An understanding of species' morphological and physiological parameters is crucial to developing conservation strategies for wild animals kept in human care. Detailed information is lacking for ...crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) eyes and adnexa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe anatomical, histological and computed tomography (CT) features of the eye and adnexa in crab-eating fox, compared to domestic dogs. CT of the eye and adnexa of one live animal and a frozen specimen was performed for anatomical identification. In addition, the heads of five animals of each species were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for gross anatomical description of the eye and adnexa using topographic dissection and exenteration techniques. All steps were photographed and features such as location, shape, and distances and relationships between structures were described. For histological evaluation, two eyes of each species were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed by routine paraffin inclusion technique and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The CT scan was difficult to evaluate, mainly that of the frozen head, which did not provide good definition of the soft tissues; nevertheless, it demonstrated the potential for structure visualization and description. The gross anatomical and histological evaluations showed the presence of eyelashes on the upper eyelid and of upper and lower lacrimal points, an incomplete orbit with supraorbital ligament, slightly exposed sclera with discretely pigmented limbus and pigmentation throughout the conjunctiva, and a slit-shaped pupil. Hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated structural similarities between the crab-eating fox and domestic dog. Thus, the possibility of using the domestic dog as a study model for the preventive and therapeutic management of wild dogs kept in human care is demonstrated.
Non-linear and dynamic systems analysis of human movement has recently become increasingly widespread with the intention of better reflecting how complexity affects the adaptability of motor systems, ...especially after a stroke. The main objective of this scoping review was to summarize the non-linear measures used in the analysis of kinetic, kinematic, and EMG data of human movement after stroke. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed, establishing the eligibility criteria, the population, the concept, and the contextual framework. The examined studies were published between 1 January 2013 and 12 April 2023, in English or Portuguese, and were indexed in the databases selected for this research: PubMed
, Web of Science
, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
, Science Direct
and Google Scholar
. In total, 14 of the 763 articles met the inclusion criteria. The non-linear measures identified included entropy (n = 11), fractal analysis (n = 1), the short-term local divergence exponent (n = 1), the maximum Floquet multiplier (n = 1), and the Lyapunov exponent (n = 1). These studies focused on different motor tasks: reaching to grasp (n = 2), reaching to point (n = 1), arm tracking (n = 2), elbow flexion (n = 5), elbow extension (n = 1), wrist and finger extension upward (lifting) (n = 1), knee extension (n = 1), and walking (n = 4). When studying the complexity of human movement in chronic post-stroke adults, entropy measures, particularly sample entropy, were preferred. Kinematic assessment was mainly performed using motion capture systems, with a focus on joint angles of the upper limbs.
Stroke leads to significant impairment in upper limb (UL) function. The goal of rehabilitation is the reestablishment of pre-stroke motor stroke skills by stimulating neuroplasticity. Among several ...rehabilitation approaches, functional electrical stimulation (FES) is highlighted in stroke rehabilitation guidelines as a supplementary therapy alongside the standard care modalities. The aim of this study is to present a comprehensive review regarding the usability of FES in post-stroke UL rehabilitation. Specifically, the factors related to UL rehabilitation that should be considered in FES usability, as well a critical review of the outcomes used to assess FES usability, are presented. This review reinforces the FES as a promising tool to induce neuroplastic modifications in post-stroke rehabilitation by enabling the possibility of delivering intensive periods of treatment with comparatively less demand on human resources. However, the lack of studies evaluating FES usability through motor control outcomes, specifically movement quality indicators, combined with user satisfaction limits the definition of FES optimal therapeutical window for different UL functional tasks. FES systems capable of integrating postural control muscles involving other anatomic regions, such as the trunk, during reaching tasks are required to improve UL function in post-stroke patients.
Antagonist co-activation represents a neuronal command for the modulation of muscle synergies with postural control purposes
1
, probably assuming a key role in the characterisation of tonus ...dysfunction in post-stroke subjects. This study aims to evaluate the ankle antagonist co-activation during different functional tasks in post-stroke subjects.
A cross-sectional study was performed in eight participants (age = 43.00 ± 10.63 years; median ± interquartile range) who had a subcortical ischaemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory for at least 6 months. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and implemented in a research centre. Antagonist co-activation between tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) and between TA and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) of the ipsilesional (IPSI) and contralesional (CONTRA) limbs was calculated through electromyographic signals collected during upright standing and postural phases of gait initiation and stand-to-sit, according to the methods proposed by Ribeiro
2
.
The CONTRA limb presented decreased values in TA/SOL pair during upright standing and increased values in both muscle pairs during gait initiation compared to the IPSI limb (
Table 1
). No significant differences were found between tasks (
Table 1
).
The IPSI and CONTRA limbs presented increased antagonist co-activation when an adequate antigravity function and the coordination of the tibia forward rotation are required, respectively. The comparison of these values with that obtained by healthy subjects
3
,
4
seems to point to a bilateral postural control dysfunction in post-stroke subjects related to tonus modulation deficits that should be addressed in neurorehabilitation. Future studies with a higher sample are required to extend the results.
kit (DiaPath S.p.A.) offers a major advantage compared to other commercially available kits available for the screening of cervical cancer, as it does not require additional equipment for sample ...processing. Using this methodology, collected epithelial cells are immersed in a preservative liquid before setting as a thin layer on a slide via gravity sedimentation.
To evaluate the suitability of the
kit for the processing of cervical samples, detection of pre-neoplastic lesions, and nucleic preservation and extraction for HR-HPV diagnosis.
A total of 242 self-sampled cervical specimens were utilized, with 192 collected in
vials and 50 collected and processed using the
for comparative analysis. The samples underwent processing, Papanicolaou staining, and microscopic evaluation for morphological parameters. The extracted nucleic acids were assessed for purity and integrity, and the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) was carried out using the Alinity
HR HPV system kit (Abbott Laboratórios Lda).
Both methods demonstrated effective performance, enabling the morphological assessment of the cervical epithelium. Statistical analysis indicated that
yielded significantly better results in terms of cellularity. Conversely,
exhibited superior performance in terms of the quantity of extracted DNA and its degree of purification. Concerning the time consumed during processing, both methods were comparable, with the
methodology standing out for its cost-effectiveness, as it does not necessitate additional instruments and consumables.
The novel
methodology proves effective in preserving both nucleic acids and cell morphology characteristics, two crucial features for cervical cancer screening.
Objective: To identify and summarize biomechanical assessment approaches in interlimb coordination on poststroke gait. Introduction: Interlimb coordination involves complex neurophysiological ...mechanisms that can be expressed through the biomechanical output. The deepening of this concept would have a significant contribution in gait rehabilitation in patients with an asymmetric neurological impairment as poststroke adults. Inclusion criteria: Poststroke adults (>19 years old), with assessment of interlimb coordination during gait, in an open context, according to the Population, Concept, Context framework. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science™, Scopus, and gray literature in Google Scholar™, according to the PRISMA-ScR recommendations. Studies written in Portuguese or English language and published between database inception and 14 November 2021 were included. Qualitative studies, conference proceedings, letters, and editorials were excluded. The main conceptual categories were “author/year”, “study design”, “participant’s characteristics”, “walking conditions”, “instruments” and “outcomes”. Results: The search identified 827 potentially relevant studies, with a remaining seven fulfilling the established criteria. Interlimb coordination was assessed during walking in treadmill (n = 3), overground (n = 3) and both (n = 1). The instruments used monitored electromyography (n = 2), kinetics (n = 2), and kinematics (n = 4) to assess spatiotemporal parameters (n = 4), joint kinematics (n = 2), anteroposterior ground reaction forces (n = 2), and electromyography root mean square (n = 2) outcomes. These outcomes were mostly used to analyze symmetry indices or ratios, to calculate propulsive impulse and external mechanical power produced on the CoM, as well as antagonist coactivation. Conclusions: Assessment of interlimb coordination during gait is important for consideration of natural auto-selected overground walking, using kinematic, kinetic, and EMG instruments. These allow for the collection of the main biomechanical outcomes that could contribute to improve better knowledge of interlimb coordination assessment in poststroke patients.
