EEG sensorimotor rhythms' variation and functional connectivity measures during motor imagery: linear relations and classification approaches

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPFINANCIADORA DE ESTUDOS E PROJETOS - FINEPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESHands motor imagery (MI) has been reported to alter synchronization patterns amongst neurons, yielding variations in the mu and beta bands' power spectral density (PSD) of the electroencephalography (EEG) signal. These alterations have been used in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI); in an attempt to assign distinct MI tasks to commands of such a system. Recent studies have highlighted that inforniation may be missing if knowledge about brain functional connectivity is not considered. In this work, we modeled the brain as a graph in which each EEG electrode represents a node. Our goal was to understand if there exists any I near correlation between variations in the synchronization patterns that is, variations in the PSD of mu and beta bands induced by MI and alterations in the corresponding functional networks. Moreover, we (I) explored the feasibility of using functional connectivity parameters as features fora classifier in the context of an MI-BCI; (2) investigated three different types of feature selection (FS) techniques; and (3) compared our approach to a more traditional method using the signal PSD as classifier inputs. Ten healthy subjects participated in this study. We observed significant correlations (p < 0.05) with values ranging from 0.4 to 0.9 between PSD variations and functional network alterations for some electrodes, prominently in the beta band. The PSD method performed better for data classification, with mean accuracies of (90 +/- 8)% and (87 +/- 7)% for the mu and beta band, respectively, versus (83 +/- 8)% and (83 +/- 7)% for the same bands for the graph method. Moreover, the number of features for the graph method was considerably larger. However, results for both methods were relatively close, and even overlapped when the uncertainties of the accuracy rates were considered. Further investigation regarding a careful exploration of other graph metrics may provide better alternatives.5115FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPFINANCIADORA DE ESTUDOS E PROJETOS - FINEPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPFINANCIADORA DE ESTUDOS E PROJETOS - FINEPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES2013/07559-3Sem informaçãoSem informaçãoSem informaçã

Programa de Extensão em capacidade estatal, segurança e defesa - PECAP

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: EducaçãoO Programa de Extensão em Capacidade Estatal, Segurança e Defesa (PECAP), vinculado ao Grupo de Estudos em Capacidade Estatal, Segurança e Defesa (GECAP), constitui-se como programa articulador de ações de extensão (projetos, cursos, eventos, prestação de serviços e produção acadêmica), conectadas à pesquisa e ao ensino. O programa propõe uma compreensão plural das dinâmicas de relacionamento entre Estado, sociedade e sistema internacional, por meio de uma abordagem interdisciplinar, própria das Relações Internacionais, e da democratização do debate público sobre essas temáticas. A missão principal é construir pontes entre a academia, a sociedade civil, o setor militar, e o governo/setor público de modo a contribuir para a compreensão conjunta de desafios e possibilidades, no Brasil e no mundo, da realização de políticas públicas nas áreas da Capacidade Estatal, Segurança e Defes

Religião, política e liberdade: contribuições de Baruch Espinoza

Há décadas existem discussões sobre a separação entre religião e política e religião e esfera pública que focam sobretudo nos limites desse mito moderno e nas possibilidades de coexistência dessas esferas no mundo contemporâneo. No entanto, pouco se explora sobre origens filosóficas de visões intermediárias, que concebem a inevitável influência do universo sagrado no mundo profano, mas questiona os limites plausíveis que a religião deve construir para garantir paz, direitos fundamentais e liberdades mais amplas. Este ensaio rastreia tais origens filosóficas no pensamento de Baruch Espinoza e o contrasta com a utopia liberal restrita de John Locke, amplamente propagada, mas irrealizável em tempos de separação apenas formal entre religião e política, objetivando resgatar discussões relevantes acerca do debate religião-política para nossos dilemas contemporâneos

Reflexões sobre Segurança Pública e Forças Armadas: o exemplo da tragédia da Boate Kiss de Santa Maria/RS

A atuação recorrente das Forças Armadas (FA) na seara da segurança pública no Brasil contemporâneo tem chamado atenção nos últimos anos, sobretudo por não ser responsabilidade constitucional originária das FA atuar nesse âmbito. O presente artigo visa compreender o contexto que envolve o papel de atuação das FA no Brasil em casos de operações de Garantia da Lei e da Ordem e de tragédias sociais e situações de calamidade pública, trazendo como exemplo o caso específico da tragédia ocorrida na Boate Kiss em Santa Maria/RS. Além disso, prospectamos a importância de se compreender a segurança pública a partir de um enfoque amplo e preventivo e não somente repressivo de efeitos paliativos

Resistance training effects on pubertal children with a risk of developing pediatric dynapenia

