GPU accelerated real-time multi-functional spectral-domain optical coherence tomography system at 1300 nm.

We present a GPU accelerated multi-functional spectral domain optical coherence tomography system at 1300 nm. The system is capable of real-time processing and display of every intensity image, comprised of 512 pixels by 2048 A-lines acquired at 20 frames per second. The update rate for all four images with size of 512 pixels by 2048 A-lines simultaneously (intensity, phase retardation, flow and en face view) is approximately 10 frames per second. Additionally, we report for the first time the characterization of phase retardation and diattenuation by a sample comprised of a stacked set of polarizing film and wave plate. The calculated optic axis orientation, phase retardation and diattenuation match well with expected values. The speed of each facet of the multi-functional OCT CPU-GPU hybrid acquisition system, intensity, phase retardation, and flow, were separately demonstrated by imaging a horseshoe crab lateral compound eye, a non-uniformly heated chicken muscle, and a microfluidic device. A mouse brain with thin skull preparation was imaged in vivo and demonstrated the capability of the system for live multi-functional OCT visualization

Commentary: At least eighty percent of brain grey matter is modifiable by physical activity: a review study

A commentary on At least eighty percent of brain grey matter is modifiable by physical activity: a review study by Batouli, S. A. H., and Saba, V. (2017). Behav. Brain Res. 332, 204–217. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.002IE-C is supported by a grant from the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation

Sectoral Innovation Systems: the case of conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo

The conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo state has shown in recent years a significant increase in productivity. Progresses in genetic and process associated with institutional changes are pointed out as factors that allowed the development of activity in the state. This paper aims to examine the technological and institutional innovations in the Espírito Santo conilon production from the theoretical framework of Sectoral Innovation System, to which knowledge, learning and interactions between agents are fundamental to the development of innovations. The methodology of the study used as bibliographic and documentary research and, in particular, interviews with representatives of the main institutions involved. Through the characterization of the main actors in this system, analysis of generation and diffusion of technologies for the sector and the characterization of the institutional arrangement that supports the production of conilon, shows up as a crop that did not exist in scale commercial in the Espírito Santo until the 1970s became so important to the state and is now considered a reference in terms of research and development of technologies.Cafeicultura do tipo conilon no Espírito Santo vem apresentando, nos últimos anos, um crescimento expressivo em termos de produtividade. O avanço no melhoramento genético e em melhorias de processo, associado às mudanças institucionais, são apontados como fatores que permitiram o desenvolvimento da atividade no estado. Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar as inovações tecnológicas e institucionais da produção do conilon no Espírito Santo a partir do referencial teórico de Sistema Setorial de Inovação, para o qual conhecimento, aprendizado e interações entre agentes são elementos fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de inovações. O trabalho utilizou como metodologia pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e, em especial, entrevistas com representantes de algumas das principais instituições envolvidas. Através da caracterização dos principais atores que compõem esse sistema, da análise do processo de geração e difusão das tecnologias para o setor e da caracterização do arranjo institucional que dá suporte à produção do conilon, mostra-se como uma cultura agrícola que não existia em escala comercial no Espírito Santo até a década de 1970 se tornou tão importante para o estado e passou a ser considerada uma referência em termos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de tecnologias

Sectoral Innovation Systems: the case of conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo

Cafeicultura do tipo conilon no Espírito Santo vem apresentando, nos últimos anos, um crescimento expressivo em termos de produtividade. O avanço no melhoramento genético e em melhorias de processo, associado às mudanças institucionais, são apontados como fatores que permitiram o desenvolvimento da atividade no estado. Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar as inovações tecnológicas e institucionais da produção do conilon no Espírito Santo a partir do referencial teórico de Sistema Setorial de Inovação, para o qual conhecimento, aprendizado e interações entre agentes são elementos fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de inovações. O trabalho utilizou como metodologia pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e, em especial, entrevistas com representantes de algumas das principais instituições envolvidas. Através da caracterização dos principais atores que compõem esse sistema, da análise do processo de geração e difusão das tecnologias para o setor e da caracterização do arranjo institucional que dá suporte à produção do conilon, mostra-se como uma cultura agrícola que não existia em escala comercial no Espírito Santo até a década de 1970 se tornou tão importante para o estado e passou a ser considerada uma referência em termos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de tecnologias.The conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo state has shown in recent years a significant increase in productivity. Progresses in genetic and process associated with institutional changes are pointed out as factors that allowed the development of activity in the state. This paper aims to examine the technological and institutional innovations in the Espírito Santo conilon production from the theoretical framework of Sectoral Innovation System, to which knowledge, learning and interactions between agents are fundamental to the development of innovations. The methodology of the study used as bibliographic and documentary research and, in particular, interviews with representatives of the main institutions involved. Through the characterization of the main actors in this system, analysis of generation and diffusion of technologies for the sector and the characterization of the institutional arrangement that supports the production of conilon, shows up as a crop that did not exist in scale commercial in the Espírito Santo until the 1970s became so important to the state and is now considered a reference in terms of research and development of technologies.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Sectoral Innovation Systems: the case of conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo

Cafeicultura do tipo conilon no Espírito Santo vem apresentando, nos últimos anos, um crescimento expressivo em termos de produtividade. O avanço no melhoramento genético e em melhorias de processo, associado às mudanças institucionais, são apontados como fatores que permitiram o desenvolvimento da atividade no estado. Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar as inovações tecnológicas e institucionais da produção do conilon no Espírito Santo a partir do referencial teórico de Sistema Setorial de Inovação, para o qual conhecimento, aprendizado e interações entre agentes são elementos fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de inovações. O trabalho utilizou como metodologia pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e, em especial, entrevistas com representantes de algumas das principais instituições envolvidas. Através da caracterização dos principais atores que compõem esse sistema, da análise do processo de geração e difusão das tecnologias para o setor e da caracterização do arranjo institucional que dá suporte à produção do conilon, mostra-se como uma cultura agrícola que não existia em escala comercial no Espírito Santo até a década de 1970 se tornou tão importante para o estado e passou a ser considerada uma referência em termos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de tecnologias.The conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo state has shown in recent years a significant increase in productivity. Progresses in genetic and process associated with institutional changes are pointed out as factors that allowed the development of activity in the state. This paper aims to examine the technological and institutional innovations in the Espírito Santo conilon production from the theoretical framework of Sectoral Innovation System, to which knowledge, learning and interactions between agents are fundamental to the development of innovations. The methodology of the study used as bibliographic and documentary research and, in particular, interviews with representatives of the main institutions involved. Through the characterization of the main actors in this system, analysis of generation and diffusion of technologies for the sector and the characterization of the institutional arrangement that supports the production of conilon, shows up as a crop that did not exist in scale commercial in the Espírito Santo until the 1970s became so important to the state and is now considered a reference in terms of research and development of technologies.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Sectoral Innovation Systems: the case of conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo

Cafeicultura do tipo conilon no Espírito Santo vem apresentando, nos últimos anos, um crescimento expressivo em termos de produtividade. O avanço no melhoramento genético e em melhorias de processo, associado às mudanças institucionais, são apontados como fatores que permitiram o desenvolvimento da atividade no estado. Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar as inovações tecnológicas e institucionais da produção do conilon no Espírito Santo a partir do referencial teórico de Sistema Setorial de Inovação, para o qual conhecimento, aprendizado e interações entre agentes são elementos fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de inovações. O trabalho utilizou como metodologia pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e, em especial, entrevistas com representantes de algumas das principais instituições envolvidas. Através da caracterização dos principais atores que compõem esse sistema, da análise do processo de geração e difusão das tecnologias para o setor e da caracterização do arranjo institucional que dá suporte à produção do conilon, mostra-se como uma cultura agrícola que não existia em escala comercial no Espírito Santo até a década de 1970 se tornou tão importante para o estado e passou a ser considerada uma referência em termos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de tecnologias.The conilon coffee in the Espírito Santo state has shown in recent years a significant increase in productivity. Progresses in genetic and process associated with institutional changes are pointed out as factors that allowed the development of activity in the state. This paper aims to examine the technological and institutional innovations in the Espírito Santo conilon production from the theoretical framework of Sectoral Innovation System, to which knowledge, learning and interactions between agents are fundamental to the development of innovations. The methodology of the study used as bibliographic and documentary research and, in particular, interviews with representatives of the main institutions involved. Through the characterization of the main actors in this system, analysis of generation and diffusion of technologies for the sector and the characterization of the institutional arrangement that supports the production of conilon, shows up as a crop that did not exist in scale commercial in the Espírito Santo until the 1970s became so important to the state and is now considered a reference in terms of research and development of technologies.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Health beliefs, healing practices and medico-ritual frameworks in the Ecuadorian Andes : the continuity of an ancient tradition

This paper introduces the European Commission-funded project ‘MEDICINE: Indigenous Concepts of Health and Healing in Andean Populations’, which takes a time-depth perspective to its subject, and uses a framework of interdisciplinary methods which integrates archaeological-historical, ethnographic and modern health sciences approaches. The long-term study objective is ultimately to offer novel perspectives and methods in the global agenda to develop policies sensitive to indigenous, refugee and migrant people’s social, economic and health needs, as well as culturally sensitive approaches to the conservation of their ‘intangible cultural heritage’. This paper focuses on the project’s first phase, the critical examination of archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence and accounts from contemporary indigenous practitioners of Andean Traditional Medicine. These sources then shape the development of health beliefs and practices models which have informed the development of questionnaires for the second ‘survey’ phase of three indigenous Andean populations in the Central Sierra region of Ecuador

The effects of an exercise intervention on neuroelectric activity and executive function in children with overweight/obesity:The ActiveBrains randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate whether a 20-week aerobic and resistance exercise program induces changes in brain current density underlying working memory and inhibitory control in children with overweight/obesity. Methods: A total of 67 children (10.00 ± 1.10 years) were randomized into an exercise or control group. Electroencephalography (EEG)-based current density (μA/mm2) was estimated using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) during a working memory task (Delayed non-matched-to-sample task, DNMS) and inhibitory control task (Modified flanker task, MFT). In DNMS, participants had to memorize four stimuli (Pokemons) and then select between two of them, one of which had not been previously shown. In MFT, participants had to indicate whether the centered cow (i.e., target) of five faced the right or left. Results: The exercise group had significantly greater increases in brain activation in comparison with the control group during the encoding phase of DNMS, particularly during retention of second stimuli in temporal and frontal areas (peak t = from 3.4 to 3.8, cluster size [k] = from 11 to 39), during the retention of the third stimuli in frontal areas (peak t = from 3.7 to 3.9, k = from 15 to 26), and during the retention of the fourth stimuli in temporal and occipital areas (peak t = from 2.7 to 4.3, k = from 13 to 101). In MFT, the exercise group presented a lower current density change in the middle frontal gyrus (peak t = −4.1, k = 5). No significant change was observed between groups for behavioral performance (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: A 20-week exercise program modulates brain activity which might provide a positive influence on working memory and inhibitory control in children with overweight/obesity.</p

Responsive Asthma Care for Teens (ReACT): Development protocol for an adaptive mobile health intervention for adolescents with asthma

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.Introduction Asthma is a leading cause of youth morbidity in the USA, affecting >8% of youth. Adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) can prevent asthma-related morbidity; however, the typical adolescent with asthma takes fewer than 50% of their prescribed doses. Adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to suboptimal asthma self-management due to still-developing executive functioning capabilities that may impede consistent self-regulation and weaken attempts to use problem solving to overcome barriers to ICS adherence. Methods and analysis The aims of this project are to improve adherence to ICS as an important step towards better self-management among adolescents aged 13–17 years diagnosed with asthma by merging the efficacious behaviour change strategies found in behavioural health interventions with scalable, adaptive mobile health (mHealth) technologies to create the Responsive Asthma Care for Teens programme (ReACT). ReACT intervention content will be developed through an iterative user-centred design process that includes conducting (1) one-on-one interviews with 20 teens with asthma; (2) crowdsourced feedback from a nationally representative panel of 100 adolescents with asthma and (3) an advisory board of youth with asthma, a paediatric pulmonologist and a behavioural health expert. In tandem, we will work with an existing technology vendor to programme ReACT algorithms to allow for tailored intervention delivery. We will conduct usability testing of an alpha version of ReACT with a sample of 20 target users to assess acceptability and usability of our mHealth intervention. Participants will complete a 4-week run-in period to monitor their adherence with all ReACT features turned off. Subsequently, participants will complete a 4-week intervention period with all ReACT features activated. The study started in October 2018 and is scheduled to conclude in late 2019. Ethics and dissemination Institutional review board approval was obtained at the University of Kansas and the University of Florida. We will submit study findings for presentation at national research conferences that are well attended by a mix of psychologists, allied health professionals and physicians. We will publish study findings in peer-reviewed journals read by members of the psychology, nursing and pulmonary communities

Magnetic phase evolution in the spinel compounds Zn1−x_{1-x}Cox_xCr2_2O4_4

We present the magnetic properties of complete solid solutions of ZnCr$_2$O$_4$ and CoCr$_2$O$_4$: two well-studied oxide spinels with very different magnetic ground states. ZnCr$_2$O$_4$, with non-magnetic $d^{10}$ cations occupying the A site and magnetic $d^3$ cations on the B site, is a highly frustrated antiferromagnet. CoCr$_2$O$_4$, with magnetic $d^7$ cations (three unpaired electrons) on the A site as well, exhibits both N\'eel ferrimagnetism as well as commensurate and incommensurate non-collinear magnetic order. More recently, CoCr$_2$O$_4$ has been studied extensively for its polar behavior which arises from conical magnetic ordering. Gradually introducing magnetism on the A site of ZnCr$_2$O$_4$ results in a transition from frustrated antiferromagnetism to glassy magnetism at low concentrations of Co, and eventually to ferrimagnetic and conical ground states at higher concentrations. Real-space Monte-Carlo simulations of the magnetic susceptibility suggest that the first magnetic ordering transition and features of the susceptibility across $x$ are captured by near-neighbor self- and cross-couplings between the magnetic A and B atoms. We present as a part of this study, a method for displaying the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility in a manner which helps distinguish between compounds possessing purely antiferromagnetic interactions from compounds where other kinds of ordering are present.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl