Towards Beijing 2022: Discussion on the growth in size of Paralympic Winter Games in terms of participating data from Örnsköldvik 1976 to PyeongChang 2018

Paralympic Winter Games (PWG) born in 1976. Across Games, media personnel has increased suggesting an increase in PWG size. However, the growth of PWG from Örnsköldsvik 1976 to PyeongChang 2018 in terms of participating data has not been discussed. This work aims to find if the growth in media coverage comes together with an increase in PWG size in terms of National Paralympic Committee, sports, medal events, and athletes. The presence of trend over PWG editions is evaluated with Mann-Kendall Trend Test and differences among sports and continents with Kruskal Wallis test. Showing a significant monotonic trend, the number of countries (p < .001, β = 0.81) and the number of participating athletes (p < .001, β = 7.40) seem to be good indicators of PWG. These two indicators are good descriptors of PWG size because related to sociocultural and political aspects. In contrast, number of medal events being related to many factors did not show statistically significant trend (p = .95); therefore, this indicator seems to be less appropriate to describe PWG size. If the whole history is considered, slow but significant changes in number of sports (p < .001, β = 0.08) suggest this indicator could be considered in describing Games size

A Wearable Magneto-Inertial System for Gait Analysis (H-Gait): Validation on Normal Weight and Overweight/Obese Young Healthy Adults

Background: Wearable magneto-inertial sensors are being increasingly used to obtain human motion measurements out of the lab, although their performance in applications requiring high accuracy, such as gait analysis, are still a subject of debate. The aim of this work was to validate a gait analysis system (H-Gait) based on magneto-inertial sensors, both in normal weight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW) subjects. The validation is performed against a reference multichannel recording system (STEP32), providing direct measurements of gait timings (through foot-switches) and joint angles in the sagittal plane (through electrogoniometers). Methods: Twenty-two young male subjects were recruited for the study (12 NW, 10 OW). After positioning body-fixed sensors of both systems, each subject was asked to walk, at a self-selected speed, over a 14-m straight path for 12 trials. Gait signals were recorded, at the same time, with the two systems. Spatio-temporal parameters, ankle, knee, and hip joint kinematics were extracted analyzing an average of 89 ± 13 gait cycles from each lower limb. Intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altmann plots were used to compare H-Gait and STEP32 measurements. Changes in gait parameters and joint kinematics of OW with respect NW were also evaluated. Results: The two systems were highly consistent for cadence, while a lower agreement was found for the other spatio-temporal parameters. Ankle and knee joint kinematics is overall comparable. Joint ROMs values were slightly lower for H-Gait with respect to STEP32 for the ankle (by 1.9° for NW, and 1.6° for OW) and for the knee (by 4.1° for NW, and 1.8° for OW). More evident differences were found for hip joint, with ROMs values higher for H-Gait (by 6.8° for NW, and 9.5° for OW). NW and OW showed significant differences considering STEP32 (p = 0.0004), but not H-Gait (p = 0.06). In particular, overweight/obese subjects showed a higher cadence (55.0 vs. 52.3 strides/min) and a lower hip ROM (23.0° vs. 27.3°) than normal weight subjects. Conclusions: The two systems can be considered interchangeable for what concerns joint kinematics, except for the hip, where discrepancies were evidenced. Differences between normal and overweight/obese subjects were statistically significant using STEP32. The same tendency was observed using H-Gait

Influence of BMI on Gait Characteristics of Young Adults: 3D Evaluation Using Inertial Sensors

Overweight/obesity is a physical condition that affects daily activities, including walking. The main purpose of this study was to identify if there is a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and gait characteristics in young adults. 12 normal weight (NW) and 10 overweight/obese (OW) individuals walked at a self-selected speed along a 14 m indoor path. H-Gait system, combining seven inertial sensors (fixed on pelvis and lower limbs), was used to record gait data. Walking speed, spatio-temporal parameters and joint kinematics in 3D were analyzed. Differences between NW and OWand correlations between BMI and gait parameters were evaluated. Conventional spatio-temporal parameters did not show statistical differences between the two groups or correlations with the BMI. However, significant results were pointed out for the joint kinematics. OW showed greater hip joint angles in frontal and transverse planes, with respect to NW. In the transverse plane, OW showed a greater knee opening angle and a shorter length of knee and ankle trajectories. Correlations were found between BMI and kinematic parameters in the frontal and transverse planes. Despite some phenomena such as soft tissue artifact and kinematics cross-talk, which have to be more deeply assessed, current results show a relationship between BMI and gait characteristics in young adults that should be looked at in osteoarthritis prevention

Immagini dall'antimateria: la tomografia ad emissione di positroni.

L'antimateria è una parte dell'universo suggestiva e sfuggente. Oggi abbiamo imparato a usarne piccole quantità per osservare e studiare le funzioni biologiche invivo nell'uomo e negli animali

Imaging spectroscopic performances for a Si based detection system

We present the imaging and spectroscopic capabilities of a system based on a single photon counting chip (PCC) bump-bonded on a Si pixel detector. The system measures the energy spectrum and the flux, produced by a standard mammographic tube. We have also made some images of low contrast details, achieving good results

Characterization of Argentinian Honeys Based on their Sugar Profiles and Quality Parameters

The honeys from the Argentinian provinces of Buenos Aires, La Rioja,Catamarca and Misiones were characterised by the sugar profile (fructose, glucose,sucrose, turanose, maltose and erlose) and the physicochemical parameters (freeacidity, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), colour and contents of moisture, ash,total soluble solids and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)) used for honey qualitycontrol. Authentic and traceable honey samples (n = 572) collected along fiveharvests were analysed using the official analytical methods. All honeys met thespecifications of the national and/or international standards for the evaluatedparameters, which denoted the blossom origin of most honeys, and confirmedtheir high quality, good maturity and freshness. The influence of the flora andthe pedoclimatic conditions of each phytogeographical region on the physicaland chemical properties of honey allowed its characterization. Thus, BuenosAires produced typical lighter honeys, and Misiones and Catamarca, darker ones.Buenos Aires honeys presented particular lower values of pH, EC, ash, HMF andmaltose, and higher concentrations of erlose. Misiones honeys exhibited highervalues of moisture, free acidity, EC and turanose amounts, and lower contentsof fructose, glucose and total soluble solids. La Rioja honeys showed higherpH and ºBrix values; and Catamarca honeys, higher sucrose contents. To theauthors? knowledge, the sugar profiles and several quality parameters of honeysfrom Misiones and Catamarca are here reported for the first time, as well as anyphysical and chemical data on La Rioja honeys.Fil: Poliero, Aimará Ayelen. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Aubone, Ines. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Amadei Enghelmayer, Marisa. No especifíca;Fil: Rosso, Valeria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Müller, Pablo Fernando. Instituto Nuestra Señora de Itatí. Profesorado en Ciencias Agrarias y Protección Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Alonso Salces, Rosa Maria. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; Argentin

Physicochemical Characterization and Sugar Profile of Argentinian Honeys From the Phytogeographic Provinces Paranaense and Pampeana in Misiones

The characterization of honeys from the Biomes and vegetation units of the Phytogeographical Provinces (PP) located in the Province of Misiones (Argentina) was performed by analysis of sugar profile and physicochemical parameters (Free Acidity, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), colour and contents of moisture, ash, total soluble solids and hydroxymethylfurfural) used for quality control of honey. The honeys analysed were authentic and traceable, and met the specifications of the national and/or international standards for the evaluated parameters, denoting blossom origin and confirming high quality, maturity and freshness. The influence of biome and Vegetation Units (VU) on physical and chemical parameters of the studied honeys was defined regarding both flora and pedoclimatic conditions. Honeys from VU-27 presented significantly higher contents of fructose, ash and total soluble solids, pH and EC and lower moisture content than those from VU-3. To the authors’ best knowledge, sugar profiles, free acidity and contents of ash and total soluble solids in honeys from the different PPs, vegetation units and Biomes of Misiones are reported for the first time. This study contributes to the classification of honeys from Misiones, helping to increase added value and access new markets.Fil: Poliero, Aimará Ayelen. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Aubone, Ines. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Amadei Enghelmayer, Marisa. No especifíca;Fil: Rosso, Valeria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Müller, P. F.. No especifíca;Fil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción, Sanidad y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Alonso Salces, Rosa Maria. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones En Produccion, Sanidad y Ambiente. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones En Produccion, Sanidad y Ambiente.; Argentin

Online monitoring for proton therapy: A real-time procedure using a planar PET system

In this study a procedure for range verification in proton therapy by means of a planar in-beam PET system is presented. The procedure consists of two steps: the measurement of the β+-activity induced in the irradiated body by the proton beam and the comparison of these distributions with simulations. The experimental data taking was performed at the CNAO center in Pavia, Italy, irradiating plastic phantoms. For two different cases we demonstrate how a real-time feedback of the delivered treatment plan can be obtained with in-beam PET imaging

Semiconductor pixel detectors for digital mammography

Abstract We present some results obtained with silicon and gallium arsenide pixel detectors to be applied in the field of digital mammography. Even though GaAs is suitable for medical imaging applications thanks to its atomic number, which allows a very good detection efficiency, it often contains an high concentrations of traps which decrease the charge collection efficiency (CCE). So we have analysed both electrical and spectroscopic performance of different SI GaAs diodes as a function of concentrations of dopants in the substrate, in order to find a material by which we can obtain a CCE allowing the detection of all the photons that interact in the detector. Nevertheless to be able to detect low contrast details, efficiency and CCE are not the only parameters to be optimized; also the stability of the detection system is fundamental. In the past we have worked with Si pixel detectors; even if its atomic number does not allow a good detection efficiency at standard thickness, it has a very high stability. So keeping in mind the need to increase the Silicon detection efficiency we performed simulations to study the behaviour of the electrical potential in order to find a geometry to avoid the risk of electrical breakdown

A novel random counts estimation method for PET using a symmetrical delayed window technique and random single event acquisition

We have developed a novel logic scheme for the estimation of the random count distribution based on a dual symmetrical delayed window technique. The solution has been applied to a dual head PET case. We have also implemented a new method for noise variance reduction in the random count distribution