Analysis of Algorithms for Detection of Pedaling Intention in Brain-Machine Interfaces

[EN] The use of brain-machine interfaces in people who has suffered a cerebrovascular accident could help the rehabilitation process through the cognitive involvement of the patient. These interfaces translate the brain waves into commands to control the movement of an assistant mechanical device. However, the control of these devices should be more stable and achieve a higher accuracy. This work studies if algorithms, such as Stockwell or Hilbert-Huang transform, can improve the control of these devices, and if a personalization by subject or electrode configuration is desirable. Besides, through the analysis of five volunteers is determined that the motor intention can not be detected only by data acquired previously to the movement using desynchronized/synchronized related events. Therefore, it is needed to extend the time processing to the two seconds after the movement starting.[ES] El uso de interfaces cerebro-máquina en personas que han sufrido un accidente cerebro-vascular puede ayudar en su proceso de rehabilitación mediante la implicación cognitiva del paciente. Dichas interfaces traducen las ondas cerebrales en comandos con el fin de controlar un dispositivo mecánico de movimiento asistido. No obstante, el control de estos dispositivos debería ser más robusto y tener una alta precisión. Este trabajo estudia si algoritmos basados en transformadas como las de Stockwell o Hilbert-Huang pueden mejorar el control de estos dispositivos aumentando su precisión, y si es recomendable llevar a cabo una personalización por sujeto y configuración de electrodos. Mediante el análisis de cinco voluntarios se comprueba además, que no es posible detectar con suficiente robustez la intención motora a partir de la desincronización/sincronización relacionada a eventos motores con únicamente los datos previos al movimiento. Por ello, es preciso extender el tiempo de análisis a los dos segundos posteriores al inicio del movimiento.Este trabajo ha sido realizado en el marco del proyecto Associate - Decodificación y estimulación de actividad cerebral sensorial y motora para permitir potenciación a largo plazo mediante estimulación Hebbiana y estimulación asociativa pareada durante la rehabilitación de la marcha (con referencia DPI2014-58431-C4-2-R), financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Plan Estatal de I+D+I) y por la Unión Europea a través del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional - FEDER ((Una manera de hacer Europa)). También queremos agradecer a Neuroelectrics por prestar el equipo Enobio 32 para este estudio.Ortiz, M.; Rodríguez-Ugarte, M.; Iáñez, E.; Azorín, J. (2019). Análisis de Algoritmos para Detección de Pedaleo en Interfaces Cerebro-Máquina. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática. 16(2):222-231. https://doi.org/10.4995/riai.2018.986122223116

ASSESSING THE APPLICABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS FOR IMPROVING THE FISHERIES ASSESSMENT OF THE ALBACORE (Thunnus alalunga) UNDER THE A4A APPROACH

In this study we explore the potential for improving the stock assessment of Mediterranean Albacore by integrating environmental indicators. For this purpose we developed a catch at age model within the A4A stock assessment approach. The input data was similar to that used in the official SCRS stock assessment in 2017 but with an updated larval index. The environmental indicator provides information on the interannual variability of the sea surface temperature in the Balearic Sea during the spawning season, and it is included in the “Environmental pressure” component of the Ecosystem Report Card. The indicator is included in the assessment model in different ways, as index of the class age 0, as vector for the Stock/recruitment model, and as productivity value in other stock recruitment models (Ricker, Beverton-Holt). The results showed that incorporating the environmental variability indicators provide a better stock assessment fits (AIC, BIC), and also show the need for more advanced techniques to test stock assessment performance when testing the inclusion of environmental variability

Stereological comparison of oocyte recruitment and batch fecundity estimates from paraffin and resin sections using spawning albacore (Thunnus alalunga) ovaries as a case study.

Traditional histological protocols in marine fi sh reproductive laboratories using paraf fi n as the embedding medium are now increasingly being replaced with protocols using resin instead. These procedures entail differ- ent degrees of tissue shrinkage complicating direct comparisons of measurement results across laboratories or articles. In this work we selected ovaries of spawning Mediterranean albacore ( Thunnus alalunga ) as the subject of our study to address the issue of structural changes, by contrasting values on oocyte recruitment and fi nal batch fecundity given from the same tissue samples in both paraf fi nandresin.Amodernstereologicalmethod, the oocyte packing density (OPD) theory, was used supported by initial studies on ovarian tissue sampling and measurement design. Examples of differences in the volume fraction of oocyte stages, free space and connective tissue were found between the embedding media. Mean oocyte diameters were smaller in paraf fi nthaninresin with differences ranging between 0.5% in primary growth and 24.3% in hydration (HYD) stage oocytes. Fresh oocyte measurements showed that oocytes shrank as a consequence of the embedding process, reaching the maximaldegreeofshrinkageforoocytesintheHYDstage(45.8%inparaf fi nand26.5%inresin).Inordertoassess the effect of oocyte shrinkage on the OPD result, and thereby on relative batch fecundity (F r ), oocyte diameters corrected and uncorrected for shrinkage, were used for estimations. Statistical signi fi cant differences were found ( P b 0.05) between these two approaches in both embedding media. The average F r was numerically smaller in paraf fi n compared to resin (86 ± 61 vs. 106 ± 54 oocytes per gram of body mass (mean ± SD)). For both embedding media statistical signi fi cant differences ( P b 0.05) were seen between F r results based on either oocytes in the germinal vesicle migration stage or HYD stage. As a valuable adjunct, the present use of the OPD theory made it possible to document that the oocyte recruitment of spawning ovaries of Mediterranean albacore followed the typical pattern of an asynchronous oocyte development and indeterminate fecundityPostprint2,444

ASSESSING THE APPLICABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS FOR IMPROVING THE FISHERIES ASSESSMENT OF THE ALBACORE (THUNNUS ALALUNGA) UNDER THE A4A APPROACH

In this study we explore the potential for improving the stock assessment of Mediterranean Albacore by integrating environmental indicators. For this purpose we developed a catch at age model within the A4A stock assessment approach. The input data was similar to that used in the official SCRS stock assessment in 2017 but with an updated larval index. The environmental indicator provides information on the interannual variability of the sea surface temperature in the Balearic Sea during the spawning season, and it is included in the “Environmental pressure” component of the Ecosystem Report Card. The indicator is included in the assessment model in different ways, as index of the class age 0, as vector for the Stock/recruitment model, and as productivity value in other stock recruitment models (Ricker, Beverton-Holt). The results showed that incorporating the environmental variability indicators provide a better stock assessment fits (AIC, BIC), and also show the need for more advanced techniques to test stock assessment performance when testing the inclusion of environmental variabilityEn prens

UPDATED STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES IN NUMBER FOR SWORDFISH (Xiphias gladius L.) CAUGHT BY THE SPANISH LONGLINE FLEET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, 1988- 2013

A General Linear Modeling (GLM)approach to analysis of variance was used to analyze swordfish logged catch rates in number of fish from 24 , 239 trips carried out by the Spanish surface longline fleet addressed to this species in the Western Mediterranean f or the period 1988 - 2013.Postprin

Updated standardized joint CPUE index for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught by Moroccan and Spanish traps for the period 1981- 2012.

Relative abundance indices of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught by the Moroccan and Spanish traps in the area close to the Strait of Gibraltar were estimated for the period 1981- 2013. Standardized CPUEs were estimated through a General Linear Modeling (GLM) approach under a negative binomial error distribution assumption.Versión del edito

UPDATED STANDARDIZED JOINT CPUE INDEX FOR BLUEFIN TUNA (THUNNUS THYNNUS) CAUGHT BY MOROCCAN AND SPANISH TRAPS FOR THE PERIOD 1981- 2011

Relative abundance indices of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) caught by the Moroccan and Spanish traps in the area close to the Strait of Gibraltar were estimated for the period 1981- 2011. Standardized CPUEs were estimated through a General Linear Modeling (GLM) approach under a negative binomial error distribution assumption.Postprin

Updated standardized catch rates in number and weight for swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) caught by the Spanish longline fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, 1988- 2013.

A General Linear Modeling (GLM) approach to analysis of variance was used to analyze swordfish logged catch rates in number of fish from 24,239 trips carried out by the Spanish surface longline fleet addressed to this species in the Western Mediterranean for the period 1988 -2013.Versión del edito

Computer-controlled characterization of high-voltage, high-frequency SiC devices?

A software-based high-voltage curve tracer application for SiC device characterization is presented. This flexible application interface is developed to define testing parameters needed to control the hardware of a custom-made 25 kV-capable SiC characterization test bed. Data acquisition is controlled for optimum resolution, and I-V characterization is computed by means of a user-defined time interval based on the shape of the applied power pulses. Both voltage and current waveforms are displayed for each data point captured to allow the user to observe transient effects. Additionally, the software allows archiving some or all of these transient waveforms. Acquired results are shown to demonstrate functionality and flexibility of the new system. ©2006 IEEE

Depression in Alzheimer''s Disease: A Delphi Consensus on Etiology, Risk Factors, and Clinical Management

Background: Alzheimer''s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia are among the most common causes of disability in the elderly. Dementia is often accompanied by depression, but specific diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches are still lacking. This study aimed to gather expert opinions on dementia and depressed patient management to reduce heterogeneity in everyday practice. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, 2-round Modified Delphi survey with 53 questions regarding risk factors (11), signs and symptoms (7), diagnosis (8), and treatment (27) of depression in dementia, with a particular focus on AD. The questionnaire was completed by a panel of 37 expert physicians in neurodegenerative diseases (19 neurologists, 17 psychiatrists, and 1 geriatrician). Results: Consensus was achieved in 40 (75.5%) of the items: agreement in 33 (62.3%) and disagreement in 7 (13.2%) of them. Among the most relevant findings, depression in the elderly was considered an early sign (prodromal) and/or a dementia risk factor, so routine cognitive check-ups in depressed patients should be adopted, aided by clinical scales and information from relatives. Careful interpretation of neuropsychological assessment must be carried out in patients with depression as it can undermine cognitive outcomes. As agreed, depression in early AD is characterized by somatic symptoms and can be differentiated from apathy by the presence of sadness, depressive thoughts and early-morning awakening. In later-phases, symptoms of depression would include sleep-wake cycle reversal, aggressive behavior, and agitation. Regardless of the stage of dementia, depression would accelerate its course, whereas antidepressants would have the opposite effect. Those that improve cognitive function and/or have a dual or multimodal mode of action were preferred: Duloxetine, venlafaxine/desvenlafaxine, vortioxetine, tianeptine, and mirtazapine. Although antidepressants may be less effective than in cognitively healthy patients, neither dosage nor treatment duration should differ. Anti-dementia cholinesterase inhibitors may have a synergistic effect with antidepressants. Exercise and psychological interventions should not be applied alone before any pharmacological treatment, yet they do play a part in improving depressive symptoms in demented patients. Conclusions: This study sheds light on several unresolved clinical challenges regarding depression in dementia patients. Further studies and specific recommendations for this comorbid patient population are still needed.