Enhancing the Signal of Corticomuscular Coherence

The availability of multichannel neuroimaging techniques, such as MEG and EEG, provides us with detailed topographical information of the recorded magnetic and electric signals and therefore gives us a good overview on the concomitant signals generated in the brain. To assess the location and the temporal dynamics of neuronal sources with noninvasive recordings, reconstruction tools such as beamformers have been shown to be useful. In the current study, we are in particular interested in cortical motor control involved in the isometric contraction of finger muscles. To this end we are measuring the interaction between the dynamics of brain signals and the electrical activity of hand muscles. We were interested to find out whether in addition to the well-known correlated activity between contralateral primary motor cortex and the hand muscles, additional functional connections can be demonstrated. We adopted coherence as a functional index and propose a so-called nulling beamformer method which is computationally efficient and addresses the localization of multiple correlated sources. In simulations of cortico-motor coherence, the proposed method was able to correctly localize secondary sources. The application of the approach on real electromyographic and magnetoencephalographic data collected during an isometric contraction and rest revealed an additional activity in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the hand involved in the task

City data ecosystems between theory and practice: A qualitative exploratory study in seven European cities

The exponential growth of data collection opens possibilities for analyzing data to address political and societal challenges. Still, European cities are not utilizing the potential of data generated by its citizens, industries, academia, and public authorities for their public service mission. The reasons are complex and relate to an intertwined set of organizational, technological, and legal barriers, although good practices exist that could be scaled, sustained, and further developed. The article contributes to research on data-driven innovation in the public sector comparing high-level expectations on data ecosystems with actual practices of data sharing and innovation at the local and regional level. Our approach consists in triangulating the analysis of in-depth interviews with representatives of the local administrations with documents obtained from the cities. The interviews investigated the experiences and perspectives of local administrations regarding establishing a local or regional data ecosystem. The article examines experiences and obstacles to data sharing within seven administrations investigating what currently prevents the establishment of data ecosystems. The findings are summarized along three main lines. First, the limited involvement of private sector organizations as actors in local data ecosystems through emerging forms of data sharing became evident. Second, we observed the concern over technological aspects and the lack of attention on social or organizational issues. Third, a conceptual decision to apply a centralized and not a federated digital infrastructure is noteworthy

Uso de ferramentas lean para melhoria de processos industriais alimentícios / Use of lean tools to improve food industrial processes

O Lean Production, ou Produção Enxuta, é uma filosofia de melhoramento de processos que se baseia na redução de desperdícios e na criação de valor com base na perspectiva do cliente. É importante a aplicação de ferramentas Lean em processos de indústrias de alimentos para a melhoria continua e sobrevivência no mercado consumidor. Neste sentido, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo aplicar ferramentas Lean para a melhoria do processo de refile de peito de peru de um frigorífico do Oeste de Santa Catarina. Inicialmente em uma reunião com os gestores e especialistas na área definiu-se que o estudo seria na etapa de refile de matéria-prima do frigorífico. Posteriormente, aplicou-se as ferramentas de gráfico de balanceamento operacional (GBO) e diagrama de trabalho padronizado. Nesta linha de processamento trabalham 76 operadores. Após os cálculos e construção do GBO observou-se que aproximadamente 97% dos operadores poderiam estar ociosos nas funções destinadas para o refile. Verificou-se que número ideal de funcionários era de 50 colaboradores, ou seja, pela análise da ferramenta de balanceamento operacional poderiam ser realocados 26 funcionários. Em decorrência disso, construiu-se diagramas de trabalho padronizado para rodizio de funções e balanceamento adequado de produção, desta forma, não gerando tempos de espera e melhorando o fluxo de processo. Porém, ressalta-se a importância de verificar a questão ergonômica dos funcionários por ser uma etapa manual. A aplicação de ferramentas Lean auxiliaram na melhoria do processo através de um fluxo de produção sem gerar esperas, estoques e desperdícios

Diagnostic yield of rapid on-site evaluation transbronchial needle aspiration versus conventional transbronchial needle aspiration: a single center experience

Trans-bronchial needle aspiration allows lymph node sampling in several thoracic conditions; the ability of Rapid On-Site Evaluation (ROSE) to predict the final diagnosis in this setting has not been well characterized. We performed a retrospective study to establish the utility of ROSE in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases with mediastinal lymph node involvement. We retrospectively reviewed 297 patients with hilar-mediastinal lymph node enlargement detected at CT scan from January 2013 to April 2016. 201 patients underwent conventional TBNA; in 96 patients, TBNA procedure was performed by on-site presence of a team of pathologists and research morphologists. Lung neoplasms, sarcoidosis, infections and lymphoma were the most common diseases diagnosed with TBNA samples. TBNA simultaneously performed in combination with ROSE produced an increase in percentage of appropriate samples compared to single cTBNA (adequate samples cTBNA vs ROSE-TBNA: 73% vs 81%; p<0.05). Our observations indicate an increase in adequacy of fine needle aspirations and increased diagnostic yield in the ROSE group. In conclusions, ROSE may serve to reduce procedure time and enhance sample triaging therefore limiting the need for further invasive diagnostic testing