75 research outputs found
A deep learning solution for real-time human motion decoding in smart walkers
Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica (especialização em Eletrónica Médica)The treatment of gait impairments has increasingly relied on rehabilitation therapies which benefit
from the use of smart walkers. These walkers still lack advanced and seamless Human-Robot Interaction,
which intuitively understands the intentions of human motion, empowering the user’s recovery state and
autonomy, while reducing the physician’s effort.
This dissertation proposes the development of a deep learning solution to tackle the human motion
decoding problematic in smart walkers, using only lower body vision information from a camera stream,
mounted on the WALKit Smart Walker, a smart walker prototype for rehabilitation purposes.
Different deep learning frameworks were designed for early human motion recognition and detec tion. A custom acquisition method, including a smart walker’s automatic driving algorithm and labelling
procedure, was also designed to enable further training and evaluation of the proposed frameworks.
Facing a 4-class (stop, walk, turn right/left) classification problem, a deep learning convolutional model
with an attention mechanism achieved the best results: an offline f1-score of 99.61%, an online calibrated
instantaneous precision higher than 97% and a human-centred focus slightly higher than 30%.
Promising results were attained for early human motion detection, with enhancements in the focus
of the proposed architectures. However, further improvements are still needed to achieve a more reliable
solution for integration in a smart walker’s control strategy, based in the human motion intentions.O tratamento de distúrbios da marcha tem apostado cada vez mais em terapias de reabilitação que
beneficiam do uso de andarilhos inteligentes. Estes ainda carecem de uma Interação Humano-Robô
avançada e eficaz, capaz de entender, intuitivamente, as intenções do movimento humano, fortalecendo
a recuperação autónoma do paciente e reduzindo o esforço médico.
Esta dissertação propõe o desenvolvimento de uma solução de aprendizagem para o problema de
descodificação de movimento humano em andarilhos inteligentes, usando apenas vĂdeos recolhidos pelo
WALKit Smart Walker, um protótipo de andarilho inteligente usado para reabilitação.
Foram desenvolvidos algoritmos de aprendizagem para o reconhecimento e detecção precoces de
movimento humano. Um método de aquisição personalizado, incluindo um algoritmo de condução e
labelização automatizados, foi projetado para permitir o conseguinte treino e avaliação dos algoritmos
propostos.
Perante a classificação de 4 ações (parar, andar, virar à direita/esquerda), um modelo convolucional
com um mecanismo de atenção alcançou os melhores resultados: f1-score offline de 99,61%, precisão
instantânea calibrada online de superior a 97 % e um foco centrado no ser humano ligeiramente superior
a 30%.
Com esta dissertação alcançaram-se resultados promissores para a detecção precoce de movimento
humano, com aprimoramentos no foco dos algoritmos propostos. No entanto, ainda são necessárias
melhorias adicionais para alcançar uma solução mais robusta para a integração na estratégia de controlo
de um andarilho inteligente, com base nas intenções de movimento do utilizador
Effect of the sodium reduction and smoking system on quality and safety of smoked salmon (Salmo salar)
Excessive sodium (Na) intake has been associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, sodium reduction is a public health challenge worldwide. The aim of this study was to develop smoked salmon with a reduced Na content. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was replaced by potassium chloride (KCl) at 25% and 50% (molar replacement) and studied in combination with two smoking procedures (natural wood and liquid smoke) as well as two smoking temperatures (18-19ºC or 56ºC). Smoked salmon samples were characterized by physicochemical, sensory and microbiological analyses. No major differences were observed regarding physicochemical properties in the studied treatments. Smoked samples with 50% of NaCl replaced by KCl were slightly more bitter than those with 25% whereas samples with 25% of replacement did not show differences to those with non-reduced Na content (5 g of added NaCl per 100 g of salmon). Molar Na:K ratio decreased from 4,3 in controls to 1,4 and 0,6 in samples with a NaCl reduction level of 25% and 50 % respectively. Microbiological assessment indicates that 2-week shelf-life would be appropriate and safe in terms of accomplishment of the EU regulation, taking into account foreseeable storage temperatures (up to 8 ºC). Thus, it is possible to achieve a reduction of 25-50% of NaCl in smoked salmon by replacing NaCl by KCl and considerer this product as a “source” of K.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Effect of the sodium reduction and smoking system on quality and safety of smoked salmon (Salmo salar)
Excessive sodium (Na) intake has been associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, sodium reduction is a public health challenge worldwide. The aim of this study was to develop smoked salmon with a reduced Na content. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was replaced by potassium chloride (KCl) at 25% and 50% (molar replacement) and studied in combination with two smoking procedures (natural wood and liquid smoke) as well as two smoking temperatures (18-19ºC or 56ºC). Smoked salmon samples were characterized by physicochemical, sensory and microbiological analyses. No major differences were observed regarding physicochemical properties in the studied treatments. Smoked samples with 50% of NaCl replaced by KCl were slightly more bitter than those with 25% whereas samples with 25% of replacement did not show differences to those with non-reduced Na content (5 g of added NaCl per 100 g of salmon). Molar Na:K ratio decreased from 4,3 in controls to 1,4 and 0,6 in samples with a NaCl reduction level of 25% and 50 % respectively. Microbiological assessment indicates that 2-week shelf-life would be appropriate and safe in terms of accomplishment of the EU regulation, taking into account foreseeable storage temperatures (up to 8 ºC). Thus, it is possible to achieve a reduction of 25-50% of NaCl in smoked salmon by replacing NaCl by KCl and considerer this product as a “source” of K.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Estresores en Unidad de Terapia Intensiva: versión brasileña del Environmental Stressor Questionnaire
Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar a adaptação cultural do The Environmental Stressor Questionnaire - (ESQ) para a lĂngua portuguesa do Brasil e verificar sua confiabilidade e validade. Foram empregadas as etapas metodolĂłgicas recomendadas pela literatura para adaptação cultural. A versĂŁo brasileira do ESQ foi aplicada a 106 pacientes de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) de dois hospitais, pĂşblico e privado, do interior do Estado de SĂŁo Paulo. A confiabilidade foi avaliada quanto Ă consistĂŞncia interna e estabilidade (teste e reteste); a validade convergente foi verificada por meio da correlação entre o ESQ e questĂŁo genĂ©rica sobre estresse em UTI. A confiabilidade foi satisfatĂłria com Alfa de Crombach=0,94 e Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse=0,861 (IC95% 0,723; 0,933). Constatou-se correlação entre o escore total do ESQ e a questĂŁo genĂ©rica sobre estresse (r=0,70), confirmando a validade convergente. A versĂŁo brasileira do ESQ mostrou-se uma ferramenta confiável e válida para avaliação de estressores em UTI.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo realizar la adaptaciĂłn cultural del Environmental Stressor Questionnaire (ESQ) a la lengua portuguesa de Brasil y verificar su confiabilidad y validez. Fueron empleadas las etapas metodolĂłgicas recomendadas por la bibliografĂa para la adaptaciĂłn cultural. La versiĂłn brasileña del ESQ fue aplicada a 106 pacientes de Unidad de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) de dos hospitales, pĂşblico y privado, del interior del estado de San Pablo, Brasil. La confiabilidad fue evaluada respecto de la consistencia interna y la estabilidad (test y retest); la validez convergente fue verificada a travĂ©s de la correlaciĂłn entre el ESQ y pregunta genĂ©rica acerca de estrĂ©s en UTI. La confiabilidad fue satisfactoria, con Alfa de Cronbach = 0,94 y Coeficiente de RelaciĂłn Intraclase = 0,861 (IC 95%; 0,723; 0,933). Se constatĂł correlaciĂłn entre el puntaje total del ESQ y la pregunta genĂ©rica sobre estrĂ©s (r = 0,70), confirmado la validez convergente. La versiĂłn brasileña del ESQ se mostrĂł como una herramienta confiable y válida para la evaluaciĂłn de estresores en UTI.The objective of the present study was to perform the cultural adaptation of The Environmental Stressor Questionnaire - ESQ for the Brazilian Portuguese, as well as to verify its reliability and validity. In order to ensure the equivalence between the original instrument and the Brazilian version, all methodological steps recommended in the literature regarding cultural adaptation were followed. The Brazilian version of the ESQ was applied to 106 ICU patients in two hospitals (public and private) in the interior of SĂŁo Paulo State. Reliability was evaluated in relation to internal consistency and stability (test e retest) and the convergent validity was determined by the correlation between ESQ and generic questions about ICU stress. Reliability was satisfactory with Cronbach's Alfa = 0,94 and stability (ICC=0,861; IC95% 0,723; 0,933). ESQ total score displayed strong correlation with the generic questions about stress (r=0,70;
Replication origin location might contribute to genetic variability in Trypanosoma cruzi
Background:
DNA replication in trypanosomatids operates in a uniquely challenging environment, since most of their genomes are constitutively transcribed. Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, presents high variability in both chromosomes size and copy number among strains, though the underlying mechanisms are unknown.
Results:
Here we have mapped sites of DNA replication initiation across the T. cruzi genome using Marker Frequency Analysis, which has previously only been deployed in two related trypanosomatids. The putative origins identified in T. cruzi show a notable enrichment of GC content, a preferential position at subtelomeric regions, coinciding with genes transcribed towards the telomeres, and a pronounced enrichment within coding DNA sequences, most notably in genes from the Dispersed Gene Family 1 (DGF-1).
Conclusions:
These findings suggest a scenario where collisions between DNA replication and transcription are frequent, leading to increased genetic variability, as seen by the increase SNP levels at chromosome subtelomeres and in DGF-1 genes containing putative origins
Use of Creatine Monohydrate in MDX Mice: Morphometric and Stereological Analysis of the Diaphragm
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease that is clinically manifested by progressive muscle atrophy, followed by loss of strength, motor coordination and functional impairment. In the final stages of the disease, the patient has severe difficulty in breathing mechanics, due to the involvement of the muscles involved with the mechanics of breathing, including the diaphragm. The present study sought to identify the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation in MDX mice on the morphology, morphometry and stereology of the striated muscle tissue of the diaphragm of these animals. The results indicate that, despite not influencing the increase in cell volume, supplementation acts in an anti-inflammatory way, reducing the progressive process of fibrosis that occurs in these animals in the face of muscle atrophy followed by the replacement of muscle parenchyma by connective tissue. in this way, supplementation provides a better condition for tissue maintenance, enabling more survival of MDX mice. Monohydrate creatine supplementation has been shown to be a complementary therapeutic alternative, especially for muscular dystrophies and severe myopathies
A genome survey of Moniliophthora perniciosa gives new insights into Witches' Broom Disease of cacao
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The basidiomycete fungus <it>Moniliophthora perniciosa </it>is the causal agent of Witches' Broom Disease (WBD) in cacao (<it>Theobroma cacao</it>). It is a hemibiotrophic pathogen that colonizes the apoplast of cacao's meristematic tissues as a biotrophic pathogen, switching to a saprotrophic lifestyle during later stages of infection. <it>M. perniciosa</it>, together with the related species <it>M. roreri</it>, are pathogens of aerial parts of the plant, an uncommon characteristic in the order Agaricales. A genome survey (1.9Ă— coverage) of <it>M. perniciosa </it>was analyzed to evaluate the overall gene content of this phytopathogen.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genes encoding proteins involved in retrotransposition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) resistance, drug efflux transport and cell wall degradation were identified. The great number of genes encoding cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (1.15% of gene models) indicates that <it>M. perniciosa </it>has a great potential for detoxification, production of toxins and hormones; which may confer a high adaptive ability to the fungus. We have also discovered new genes encoding putative secreted polypeptides rich in cysteine, as well as genes related to methylotrophy and plant hormone biosynthesis (gibberellin and auxin). Analysis of gene families indicated that <it>M. perniciosa </it>have similar amounts of carboxylesterases and repertoires of plant cell wall degrading enzymes as other hemibiotrophic fungi. In addition, an approach for normalization of gene family data using incomplete genome data was developed and applied in <it>M. perniciosa </it>genome survey.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This genome survey gives an overview of the <it>M. perniciosa </it>genome, and reveals that a significant portion is involved in stress adaptation and plant necrosis, two necessary characteristics for a hemibiotrophic fungus to fulfill its infection cycle. Our analysis provides new evidence revealing potential adaptive traits that may play major roles in the mechanisms of pathogenicity in the <it>M. perniciosa</it>/cacao pathosystem.</p
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