Serious Games for Physical Rehabilitation: Aesthetic discrepancies between custom-made serious games and commercial titles used for healthcare

Serious games are videogames that are used with purposes that go beyond the mere entertainment of the player. Among their many applications, healthcare is one of the most prominent ones, as serious games can have a wide range of uses within this field, namely physical rehabilitation of patients. For this purpose, both custom-made serious games and commercial entertainment titles, such as those for Nintendo Wii, can be used. However, while custom-made serious games appear to be more clinically effective, patients seem to prefer the gaming experience of playing a commercial title. This paper aims to compare the game goals and the aesthetics of Wii Sports (a commercial title used in the context of physical rehabilitation) with custom-made serious games that have obtained clinically significant results in upper limb rehabilitation, in order to try and understand what can be done to bridge the gap between these two approaches

Thertact-System: A Virtual Reality Exoskeleton Gait Training Simulator Controlled by Brain-Computer Interface

This paper presents a developer’s overview of the Thertact system that combines virtual reality, brain-computer-interface and thermal-tactile stimulation in a gait training simulator for a reha- bilitation protocol focused in promoting neurological recovery in spinal cord injured patients. We describe each part of the system, with special focus on aspects that have impact on the resulting overall sense of embodiment. The system comprises innovative aspects, such as the simulation of exoskeleton gait movement and thermal-tactile haptic feedback, and have shown promising results on a first case study with one patient in real hospital setting

Method for positioning and rehabilitation training with the ExoAtlet® powered exoskeleton

Exoskeletons for locomotion, support, or other uses are becoming more common. An increasing number of studies are demonstrating relevant results in rehabilitation. Here we describe the steps required to properly place and train patients in ExoAtlet ® powered exoskeletons (Moscow, Russia), for which there is currently limited information available. These steps combine actions related to the hardware, software, as well as safety, rehabilitation, and psycho-emotional state of the subject. Training starts with a general preparation of the environment, the equipment, and the patient. When the actual training program begins, the patient needs to gradually learn to perform the different actions that will be required to control the exoskeleton. Initially, training requires transferring weight between legs to guarantee adequate equilibrium control. Then, actions assisted by computer-controlled motors begin, namely: standing up, walking in place, moving small distances and sitting down. As the patient becomes comfortable with the exoskeleton and the cardiovascular system becomes adjusted to the upright position, training can then include walking over longer distances, inclined planes, opening doors, and climbing stairs.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

O papel da resposta hemodinâmica do córtex cingulado médio nos processos de memória de esquemas emocionais em humanos

Doutoramento em PsicologiaO córtex cingulado médio (MCC) é uma estrutura cerebral cuja função tem vindo a ser alvo de um longo e intenso debate na comunidade científica. Esta discussão decorre do facto de que o MCC aparenta ter o dom da ubiquidade (i.e. a sua ativação aparece associada a inúmeras tarefas) sem que, no entanto, tenham sido determinadas com exatidão quais são as funções psicológicas subjacentes à resposta fisiológica desta estrutura. Verifica-se, no entanto, que o MCC tem um papel relevante em múltiplas tarefas onde a presença do processamento cognitivo e o processamento emotivo são proeminentes. Nesta tese irei demonstrar, através de dois estudos da resposta hemodinâmica, que estes dois componentes podem ser conciliadas se o MCC for considerado como uma estrutura associada ao processamento de Esquemas Emocionais (i.e., estruturas de conhecimento emocional preexistente). Por um lado, as Teorias Clássicas dos Esquemas postulam que a avaliação subjetiva evoca a ativação de esquemas, de modo a perceber/interpretar uma dada experiência no momento presente. Por outro, estudos empíricos sugerem que a avaliação subjetiva de informação emocional e a recuperação de episódios autobiográficos emocionais são processos neurofuncionalmente não-diferenciados. Estes processos são, mediados pelo MCC e indicam que quando o sujeito avalia pode evocar a recuperação de conhecimento emocional preexistente. As teorias dos esquemas postulam ainda que o conhecimento preexistente deveria influenciar, seletivamente, a assimilação de novas informações oriundas do meio, influenciando tanto processos de memória de codificação como de recuperação de informação. Adicionalmente, investigações recentes em não-humanos sugerem que a atividade neuronal de regiões homólogas ao MCC medeia a recuperação de esquemas preexistentes quando estes são de importância biológica para o organismo. Isto sucede de tal forma, que esses mesmos esquemas têm influência na assimilação de nova informação. Em suma, estes pressupostos e evidências neurobiológicas sugerem que o MCC participa em mecanismos de memória associados a esquemas emocionais. No entanto, até à data, a interação entre a resposta cerebral do MCC e processos de memória para esquemas emocionais ainda não foi formalmente testada. Na presente tese, utilizou-se a Ressonância Magnética Funcional para eventos-relacionados para investigar os correlatos neurofuncionais de diferentes processos de memória para esquemas emocionais em dois estudos. No primeiro, testámos a hipótese de que a resposta hemodinâmica no MCC está associada à memória de codificação de esquemas emocionais, ou seja, em situações em que os participantes avaliaram e identificam os seus próprios estados emocionais (por oposição a situações em que detalhes externos são avaliados). No segundo estudo, testámos a hipótese de que o MCC participa, não só na avaliação de conhecimento preexistente pessoalmente relevante (por oposição a conhecimento preexistente não-relevante), como na recuperação de associações entre esse tipo conhecimento e nova informação. No seu conjunto, estes resultados indicam um papel crítico do MCC, e a sua conectividade com áreas do lobo temporal medial (i.e., amígdala e hipocampos), nos processos de memória para conhecimento emocional e ou pessoalmente relevante.The function of the medial cingulate cortex (MCC) has been the subject of a long and intense debate in the scientific community. This debate stems from the apparent gift of ubiquity of the MCC (i.e. it is activated for innumerous tasks) even though there is no precise match between the psychological functions and physiological responses described. It is clear, however, that the MCC has a relevant role in multiple tasks where cognitive and emotional processing are prominent. In this dissertation I will show, in two different hemodynamic response studies, that these two different components can be reconciled if the MCC is considered as a structure associated with Emotional Schemas (i.e., a structure for pre-existing knowledge). On one side, the Classical Theories of Schemas postulate that subjective evaluation or appraisal should activate schemas to allow perceiving/interpreting an experience in the present moment. On the other, empirical studies suggest that subjective evaluation of emotional information and the retrieval of emotional autobiographic episodes are not neurophysiologically different and are mediated by the MCC, indicating that evaluating an experience can be associated with retrieving pre-existing emotional knowledge. The theories of Schemas postulate also that pre-existing knowledge influences, selectively, the assimilation of new information arising from the environment, influencing memory encoding processes, as well as memory retrieval of information. Additionally, recent findings in non-humans suggest that neuronal activity in regions homologous to the MCC mediate the retrieval of pre-existing schemas with biological relevance to the organism. This happens in a way such that those same schemas influence in the acquisition of new information. In short, these assumptions and this neurobiological evidence suggest that the MCC participates in memory mechanisms associated with emotional schemas. However, to date, the interaction between MCC cerebral response and memory processes for emotional schemas has not yet been formally tested. In the present dissertation event-related functional Magnetic Ressonance Imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate neurofunctional correlates of memory processes for emotional schemas in two studies. In the first, we tested the hypothesis that the hemodynamic response of the MCC is associated with encoding of emotional schemas, that is, the MCC is relevant when subjects had to identify and evaluate their own emotional states (in opposition to evaluating external details). In the second study, we tested the hypothesis that the MCC participates not only in the pre-existing relevant knowledge evaluation (in opposition to a pre-existing non-relevant), but also in the retrieval of associations between that specific type of knowledge and new information. Altogether, these results indicate a critical role for the MCC, and its connectivity with medial temporal lobe (amygdala and hippocampus), in memory processes for emotional and/or personally relevant knowledge

Neurophysiological correlates of tactile width discrimination in humans

Introduction: Tactile information processing requires the integration of sensory, motor, and cognitive information. Width discrimination has been extensively studied in rodents, but not in humans. Methods: Here, we describe Electroencephalography (EEG) signals in humans performing a tactile width discrimination task. The first goal of this study was to describe changes in neural activity occurring during the discrimination and the response periods. The second goal was to relate specific changes in neural activity to the performance in the task. Results: Comparison of changes in power between two different periods of the task, corresponding to the discrimination of the tactile stimulus and the motor response, revealed the engagement of an asymmetrical network associated with fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital electrodes and across multiple frequency bands. Analysis of ratios of higher [Ratio 1: (0.5–20 Hz)/(0.5–45 Hz)] or lower frequencies [Ratio 2: (0.5–4.5 Hz)/(0.5–9 Hz)], during the discrimination period revealed that activity recorded from frontal-parietal electrodes was correlated to tactile width discrimination performance between-subjects, independently of task difficulty. Meanwhile, the dynamics in parieto-occipital electrodes were correlated to the changes in performance within-subjects (i.e., between the first and the second blocks) independently of task difficulty. In addition, analysis of information transfer, using Granger causality, further demonstrated that improvements in performance between blocks were characterized by an overall reduction in information transfer to the ipsilateral parietal electrode (P4) and an increase in information transfer to the contralateral parietal electrode (P3). Discussion: The main finding of this study is that fronto-parietal electrodes encoded between-subjects’ performances while parieto-occipital electrodes encoded within-subjects’ performances, supporting the notion that tactile width discrimination processing is associated with a complex asymmetrical network involving fronto-parieto-occipital electrodes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of quality of life scale in patients with onychomycosis

(1) Background: Onychomycosis (OM) is a fungal nail infection, considered a risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers. It is associated with changes in quality of life, in terms of pain, self-confidence and self-esteem. The aim was to translate and adapt the OM quality of life questionnaire “OnyCOE-t™–Quality Of Life Questionnaire Onychomycosis (Nail Fungal Condition)”. (2) Methods: This study followed the guidelines proposed by Beaton et al. (2000), where two English to Portuguese translations were performed and, after an expert consensus, a common version was obtained. This was followed by two back-translations. The expert committee achieved semantic equivalence, idioms and concepts. The pre-test was applied to 49 people. The final version and processed data were sent to the authors. (3) Results: We adapted terms semantically, modified statements syntactically, altering items from interrogative to affirmative. (4) Conclusions: The translated version of the “Quality of life–Onychomycosis” questionnaire suggested that it can be used for further studies to test validity and reliability in this population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Stigma consciousness and self-efficacy in infertile couples: correlation and gender differences

Introducción: La infertilidad es cada vez mayor en las sociedades occidentales y sus consecuencias son muy problemáticas una vez que los problemas individuales y familiares se detectan en las parejas infértiles (IC). Investigaciones recientes sugieren que el estigma consciente (SC) y la autoeficacia (ES) pueden verse afectadas en estas parejas. Hipótesis: H1 - existe una correlación significativamente negativa entre SC y SE en hombres infértiles (IM) y en mujeres infértiles (IW). H2-IW muestran niveles más altos de SC y más bajos niveles de SE en comparación con IM. Método: Los participantes - IC (n = 59) se reclutaron en la consulta de un hospital de infertilidad. Instrumentos: se empleó un cuestionario sociodemográfico, la versión portuguesa del cuestionario Adapted Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire and of the Infertility Self-efficacy Scale. Procedimiento – a) autorización del Comité ético del Hospital, b) consentimiento informado, c) entrevista con el investigador y aplicación del cuestionario, d) análisis estadístico de la correlación entre SC y SE y de las diferencias entre los hombres infértiles y las mujeres en la SC y SE. Resultados: Existe una correlación negativa significativa entre SC y SE en IM y en IW. En comparación con los demás valores, IW presenta niveles significativamente más altos de SC y significativamente más bajos niveles de SE.Introduction: Infertility is increasing in western societies and consequences are deeply problematic once family and individual psychological problems are detected in infertile couples (IC) and rise up during medical treatment. Recent research suggests that stigma consciousness (SC) and self-efficacy (SE) may be affected in these couples. Hypothesis: H1 - There is a significantly negative correlation between SC and SE in infertile men (IM) and in infertile women (IW). H2 – IW show higher levels of SC and lower levels of SE when compared with IM. Method: Participants - IC (n = 59) attending an infertility hospital consultation were recruited. Instruments – a Socio-demographic Questionnaire, the Portuguese versions of the Adapted Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire and of the Infertility Self-efficacy Scale. Procedure – a) authorization of the Hospital’s Ethical Committee, b) Informed Consent, c) interview with the researcher and questionnaires application, d) statistical analysis of the correlation between SC and SE and of the differences between infertile men and women on SC and SE. Results: There is a significant negative correlation between SC and SE both in IM and in IW. When compared with their partners, IW present significantly higher levels of SC and significantly lower levels of SE.peerReviewe

práticas artísticas no ensino básico e secundário

Educação Artística: integrar a inovação. A educação artística apresenta-se como um território a re-cartografar, numa atualização tão rápida quanto aquela que ocorre no campo artístico. As propostas publicadas neste número 11 da Revista Matéria-Prima trazem essa diversidade de abordagens, com novidades conceptuais que estabelecem as devidas relações entre educação e cidadania, participação, sustentabilidade, cultura visual, e também com alguma atenção sobre os debates pós-coloniais e as questões de género. Os 16 artigos reunidos neste 11º número da Revista Matéria-Prima trazem a realidade operativa quer na formação de professores e quer na formulação dos discursos pedagógicos, suas justificações e suas propostas alternativas.As propostas apresentadas devolvem o debate ao terreno, e alargam-no. Provocam as periferias, convocam abordagens diferenciadas sobre o tema da arte e da educação. Em todas elas a proposta de crescimento através da arte, que hoje implica cada vez mais cidadania, crítica, criatividade, interligação, comprometimento, participação.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Les droits disciplinaires des fonctions publiques : « unification », « harmonisation » ou « distanciation ». A propos de la loi du 26 avril 2016 relative à la déontologie et aux droits et obligations des fonctionnaires

The production of tt‾ , W+bb‾ and W+cc‾ is studied in the forward region of proton–proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98±0.02 fb−1 . The W bosons are reconstructed in the decays W→ℓν , where ℓ denotes muon or electron, while the b and c quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions.The production of $t\overline{t}$, $W+b\overline{b}$ and $W+c\overline{c}$ is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98 $\pm$ 0.02 \mbox{fb}^{-1}. The $W$ bosons are reconstructed in the decays $W\rightarrow\ell\nu$, where $\ell$ denotes muon or electron, while the $b$ and $c$ quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions

Measurement of the J/ψ pair production cross-section in pp collisions at s=13 \sqrt{s}=13 TeV

The production cross-section of J/ψ pairs is measured using a data sample of pp collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 279 ±11 pb$^{−1}$. The measurement is performed for J/ψ mesons with a transverse momentum of less than 10 GeV/c in the rapidity range 2.0 < y < 4.5. The production cross-section is measured to be 15.2 ± 1.0 ± 0.9 nb. The first uncertainty is statistical, and the second is systematic. The differential cross-sections as functions of several kinematic variables of the J/ψ pair are measured and compared to theoretical predictions.The production cross-section of $J/\psi$ pairs is measured using a data sample of $pp$ collisions collected by the LHCb experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13 \,{\mathrm{TeV}}$, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $279 \pm 11 \,{\mathrm{pb^{-1}}}$. The measurement is performed for $J/\psi$ mesons with a transverse momentum of less than $10 \,{\mathrm{GeV}}/c$ in the rapidity range $2.0<y<4.5$. The production cross-section is measured to be $15.2 \pm 1.0 \pm 0.9 \,{\mathrm{nb}}$. The first uncertainty is statistical, and the second is systematic. The differential cross-sections as functions of several kinematic variables of the $J/\psi$ pair are measured and compared to theoretical predictions