Postural control mechanisms have a determinant role in reaching tasks and are typically impaired in post-stroke patients. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been demonstrated to be a ...promising therapy for improving upper limb (UL) function. However, according to our knowledge, no study has evaluated FES influence on postural control. This study aims to evaluate the influence of FES UL assistance, during turning on the light task, in the related postural control mechanisms. An observational study involving ten post-stroke subjects with UL dysfunction was performed. Early and anticipatory postural adjustments (EPAs and APAs, respectively), the weight shift, the center of pressure and the center of mass (CoM) displacement were analyzed during the turning on the light task with and without the FES assistance. FES parameters were adjusted to improve UL function according to a consensus between physiotherapists' and patients' perspectives. The ANOVA repeated measures, Paired sample t and McNemar tests were used to compare postural control between the assisted and non-assisted conditions. When the task was assisted by FES, the number of participants that presented APAs increased (p = 0.031). UL FES assistance during turning on the light task can improve postural control in neurological patients with UL impairments.
Abstract Background Anticipatory postural adjustments during gait initiation have an important role in postural stability but also in gait performance. However, these first phase mechanisms of gait ...initiation have received little attention, particularly in subcortical post-stroke subjects, where bilateral postural control pathways can be impaired. This study aims to evaluate ankle anticipatory postural adjustments during gait initiation in chronic post-stroke subjects with lesion in the territory of middle cerebral artery. Methods Eleven subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis with the ability to walk independently and twelve healthy controls participated in this study. Bilateral electromyographic activity of tibialis anterior, soleus and medial gastrocnemius was collected during gait initiation to assess the muscle onset timing, period of activation/deactivation and magnitude of muscle activity during postural phase of gait initiation. This phase was identified through centre of pressure signal. Findings Post-stroke group presented only half of the tibialis anterior relative magnitude observed in healthy subjects in contralesional limb (t = 2.38, P = 0.027) and decreased soleus deactivation period (contralesional limb, t = 2.25, P = 0.04; ipsilesional limb, t = 3.67, P = 0.003) as well its onset timing (contralesional limb, t = 3.2. P = 0.005; ipsilesional limb, t = 2.88, P = 0.033) in both limbs. A decreased centre of pressure displacement backward (t = 3.45, P = 0.002) and toward the first swing limb (t = 3.29, P = 0.004) was observed in post-stroke subjects. Interpretation These findings indicate that chronic post-stroke subjects with lesion at middle cerebral artery territory present dysfunction in ankle anticipatory postural adjustments in both limbs during gait initiation.
In order to optimize the mass rearing of Telenomus podisiAshmead (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) for augmentative biological control we tested the suitability of different artificial diets with respect ...to egg production of Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). For this purpose, biological parameters of E. heros and T. podisi were evaluated in experimental trial with these diets. All tested artificial diets supported the rearing of E. heros. However, female and adult life history traits including longevity, total oviposition, nymph developmental time, and fertility were altered, with poorer results than under the natural diet. However, because of the higher economic cost of the natural diet, its replacement with artificial diets could be beneficial. Since stink bug reared on artificial diet has shorter lifespan, an alternative to overcome this issue is to replace earlier the insects in the insect facility what could still be cheaper than insects reared on natural diet. It was also noted the possibility of using artificial diets without lyophilized components what can further reduce the cost of rearing.
Las narrativas de lucha contra la colonización han sido construidas en masculino con base en documentos producidos por hombres y, por tanto, las mujeres han ocupado un espacio periférico en esas ...narrativas. En Angola, en el campo de la Historia de las mujeres, es reciente una perspectiva crítica de escritura en femenino o en pro de las mujeres y producida por mujeres. En este sentido, la temática de las mujeres angoleñas deviene importante para comprender las dinámicas sociales de una Angola contemporánea. Para ello, este trabajo invita a investigadores de diferentes áreas, principalmente historiadores, a repensar la historiografía sobre/de las mujeres angoleñas, considerando la forma en que se construyeron narrativas que atendieran a necesidades teóricas y prácticas “localizadas”, a partir del contexto de liberación nacional.
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