Purpose: Many modern-day children are at risk of pediatric dynapenia (muscle weakness). We examined the effects of a 12-week resistance training (RT) program on neuromuscular function and body composition parameters in pubertal children with a risk of dynapenia. Methods: Twelve children (13.4 ± 0.9 y) with dynapenia performed a progressive RT program consisting of knee extension and flexion, bench press, abdominal crunch, back extension, lateral pull-down, elbow flexion, and upright row (1–2 sets of 10–15 repetitions/exercise) twice/week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque, rate of torque development (RTD), electromyographic (EMG) activity, muscle thickness (MT), muscle quality (MQ) assessed by echo intensity (MQEI) of the knee extensors and specific tension of MVIC torque to thigh fat-free mass (MQST), and total and regional body and bone composition assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Changes in the measures before and after the 12-week RT and associations among the measures were analyzed by linear mixed models. Results: Significant (p \u3c 0.05) increases in 1-RM (63.9 ± 4.5%), MVIC torque (16.3 ± 17.8%), MT (18.8 ± 5.5%) and MQ (MQEI: -25.9 ± 15.2%; MQST: 15.1 ± 18.8%;) were evident from pre- to post-training. Total fat-free mass (FFM) increased by 2.3 ± 3.2% from baseline (p = 0.01), but no changes (p \u3e 0.05) in the other measures were observed. Significant (p \u3c 0.05) associations between the changes in 1-RM and/or MVIC torque and the changes in quadriceps MT, MQEI, MQST and total body FFM were evident. Conclusions: The 12-week RT was effective for improving neuromuscular and body composition parameters, and thereby reversed the risk of pediatric dynapenia

Investigation of fMRI protocol for evaluation of Gestural Interaction applied to upper-limb motor improvement

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) systems for rehabilitation treatment as a complement to conventional therapy has grown in recent years. Upper limbs therapy using VR has already been shown useful for stroke patients. In this work, we present a pilot study aiming to investigate the use of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol to analyze brain connectivity changes in subjects undergoing upper limb training through a VR environment. Thirteen healthy subjects underwent resting-state fMRI exams before and after a VR session. Although no significant changes are expected in healthy subjects performing only one training session, this study could pave the way for future studies performed with both stroke patients or athletes performing more sessions. Indeed, no significant changes in motor cortex connectivity were found. Nonetheless, an evaluation protocol for this type of VR rehabilitation procedure was successfully established, to be used in further studies with patients or athletes

Identification of Campylobacters isolated from dogs by usingbiotypes and protein electrophoretic patterns

Two hundred and sixty faecal samples obtained with rectal swabs from dogs were studied for Campylobacter isolation. The samples were placed on Preston broth and incubated at 43° C for 12 h under a microaerophilicatmosphere. Then, they were seeded on Skirrow agar and incubated under the same conditions for 48 h. Campylobacter species were identified by conventional methods (morphological, biochemical and culturaltest), Lior's biotypes and protein profiles were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, underreducing conditions. The prevalence of thermo-tolerant Campylobacter species was 7.3%. Fifteen out of 19 Campylobacter jejuni biotype II isolates were used in electrophoresis. Strain 1522 was employed asreference strain. Analysis of the protein profiles of the electrophoretic banding patterns presented goodcorrelation with biochemical tests. All isolates presented a protein band greater than 40-46 Kd and minordifferences in mobility of 40-50 Kd. Four strains lacked the flagellin (62-64 Kd band). The fact that proteinelectrophoresis presented heterogeneity among strains of the same species and biotypes reinforces theirimportance as discriminative methods of epidemiological value.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Identification of Campylobacters isolated from dogs by usingbiotypes and protein electrophoretic patterns

Two hundred and sixty faecal samples obtained with rectal swabs from dogs were studied for Campylobacter isolation. The samples were placed on Preston broth and incubated at 43° C for 12 h under a microaerophilicatmosphere. Then, they were seeded on Skirrow agar and incubated under the same conditions for 48 h. Campylobacter species were identified by conventional methods (morphological, biochemical and culturaltest), Lior's biotypes and protein profiles were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, underreducing conditions. The prevalence of thermo-tolerant Campylobacter species was 7.3%. Fifteen out of 19 Campylobacter jejuni biotype II isolates were used in electrophoresis. Strain 1522 was employed asreference strain. Analysis of the protein profiles of the electrophoretic banding patterns presented goodcorrelation with biochemical tests. All isolates presented a protein band greater than 40-46 Kd and minordifferences in mobility of 40-50 Kd. Four strains lacked the flagellin (62-64 Kd band). The fact that proteinelectrophoresis presented heterogeneity among strains of the same species and biotypes reinforces theirimportance as discriminative methods of epidemiological value.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Relationship between endothelial progenitor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor and its variation with exercise

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of programmed physical activity and a single exercise test on the number of CD309+ circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and their relation to the variation in plasma levels of VEGF in chronic coronary patients. Methods: 21 patients < 75 years with chronic stable coronary artery disease were included. All patients underwent exercise myocardial perfusion SPECT. Then, participants were divided into two groups: one group (11 patients) underwent cardiac rehabilitation program and the other (10 patients) continued with the standard treatment. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 30 min after exercise ended and at one and three months during follow-up. Results: VEGF values decreased significantly after exercise SPECT test. After one month, there was a significant increase in VEGF levels compared to those measured immediately after exercise. All patients showed a decrease in the values of EPC at 1 and 3-month follow-up. There was an inverse and statistically significant relation between change of EPC and VEGF between the baseline and 1 month. Conclusions: The increase of VEGF at 1-month, with respect to baseline values correlated with decreased levels of EPC. This association was independent of the onset of ischemia in the perfusion study.Fil: Gagliardi, Juan A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Maciel, Neiva. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Castellano, José L.. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Masoli, Osvaldo. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Cosme Argerich"; ArgentinaFil: Miksztowicz, Verónica Julieta. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Berg, Gabriela Alicia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bermejo, Emilse. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; ArgentinaFil: Lazzari, María Ángela. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gelpi, Ricardo Jorge. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin