Sensorimotor rhythm brain-computer interface – A game-based online co-adaptive training

Tese de mestrado integrado, Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica (Engenharia Clínica e Instrumentação Médica) Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2018Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology translates brain signals into messages. BCI users are thus enabled to interact with the environment by thought, or more generally speaking by mental processes. Event-related desynchronization (ERD) based BCIs use the detection of changes in the spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. Different mental processes induce power decreases (ERD) or increases (event-related synchronization, ERS) in different frequencies and different areas of the brain. These differences can be measured and classified. Operating a non-invasive EEG based sensorimotor rhythm BCI is a skill that typically requires extensive training. Lately, online co-adaptive feedback training approaches achieved promising results after short periods of training. Does this also mean that users can have meaningful BCI-based interactions after training, when the BCI is no longer adapting, like in a real- life scenario? To answer this question an online study was conducted with 20 naïve (first time) users. After a short (less than 20 minutes) setup, the users trained to gain BCI control by playing a Whack- A-Mole game where they would have to perform Motor Imagery (imagination of a specific movement- MI) to control a hammer to hit a mole. The game was played for about 30 minutes. During this time, the user learns to perform MI with online feedback from the game and the BCI parameters recurrently adapt to the user’s EEG patterns every~1minute. This recurrent adaptation allows different users to use slightly different strategies and produce ERDs in different frequencies and brain areas without loss of performance. After 30 minutes of training the adaptation was stopped and the users continued playing the game with the trained BCI for another 20 minutes. The BCI parameters were calibrated with data from the adaptive stage and kept fixed in the last 20 minutes. Our hypothesis is that once a system was co-adaptively trained it can maintain its performance without recurrent adaptation. Eighteen out of the twenty users were able to control the BCI and play the game. Seventeen out of the eighteen were able to improve or keep performance between adaptive and non-adaptive stage. These results seem to suggest that online co-adaptation is an effective way to gain BCI control

Abscesso tuberculoso cerebral em paciente com AIDS: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

Tuberculous brain abscesses in AIDS patients are considered rare with only eight cases reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 34-year-old woman with AIDS and previous toxoplasmic encephalitis who was admitted due to headache and seizures. A brain computed tomography scan disclosed a frontal hypodense lesion with a contrast ring enhancement. Brain abscess was suspected and she underwent a lesion puncture through a trepanation. The material extracted was purulent and the acid-fast smear was markedly positive. Timely medical and surgical approaches allowed a good outcome. Tuberculous abscesses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal brain lesions in AIDS patients. Surgical excision or stereotactic aspiration, and antituberculous treatment are the mainstay in the management of these uncommon lesions.Os abscessos tuberculosos cerebrais em pacientes com aids são raros, existindo apenas 8 casos publicados. Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente de 34 anos com aids e antecedente de toxoplasmose cerebral, que foi admitida por cefaléia e convulsões. A tomografia computadorizada de crânio evidenciou lesão frontal única, grande, com realce anular e efeito expansivo. Diante da suspeita de abscesso cerebral foi submetida a trepanação, drenando material purulento e demonstrando presença de abundantes bacilos ácido-álcool resistentes. Abordagem cirúrgica e clínica oportuna determinaram uma boa evolução. Os abscessos tuberculosos devem ser considerados no diagnóstico diferencial das massas intracranianas em pacientes com aids. Excisão cirúrgica ou aspiração por estereotaxia e tuberculostáticos constituem as bases do tratamento destas lesões incomuns

Extraction and characterization of collagen from Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic squid and its potential application in hybrid scaffolds for tissue engineering

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in mammals and it exhibits a low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility and biodegradability when compared with others natural polymers. For this reason, it has been explored for the development of biologically instructive biomaterials with applications for tissue substitution and regeneration. Marine origin collagen has been pursued as an alternative to the more common bovine and porcine origins. This study focused on squid (Teuthoidea: Cephalopoda), particularly the Antarctic squid Kondakovia longimana and the Sub-Antarctic squid Illex argentinus as potential collagen sources. In this study, collagen has been isolated fromthe skins of the squids using acid-based and pepsin-based protocols, with the higher yield being obtained from I. argentinus in the presence of pepsin. The produced collagen has been characterized in terms of physicochemical properties, evidencing an amino acid profile similar to the one of calf collagen, but exhibiting a less preserved structure, with hydrolyzed portions and a lower melting temperature. Pepsin-soluble collagen isolated fromI. argentinus was selected for further evaluation of biomedical potential, exploring its incorporation on poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) 3D printed scaffolds for the development of hybrid scaffolds for tissue engineering, exhibiting hierarchical features.This work was partially funded by ERDF through POCTEP Project 0687_NOVOMAR_1_P and by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement on ERC-2012-ADG 20120216-321266 (ComplexiTE). The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) is also acknowledged for post-doctoral fellowships of JMS (SFRH/BPD/70230/2010) and RPP (SFRH/BPD/101886/2014), financed by POPH/FSE, and FCT Investigator grant of JX (IF/00616/2013). The authors also want to thank Dr. Julio Maroto (Fundación CETMAR, Spain) for the kind offer of the samples of skins of I. argentinus, to Dr. Dario Fassini for the assistance in SDS-PAGE and to Raphael Canadas for assistance in micro-CT data processing.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Counting and Locating High-Density Objects Using Convolutional Neural Network

This paper presents a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach for counting and locating objects in high-density imagery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first object counting and locating method based on a feature map enhancement and a Multi-Stage Refinement of the confidence map. The proposed method was evaluated in two counting datasets: tree and car. For the tree dataset, our method returned a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.05, a root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 2.87 and a coefficient of determination (R$^2$) of 0.986. For the car dataset (CARPK and PUCPR+), our method was superior to state-of-the-art methods. In the these datasets, our approach achieved an MAE of 4.45 and 3.16, an RMSE of 6.18 and 4.39, and an R$^2$ of 0.975 and 0.999, respectively. The proposed method is suitable for dealing with high object-density, returning a state-of-the-art performance for counting and locating objects.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, 8 table

Score CTo-aBCDE : um novo score preditor de sucesso nas CTOs

© 2020 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Introduction: Patient selection for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is crucial to procedural success. Our aim was to identify independent predictors of success in CTO PCI in order to create an accurate score. Methods: In a single-center observational registry of CTO PCI, demographic and clinical data and anatomical characteristics of coronary lesions were recorded. Linear and logistic regression analysis were used to identify predictors of success. A score to predict success was created and its accuracy was measured by receiver operating curve analysis. Results: A total of 377 interventions were performed (334 patients, age 68±11 years, 75% male). The success rate was 65% per patient and 60% per procedure. Predictors of success in univariate analysis were absence of active smoking (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.243-3.29; p=0.005), presence of tapered stump (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.7-10.2; p8 with high probability (95%). Conclusion: In our sample only anatomical characteristics were predictors of success. The creation of a score to predict success, with good accuracy, may enable selection of cases that can be treated by any operator, those in which a dedicated operator will be desirable, and those with an extremely low probability of success, which should be considered individually for conservative management, surgical revascularization or PCI by a team experienced in CTO.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Indiscriminate use of Ritalin by Universities in the Health Area at the University of Gurupi – UNIRG

MPH methylphenidate, popularly known as Ritalin, was synthesized in 1954 in Switzerland and marketed in Brazil in 1998, belonging to the class of amphetamines. It acts in the CNS crossing the blood-brain barrier very easily. Used for cognitive improvement by college students. Its excessive consumption leads to dependence and possible side effects. The objective of this study was to analyze 91 university students who answered questionnaires on the theme. The collected data analyzed the incidence of Ritalin use among health academics at the University of Gurupi-UNIRG. After conducting the surveys, it was intended to understand the real reason that leads the student to the indiscriminate use of the drug and its possible consequences, to subsequently conduct guidance regarding the use without a prescription for academic purposes

Aceitabilidade e viabilidade da intervenção OnTRACK para a promoção da atividade física em pessoas com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica

Introdução: As estratégias atuais para a promoção de atividade física (AF) em pessoas com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC) têm mostrado resultados inconsistentes. O uso de plataformas digitais para treino (coaching) de AF tem o potencial de acompanhar remotamente o doente e proporcionar feedback regular sem sobrecarregar os serviços de saúde, podendo alcançar um maior número de doentes. A plataforma digital OnTRACK (ref. POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028446) integra uma aplicação móvel, dirigida a doentes, que intercomunica com uma aplicação web, acessível aos profissionais de saúde, para definir metas individualizadas, monitorizar a progressão da AF e dar feedback motivacional. A OnTRACK foi desenvolvida atendendo às necessidades e expectativas dos utilizadores finais para facilitar a sua adesão a longo prazo, porém nunca foi testada em contexto de prática clínica. Objetivo: Avaliar a aceitabilidade e viabilidade (clínica e económica) da intervenção OnTRACK na promoção de AF na DPOC. Métodos: Este é um estudo de métodos mistos. O recrutamento de doentes clinicamente estáveis com DPOC decorrerá durante 2 semanas numa unidade de saúde do Centro. A avaliação inicial incluirá, o estado clínico (e.g., limitação do fluxo aéreo: espirometria, impacto da doença: COPD Assessment Test), desempenho físico (e.g., teste de marcha dos 6 minutos), estadio de mudança (e.g., Questionário de Mudança Comportamental) e AF habitual (acelerómetro Actigraph GT3X+, 7 dias). A média dos dados de AF desses 7 dias servirá de base para estabelecer a meta inicial de AF (passos/dia) através da OnTRACK. Os doentes levarão para casa a aplicação móvel, onde poderão acompanhar a progressão de AF e verificar o (não)cumprimento da meta definida. Semanalmente, receberão um contacto telefónico de um profissional de saúde para definirem a meta da semana seguinte, considerando o nível de autoconfiança do doente [0–10], até um máximo de 10% aumento. Após 6 semanas, os doentes farão uma nova avaliação, que incluirá as medidas da avaliação inicial, um focus group e um questionário de aceitabilidade da intervenção. Serão analisadas taxas de recrutamento e atrito (não-utilização, desistência e motivos), possíveis efeitos adversos (segurança) e custos da intervenção. Discussão: Os dados da aceitabilidade informarão ajustes necessários à intervenção. Conclusão: Este estudo permitirá avaliar a viabilidade e aceitabilidade da intervenção OnTRACK, para posterior implementação num estudo randomizado e controlado.publishe

LEVANTAMENTO DE LAGARTAS (LEPIDOPTERA) NO PARQUE RECREATIVO SUCUPIRA E COMPARAÇÃO DE INTERAÇÕES COM PLANTAS HOSPEDEIRAS NO CERRADO DO BRASIL CENTRAL

Brazilian Cerrado is considered an important area for environment conservation, due to its high species’ richness and endemism. Nevertheless, this biome has been intensely destroyed because of its potential for agriculture – of plants and animals. For this reason, it is important to have tools to evaluate quickly the effects of such threats on biological diversity. A type of approach that has been investigated lately is using ecological interactions, since species exclusion or a change on its abundance caused by human disturbance may cause co-extinctions. Therefore, getting to know different aspects on interactions between species may be the fi rst step to understand the stability of an ecosystem after such threats. So, in the present work the utilization of fi ve plant species by caterpillars (Lepidoptera) was surveyed in a urban park at Planaltina, Federal District. Since there is quite an extensive information on the ecology of these animals at the region, this work aimed to compare the amount of interactions between caterpillars and plants at the urban park with data in the literature, considering the situation at wellpreserved areas. Besides, considering the level of integrity on interactions, it was also aimed to suggest how human visitation at the park threatens caterpillars. To this purpose, caterpillars were surveyed at fi ve host plants, Byrsonima coccolobifolia, Kielmeyera sp., Himathantus obovatus, Pouteria ramifl ora e Roupala montana, in June, when caterpillars are more abundant in the fi eld. Using the community structure that was found, it was estimated species richness at each host plant. It was found 32 caterpillar species. In four out of fi ve studied plants, the number of estimated species is not much lower than the ones at preserved areas. Only in R. montana it was not found a species richness as high as expected, by considering literature data. This work reinforces the application of rapid surveys for conservation actions and suggests that other groups of organism should be considered in the future to confi rm the preservation pattern of study area.O bioma Cerrado é considerado importante por abrigar alta riqueza de espécies e endemismos. No entanto, este vem sofrendo uma intensa destruição, devido ao seu potencial agrícola e pecuário. Por esse motivo, é importante que se tenham ferramentas para avaliar, de forma rápida, os efeitos dessas pressões na integridade da diversidade biológica. Uma das abordagens que vem sendo investigada é a de considerar interações ecológicas, porque a exclusão e/ou alteração da abundância de espécies, causada pela perturbação, podem promover co-extinção destas. Assim, conhecer diferentes características de interações entre espécies pode ser o primeiro passo para acessar a estabilidade do ecossistema frente a tais perturbações. Nesse sentido, no presente trabalho foi levantada a utilização de cinco espécies de plantas hospedeiras por lagartas (Lepidoptera), em um Parque urbano de Planaltina, no Distrito Federal. Uma vez que existe uma grande quantidade de informação ecológica sobre esses animais no Distrito Federal, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi o de comparar a quantidade de interações lagartas x plantas encontradas no Parque urbano com a descrita na literatura científi ca para áreas mais preservadas. Além disso, através dessa comparação, considerando a integridade das interações, objetivou-se propor o grau de distúrbio causado pela visitação humana no Parque. Para isso, durante o mês de junho, quando há maior abundância de lagartas no campo, foi feito um levantamento das mesmas nas plantas Byrsonima coccolobifolia, Kielmeyera sp., Himathantus obovatus, Pouteria ramifl ora e Roupala montana. A partir da estrutura da comunidade de Lepidoptera encontrada, foi estimada a riqueza total de espécies de lagartas em cada planta hospedeira. Durante o levantamento, foram encontradas 32 espécies de lagartas no total. Em quatro espécies de plantas, os resultados obtidos pelas estimativas de riqueza de espécies indicaram que o número de interações encontradas no Parque urbano não é tão menor do que o encontrado nas áreas preservadas. Somente em R. montana foi encontrada uma riqueza de espécies abaixo à esperada, de acordo com as comunidades descritas na literatura. Sob esse aspecto, sugere-se que o Parque parece estar em bom estado de conservação. O presente trabalho reforça a aplicação de levantamentos rápidos em práticas de conservação e sugere a inclusão de novos grupos de organismos no futuro, para confi rmar o padrão sobre o grau de preservação da área de estudo