THE USE OF UPPER LIMB PROSTHESIS OPTIMIZES LONG JUMP APPROACH KINEMATICS: A CASE STUDY OF AN ELITE T47 ATHLETE

This study aimed to investigate approach run kinematics using an upper limb prosthesis. A European Τ47 long- and triple- jump champion with right upper-limb congenital deficiency was analyzed in simulated approach run-ups wearing prosthesis (PW) or not (NP). Two attempts in each condition were recorded (300 fps). Step characteristics and kinematic parameters were extracted for the deficient (DLS) and intact (HLS) sides with a 2D-DLT analysis during the early (EA) and late (LA) approach. Results revealed systematic asymmetry for step frequency and length in NP, with the latter reduced in PW. Horizontal velocity in both EA and LA was larger by 0.3 m/s in PW than NP. These results suggest that asymmetry of NP reduces approach run performance compared to PW

A practical approach to detect ancestral haplotypes in livestock populations

Background The effects of different evolutionary forces are expected to lead to the conservation, over many generations, of particular genomic regions (haplotypes) due to the development of linkage disequilibrium (LD). The detection and identification of early (ancestral) haplotypes can be used to clarify the evolutionary dynamics of different populations as well as identify selection signatures and genomic regions of interest to be used both in conservation and breeding programs. The aims of this study were to develop a simple procedure to identify ancestral haplotypes segregating across several generations both within and between populations with genetic links based on whole-genome scanning. This procedure was tested with simulated and then applied to real data from different genotyped populations of Spanish, Fleckvieh, Simmental and Brown-Swiss cattle. Results The identification of ancestral haplotypes has shown coincident patterns of selection across different breeds, allowing the detection of common regions of interest on different bovine chromosomes and mirroring the evolutionary dynamics of the studied populations. These regions, mainly located on chromosomes BTA5, BTA6, BTA7 and BTA21 are related with certain animal traits such as coat colour and milk protein and fat content. Conclusion In agreement with previous studies, the detection of ancestral haplotypes provides useful information for the development and comparison of breeding and conservation programs both through the identification of selection signatures and other regions of interest, and as indicator of the general genetic status of the populations

Cortical dynamics and subcortical signatures of motor-language coupling in Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT: Impairments of action language have been documented in early stage Parkinson’s disease (EPD). The action-sentence compatibility effect (ACE) paradigm has revealed that EPD involves deficits to integrate action-verb processing and ongoing motor actions. Recent studies suggest that an abolished ACE in EPD reflects a cortico-subcortical disruption, and recent neurocognitive models highlight the role of the basal ganglia (BG) in motor-language coupling. Building on such breakthroughs, we report the first exploration of convergent cortical and subcortical signatures of ACE in EPD patients and matched controls. Specifically, we combined cortical recordings of the motor potential, functional connectivity measures, and structural analysis of the BG through voxelbased morphometry. Relative to controls, EPD patients exhibited an impaired ACE, a reduced motor potential, and aberrant frontotemporal connectivity. Furthermore, motor potential abnormalities during the ACE task were predicted by overall BG volume and atrophy. These results corroborate that motor-language coupling is mainly subserved by a cortico-subcortical network including the BG as a key hub. They also evince that action-verb processing may constitute a neurocognitive marker of EPD. Our findings suggest that research on the relationship between language and motor domains is crucial to develop models of motor cognition as well as diagnostic and intervention strategies

Column Address Selection in Optical RAMs With Positive and Negative Logic Row Access

An optical RAM row access gate followed by a column address selector for wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM)-formatted words employing a single semiconductor optical amplifier-Mach-Zehnder interferometer (SOA-MZI) is presented. RAM row access is performed by the SOA-MZI that grants random access to a 4-bit WDM-formatted optical word employing multiwavelength cross-phase-modulation (XPM) phenomena, whereas column decoding is carried out in a completely passive way using arrayed waveguide grating. Proof-of-concept experimental verification for both positive and negative logic access is demonstrated for 4 \times 10 Gb/s optical words, showing error-free operation with only 0.4-dB-peak-power penalty and requiring a power value of 25 mW/Gb/s.</p