Post-stroke patients functional task characterization through accelerometry data for rehabilitation intervention and monitoring

An increasing ageing society and consequently rising number ofpost-stroke related neurological dysfunction patients are forcing therehabilitation field to adapt to ever-growing demands. Compensatorymovements related to available motor strategies, can be observed inpost-stroke patients when performing functional tasks due to apathological synergy as in reaching for an object. Studies of post-strokemotor recovery suggest that such maladaptive strategies may limit theplasticity of the nervous system to enhance neuromotor recovery.Strategies for rehabilitation protocols monitoring and validation arepresently a necessity, moreover considering data recording is oftenabsent of the rehabilitation process or subjective in nature.Characterization strategies of patient performance during functional taskare key aspects for clinical protocols validation, progress monitoring andmethodologies comparison. This project seeks to characterize patientsupper limb performance through accelerometry, gathered with a lowcostwearable system, for compensatory movement avoidance throughfeedback response

Insights into the role of fungi in Pine Wilt Disease

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a complex disease that severely affects the biodiversity and economy of Eurasian coniferous forests. Three factors are described as the main elements of the disease: the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the insect‐vector Monochamus spp., and the host tree, mainly Pinus spp. Nonetheless, other microbial interactors have also been considered. The study of mycoflora in PWD dates back the late seventies. Culturomic studies have revealed diverse fungal communities associated with all PWD key players, composed frequently of saprophytic fungi (i.e., Aspergillus, Fusarium, Trichoderma) but also of necrotrophic pathogens associated with bark beetles, such as ophiostomatoid or blue‐stain fungi. In particular, the ophiostomatoid fungi often recovered from wilted pine trees or insect pupal chambers/tunnels, are considered crucial for nematode multiplication and distribution in the host tree. Naturally occurring mycoflora, reported as possible biocontrol agents of the nematode, are also discussed in this review. This review discloses the contrasting effects of fungal communities in PWD and highlights promising fungal species as sources of PWD biocontrol in the framework of sustainable pest management actions

A new species of Doryctobracon Enderlein (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) parasitizing larvae of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera, Tephritidae), with illustrated key to species of Doryctobracon that parasitize fruit-infesting tephritids in Brazil

Doryctobracon maculatus Marinho, a new species of Braconidae (Opiinae) collected in the municipalities of Piracicaba and São Roque, state of São Paulo, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new species is placed in group of species with areolate propodeum, but is easily distinguished from other species of this group, and other members of the genus by the noticeable black to dark-brown spots on the head, mesosoma and metasoma. This new species was reared in larvae of Anastrepha pseudoparallela (Diptera, Tephritidae) in passion fruits, Passiflora alata Curtis (Passifloraceae). An illustrated key to species of Doryctobracon recorded in Brazil is presented.Fil: Fidelis Marinho, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Catamarca. Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Catamarca; ArgentinaFil: Souza Filho, Miguel F. de. Centro Avançado de Pesquisa em Proteção de Plantas e Saúde Animal; BrasilFil: Raga, Adalton. Centro Avançado de Pesquisa em Proteção de Plantas e Saúde Animal; BrasilFil: S. Santos, Wyratan da. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Tocantins; BrasilFil: Zucchi, Roberto A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Co2 capture and electrochemical conversion using superbasic [p-66614]-[124triz]

The ionic liquid trihexyltetradecylphosphonium 1,2,4- triazolide, [P66614][124Triz], has been shown to chemisorb CO2 through equimolar binding of the carbon dioxide with the 1,2,4-triazolide anion. This leads to a possible new, low energy pathway for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate and syngas at low overpotentials, utilizing this reactive ionic liquid media. Herein, an electrochemical investigation of water and carbon dioxide addition to the [P66614][124Triz] on gold and platinum working electrodes is reported. Electrolysis measurements have been performed using CO2 saturated [P66614][124Triz] based solutions at -0.9 V and -1.9 V on gold and platinum electrodes. The effects of the electrode material on the formation of formate and syngas using these solutions are presented and discussed18338940

