Characterization of ten white matter tracts in a representative sample of Cuban population

Background: The diffusion tensor imaging technique (DTI) combined with tractography methods, has achieved the tridimensional reconstruction of white matter tracts in the brain. It allows their characterization in vivo in a non-invasive way. However, one of the largest sources of variability originates from the location of regions of interest, is therefore necessary schemes which make it possible to establish a protocol to be insensitive to variations in drawing thereof. The purpose of this paper is to stablish a reliable protocol to reconstruct ten prominent tracts of white matter and characterize them according to volume, fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity. Also we explored the relationship among these factors with gender and hemispheric symmetry. Methods: This study aims to characterize ten prominent tracts of white matter in a representative sample of Cuban population using this technique, including 84 healthy subjects. Diffusion tensors and subsequently fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity maps were calculated from each subject's DTI scans. The trajectory of ten brain tracts was estimated by using deterministic tractography methods of fiber tracking. In such tracts, the volume, the FA and MD were calculated, creating a reference for their study in the Cuban population. The interactions between these variables with age, cerebral hemispheres and gender factors were explored using Repeated Measure Analysis of Variance. Results: The volume values showed that a most part of tracts have bigger volume in left hemisphere. Also, the data showed bigger values of MD for males than females in all the tracts, an inverse behavior than FA values. Conclusions: This work showed that is possible reconstruct white matter tracts using a unique region of interest scheme defined from standard to native space. Also, this study indicates differing developmental trajectories in white matter for males and females and the importance of taking gender into account in developmental DTI studies and in underlie gender-related cognitive differences

Full capacitance-matrix effects in driven Josephson-junction arrays

We study the dynamic response to external currents of periodic arrays of Josephson junctions, in a resistively capacitively shunted junction (RCSJ) model, including full capacitance-matrix effects}. We define and study three different models of the capacitance matrix $C_{\vec{r},\vec{r}'}$: Model A includes only mutual capacitances; Model B includes mutual and self capacitances, leading to exponential screening of the electrostatic fields; Model C includes a dense matrix $C_{\vec{r},\vec{r}'}$ that is constructed approximately from superposition of an exact analytic solution for the capacitance between two disks of finite radius and thickness. In the latter case the electrostatic fields decay algebraically. For comparison, we have also evaluated the full capacitance matrix using the MIT fastcap algorithm, good for small lattices, as well as a corresponding continuum effective-medium analytic evaluation of a finite voltage disk inside a zero-potential plane. In all cases the effective $C_{\vec{r},\vec{r}'}$ decays algebraically with distance, with different powers. We have then calculated current voltage characteristics for DC+AC currents for all models. We find that there are novel giant capacitive fractional steps in the I-V's for Models B and C, strongly dependent on the amount of screening involved. We find that these fractional steps are quantized in units inversely proportional to the lattice sizes and depend on the properties of $C_{\vec{r},\vec{r}'}$. We also show that the capacitive steps are not related to vortex oscillations but to localized screened phase-locking of a few rows in the lattice. The possible experimental relevance of these results is also discussed.Comment: 12 pages 18 Postscript figures, REVTEX style. Paper to appear in July 1, Vol. 58, Phys. Rev. B 1998 All PS figures include

Crystallized and fluid intelligence are predicted by microstructure of specific white-matter tracts

Studies of the neural basis of intelligence have focused on comparing brain imaging variables with global scales instead of the cognitive domains integrating these scales or quotients. Here, the relation between mean tract‐based fractional anisotropy (mTBFA) and intelligence indices was explored. Deterministic tractography was performed using a regions of interest approach for 10 white‐matter fascicles along which the mTBFA was calculated. The study sample included 83 healthy individuals from the second wave of the Cuban Human Brain Mapping Project, whose WAIS‐III intelligence quotients and indices were obtained. Inspired by the “Watershed model” of intelligence, we employed a regularized hierarchical Multiple Indicator, Multiple Causes model (MIMIC), to assess the association of mTBFA with intelligence scores, as mediated by latent variables summarizing the indices. Regularized MIMIC, used due to the limited sample size, selected relevant mTBFA by means of an elastic net penalty and achieved good fits to the data. Two latent variables were necessary to describe the indices: Fluid intelligence (Perceptual Organization and Processing Speed indices) and Crystallized Intelligence (Verbal Comprehension and Working Memory indices). Regularized MIMIC revealed effects of the forceps minor tract on crystallized intelligence and of the superior longitudinal fasciculus on fluid intelligence. The model also detected the significant effect of age on both latent variables

CENTROS DE EXCELENCIA EN ENFERMERÍA DE REHABILITACIÓN: UN SUEÑO A ALCANZAR.

This paper sumarizes the theoretical approach to, and outcomes from, the project entitled: "Development of Centres of Excellence in Rehabilitation Nursing Services," which took place between the years 1995 and 2001. The project was led by Doris Grinspun, at the time Director of Nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada. In 1996 the project moved to the Registered Nurses’ Assiociation of Ontario where Grinspun was appointed Executive Director. The project was funded by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Participating countries included: Chile, Colombia, Cuba and México. The paper explores the concept of “Centres of Excellence” and highlights the afinity of this concept with Paulo Freire’s pedagogical approach. From this perspective, the article offers lessons learned which could be transfered to health care organizations in the area of rehabilitation and more specifically rehabilitation of person’s in a state of comma.En este artículo presentamos el enfoque teórico y resultados del proyecto “Desarrollo de Centros de Excelencia en Servicios de Enfermería en Rehabilitación”, llevado a cabo entre los años 1995 y 2001, a través de una red colaboradora de países del sur y del norte de América. Protagonistas en este proyecto fueron el Hospital Monte Sinaí (Toronto, Canadá), la Organización Profesional de Enfermeras de Ontario (RNAO), la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) y centros hospitalarios en Chile, Colombia, Cuba y México. Exploramos aquí el concepto de los Centros de Excelencia y resaltamos su sintonía con propuestas pedagógicas propias de América Latina, como la de la educación liberadora de Paulo Freire. Desde esa perspectiva, el presente artículo resalta algunas lecciones que pueden ser transferidas a las instituciones de salud en el área de rehabilitación, especialmente del paciente en coma

Homecare physiotherapy in the iberian peninsula public health system

Objetivos - Conocer los principales servicios de fisioterapia domiciliaria que oferta el Sistema Sanitario Público para las personas mayores dependientes de la Península Ibérica (España y Portugal). Estrategia de búsqueda - Revisión bibliográfica actualizada y exhaustiva sobre los estudios previos; estancia de investigación en Hospitales, Centros de Salud y organismos financiados por la Administración Pública en ambos países; entrevistas en profundidad a informantes estratégicos. Síntesis de los resultados - Se describe la situación de la fisioterapia domiciliaria en España, desde el año 1987 hasta agosto de 2008. Se detecta que en Portugal la fisioterapia domiciliaria está recogida en la cartera de servicios de atención primaria (Decreto-Ley no 28/2008, del 22 de febrero). Conclusiones - Existen pocas investigaciones a nivel de la Península que ofrezcan datos objetivos basados en la evidencia científica sobre la efectividad de estos servicios de fisioterapia, la satisfacción del usuario y las repercusiones que producen con respecto a otros tratamientos; sin embargo, estos estudios son necesarios para la evaluación de las políticas sanitarias, la distribución adecuada de recursos, la revisión de los programas, la metodología de actuación, etc.ABSTRACT - Objectives: To become acquainted with the principal homecare physiotherapy services that are offered by the Public Health System for dependent elderly patients in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Methods: A thorough and updated review of the literature regarding previous studies, research stays in Hospitals, Primary Health Care Centers and Public Health institutions in both countries financed by the Public Health Administration; in-depth interviews with specific informants. Results: The situation of homecare physiotherapy in Spain from the year 1987 to the August 2008 is described. In Portugal, these services are established within the services regulated by Primary Health Care (Decree-Law no. 28/2008, of February 22). Conclusions: There are few studies in the Iberian Peninsula that offer scientific evidence-based information on the effectiveness of these physiotherapy services, user satisfaction and the effect they have in relation to other treatments. However, these studies are needed in order to evaluate the current health legislation, appropriate distribution of resources, to review the clinical programs, clinical action methodologies, etc.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Universidad inteligente: una visión de la adopción de la tecnología

Smart University is an emerging concept, strongly anchored to smart technologies and considered by different authors in the literature. Organizations, including universities, need to incorporate smart technologies to take advantage of their capabilities to transform their processes and drive them toward new organizational models. A Smart University focuses on improving its technological infrastructure for achieving its quality educational goals. This paper presents the integration of the key factors for adopting four smart technologies: Cloud Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things. This characterization and integration allow us to conclude on the need to align digital technologies with the organization's processes, requiring greater interaction with the company’s senior management.Universidad inteligente es un concepto emergente, fuertemente anclado a las tecnologías inteligentes, y considerado por diferentes autores en la literatura. Las organizaciones, incluidas las universidades, necesitan incorporar las tecnologías inteligentes para aprovechar las capacidades que proporcionan para transformar sus procesos e impulsarlas hacia nuevos modelos organizativos. Una universidad inteligente se centra en la mejora de su infraestructura tecnológica para lograr sus objetivos educativos de calidad. Este trabajo presenta la integración de los factores clave para la adopción de cuatro tecnologías inteligentes: Computación en la nube, Big Data, Inteligencia Artificial, e Internet de las Cosas. Esta caracterización e integración nos permite concluir sobre la necesidad de alineación de las tecnologías digitales con los procesos de la organización, exigiendo una mayor interacción con la alta dirección de la empresa