Due to the recent rise in the use of lower-limb exoskeletons as an alternative for gait rehabilitation, gait phase detection has become an increasingly important feature in the control of these ...devices. In addition, highly functional, low-cost recovery devices are needed in developing countries, since limited budgets are allocated specifically for biomedical advances. To achieve this goal, this paper presents two gait phase partitioning algorithms that use motion data from a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the foot instep. For these data, sagittal angular velocity and linear acceleration signals were extracted from nine healthy subjects and nine pathological subjects. Pressure patterns from force sensitive resistors (FSR) instrumented on a custom insole were used as reference values. The performance of a threshold-based (TB) algorithm and a hidden Markov model (HMM) based algorithm, trained by means of subject-specific and standardized parameters approaches, were compared during treadmill walking tasks in terms of timing errors and the goodness index. The findings indicate that HMM outperforms TB for this hardware configuration. In addition, the HMM-based classifier trained by an intra-subject approach showed excellent reliability for the evaluation of mean time, i.e., its intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was greater than 0 . 75 . In conclusion, the HMM-based method proposed here can be implemented for gait phase recognition, such as to evaluate gait variability in patients and to control robotic orthoses for lower-limb rehabilitation.
•Bee pollen is a good source of bioactive compounds.•The composition of bee pollen depends strongly on plant source.•Solvent extraction has been the most used sample treatment.•UV–vis and titration ...have been mainly employed for determining the total content.•LC (RP or NP) has been the technique of choice when determining individual content.
Since ancient times bee pollen has been considered a good source of bioactive substances and energy. Taking into account the current demand for healthy and natural foods, it is not surprising that bee pollen has been attracting commercial interest in recent years, making it one of the most widely consumed food supplements. It has been extensively reported that bee pollen contains several health-promoting compounds, such as proteins, amino acids, lipids, phenolic compounds, vitamins or minerals. Thus, this study aims to give an overview of the extraction and determination techniques of several of the above-mentioned compounds which have been published in the last few years (2011-2017). The design of the study is in accordance with the different families of bioactive compounds, and the extraction procedures together with the analytical techniques employed and their determination are discussed. A list of some of the most relevant applications is provided for each category, including a brief summary of the experimental conditions. The references included will provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of and insight into the analysis of bioactive compounds from bee pollen.
Display omitted
•Thymol and carvacrol were simultaneously analysed in bee pollen by using GC–MS.•The proposed sample treatment has shown to be effective (mean recoveries ≥ 90%).•Separation was ...achieved in under 21 min by means of a ZB-Wax column.•Matrix did not affect to the MS signals of both compounds.•Residues of thymol and carvacrol (LOQ-57 μg/kg) were found in some samples.
A novel method is proposed to determine residues of carvacrol and thymol in bee pollen by means of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. This is an efficient and simple sample treatment (with average analyte recoveries between 90% and 104%) involving solvent extraction with hexane followed by evaporation. There is no need for any additional clean-up step, as the matrix did not affect determination of mass spectrometry for either compound. The chromatographic conditions are also optimized: a ZB-WAX column is employed, helium is the carrier gas at a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min, and a temperature program is included, allowing baseline separation of both compounds in less than 21 min. The method is fully validated in terms of selectivity, limits of detection and quantification, matrix effect, linearity, precision and trueness. Results show that not only is it selective, but that it also displays a wide linearity range (limit of quantification-1000 μg/kg), good precision (relative standard deviation values lower than 8%) and sensitivity (limits of detection and quantification lower than 15 μg/kg). Finally, several bee pollen samples are analysed, and thymol and carvacrol residues are found at low concentrations (limit of quantification-57 μg/kg) in some cases.
Next-Generation Sequencing is needed for the accurate genetic risk stratification of acute myeloid leukemia according to European LeukemiaNet (ELN) guidelines. We validated and compared the 2022 ELN ...risk classification in a real-life cohort of 546 intensively and 379 non-intensively treated patients. Among fit patients, those aged ≥65 years old showed worse OS than younger regardless risk classification. Compared with the 2017 classification, 14.5% of fit patients changed the risk with the 2022 classification, increasing the high-risk group from 44.3% to 51.8%. 3.7% and 0.9% FLT3-ITD mutated patients were removed from the favorable and adverse 2017 categories respectively to 2022 intermediate risk group. We suggest that midostaurin therapy could be a predictor for 3 years OS (85.2% with vs. 54.8% without midostaurin, P = 0.04). Forty-seven (8.6%) patients from the 2017 intermediate group were assigned to the 2022 adverse-risk group as they harbored myelodysplasia (MDS)-related mutations. Patients with one MDS-related mutation did not reach median OS, while patients with ≥2 mutations had 13.6 months median OS (P = 0.002). Patients with TP53 ± complex karyotype or inv(3) had a dismal prognosis (7.1 months median OS). We validate the prognostic utility of the 2022 ELN classification in a real-life setting providing supportive evidences to improve risk stratification guidelines.
In Mediterranean environments, with mild winters and dry summers, peas are planted in autumn or early winter to profit from winter rain and to avoid terminal drought and high summer temperatures. The ...root parasitic weed broomrape (Orobanche crenata) appears as a major limiting factor under these conditions. To address such specific growing conditions and associated constraints, targeted breeding is needed. We present here recent achievements in the development of pea lines arising from a wide hybridization program incorporating resistance to broomrape and to powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) from landraces and wild relatives. Their adaption to autumn sowings under Mediterranean rain fed conditions, and their agronomic performance and resistance to prevailing diseases is compared with those of check cultivars in a multi-environment field test with nine trials performed over three seasons. HA-GGE biplots were a powerful tool for comparison among accessions in terms of performance and stability for each trait assessed. Like this, breeding lines NS22, NS34, NS8, NS39, NS35, NS21 and NS83 over-yielded all check cultivars. Grain yield was strongly affected by broomrape infection, with little influence of powdery mildew and ascochyta blight. All breeding lines studied showed high to moderate resistance to broomrape, whereas all check cultivars were severely infected. Broomrape infection was not correlated with days to flowering, whereas powdery mildew infection was favored by long cycles. Broomrape infection was enhanced by mild winter temperatures before flowering and spring rain, whereas high spring temperatures hampered broomrape development.
Body sodium (Na) levels must be maintained within a narrow range for the correct functioning of the organism (Na homeostasis). Na disorders include not only elevated levels of this solute ...(hypernatremia), as in diabetes insipidus, but also reduced levels (hyponatremia), as in cerebral salt wasting syndrome. The balance in body Na levels therefore requires a delicate equilibrium to be maintained between the ingestion and excretion of Na. Salt (NaCl) intake is processed by receptors in the tongue and digestive system, which transmit the information to the nucleus of the solitary tract via a neural pathway (chorda tympani/vagus nerves) and to circumventricular organs, including the subfornical organ and area postrema, via a humoral pathway (blood/cerebrospinal fluid). Circuits are formed that stimulate or inhibit homeostatic Na intake involving participation of the parabrachial nucleus, pre-locus coeruleus, medial tuberomammillary nuclei, median eminence, paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, and other structures with reward properties such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, central amygdala, and ventral tegmental area. Finally, the kidney uses neural signals (e.g., renal sympathetic nerves) and vascular (e.g., renal perfusion pressure) and humoral (e.g., renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cardiac natriuretic peptides, antidiuretic hormone, and oxytocin) factors to promote Na excretion or retention and thereby maintain extracellular fluid volume. All these intake and excretion processes are modulated by chemical messengers, many of which (e.g., aldosterone, angiotensin II, and oxytocin) have effects that are coordinated at peripheral and central level to ensure Na homeostasis.
•Twelve intact glucosinolates were determined in broccoli leaves by LC-DAD–ESI-MS.•The extraction was optimized by means of a Box–Behnken design and ANOVA.•The proposed extraction method based on MW ...heating has proven to be efficient.•Matrix (broccoli leaves) had an influence (ion suppression) onto the MS signals.•Different glucosinolates content was found in broccoli leaves from six cultivars.
A new method has been developed and validated to determine twelve intact glucosinolates (glucoiberin, GIB; glucoraphanin, GRA; glucoerucin GER; gluconapin, GNA; glucotropaeolin, GTL; glucobrassicin, GBC; gluconasturtiin, GST; glucoalyssin, ALY; 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, 4-OH; 4-metoxyglucobrassicin, 4ME; neoglucobrassicin, NEO; sinigrin, SIN) in broccoli leaves using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to diode array (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) detection. An extraction procedure has also been proposed and optimized by means of statistical analysis (the Box–Behnken design and analysis of variance); this is based on the deactivation of myrosinase using a microwave and heated water. Low limits of detection and quantification were obtained, ranging from 10 to 72μg/g with DAD and 0.01 to 0.23μg/g with ESI-MS, and the resulting recovery values ranged from 87% to 106% in all cases. Finally, glucosinolates were analyzed in broccoli leaf samples from six different cultivars (Ramoso calabrese Parthenon, Marathon, Nubia, Naxos and Viola).
► Seven neonicotinoids were simultaneously determined in beeswax for the first time. ► The usefulness of fused-core columns to separate neonicotinoids was demonstrated. ► The sample clean-up was ...performed onto diatomaceous based cartridges. ► Matrix (beeswax) had an influence (ion suppression) onto the ESI-MS signals. ► Residues of thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and imidacloprid were found in 11 samples.
A new method has been developed to measure seven neonicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) in beeswax using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) detection. Beeswax was melted and diluted in an n-hexane/isopropanol (8:2, v/v) mixture. After this, liquid extraction with water was performed followed by a clean-up on diatomaceous material based cartridges. The compounds were eluted with acetone, and the resulting solution was evaporated until dry and reconstituted with a mixture of water and acetonitrile 50:50 (v/v). The separation of all compounds was achieved in less than 15min using a C18 reverse-phase fused-core column (Kinetex® C18, 150mm×4.6mm i.d.) and a mobile phase composed of a mixture of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile in gradient elution mode at 0.5mL/min. This method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, precision and recovery. Low limits of detection and quantification could be achieved for all analytes ranging from 0.4 to 2.3μg/kg, and from 1.5 to 7.0μg/kg, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was applied to an analysis of neonicotinoid residues in beeswax samples from apiaries located close to fruit orchards.
•New methodologies to determine neonicotinoids in honey are proposed and compared.•Different sample treatments are recommended depending on honey botanical origin.•Matrix effects were irrelevant for ...light honeys.•The LOQs were much lower than MRLs established by the European Union.•TMX and CLO were found in several samples from experimental apiaries.
In this study, the feasibility of two sample treatments has been evaluated for the determination of seven neonicotinoid insecticides in honey from different botanical origins using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). A solid phase extraction with a polymeric sorbent (Strata® X) is proposed for analyzing dark honeys, while a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) approach is recommended for light honeys. Chromatographic analysis (6 min) was performed on a core-shell column (Kinetex® EVO C18). The proposed methods were fully validated using two different MS/MS systems: quadrupole-time-of-flight and triple quadrupole. The results showed that the best overall analytical performance was achieved using triple quadrupole, mainly due to its better sensitivity and the reduced influence of the matrix onto the analyte signals. The methods developed were applied to the analysis of commercial honey samples from different regions of Spain, as well as from experimental apiaries.
PDF