Analysis of metals and phosphorus in biodiesel B100 from different feedstock using a Flow Blurring® multinebulizer in inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

A simple and fast method for determining the content of Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, and 20 heavy metals in biodiesel samples with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) using a two-nozzle Flow Blurring® multinebulizer prototype and on-line internal standard calibration, are proposed. The biodiesel samples were produced from different feedstock such as sunflower, corn, soybean and grape seed oils, via a base catalyst transesterification. The analysis was carried out without any sample pretreatment. The standards and samples were introduced through one of the multinebulizer nozzles, while the aqueous solution containing yttrium as an internal standard was introduced through the second nozzle. Thus, the spectral interferences were compensated and the formation of carbon deposits on the ICP torch was prevented. The determination coefficients (R2) were greater than 0.99 for the studied analytes, in the range 0.21–14.75 mg kg−1. Short-term and long-term precisions were estimated as relative standard deviation. These were acceptable, their values being lower than 10%. The LOQ for major components such as Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P, were within a range between 4.9 ng g−1 for Mg (279.553 nm) and 531.1 ng g−1 for Na (588.995 nm), and for the other 20 minor components they were within a range between 1.1 ng g−1 for Ba (455.403 nm) and 2913.9 ng g−1 for Pb (220.353 nm). Recovery values ranged between 95% and 106%.The authors gratefully acknowledge Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS) and Instituto de Química del Sur – Universidad Nacional del Sur – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INQUISUR-UNS-CONICET) from Argentina for the financial support. FDAO acknowledges Universidad de Alicante (UA) for his short visit fellowship. Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación (MAEC) and Dirección de Relaciones Culturales y Científicas (AECID) from Spain for the financial support. The authors wish to thank the Spanish Government (CTQ2011-23968) for the financial support

Reversed-phase dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for elemental analysis of gasoline by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

In this work a green and fast sample preparation method based on reversed-phase dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (RP-DLLME) was developed for the separation and preconcentration of several elements (i.e., Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Se, Sn and V) in gasoline samples before determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The extraction procedure was carried out in a reverse mode, since a small volume of the aqueous phase (i.e., 8 M HCl) is used to extract a relatively high volume of the organic phase (i.e., gasoline sample). Unlike conventional DLLME, in RP-DLLME the analytes were extracted from the organic phase into the aqueous phase. The experimental conditions for the microextraction procedure were: 5 g of sample, 8 M HCl as the extractant phase, mechanical agitation by vortex as the dispersion system, 115 μL of extractant volume, and 2 min extraction and 5 min centrifugation time. Under optimized extraction conditions the enrichment factor ranged between 3 and 53, and the limits of detection ranged between 0.02 and 50 μg kg−1. The proposed analytical method was validated and successfully used to analyze three gasoline samples. All gasoline samples were spiked at 100 μg kg−1 for all analytes, except sulfur (in this case at 1000 μg kg−1), obtaining recovery and RSD values within the range of 88–109% and 2–9%, respectively.The authors would like to thank the Regional Government of Valencia (Spain) (PROMETEO/2018/087) for the financial support, Agilent Technologies Inc. for the loan of the ICP-OES spectrometer, and Ingeniatrics for the OneNeb® provided. Financial support from Universidad Nacional del Sur is gratefully acknowledged. A. S. Lorenzetti, E. Vidal and C. E. Domini wish to thank Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas for the financial support received. The authors extend their appreciation to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for granting the Spanish Network of Excellence in Sample Preparation (RED2018-102522-T). This article is based upon work from the Sample Preparation Study Group and Network, supported by the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the European Chemical Society

Acute low-intensity cycling with blood-flow restriction has no effect on metabolic signaling in human skeletal muscle compared to traditional exercise

Purpose Autophagy is an intracellular degradative system sensitive to hypoxia and exercise-induced perturbations to cellular bioenergetics. We determined the effects of low-intensity endurance-based exercise performed with blood-flow restriction (BFR) on cell signaling adaptive responses regulating autophagy and substrate metabolism in human skeletal muscle. Methods In a randomized cross-over design, nine young, healthy but physically inactive males completed three experimental trials separated by 1 week of recovery consisting of either a resistance exercise bout (REX: 4 × 10 leg press repetitions, 70% 1-RM), endurance exercise (END: 30 min cycling, 70% VO2peak), or low-intensity cycling with BFR (15 min, 40% VO2peak). A resting muscle biopsy was obtained from the vastus lateralis 2 weeks prior to the first exercise trial and 3 h after each exercise bout. Results END increased ULK1Ser757 phosphorylation above rest and BFR (~37 to 51%, P < 0.05). Following REX, there were significant elevations compared to rest (~348%) and BFR (~973%) for p38γ MAPKThr180/Tyr182 phosphorylation (P < 0.05). Parkin content was lower following BFR cycling compared to REX (~20%, P < 0.05). There were no exercise-induced changes in select markers of autophagy following BFR. Genes implicated in substrate metabolism (HK2 and PDK4) were increased above rest (~143 to 338%) and BFR cycling (~212 to 517%) with END (P < 0.001). Conclusion A single bout of low-intensity cycling with BFR is insufficient to induce intracellular “stress” responses (e.g., high rates of substrate turnover and local hypoxia) necessary to activate skeletal muscle autophagy signaling

Measurement of the 70Ge(n,γ) cross section up to 300 keV at the CERN n_TOF facility

Neutron capture data on intermediate mass nuclei are of key importance to nucleosynthesis in the weak component of the slow neutron capture processes, which occurs in massive stars. The (n,γ) cross section on 70Ge, which is mainly produced in the s process, was measured at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN. Resonance capture kernels were determined up to 40 keV neutron energy and average cross sections up to 300 keV. Stellar cross sections were calculated from kT =5 keV tokT =100 keV and are in very good agreement with a previous measurement by Walter and Beer (1985) and recent evaluations. Average cross sectionsareinagreementwithWalterandBeer(1985)overmostoftheneutronenergyrangecovered,whilethey aresystematicallysmallerforneutronenergiesabove150keV.Wehavecalculatedisotopicabundancesproduced in s-process environments in a 25 solar mass star for two initial metallicities (below solar and close to solar). While the low metallicity model reproduces best the solar system germanium isotopic abundances, the close to solar model shows a good global match to solar system abundances in the range of mass numbers A=60–80.Austrian Science Fund J3503Adolf Messer Foundation ST/M006085/1European Research Council ERC2015-StGCroatian Science Foundation IP-2018-01-857

Low-Cost Wearable Data Acquisition for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Proof-of-Concept Study on Accelerometry for Functional Task Assessment

Background: An increasingly aging society and consequently rising number of patients with poststroke-related neurological dysfunctions are forcing the rehabilitation field to adapt to ever-growing demands. Although clinical reasoning within rehabilitation is dependent on patient movement performance analysis, current strategies for monitoring rehabilitation progress are based on subjective time-consuming assessment scales, not often applied. Therefore, a need exists for efficient nonsubjective monitoring methods. Wearable monitoring devices are rapidly becoming a recognized option in rehabilitation for quantitative measures. Developments in sensors, embedded technology, and smart textile are driving rehabilitation to adopt an objective, seamless, efficient, and cost-effective delivery system. This study aims to assist physiotherapists’ clinical reasoning process through the incorporation of accelerometers as part of an electronic data acquisition system. Methods: A simple, low-cost, wearable device for poststroke rehabilitation progress monitoring was developed based on commercially available inertial sensors. Accelerometry data acquisition was performed for 4 first-time poststroke patients during a reach-press-return task. Results: Preliminary studies revealed acceleration profiles of stroke patients through which it is possible to quantitatively assess the functional movement, identify compensatory strategies, and help define proper movement. Conclusion: An inertial data acquisition system was designed and developed as a low-cost option for monitoring rehabilitation. The device seeks to ease the data-gathering process by physiotherapists to complement current practices with accelerometry profiles and aid the development of quantifiable methodologies and protocols.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio