Fascicular Topography of the Human Median Nerve for Neuroprosthetic Surgery

One of the most sought-after applications of neuroengineering is the communication between the arm and an artificial prosthetic device for the replacement of an amputated hand or the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. For that, an electrode is placed around or inside the median nerve to serve as interface for recording and stimulation of nerve signals coming from the fascicles that innervate the muscles responsible for hand movements. Due to the lack of a standard procedure, the electrode implantation by the surgeon is strongly based on intuition, which may result in poor performance of the neuroprosthesis because of the suboptimal location of the neural interface. To provide morphological data that can aid the neuroprosthetic surgeon with this procedure, we investigated the fascicular topography of the human median nerve along the forearm and upper arm. We first performed a description of the fascicular content and branching patterns along the length of the arm. Next we built a 3D reconstruction of the median nerve so we could analyze the fascicle morphological features in relation to the arm level. Finally, we characterized the motor content of the median nerve fascicles in the upper arm. Collectively, these results indicate that fascicular organization occurs in a short segment distal to the epicondyles and remains unaltered until the muscular branches leave the main trunk. Based on our results, overall recommendations based on electrode type and implant location can be drawn to help and aid the neuroprosthetic procedure. Invasive interfaces would be more convenient for the upper arm and the most proximal third of the forearm. Epineural electrodes seem to be most suitable for the forearm segment after fascicles have been divided from the main trunk

Predicting Conceptual Processing Capacity from Spontaneous Neuronal Activity of the Left Middle Temporal Gyrus

Conceptual processing is a crucial brain function for humans. Past research using neuropsychological and task-based functional brain-imaging paradigms indicates that widely distributed brain regions are related to conceptual processing. Here, we explore the potential contribution of intrinsic or spontaneous brain activity to conceptual processing by examining whether resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) signals can account for individual differences in the conceptual processing efficiencies of healthy individuals. We acquired rs-fMRI and behavioral data on object conceptual processing tasks. We found that the regional amplitude of spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations in the blood oxygen level-dependent signal in the left (posterior) middle temporal gyrus (LMTG) was highly correlated with participants' semantic processing efficiency. Furthermore, the strength of the functional connectivity between the LMTG and a series of brain regions-the left inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral anterior temporal lobe, bilateral medial temporal lobe, posterior cingulate gyrus, and ventromedial and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices-also significantly predicted conceptual behavior. The regional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and functionally relevant connectivity strengths of LMTG together accounted for 74% of individual variance in object conceptual performance. This semantic network, with the LMTG as its core component, largely overlaps with the regions reported in previous conceptual/semantic task-based fMRI studies. We conclude that the intrinsic or spontaneous activity of the human brain reflects the processing efficiency of the semantic system.Psycholog

A retrospective analysis of policy development on compliance with World Health Organization's physical activity recommendations between 2002 and 2005 in European Union adults: Closing the gap between research and policy

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Physical inactivity (PIA) is a mortality risk factor defined as performing lower levels of physical activity than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). After 2002, the WHO released the WHA55.23 Resolution and the Global Strategy which produced several changes in policymaking, but with no subsequent analyses of the impact of these changes in European Union (EU) policymaking while examining PIA prevalence. Methods: PIA of 31,946 adults as a whole sample and country-by-country were analyzed in the 2002 and 2005 EU Special Eurobarometers. PIA prevalence between countries was performed with the χ2 test and PIA between both years and between genders was analyzed with the Z-Score test for two population proportions. A retrospective analysis of national plans was performed to interpret the suitability of such policy documents, considering changes in PIA prevalence. Results: Differences in PIA prevalence were observed between countries (p 0.05). When considering gender, there were no gender reductions in subsamples for Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom, neither in Luxemburg for men, nor in France and Italy for women. When analyzing gender differences across the entire sample, PIA was higher in women than men for both years (p < 0.001). Greece and Luxemburg did not release national plans for promoting physical activity. Conclusions: While large differences in PIA prevalence between EU countries prevailed, the overall PIA descended between both years for the whole sample, men, and women. While this points out a general suitability of policymaking for reducing PIA, not all countries reported reductions in PIA for men, women, or both genders. Also, PIA levels were higher for women in both years, suggesting a less than optimal policy implementation, or lack of women-specific focus across the EU. This analysis helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of PIA policymaking in the EU and provides researchers with targeted intervention areas for future development

Conceptualización de los sistemas del cuerpo humano a partir del uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en 3° año de Profesorado en Biología

La presente experiencia didáctica ha tenido por finalidad mejorar la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en Ciencias mediante el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC), en este caso la construcción de una wiki, destinada a alumnos de 3° año de la carrera de Profesorado en Biología. Para ello se ha elaborado una propuesta de innovación que consiste en el trabajo interdisciplinar de las cátedras de Biología Humana y Taller de Tecnología de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) con una duración de cuatro semanas, con actividades didácticas presenciales y un trabajo integratorio final que consiste en el diseño de su propia wiki o página web. Se ha evaluado el proceso de construcción y diseño que ha tenido lugar en los grupos de trabajo de los estudiantes, y actualmente se encuentran realizando una evaluación de a pares, en la que los propios estudiantes aportan sugerencias y propuestas de mejora a las producciones de sus pares.Experiencias docentes.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Conceptualización de los sistemas del cuerpo humano a partir del uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en 3° año de Profesorado en Biología

La presente experiencia didáctica ha tenido por finalidad mejorar la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en Ciencias mediante el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC), en este caso la construcción de una wiki, destinada a alumnos de 3° año de la carrera de Profesorado en Biología. Para ello se ha elaborado una propuesta de innovación que consiste en el trabajo interdisciplinar de las cátedras de Biología Humana y Taller de Tecnología de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) con una duración de cuatro semanas, con actividades didácticas presenciales y un trabajo integratorio final que consiste en el diseño de su propia wiki o página web. Se ha evaluado el proceso de construcción y diseño que ha tenido lugar en los grupos de trabajo de los estudiantes, y actualmente se encuentran realizando una evaluación de a pares, en la que los propios estudiantes aportan sugerencias y propuestas de mejora a las producciones de sus pares.Experiencias docentes.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Supersymmetric defects in the Maldacena-Nunez background

We find supersymmmetric configurations of a D5-brane probe in the Maldacena-Nunez background which are extended along one or two of the spatial directions of the gauge theory. These embeddings are worldvolume solitons which behave as codimension two or one defects in the gauge theory and preserve two of the four supersymmetries of the background.Comment: 37 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX; v2: references adde

Fuero Real del Rey Don Alfonso el Sabio

Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 2009-2010Marca tip. en port.Contiene, además: Leyes para los los Adelantados Mayores dadas por el rey D. Alonso el Sabio ; Leyes nuevas dadas por el rey D. Alonso el Sabio después del Fuero Real ; Ordenamiento de las Tafurerías, que fue hecho en la era de mill e trescientos e quatorse años, por el rey Don Alfonso X ; Apéndice. Leyes del estilo et declaraciones sobre las leyes del Fuer

[Tabulae astronomicae]

Expuesto en: Un tesoro en la Universidad de Sevilla : Incunables y obras de los siglos XVI y XVII : Exposición, noviembre-diciembre 1993.Marca tip. en port. y al finSign.: a4, A-2K4, 2L

Divi Alphonsi romanorum et hispaniarum regis, astronomicae tabulae in propriam integritatem restitutae....

Copia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Cultura. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 200