Gait analysis in a box: A system based on magnetometer-free IMUs or clusters of optical markers with automatic event detection

Gait analysis based on full-body motion capture technology (MoCap) can be used in rehabilitation to aid in decision making during treatments or therapies. In order to promote the use of MoCap gait analysis based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) or optical technology, it is necessary to overcome certain limitations, such as the need for magnetically controlled environments, which affect IMU systems, or the need for additional instrumentation to detect gait events, which affects IMUs and optical systems. We present a MoCap gait analysis system called Move Human Sensors (MH), which incorporates proposals to overcome both limitations and can be configured via magnetometer-free IMUs (MH-IMU) or clusters of optical markers (MH-OPT). Using a test–retest reliability experiment with thirty-three healthy subjects (20 men and 13 women, 21.7 ± 2.9 years), we determined the reproducibility of both configurations. The assessment confirmed that the proposals performed adequately and allowed us to establish usage considerations. This study aims to enhance gait analysis in daily clinical practice

Non-linear models of disability and age applied to census data

It is usually considered that the proportion of handicapped people grows with age. Namely, the older the man/woman is, the more level of disability he/she suffers. However, empirical evidence shows that this assessment is not always true, or at least, it is not true in the Spanish population. This study tries to assess the impact of age on disability in Spain. It is divided into three different parts. The first one is focused in describing the way disability is measured in this work. We used a former index defined by the authors that distinguishes between men and women. The second one is focused in a literature review about the methods used in this paper. This section emphasizes on local regression, feed forward neural networks and BARS. Finally, in the last section estimations are undertaken. Several methods are used and, therefore, there are fairly differences in the results, not only among the methodologies, but also between genders

Why using a general model in Solvency II is not a good idea : an explanation from a Bayesian point of view

The passing of Directive 2009/138/CE (Solvency II) has opened a new era in the European insurance market. According to this new regulatory environment, the volume of own resources will be determined depending on the risks that any insurer would be holding. So, nowadays, the model to estimate the amount of economic capital is one of the most important elements. The Directive establishes that the European entities can use a general model to perform these tasks. However, this situation is far from being optimal because the calibration of the general model has been made using figures that reflects and average behaviour. This paper shows that not all the companies operating in a specific market has the same risk profile. For this reason, it is unsatisfactory to use a general model for all of them. We use the PAM clustering method and afterwards some Bayesian tools to check the results previously obtained. Analysed data (public information belonging to Spanish insurance companies about balance sheets and income statements from 1998 to 2007) comes from the DGSFP (Spanish insurance regulator)

The impact of kaizen events on improving the performance of automotive components first tier suppliers

Purpose of this paper: The aim of this paper is to explore the possibility of improving production indicators by implementing Kaizen Events. The teams are composed of both managers and operators with the aim of developing and/or implementing improvements in a period of from 3 to 5 days. Methodology: The empirical research will consist of the description of the results obtained in 11 industrial companies from the automotive components industry In each of the companies, we have followed up different interventions over a 9-12 month period. Findings: We shall present the initial situation; the activities carried out by the company and the evolution of the manufacturing performance approximately three months after the activities are finished, as well as qualitative conclusions on the carrying out of the Kaizen Event. What is original/value of paper: There has been little empirical research to establish the degree of the improvement of productive indicators in companies advancing towards lean production. The paper tries to fill this gap

Proteomic characterization of the porcine neutrophil response to LPS from Salmonella Typhimurium by 2D-Gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Comunicaciones a congreso

Bioinformatics tools for inferring immune-relatedfunctions from proteomic data

Comunicaciones a congreso

Regulatory landscape of the vertebrate six2/six3 locus

Resumen del póster presentado al IX Meeting of the Spanish Society for Developmental Biology celebrado en Granada del 12 al 14 de noviembre de 2012.Peer Reviewe

Aflojamiento del componente femoral de prótesis de cadera cementada en el postoperatorio precoz.: a propósito de un caso.

Presentamos el caso clínico de una complicación extremadamente rara de aflojamiento precoz del componente femoral de una prótesis de cadera cementada. Este acontecimiento es consecuencia de la pérdida de adherencia entre la interfaz metal-cemento y tuvo lugar 14 días después de la colocación de una prótesis total de cadera cementada. En la literatura sólo se encuentra descrito un caso similar. Las causas atribuidas son el biomaterial y diseño de la prótesis, y la técnica de cementación.We report a case of an extremely rare complication of early loosening of the femoral component of a hip arthroplasty. This event is a consequence of the loss of adhesion between the metal-cement interface and took place 14 days after the placement of cemented total hip prosthesis. There was only described a similar case in the literature. The causes attributed are the biomaterial and design of the prosthesis, and cementation technique

LEAD ACCUMULATION AND SUBCELULAR DISTRIBUTION IN THE SCALLOP AEQUIPECTEN OPERCULARIS

The scallop Aequipecten opercularis accumulates high concentrations of lead (Pb) in its tissues, what has led to the ban of its extraction in the Ría de Vigo (Galicia, Spain) for feeding purposes. The Ría de Vigo presents higher levels of Pb than other industrialized Galician Rías, mainly due to a ceramic factory that was operating in the inner part of the Ría from 1961 to 2001 (Álvarez-Iglesias et al., 2003). This study aims at testing the dynamics of bioaccumulation of Pb in this species, its tissue distribution and the subcellular partitioning Pb, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms that provoke the high Pb levels reached in its tissues. Scallops originating from a clean area were exposed in cages in two places in the Ría de Vigo (one harbour and a less impacted location) and 10 individuals were collected every month over a three months period. The bioaccumulation of Pb and other metals was studied including its distribution in several tissues: gills, digestive gland, kidney, muscle, gonad and rest. The results showed that scallops accumulated similar levels of Pb in both locations, and that about 76% of the Pb was found in the kidney. Subcellular partitioning of kidney samples additionally showed that around a 60-70% of Pb in the kidneys was included in metal rich granules, indicating that this is probably the reason of the high levels of Pb observed in this species, as occurs for other bivalves (Darriba and Sánchez-Marín, 2013). Concerning other metals analysed, it was observed that Zn was also mainly accumulated in the kidney, while Cd content was highest in the digestive gland. Cu and Ni were preferentially accumulated in the digestive gland or kidney, depending on the location, and As was mainly found in the muscle. Results will be discussed on the basis of metal pollution in both locations and according to detoxification strategies used by scallops

Demographic limitation processes

20 páginas, 2 figuras, 1 tabla, 3 cuadros.-- Editor: Valladares, F.[ES]: Procesos de limitación demográfica. Este capítulo ofrece una revisión de los factores que afectan a la regeneración natural de la vegetación, considerando la serie de etapas demográficas que determinan la dinámica demográfica de una pobla- ción. Son muy escasos los estudios disponibles que analizan toda la serie de eventos concatenados entre la producción de flores y frutos y el establecimiento exitoso de una planta adulta reproductiva. También son escasos los trabajos que permiten establecer los efectos aplazados que tienen las interacciones con animales a lo largo del ciclo de regeneración. La aproximación que proponemos cuantifica las pérdidas de propágulos en cada etapa demográfica e identifica “cuellos de botella” del reclutamiento que pue- den colapsar la regeneración natural de una especie. Revisamos una serie de casos de estudio que ilustran diversos procesos de limitación demográfica. El uso de técnicas explícitamente demográficas es fundamental para comprender la evolución de las especies forestales Mediterráneas y para diseñar actuaciones de preservación de sus poblaciones y de su extraordinaria diversidad.[EN]: We review the main factors influencing recruitment limitation in Mediterranean woody species by considering the sequential stages that determine the demographic cycle. Very few studies examine the whole set of demographic stages, from flower production to the successful establishment of adult reproductive plants, and their influence on recruitment. There are also few studies exploring the delayed effects of animal interactions throughout the regeneration cycle, but the information on stage-specific effects is more detailed. We propose an approach that quantifies the propagule losses at each sequential demographic stage and identifies demographic bottlenecks that might collapse population growth. We review a series of case studies illustrating different limitation processes. The use of explicit demographic techniques is central to understand the evolution of Mediterranean woody species and to design sound, ecologically-based, conservation plans to preserve their extraordinary diversity.Juan Arroyo agradece la financiación otorgada a los proyectos 4474-91 (National Geographic Society), PB 91-0894, PB95-0551, 1FD97-0743-CO3-03, PB98-1144, BOS200307924-CO2-01 (MECD, MCyT). Los trabajos de Pedro Jordano han sido financiados con proyectos MECD y MCyT (1FD97-0743-CO3-01, PB 96-0857, BOS2000-1366-C02-01 y REN2003-00273), así como la Junta de Andalucía (PAI). Juan Luis García-Castaño estuvo financiado durante su período pre-doctoral con una beca FPU, AP96-27318040. El trabajo de Fernando Pulido ha sido parcialmente financiado por una beca FPI de la Junta de Extremadura y los proyectos regional IPR-0A050 y estatal BOS2002- 12222-E del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. Los trabajos de Patricio García-Fayos han sido financiados con proyectos MCyT (1FD97-0551), de la Generalitat Valenciana (02-046) y de la Institució Alfons el Magnánim (02-046)Peer reviewe