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

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

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

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

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

Graph analysis of cortical reorganization after virtual reality-based rehabilitation following stroke: a pilot randomized study

IntroductionStroke is the leading cause of functional disability worldwide. With the increase of the global population, motor rehabilitation of stroke survivors is of ever-increasing importance. In the last decade, virtual reality (VR) technologies for rehabilitation have been extensively studied, to be used instead of or together with conventional treatments such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy. The aim of this work was to evaluate the GestureCollection VR-based rehabilitation tool in terms of the brain changes and clinical outcomes of the patients.MethodsTwo groups of chronic patients underwent a rehabilitation treatment with (experimental) or without (control) complementation with GestureCollection. Functional magnetic resonance imaging exams and clinical assessments were performed before and after the treatment. A functional connectivity graph-based analysis was used to assess differences between the connections and in the network parameters strength and clustering coefficient.ResultsPatients in both groups showed improvement in clinical scales, but there were more increases in functional connectivity in the experimental group than in the control group.DiscussionThe experimental group presented changes in the connections between the frontoparietal and the somatomotor networks, associative cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are regions associated with reward-based motor learning. On the other hand, the control group also had results in the somatomotor network, in its ipsilateral connections with the thalamus and with the motor cerebellum, which are regions more related to a purely mechanical activity. Thus, the use of the GestureCollection system was successfully shown to promote neuroplasticity in several motor-related areas

Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial como factor de desarrollo social: Investigaciones desde el diseño para la generación de conocimiento

The objective of this article is to show some investigative experiences that, from the Design have been carried out for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), as part of the social development in vulnerable groups. Thus, Graphic Design and Industrial Design projects are shown that have promoted social development, through their interaction with communities, which has allowed participation in areas of the ICH such as traditional artisan techniques and social uses, rituals, and festive events. Some of the most outstanding research results are presented, especially the benefits to the actors, who are, on the one hand, researchers and students who carry out the analysis of these manifestations, interacting with the communities, developing proposals from design and generating knowledge, on the other hand, the bearers of the heritage, that is, the communities that carry out festive or ritual acts and traditional social uses and groups of artisans. In the educational context, methodological tools are provided for the analysis of the ICH safeguarding processes, which have been generated from the research on social design focused on the PCI, especially the preparation of inventories and the implementation of safeguarding strategies; thus visualizing the importance of introducing ICH topics in the academic-pedagogical areas for design and at its different levels. For the elaboration of this article, some investigations are enunciated, where the results are contributions to the teaching-learning processes, which are incorporated into the academic areas of the different programs, Design, Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate. So that we can observe in this work, the dynamics that are established between the research areas and the academies and how through this work knowledge generation occurs and new strategies are established to tackle the problems of social developmentEl objetivo de este artículo es mostrar algunas experiencias investigativas que, desde el Diseño se han llevado a cabo para la salvaguardia del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial (PCI), como parte del desarrollo social en grupos vulnerables. Así, se muestran proyectos de Diseño Gráfico y de Diseño Industrial que han promovido el desarrollo social, a partir de su interacción con las comunidades, lo que ha permitido participar en ámbitos del PCI como técnicas artesanales tradicionales y usos sociales, rituales y actos festivos. Se presentan algunos de los resultados de investigación más sobresalientes, especialmente los beneficios hacia los actores, quienes son, por un lado, los investigadores y alumnos que realizan los análisis de estas manifestaciones, interactuando con las comunidades, desarrollado propuestas desde el diseño y generando conocimiento, por otro lado, los portadores del patrimonio, es decir, las comunidades quienes llevan a cabo actos festivos o rituales y usos sociales tradicionales y grupos de artesanos. En el contexto educativo, se aportan herramientas metodológicas para el análisis de los procesos de salvaguardia del PCI, que se han generado desde la investigación de diseño social enfocada al PCI, especialmente la elaboración de inventarios y la implementación de estrategias de salvaguardia; así visualizar la importancia de introducir temáticas de PCI en las áreas académico-pedagógicas para el diseño y en sus diferentes niveles. Para la elaboración de este artículo se enuncian algunas investigaciones, donde los resultados son contribuciones a los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje, las cuales, son incorporadas a las áreas académicas de los diferentes programas, de Diseño, en los niveles de licenciatura, maestría y doctorado. De manera que podemos observar en este trabajo, la dinámica que se establece entre las áreas de investigación y las academias y cómo a través de esta labor se da generación de conocimiento y se establecen nuevas estrategias para abordar las problemáticas de desarrollo social