Effects of dual-task interventions on gait performance of patients with parkinson’s disease: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that impair patients’ gait performance, especially while performing dual/concurrent tasks. These deficits impair patients’ daily function, because dual-tasking is a crucial ability in terms of everyday living. The aim of this study was to systematically review the effects of dual task interventions on gait performance of patients with Parkinson’s disease. METHOD: Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS and SciELO. We used the PICOS strategy to determine eligibility criteria. The search strategy included an advanced search on the included databases, using the following search query: “Parkinson’s Disease” AND “Double Task” OR “Concurrent Tasks” OR “Gait” AND “Walk”. Study selection was carried out by two independent researchers and a third one was called when consensus was needed. RESULTS: A total of 188 articles were identified: 169 articles from Medline/PubMed, 10 articles in SciELO, 8 articles in LILACS and 1 item from manual searches. A total of 56 articles were analyzed regarding the eligibility and exclusion criteria based on full text. A final total of 7 studies were included in the systematic review. CONCLUSION: The different types of dual-task interventions reported (dance, sound stimuli, visual and somatosensory) were associated to improvements in several gait performance indicators of Parkinson’s disease patients, including gait speed, stride time and length, cadence and step length. External stimuli seem to play a critical role on specific training effects on dual-task gait performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

From algebras to objects : generation and composition

This paper addresses objectification, a formal specification technique which inspects the potential for object-orientation of a declarative model and brings the 'implicit objects' explicit. Criteria for such objectification are formalized and implemented in a runnable prototype tool which embeds Vdm-sl into Vdm++. The paper also includes a quick presentation of a (coinductive) calculus of such generated objects, framed as generalised Moore machines.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Application of Fractional Calculus in Mechatronics

Fractional Calculus (FC) goes back to the beginning of the theory of differential calculus. Nevertheless, the application of FC just emerged in the last two decades. In the field of dynamical systems theory some work has been carried out but the proposed models and algorithms are still in a preliminary stage of establishment. Having these ideas in mind, the paper discusses a FC perspective in the study of the dynamics and control of mechanical systems

Application of chitosan-based coatings on frozen salmon - Sensory assessment and retail simulation approach

GLUPOR 12 - 12nd International Meeting of the Portuguese Carbohydrate Chemistry GroupDue to an increase in fish consumption over the past years , in comb ination with the perishable nature of fish , the fish industry has given an added focus on the improvement of the currently used fish preservation techniques. Chitosan coatings may add improvements to the traditional water glazing , name ly in physical and ant i- microbial protection , allowing for shelf life extension. Nevertheless , during retail storage , frozen fish products can suffer temperature variations that lead to a decrease in quality. These temperature var iations can be caused by a multitude of reasons , some of which are easy to control , while others are due to unforeseen circumstances . In either case , thermal stress can often affect frozen fish products and this effect is of considerable importance . This work was meant to determ ine the influence of chitosan coatings in the organoleptic characteristics of salmon as well as report a strategy to help mitigate the effects of thermal stress of frozen fish samples .A 15 g/L chitosan solution was applied on frozen salmon samples through dipping at a temperature of 8 °C, wi th a dipping time of 10 s; water glazing was applied as blank treatment at 0.5 °C, with a dipping time of 40 s. Some of the samples were submitted to retail- simulated thermal stress conditions (i. e. a temperature variation of -15 °C to -5 °C was enforced ), and studied during a 70-days long experiment , while others were used to assess the sensory properties of chitosan coat ings on Atlantic salmon (Sa/mo salar) and were compared with uncoated and water glazed samples over a six-month storage period at -18 °C. Retail simulation samples were tested for variations in pH , coat i ng loss and color , while samples used for sensory analys is were evaluated by a sensory panel (frozen , frozen+thawed and frozen +thawed+cooked samples were assessed ,) regarding its organolept ic properties , and textural analysis , by means of a TPA (texture profile analys is ). Samples analys is common to both exper iments were microbiological stabi lity, assessed through TVC (ISO 4833-1 :2013 standard) , and chemical stability , determined as TVB-N (N P 2930 :2009 standard ). Through coating loss, it was possible to verify that chitosan coatings offer better protect ion, with water glazed samples becoming virtually unprotected after the evaluation period, with losses of more than 80 % of its glazing , while chitosan coated samples maintained 50 % of its coating. Extrapolat i ng this data to complete loss of water glazing shows an increase in shel f life of at le ast 26 % in chitosan coated samples. No significant changes between samples were obtained in the other parameters assessed . The anti-m icrobial effect of chitosan was confirmed through TVC which showed a reduction in microbial counts in chitosan coated samp les , whi le while TVB-N results showed to remain stable , for both experiments . The proven anti - microbial effect of chitosan coated samples in conjunction with a slower coating loss leads to an expected increase in shelf life , even in unforeseen circumstances of temperature change in retail transportation. Textural results from the TPA analysis showed no significant differences between different coatings. Results of the trained panel indicated that for frozen samples ch itosan was the preferred choice , while no significant differences existed between chitosan -coated and glazed samples in thawed and cooked samples. Flavor diffu sion from the chitosan coating to the samples was assessed by Principal Component Analysis and no correlation between coating type and sample flavor could be established , meaning that no chitosan flavor was detected by the panellists.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/044691/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCl-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norteinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of sensory effects of chitosan-based coatings applied on frozen salmon over six-months storage

