearmente. Entretanto, este aditivo promoveu aumento na PE e menor RMS. A PC proporcionou efeitos positivos sobre a silagem e sua inclusão até 10% melhora a qualidade nutricional e evita a redução do teor proteico do material. Por outro lado, o MP apresentou efeitos negativos sobre o teor proteico, perda por EFLU e produção de N.NH3, porém aumentou os teores de MS e CS, bem como as perdas via gás

Sensory profile evaluation of light peach tea

In this work, three different brands of light peach iced tea (A, B and C), purchased in a local market and packed in PET bottles were sensory analyzed. At first, Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) was conducted in order to obtain the sensorial profile, with eleven tasters, previously selected and trained. The product acceptance was evaluated by 33 consumers, representing the target public. The QDA results were submitted to ANOVA, Tukey's test and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The sample A was mainly characterized by banana aroma and flavor; the sample B by artificial peach aroma and refreshment; while the sample C by sweetness and natural peach aroma. The acceptance test, analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test, showed a greater acceptance for the sample C. The colour of the samples was evaluated by the Cielab L*a*b* method and the sample C stood out by the red colour.No presente estudo foi determinado o perfil sensorial e a aceitação de três marcas comerciais de chá light sabor pêssego, denominadas A, B e C, acondicionadas em embalagem PET e adquiridas no comércio local. O perfil sensorial foi determinado por Análise Descritiva Quantitativa (ADQ) utilizando-se uma equipe de 11 provadores rigorosamente selecionados e treinados. A aceitação dos produtos foi avaliada por 33 consumidores representativos do público alvo. Os resultados da ADQ foram submetidos à Análise de Variância (ANOVA), Teste de Média de Tukey e Análise de Componentes Principais. As amostras comerciais apresentaram perfis semelhantes em alguns termos descritores e diferenças significativas em outros. A amostra A caracterizou-se principalmente pelos atributos aroma e sabor de banana passa; a amostra B por aroma artificial de pêssego e refrescância; e a amostra C por aroma natural de pêssego e doçura. O Teste Afetivo, analisado por ANOVA e Teste de Média de Tukey, indicou maior aceitação para a amostra C. A cor das amostras foi avaliada pelo método Cielab L*a*b*, sendo que a amostra C se destacou das demais pela cor vermelha.10210

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt