An Affordable Upper-Limb Exoskeleton Concept for Rehabilitation Applications

In recent decades, many researchers have focused on the design and development of exoskeletons. Several strategies have been proposed to develop increasingly more efficient and biomimetic mechanisms. However, existing exoskeletons tend to be expensive and only available for a few people. This paper introduces a new gravity-balanced upper-limb exoskeleton suited for rehabilitation applications and designed with the main objective of reducing the cost of the components and materials. Regarding mechanics, the proposed design significantly reduces the motor torque requirements, because a high cost is usually associated with high-torque actuation. Regarding the electronics, we aim to exploit the microprocessor peripherals to obtain parallel and real-time execution of communication and control tasks without relying on expensive RTOSs. Regarding sensing, we avoid the use of expensive force sensors. Advanced control and rehabilitation features are implemented, and an intuitive user interface is developed. To experimentally validate the functionality of the proposed exoskeleton, a rehabilitation exercise in the form of a pick-and-place task is considered. Experimentally, peak torques are reduced by 89% for the shoulder and by 84% for the elbow

Selection and exploitation of prevalent, tandemly repeated genomic targets for improved real-time PCR-based detection of Wuchereria bancrofti and Plasmodium falciparum in mosquitoes

Optimization of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostics requires the careful selection of molecular targets that are both highly repetitive and pathogen-specific. Advances in both next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and bioinformaticsbased analysis tools are facilitating this selection process, informing target choices and reducing labor. Once developed, such assays provide disease control and elimination programs with an additional set of tools capable of evaluating and monitoring intervention successes. The importance of such tools is heightened as intervention efforts approach their endpoints, as accurate and complete information is an essential component of the informed decision-making process. As global efforts for the control and elimination of both lymphatic filariasis and malaria continue to make significant gains, the benefits of diagnostics with improved analytical and clinical/field-based sensitivities and specificities will become increasingly apparent

Isolamento do vírus rábico de morcego insetívoro Myotis nigricans

The following is a case study of the natural infection by the rabies virus of an insectiverous bat belonging to the species Myotis nigricans in the municipality of Ribeirão Pires, Greater S. Paulo. Diagnosis was made by means of immunofluorescence and intracerebral innoculation of mice with nervous and intrascapular muscular tissues.Relata-se um caso de infecção natural de raiva em morcego insetívoro Myotis nigricans, no Município de Ribeirão Pires, Grande São Paulo (Brasil). O diagnóstico realizou-se através das técnicas de imunofluorescência e inoculação intracerebral em camundongos, do tecido nervoso e da musculatura da região interescapular do morcego

Trenzado y alfabetizaciones: informes de un proyecto de Investigación y Práctica Pedagógica en la Escuela Tupinikim de Aldeia Comboios - Aracruz/ES

O presente relato nasce de um projeto pedagógico desenvolvido na Aldeia Tupinikim de Comboios, município de Aracruz- ES, durante a disciplina Projetos de Pesquisa e Prática Pedagógica – PPPP III, no curso de Licenciatura Intercultural Indígena Tupinikim e Guarani, do Programa de Licenciaturas Indígenas – PROLIND, oferecido pela Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo – UFES. O projeto teve como objetivos: Pesquisar com os mais velhos os tipos de trançados, colaborando na reafirmação cultural do nosso povo Tupiniquim; Reconhecer os tipos de trançados Tupiniquim; Confeccionar alguns tipos de trançados; Produzir textos coletivos a partir dos trançados e analisar o processo de letramento a partir de atividades contextualizadas. O projeto se apoiou metodologicamente na pesquisa-ação com intuito de identificar as técnicas e manuseios dos trançados Tupinikim, construindo momentos de partilhas com os anciãos e intercâmbios entre outras aldeias Tupinikim. Palavras-chave: Trançados; Letramentos; Povo Tupinkim; PROLIND.The present report is born from a pedagogical project developed in the Tupinikim Village of Comboios, municipality of Aracruz-ES, during the discipline Projects of Research and Pedagogical Practice - PPPP III, in the course of Indigenous Licentiate Tupinikim and Guarani, PROLIND, offered by the Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES. The project had as objectives: To research with the older the types of braids, collaborating in the cultural reaffirmation of our Tupiniquim people; Recognize the types of Tupiniquim braids; Make some types of braids; Produce collective texts from the braids and analyze the process of literacy from contextualized activities. The project was methodologically based on action research in order to identify the techniques and manipulations of the Tupinikim braids, building moments of sharing with the elders and exchanges among other Tupinikim villages. Keywords: Braided; Lettering; Tupinkim people; PROLIND.Este informe es el resultado de un proyecto pedagógico desarrollado en la aldea Tupinikim de Comboios, municipio de Aracruz-ES, durante la disciplina Proyectos de investigación y práctica pedagógica - PPPP III, en el curso de licenciatura intercultural indígena Tupinikim y Guaraní, del Programa de licenciatura indígena - PROLIND, ofrecido por la Universidad Federal de Espírito Santo - UFES. El proyecto tenía como objetivos: investigar con los ancianos los tipos de trenzas, colaborando en la reafirmación cultural de nuestra gente tupiniquim; Reconocer los tipos de Tupiniquim trenzado; Hacer algunos tipos de trenzas; Produzca textos colectivos basados ​​en los hilos y analice el proceso de alfabetización basado en actividades contextualizadas. El proyecto se basó metodológicamente en la investigación de acción para identificar las técnicas y el manejo de las trenzas Tupinikim, creando momentos de intercambio con los ancianos e intercambios entre otras aldeas Tupinikim.Palabras clave: trenzado; Alfabetizaciones; Pueblo tupinkim; PROLIND

Caracterização do vírus da raiva isolado de uma colônia de morcegos Eptesicus furinalis, do Brasil

Some bat species have adapted to the expanding human population by acquiring the ability to roost in urban buildings, increasing the exposure risk for people and domestic animals, and consequently, the likelihood of transmitting rabies. Three dead bats were found in the yard of a house in an urban area of Jundiaí city in the state of São Paulo in southeast Brazil. Two of the three bats tested positive for rabies, using Fluorescent Antibody and Mouse Inoculation techniques. A large colony of Eptesicus furinalis was found in the house's attic, and of the 119 bats captured, four more tested positive for rabies. The objectives of this study were to report the rabies diagnosis, characterize the isolated virus antigenically and genetically, and study the epidemiology of the colony.Algumas espécies de morcegos têm se adaptado ao uso de abrigos em construções urbanas, aumentando a possibilidade de contato desses morcegos com pessoas e animais domésticos e conseqüentemente, o potencial risco de transmissão de raiva. Três morcegos foram encontrados no jardim de uma casa na área urbana da cidade de Jundiaí, Estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil, dois deles foram positivos para raiva pelas técnicas de imunofluorescência e inoculação em camundongos. Uma grande colônia de E. furinalis foi identificada, vivendo no sótão da casa e 119 morcegos foram encaminhados para diagnóstico de raiva, com mais quatro morcegos positivos. O objetivo desse estudo é apresentar a caracterização genética e antigênica do vírus da raiva isolado desses morcegos e o estudo epidemiológico da colônia

Lulo cell line derived from Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) : A novel model to assay Leishmania spp. and vector interaction

Background: Leishmania (Vianna) braziliensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi are important parasites in the scenario of leishmaniasis in Brazil. During the life cycle of these parasites, the promastigote forms adhere to the midgut epithelial microvillii of phlebotomine insects to avoid being secreted along with digestive products. Lulo cells are a potential model that will help to understand the features of this adhesion phenomenon. Here, we analyze the interaction between Leishmania spp. promastigotes and Lulo cells in vitro, specifically focusing on adhesion events occurring between three Leishmania species and this cell line. Methods. Confluent monolayers of Lulo cells were incubated with promastigotes and adhesion was assessed using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Findings. The results indicate that species from the subgenera Leishmania and Viannia have great potential to adhere to Lulo cells. The highest adherence rate was observed for L. (L.) chagasi after 24 h of incubation with Lulo cells (27.3 1.8% of cells with adhered promastigotes), followed by L. (L.) amazonensis (16.0 0.7%) and L. (V.) braziliensis (3.0 0.7%), both after 48 h. In the ultrastructural analysis, promastigote adherence was also assessed by scanning electron microscopy, showing that, for parasites from both subgenera, adhesion occurs by both the body and the flagellum. The interaction of Lulo cells with Leishmania (L.) chagasi showed the participation of cytoplasmic projections from the former closely associating the parasites with the cells. Conclusions: We present evidence that Lulo cells can be useful in studies of insect-parasite interactions for Leishmania species. © 2011 Côrtes et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Antioxidant activity and sensory analysis of murtilla (<em>Ugni molinae</em> Turcz.) fruit extracts in an oil model system

An oil model system was used to analyze the antioxidant activity of Chilean fruit extracts and to determine their odor sensory effect. Hydroalcoholic extracts from wild and 14-4 genotype murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz.) fruit were assessed by the Response Surface Methodology. The optimal conditions for producing high total phenolic-content extracts were 49.5% (v/v) ethanol at 30 ºC, which yielded 18.39 and 26.14 mg GAE·g-1 dry matter, respectively. The optimized extracts were added to a lipid model system and evaluated via the Schaal Oven Test. After 96 hours, 150 and 200 mg·kg-1 oil of the wild and 14-4 genotype extracts, respectively, showed an antioxidant capacity similar to TBHQ (200 mg·kg-1 oil) in terms of peroxide values and odor. Thus, murtilla fruit extracts are a natural source of antioxidants for protecting lipidic foods, such as soybean oil

Booklet and Motivational Interviewing to Promote Self-efficacy in Parents/Caregivers of Children with Asthma:A Clinical Trial

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood which accounts for numerous annual hospitalizations due to a lack of management and proper management of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of using an educational booklet with or without combination with motivational interviewing (MI) on the self-efficacy of parents/caregivers in the control and management of childhood asthma. Methods: A clinical trial was carried out with 86 parents/caregivers of children with asthma aged between 2 and 12 years who were followed up in primary health care units from March 2019 to December 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one of the groups read the booklet and the other read the booklet combined with the MI. The Brazilian version of the Self-Efficacy and Their Child’s Level of Asthma Control scale was applied before and 30 days after the intervention for assessment of self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and R 3.6.3 software. P values&lt;0.05 were considered significant. Results: There were 46 participants in the booklet group and 40 in the booklet and MI group. Both groups were effective in increasing total self-efficacy scores after the intervention (P&lt;0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the scores of the two groups (P=0.257). Conclusion: The educational booklet with or without combination with MI can increase the self-efficacy of parents/caregivers of children with asthma. The findings could be considered by healthcare providers for the empowerment of caregivers of children with asthma in the control and management of their children’s asthma.</p