Optical Enhancement of Exoskeleton-Based Estimation of Glenohumeral Angles

In Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation (RAR) the accurate estimation of the patient limb joint angles is critical for assessing therapy efficacy. In RAR, the use of classic motion capture systems (MOCAPs) (e.g., optical and electromagnetic) to estimate the Glenohumeral (GH) joint angles is hindered by the exoskeleton body, which causes occlusions and magnetic disturbances. Moreover, the exoskeleton posture does not accurately reflect limb posture, as their kinematic models differ. To address the said limitations in posture estimation, we propose installing the cameras of an optical marker-based MOCAP in the rehabilitation exoskeleton. Then, the GH joint angles are estimated by combining the estimated marker poses and exoskeleton Forward Kinematics. Such hybrid system prevents problems related to marker occlusions, reduced camera detection volume, and imprecise joint angle estimation due to the kinematic mismatch of the patient and exoskeleton models. This paper presents the formulation, simulation, and accuracy quantification of the proposed method with simulated human movements. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the method accuracy to marker position estimation errors, due to system calibration errors and marker drifts, has been carried out. The results show that, even with significant errors in the marker position estimation, method accuracy is adequate for RAR

Corrigendum

Twenty microsatellites (SSRs) reveal two main origins ofvariability in grapevine cultivars from Northwestern SpainVitis 49 (2), 55-62 (2010

Twenty microsatellites (SSRs) reveal two main origins of variability in grapevine cultivars from Northwestern Spain

The grapevine germplasm bank in the “Estación de Viticultura y Enología de Galicia, Xunta de Galicia”, holds fifteen grapevine cultivars with a total of 98 accessions: ‘Brancellao’, ‘Albarello’, ‘Caíño Astureses’, ‘Caíño Bravo’, ‘Caíño Blanco’, ‘Caíño Gordo’, ‘Albarín Negro’, ‘Caíño Longo’, ‘Caíño Redondo’, ‘Castañal’, ‘Mencía’, ‘Merenzao’, ‘Mouratón’, ‘Sousón’, and ‘Verdello’. Cultivars ‘Syrah’ and ‘Pinot Noir’ were included as references. Two different lineages were detected, one originating in ‘Caíño Astureses’ and the other in ‘Merenzao’, synonymy of the French cultivar ‘Trousseau’. Cultivars from Northwestern Spain derived from both of these cultivars by hybridization and selected genotypes that had adapted to local climatic conditions and became fixed by cuttings, explaining the domestication process of these grapevine cultivars. Both lineages differed in allelic frequencies and were distributed differently in Northwestern Spain, the first lineage in the west and the second, related with the French cultivar ‘Trousseau’, in the east. ‘Caíño Astureses’ was the most frequent genotype related by hybridization, indicating the importance that this cultivar had in the origin of grapevines in Galicia. In addition a total of 13 different genotypes were identified. The identity of ‘Brancellao’ and ‘Albarello’ was confirmed by SSR-markers. Other two synonyms were ‘Caíño Astureses’ and ‘Caíño Bravo’, and ‘Caíño Gordo’ and ‘Albarín Negro’. ‘Caíño Redondo’ showed two different genotypes, one related to ‘Caíño Astureses’ and the other to ‘Merenzao’. Two cultivars included in the collection from EVEGA were not reported previously, ‘Verdello’ and ‘Caíño Longo’.

Corrigendum

Twenty microsatellites (SSRs) reveal two main origins ofvariability in grapevine cultivars from Northwestern SpainVitis 49 (2), 55-62 (2010

Suplementación de glutamina sobre el desempeño productivo y variables bioquímicas en lechones destetados

One of the biggest challenges in pig production is the weaning, which implies a marked reduction in feed intake and metabolic wear. Intestinal villus atrophy and decreased digestion and absorption of nutrients are reported as a consequence of weaning. Research has shown that glutamine supplementation favors intestinal morpho-function and productive performance in piglets. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of glutamine supplementation in weaned piglets by measuring productive performance and biochemical blood markers. The research was carried out at the Uyumbicho Experimental Center (CEU) belonging to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the Central University of Ecuador. A total of 8 piglets (Landrace x Yorkshire x Pietrain x Duroc) were used. The piglets were randomly distributed in each of the 4 treatments: T1 = control 1 (without dairy supplement), T2 = control 2 (dairy supplement), T3 = dairy supplement + glutamine (0.5%), T4 = dairy supplement + glutamine (1%). Piglets receiving 0.5% glutamine had the highest daily weight gain (0.404 kg/day) and the best feed conversion (1.16) between 28 and 35 days of age (week 1). A similar trend was seen at week 5 (57-63 days of age), 0.877 g/day and 1.78, respectively. There was no difference in the biochemical variables evaluated between the 4 groups. The use of a milk replacer and glutamine supplementation would have the potential to reduce post-weaning adverse effects in piglets.Uno de los mayores desafíos en la producción porcina es el destete, que implica una marca reducción en el consumo de alimento y desgaste metabólico. Atrofia en vellosidades intestinales y menor digestión y absorción de nutrientes se reportan como consecuencia del destete. Investigaciones han demostrado que la suplementación de glutamina favorece la morfo-función intestinal y el desempeño productivo en lechones. El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación fue evaluar el efecto de la suplementación de glutamina en lechones destetados mediante la medición del rendimiento productivo y pruebas bioquímicas en sangre. La investigación se realizó en el Centro Experimental Uyumbicho (CEU) perteneciente a la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad Central del Ecuador. Se utilizó un total de 8 lechones (Landrace x Yorkshire x Pietrain x Duroc). Los lechones se distribuyeron de manera aleatoria en cada uno de los 4 tratamientos: T1 = testigo 1 (sin suplemento lácteo), T2 = testigo 2 (suplemento lácteo), T3 = suplemento lácteo + glutamina (0.5%), T4 = suplemento lácteo + glutamina (1%). Los lechones que recibieron glutamina al 0.5% presentaron la mayor ganancia diaria de peso (0.404 kg/día) y la mejor conversión alimenticia (1.16) entre los 28 a 35 días edad (semana 1). Una tendencia similar se vio en la semana 5 (57-63 días de edad), 0.877 g/día y 1.78 respectivamente. No hubo diferencia en las variables bioquímicas evaluadas entre los 4 grupos. El uso de un sustituto lácteo y la suplementación de glutamina tendrían el potencial de reducir los efectos adversos posteriores al destete en lechones

Pacientes Policonsultantes: Variabilidad de concepto

Indexación: Scopus.La policonsulta o asistencia frecuente es un fenómeno bien conocido en los sistemas de salud y que generan aumento de los costos, largos tiempos de espera, insatisfacción de la atención y aumento de la carga laboral para los profesionales de salud. Se considera que estos pacientes son una pequeña proporción de los pacientes y que realizan una alta tasa de visitas a médicos en atención primaria. Variados autores han indagado en este fenómeno1–3, pero no existe una definición globalmente aceptada del paciente policonsultante o asistente frecuente.https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-98872020000100128&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=e

Trends in eczema prevalence in children and adolescents: A Global Asthma Network Phase I Study

Background: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a major global public health issue with high prevalence and morbidity. Our goal was to evaluate eczema prevalence over time, using standardized methodology. Methods: The Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I study is an international collaborative study arising from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC). Using surveys, we assessed eczema prevalence, severity, and lifetime prevalence, in global centres participating in GAN Phase I (2015–2020) and one/ both of ISAAC Phase I (1993–1995) and Phase III (2001–2003). We fitted linear mixed models to estimate 10-yearly prevalence trends, by age group, income, and region. Results: We analysed GAN Phase I data from 27 centres in 14 countries involving 74,361 adolescents aged 13–14 and 47,907 children aged 6–7 (response rate 90%, 79%). A median of 6% of children and adolescents had symptoms of current eczema, with 1.1% and 0.6% in adolescents and children, respectively, reporting symptoms of severe eczema. Over 27 years, after adjusting for world region and income, we estimated small overall 10-year increases in current eczema prevalence (adolescents: 0.98%, 95% CI 0.04%–1.92%; children: 1.21%, 95% CI 0.18%–2.24%), and severe eczema (adolescents: 0.26%, 95% CI 0.06%–0.46%; children: 0.23%, 95% CI 0.02%–0.45%) with larger increases in lifetime prevalence (adolescents: 2.71%, 95% CI 1.10%–4.32%; children: 3.91%, 95% CI 2.07%–5.75%). There was substantial heterogeneity in 10-year change between centres (standard deviations 2.40%, 0.58%, and 3.04%), and strong evidence that some of this heterogeneity was explained by region and income level, with increases in some outcomes in high-income children and middle-income adolescents. Conclusions: There is substantial variation in changes in eczema prevalence over time by income and region. Understanding reasons for increases in some regions and decreases in others will help inform prevention strategies