Two-Hand Virtual Object Manipulation Based on Networked Architecture

A setup for bimanual virtual object manipulation is described in this paper. Index and thumb fingers are inserted in the corresponding thimbles in order to perform virtual object manipulations. A gimble, with 3-rotational degrees of freedom, connects each thimble to the corresponding serial-parallel mechanical structure with 3 actuated DoF. As a result, each finger has 6 DoF, movements and forces can be reflected in any direction without any torque component. Scenarios for virtual manipulation are based on distributed architecture where each finger device has its own real-time controller. A computer receives the status of each finger and runs a simulation with the virtual object manipulation. The information of the Scenario is updated at a rate of 200 Hz. The information from the haptic controller is processed at 1 kHz; it provides a good realism for object manipulation

SITED: Un laboratorio interactivo y portable de electrónica digital

Esta comunicación presenta un dispositivo que, conectado a un ordenador a través de un puerto USB, convierte el conjunto en una plataforma interactiva para la realización de prácticas básicas de Electrónica Digital, que hemos dado en llamar SITED, acrónimo de Sistema Interactivo Tutor de Electrónica Digital. Este sistema es una evolución de otro diseño anterior, que se denominó ETED (Entrenador Tutor de Electrónica Digital), con el que se ha obtenido una mejora de las actividades prácticas que se desarrollan en el Laboratorio de la asignatura “Electrónica Digital

PREVIRNEC A new platform for cognitive tele-rehabilitation

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), either caused by vascular or traumatic nature, is one of the most important causes for neurological disabilities. People who suffer ABI see how their quality of life decreases, due to the affection of one or some of the cognitive functions (memory, attention, language or executive functions). The traditional cognitive rehabilitation protocols are too expensive, so every help carried out in this area is justified. PREVIRNEC is a new platform for cognitive tele-rehabilitation that allows the neuropsychologist to schedule rehabilitation sessions consisted of specifically designed tasks, plus offering an additional way of communication between neuropsychologists and patients. Besides, the platform offers a knowledge management module that allows the optimization of the cognitive rehabilitation to this kind of patients

How the vestibular system interacts with somatosensory perception: A sham-controlled study with galvanic vestibular stimulation

The vestibular system has widespread interactions with other sensory modalities. Here we investigate whether vestibular stimulation modulates somatosensory function, by assessing the ability to detect faint tactile stimuli to the fingertips of the left and right hand with or without galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). We found that left anodal and right cathodal GVS, significantly enhanced sensitivity to mild shocks on either hand, without affecting response bias. There was no such effect with either right anodal and left cathodal GVS or sham stimulation. Further, the enhancement of somatosensory sensitivity following GVS does not strongly depend on the duration of GVS, or the interval between GVS and tactile stimulation. Vestibular inputs reach the somatosensory cortex, increasing the sensitivity of perceptual circuitry

The two-way relationship between food systems and the COVID19 pandemic: causes and consequences

[EN] CONTEXT: The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most pressing challenges for humanity. The pandemic is affecting all aspects of human lives and livelihoods, including food. In this context, new research shows the nexus between agri-food systems and the spread of emergent infectious diseases (EID) such as the coronavirus disease while at the same time, shows how the COVID-19 pandemics has heavily impacted food systems. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to shed light and draw, through the case of COVID-19, the network of direct and indirect links and feedback loops between the globalised food system and pandemics. METHODS: We conducted a literature review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As with climate change, food systems have a double relation with EID in general, and in particular with the present world health crisis linked to COVID-19. On the one hand, global agri-food systems, as currently organised, are a necessary step in the development of EID, through their impacts in land use changes, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss and climate change. On the other hand, COVID-19 has had and is having impacts on all food systems at all scales. The review shows that all activities of the food system (from production to consumption) as well as all pillars of food security (availability, access, use, stability) have been affected. The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on food systems can be divided between direct impacts of the virus outbreak, and indirect impacts derived from the containment measures (e.g. lockdowns, mobility restrictions, shops closure) adopted at different levels (from local to global). While all food systems across the globe have been affected by the pandemic, it is argued that vulnerability is different for different types of food systems. Long food supply chains have been particularly affected by COVID-19 crisis, however, it is important to avoid universalization of impacts and responses as agri-food systems are characterised by a huge diversity and heterogeneity. The review concludes by pointing out that while the pandemic represents a challenge for the global food systems, this 'stress test' can be also seized as an opportunity to highlight vulnerabilities to be urgently addressed during the recovery period and speed up the transformation towards more sustainable and resilient food systems. SIGNIFICANCE: A food systems approach is essential to have a broader picture of the relationship of agri-food systems with zoonosis and their centrality in the pandemics and the derived socio-economic consequences.Elisa OterosRozas was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (IJCI201734334) . Marina di Masso was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (IJCI-2016-30769) Federica Ravera was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RYC2018025958I) .Rivera-Ferre, MG.; Lopez-I-Gelats, F.; Ravera, F.; Oteros-Rozas, E.; Di Masso, M.; Binimelis, R.; El Bilali, H. (2021). The two-way relationship between food systems and the COVID19 pandemic: causes and consequences. Agricultural Systems. 191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.10313419

Re-framing the climate change debate in the livestock sector: mitigation and adaptation options

Livestock play a key role in the climate change debate. As with crop-based agriculture, the sector is both a net greenhouse gas emitter and vulnerable to climate change. At the same time, it is an essential food source for millions of people worldwide, with other functions apart from food security such as savings and insurance. By comparison with crop-based agriculture, the interactions of livestock and climate change have been much less studied. The debate around livestock is confusing due to the coexistence of multiple livestock farming systems with differing functions for humans, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission profiles and different characteristics and boundary issues in their measurement, which are often pooled together. Consequently, the diversity of livestock farming systems and their functions to human systems are poorly represented and the role of the livestock sector in the climate change debate has not been adequately addressed. In this article, building upon the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC 5AR) findings, we review recent literature on livestock and climate change so as better to include this diversity in the adaptation and mitigation debate around livestock systems. For comparative purposes we use the same categories of managerial, technical, behavioral and policy-related action to organize both mitigation and adaptation options. We conclude that different livestock systems provide different functions to different human systems and require different strategies, so they cannot readily be pooled together. We also observe that, for the different livestock systems, several win-win strategies exist that effectively tackle both mitigation and adaptation options as well as food security

Dendrometric analysis of Tamarix africana L.,species of river and wetlands of the Mediterranean area. Characterisation of biomass

A dendrometric and energetic characterisation of Tamarix africana L. was carried out in this study. This is an indigenous plant species in the Mediterranean area, and it can survive in semi-arid areas with saline soils and occasional floods. Owing to these characteristics, this species is a good candidate for its use in the restoration of several environments, such as the marshes. This opens up the possibility of improving the management of biomass, which can be used for obtaining economic benefits from its energetic use. For the stems, biomass volume functions were determined from their diameter and length with r(2) of 0.96. For the whole plant, biomass volume functions were determined from the diameter of the projected area in the soil and the height of the plant with r(2) of 0.95. For energetic characterisation, the density, higher heat value, and the composition of this wood were measured in terms of following elements: carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur and chlorine, volatiles and ash. The determination of its composition in C allows us to evaluate the CO2 fixed by the plant during its growth. The average catchment was estimated to be 2.58 kg/plant

Modelling of chemotactic sprouting endothelial cells through an extracellular matrix

Sprouting angiogenesis is a core biological process critical to vascular development. Its accurate simulation, relevant to multiple facets of human health, is of broad, interdisciplinary appeal. This study presents an in-silico model replicating a microfluidic assay where endothelial cells sprout into a biomimetic extracellular matrix, specifically, a large-pore, low-concentration fibrin-based porous hydrogel, influenced by chemotactic factors. We introduce a novel approach by incorporating the extracellular matrix and chemotactic factor effects into a unified term using a single parameter, primarily focusing on modelling sprouting dynamics and morphology. This continuous model naturally describes chemotactic-induced sprouting with no need for additional rules. In addition, we extended our base model to account for matrix sensing and degradation, crucial aspects of angiogenesis. We validate our model via a hybrid in-silico experimental method, comparing the model predictions with experimental results derived from the microfluidic setup. Our results underscore the intricate relationship between the extracellular matrix structure and angiogenic sprouting, proposing a promising method for predicting the influence of the extracellular matrix on angiogenesis

Chapter 5: Food Security

The current food system (production, transport, processing, packaging, storage, retail, consumption, loss and waste) feeds the great majority of world population and supports the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Since 1961, food supply per capita has increased more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of nitrogen fertilisers (increase of about 800%) and water resources for irrigation (increase of more than 100%). However, an estimated 821 million people are currently undernourished, 151 million children under five are stunted, 613 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 suffer from iron deficiency, and 2 billion adults are overweight or obese. The food system is under pressure from non-climate stressors (e.g., population and income growth, demand for animal-sourced products), and from climate change. These climate and non-climate stresses are impacting the four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability)

2D-Tasks for Cognitive Rehabilitation

Neuropsychological Rehabilitation is a complex clinic process which tries to restore or compensate cognitive and behavioral disorders in people suffering from a central nervous system injury. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Biomedical Engineering play an essential role in this field, allowing improvement and expansion of present rehabilitation programs. This paper presents a set of cognitive rehabilitation 2D-Tasks for patients with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). These tasks allow a high degree of personalization and individualization in therapies, based on the opportunities offered by new technologies