Circular components in center of pressure signals

Static posturography provides an objective assessment of postural control by characterizing the body sway during upright standing. The Center-of-Pressure (CoP) signal is recorded by a force platform and it is analyzed by means of many different models and techniques. Most of the parameters calculated according to these different approaches are affected by relevant intra- and inter-subject variability and/or do not have a clear physiological interpretation. Traditional approaches decompose the CoP signal into antero-posterior and medio-lateral time series, corresponding to ankle plantar/dorsiflexion and hip adduction/abduction, respectively. In this study we hypothesized that CoP signals show inherent rotational characteristics. To verify our hypothesis we applied the rotary spectra analysis to the 2-dimensional CoP signal to decompose it into clockwise and counter-clockwise rotational components. We demonstrated the presence of rotational components in the CoP signal of healthy subjects, providing a reference data set of the spectral characteristics of these component

Biomass Vertical Distribution in a Grazed Grassland Under Monoespecific and Mixed Grazing

Mixed grazing is defined as the use of the same forage resource for more than one herbivore species. It has been shown that different herbivore species have specific grazing modalities (Black and Kenney, 1984), which may differentially modify the structure of the pasture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomass vertical distribution in a sward with mixed grazing

Use of Nanoparticles as Nanoelectrodes in Contact-Less Cell Membrane Permeabilization by Time-Varying Magnetic Field: A Computational Study

This paper describes a computational approach for the assessment of electric field enhancement by using highly conductive gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in time-varying electromagnetic fields cell membrane permeabilization, estimating the influence of the presence of Au NPs on transmembrane potential and on the pore opening dynamics. To account for variability and uncertainty about geometries and relative placement and aggregations of the Au NPs, three different NP configurations were considered: spherical Au NPs equally spaced around the cell; cubic Au NPs, for accounting for the possible edge effect, equally spaced around the cell; and spherical Au NPs grouped in clusters. The results show that the combined use of Au NPs and a time-varying magnetic field can significantly improve the permeabilization of cell membranes. The variability of NPs' geometries and configurations in proximity of the cell membrane showed to have a strong influence on the pore opening mechanism. The study offers a better comprehension of the mechanisms, still not completely understood, underlying cell membrane permeabilization by time-varying magnetic fields

Antibacterial Activity of Mulinum spinosum

Nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus are important reservoirs with risk of developing endogenous infections or transmitting infections to susceptible individuals. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are associated with higher rates of treatment failure. Some strains of S. aureus produce slime which is believed to make the microorganisms more resistant to antibiotics and host defenses. The antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate : n-hexane (EtOAc : HEX) extracts of Mulinum spinosum (5 : 95% EtOAc : HEX, 50 : 50% EtOAc : HEX, 70 : 30% EtOAc : HEX and mix 20 : 80/30 : 70% EtOAc : HEX, 50 : 50/70 : 30/100 : 0% EtOAc : HEX) were assayed against 3 slime-producing S. aureus strains and 2 MRSA strains isolated from nasal carriers. S. aureus ATCC 35556 slime-producing strain and MRSA ATCC 43300 strain were used as controls. The extracts were prepared using flash chromatography. M. spinosum 5 : 95% AcOEt : HEX showed antibacterial effect against all slime-producing strains (MIC: 500 µg/mL) and the highest activity against MRSA strains (MIC: 500 to 1000 µg/mL). All M. spinosum extracts assayed were active against slime-producing S. aureus and MRSA at doses between 500 and 4000 µg/mL. Both, slime-producing S. aureus and MRSA are highly contagious and hardly eradicated by antibiotic therapies. So, there is an increasing need to find new substances with the ability to inhibit these strains

Fight against counterfeiting of goods related to IP infringing: Technical report of DG JRC.G.06 on analysis of Due Diligence for fight against counterfeiting of goods related to IP infringing

This report analyses how Due Diligence concepts, which includes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Supply Chain Management Responsibility (SCMR) can be applied to the fight against counterfeit related to IP infringing. We intentionally decided to limit the study in this report to the market portion of counterfeit products related to IP infringing. Counterfeit products can be a wider set than just IP infringing products.JRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit

In vitro spermatostatic activity of mulinane- and azorellane-type diterpenes on human spermatozoa

Mulinenic acid (1), mulinolic acid (2) and azorellan- 17,13- (β) olide (3) isolated from Mulinum spinosum and Azorella trifurcata have been evaluated for their spermatostatic activity on human spermatozoa. In vitro sperm motility, viability and recovery of the motility were assessed. Compounds 2 and 3 showed significant spermatostatic properties. Reversible effects for 2 (% Motile Cells = 32 ± 3, % Living Cells = 84 ± 4) and irreversible effects for 3 (% Motile Cells = 34 ± 4, % Living Cells = 82 ± 4) were observed. Compound 1 showed moderate bioactivity. Compounds 2-3 presented remarkable effects on human sperm motility and we were encouraged to consider their application as a potential non hormonal male contraceptive agent.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Interrogating Privacy in the digital society: media narratives after 2 cases

The introduction of information technology (IT) in the society and its pervasiveness in every aspect of citizens’ daily life highlight societal stakes related to the goals of IT uses, social networks being a most important example. This paper examines two cases which have in common a not straightforward link with privacy as addressed and protected by existing law in Europe (EU) and the United-States (USA), but whose characteristics, we reckon fall on other privacy function and properties. In Western societies individuals rely on normative discourses such as the legal one in order to ensure protection. Hence, the paper argues that other functions of privacy need either further framing into legislation or they need to constitute in themselves normative commitments of an ethical nature for technology development and use. Some initiatives at EU level recall such commitments namely by developing a normative discourse based on ethics and human values. We argue that we need to interrogate society about those normative discourses because the values we once cherished in a non-digital society are seriously being questioned.JRC.G.7-Digital Citizen Securit