The 19th Gums & Stabilisers for the Food Industry Conference: Hydrocolloid MultifunctionalityDue to an increase in fish consumption over the past years, in combination with the perishable nature of fish, the fish industry has given an added focus on the improvement of the currently used fish preservation techniques. Chitosan coatings may add improvements to the traditional water glazing, namely in physical and anti-microbial protection, allowing for shelf life extension. This work was meant to determine the influence of chitosan coatings in the organoleptic characteristics of salmon. The effects of chitosan coatings on microbiological (Total Viable Count – TVC) and chemical (Total Volatile Base Nitrogen – TVB-N) parameters were also assessed. A 15 g/L solution of chitosan was used to coat frozen salmon samples, and its effect on the sensory properties of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was compared with uncoated and water glazed samples, and was studied over six months of storage at -18 °C. Samples were dipped in the chitosan solution at 8 °C during 10 s; water glazing was applied at 0.5 °C, with a dipping time of 40 s. Textural properties were evaluated through Texture Profile Analysis (TPA), while sensory properties of frozen, frozen+thawed and frozen+thawed+cooked samples were assessed by a trained panel of judges. Microbiological stability was assessed through TVC (ISO 4833-1:2013 standard), and chemical stability was determined as TVB-N (NP 2930:2009 standard). TVC analysis showed an anti-microbial effect of chitosan in the coated samples (reduction of the number of microorganisms), while TVB-N results showed to remain stable during the experiment. Textural results from the TPA analysis showed no significant differences between different coatings. Results of the trained panel indicated that for frozen samples chitosan was the preferred choice, while no significant differences existed between chitosan-coated and glazed samples in thawed and cooked samples. Flavor diffusion from the chitosan coating to the samples was assessed by Principal Component Analysis and no correlation between coating type and sample flavor could be established, meaning that no chitosan flavor was detected by the panellists.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genome-Wide Identification of Functionally Distinct Subsets of Cellular mRNAs Associated with Two Nucleocytoplasmic-Shuttling Mammalian Splicing Factors

Background: Pre-mRNA splicing is an essential step in gene expression that occurs co-transcriptionally in the cell nucleus, involving a large number of RNA binding protein splicing factors, in addition to core spliceosome components. Several of these proteins are required for the recognition of intronic sequence elements, transiently associating with the primary transcript during splicing. Some protein splicing factors, such as the U2 small nuclear RNP auxiliary factor (U2AF), are known to be exported to the cytoplasm, despite being implicated solely in nuclear functions. This observation raises the question of whether U2AF associates with mature mRNA-ribonucleoprotein particles in transit to the cytoplasm, participating in additional cellular functions. Results: Here we report the identification of RNAs immunoprecipitated by a monoclonal antibody specific for the U2AF 65 kDa subunit (U2AF$^{65}$) and demonstrate its association with spliced mRNAs. For comparison, we analyzed mRNAs associated with the polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB), a splicing factor that also binds to intronic pyrimidine-rich sequences but additionally participates in mRNA localization, stability, and translation. Our results show that 10% of cellular mRNAs expressed in HeLa cells associate differentially with U2AF$^{65}$ and PTB. Among U2AF$^{65}$ -associated mRNAs there is a predominance of transcription factors and cell cycle regulators, whereas PTB-associated transcripts are enriched in mRNA species that encode proteins implicated in intracellular transport, vesicle trafficking, and apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results show that U2AF$^{65}$ associates with specific subsets of spliced mRNAs, strongly suggesting that it is involved in novel cellular functions in addition to splicing

13th FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS: STROKE KINEMATICS AND RACE TIMES ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE, GENDER AND EVENT

The aim of this work was to compare the stroke kinematics and race times of the freestyle final races at the 13th FINA World Championships between: (i) the three medalists versus the last three finalists; (ii) males versus female swimmers; (iii) all events in each gender. Data was collected from the champioships official web site. There were no significant differences in the stroke kinematics neither in the race times between medallists and non-medallists. There were significant effects in the stroke kinematics and race times according to race event. There were significant effects in the stroke kinematics and race times according to swimmers gender. It seems there are different tactics and biomechanical strategies according to gender and swimming event

On the nature of the (de)coupling of the magnetostructural transition in Er5_5Si4_4

In this report, a successful thermodynamical model was employed to understand the structural transition in Er$_5$Si$_4$, able to explain the decoupling of the magnetic and structural transition. This was achieved by the DFT calculations which were used to determine the energy differences at 0 K, using a LSDA+U approximation. It was found that the M structure as the stable phase at low temperatures as verified experimentally with a $\Delta F_0 = -$0.262 eV. Finally, it was achieved a variation of Seebeck coefficient ($\sim$ 6 $\mu$V) at the structural transition which allow to conclude that the electronic entropy variation is negligible in the transition.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Aerodynamic analysis of human walking, running and sprinting by numerical simulations

The drag in walking, running, and sprinting locomotion can be assessed by analytical procedures and experimental techniques. However, assessing the drag variations by these three main locomotion’s (i.e., walking, running, and sprinting) were not found using computational fluid dynamics. (CFD). Thus, the aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to assess the aerodynamics of human walking, running, and sprinting by CFD technique; 2) compare such aerodynamic characteristics between walking and running. Three 3D models were produced depicting the walking, running, and sprinting locomotion techniques, converted to computer aided design models and meshed. The drag varied with 4 locomotion type. Walking had the lowest drag, followed-up by running and then sprinting. At the same velocities, the drag was larger in walking than in running and increased with velocity. In conclusion, drag varied with locomotion type. Walking had the lowest drag, followed-up by running and then sprinting. At the same velocities, the drag was larger in walking than in running and increased with velocity.This project was founded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (project UIDB04045/2020)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio