Visual function alterations in essential tremor: A case report

Our purpose is to report alterations in contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and in the magno, parvo and koniocellular visual pathways by means of a multichannel perimeter in case of an essential tremor (ET). A complete evaluation of the visual function was performed in a 69-year old patient, including the analysis of the chromatic discrimination by the Fansworth–Munsell 100 hue test, the measurement of the CSF by the CSV-1000E test, and the detection of potential alteration patterns in the magno, parvo and koniocellular visual pathways by means of a multichannel perimeter. Visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) were within the ranges of normality in both eyes. No abnormalities were detected in the fundoscopic examination and in the optical coherence tomography (OCT) exam. The results of the color vision examination were also within the ranges of normality. A significant decrease in the achromatic CSFs for right eye (RE) and left eye (LE) was detected for all spatial frequencies. The statistical global values provided by the multichannel perimeter confirms that there were significant absolute sensitivity losses compared to the normal pattern in RE. In the LE, only a statistically significant decrease in sensitivity was detected for the blue-yellow (BY) channel. The pattern standard deviation (PSD) values obtained in our patient indicated that there were significant localized losses compared to the normality pattern in the achromatic channel of the RE and in the red-green (RG) channel of the LE. Some color vision alterations may be present in ET that cannot be detected with conventional color vision tests, such as the FM 100 Hue.

A low cost system for the prediagnosis of the human tremor

Human tremor can be defined as a somewhat rhythmic and quick movement of one or more body parts. In some people, it is a symptom of a neurological disorder. From the mathematical point of view, human tremor can be defined as a weighted contribution of different sinusoidal signals which causes oscillations of some parts of the body. This sinusoidal is repeated over time, but its amplitude and frequency change slowly. This is why amplitude and frequency are considered important factors in the tremor characterization, and thus for its diagnosis. In this paper, a tool for the prediagnosis of the human tremor is presented. This tool uses a low cost device (<$40) and allows to compute the main factors of the human tremor accurately. Real cases have been tested using the algorithms developed in this investigation. The patients suffered from different tremor severities, and the components of amplitude and frequency were computed using a series of tests. These additional measures will help the experts to make better diagnoses allowing them to focus on specific stages of the test or get an overview of these tests. From the experimental, we stated that not all tests are valid for every patient to give a diagnosis. Guided by years of experience, the expert will decide which test or set of tests are the most appropriate for a patient.

A criatividade como competência essencial no desenvolvimento progressivo do aluno em artes visuais

Relatório da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, Mestrado em Ensino das Artes Visuais, Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Educação, 2016

Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation: Bidirectional Neuroprosthetics for Tremor and BCI

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

A novel detection method for determining a surgeon's fatigue and hand tremor

The thesis presents new methodology and algorithms that can be used to analyse and measure the hand tremor and fatigue of surgeons while performing surgery. This will assist them in deriving useful information about their fatigue levels, and make them aware of the changes in their tool point accuracies. This thesis proposes that muscular changes of surgeons, which occur through a day of operating, can be monitored using Electromyography (EMG) signals. The multi-channel EMG signals are measured at different muscles in the upper arm of surgeons. The dependence of EMG signals has been examined to test the hypothesis that EMG signals are coupled with and dependent on each other. The results demonstrated that EMG signals collected from different channels while mimicking an operating posture are independent. Consequently, single channel fatigue analysis has been performed. In measuring hand tremor, a new method for determining the maximum tremor amplitude using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a new technique to detrend acceleration signals using Empirical Mode Decomposition algorithm were introduced. This tremor determination method is more representative for surgeons and it is suggested as an alternative fatigue measure. This was combined with the complexity analysis method, and applied to surgically captured data to determine if operating has an effect on a surgeon’s fatigue and tremor levels. It was found that surgical tremor and fatigue are developed throughout a day of operating and that this could be determined based solely on their initial values. Finally, several Nonlinear AutoRegressive with eXogenous inputs (NARX) neural networks were evaluated. The results suggest that it is possible to monitor surgeon tremor variations during surgery from their EMG fatigue measurements.

The effect of supporting a surgeon's wrist on their hand tremor

Background. Operative tremor can greatly influence the outcome of certain, precise, microsurgical operations. Reducing a surgeons tremor may not only improve the operative results but decrease the operative time. Previous studies have only measured uni or bi directional tremor and therefore have been unable to calculate both the overall tremor amplitude and the tremor reduction by resting the wrists. Materials and methods. We measured the tremor of 21 neurologically normal volunteers while performing a micromanipulation task, with and without wrist support. Measurements were acquired in three dimensions using three accelerometers attached to the hand, allowing an overall tremor amplitude to be calculated. Results. Resting the wrist on a gelled surface decreases an individuals tremor by a factor of 2.67 (P = 0). Conclusions. Supporting the wrists significantly decreases the amplitude of the tremor. Surgeons should consider using wrist supports when performing parts of operations which necessitate a high degree of accuracy. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Investigation and modelling of tremor reducer with the technology of targeted energy transfer

This thesis presents the study of a two-degree-of-freedom (2 DOF) nonlinear system consisting of two grounded linear oscillators coupled to two separate light weight nonlinear energy sinks of an essentially nonlinear stiffness. In this thesis, Targeted Energy Transfer (TET) and NES concept are introduced. Previous studies and research of Energy pumping and NES are presented. The characters in nonlinear energy pumping have been introduced at the start of the thesis. For the aim to design the application of a tremor reduction assessment device, the knowledge of tremor reduction has also been mentioned. Two main parties have been presented in the research: dynamical theoretic method of nonlinear energy pumping study and experiments of nonlinear vibration reduction model. In this thesis, nonlinear energy sink (NES) has been studied and used as a core attachment for the research. A new theoretic method of nonlinear vibration reduction which with two NESs has been attached to a primary system has been designed and tested with the technology of targeted energy transfer. Series connection and parallel connection structure systems have been designed to run the tests. Genetic algorithm has been used and presented in the thesis for searching the fit components. One more experiment has been tested with the final components. The results have been compared to find out most efficiency structure and components for the theoretic model. A tremor reduction experiment has been designed and presented in the thesis. The experiment is for designing an application for reducing human body tremor. By using the theoretic method earlier, the experiment has been designed and tested with a tremor reduction model. The experiment includes several tests, one single NES attached system and two NESs attached systems with different structures. The results of theoretic models and experiment models have been compared. The discussion has been made in the end. At the end of the thesis, some further work has been considered to designing the device of the tremor reduction.

Efeito da adição de óleo essencial de Origanum vulgar e Ocimum gratissimum L. no perfil lipídico da gordura de palma usada em fritura de batata tipo chips

The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant effect of essential oregano and alfavaca oil on the fatty acid profile of palm oil, used in industrial potato chips processing, aiming to reduce the oxidative state of palm oil. Essential oregano oil was obtained from industrial residues and commercial essential oregano oil was also acquired. The antioxidant activity of Oregano’s essential oil was taken by DPPH method. The DPPH analysis of the essential oil of oregano residue resulted in an IC50 of 797.04 mg.mL-1 and the essential oil of commercial oregano was 424.25 mg.mL-1. Regarding the content of total phenols, the essential oil of commercial oregano showed 0.167 ± 0.058 ug EAG.g-1. Based on these results, concentrations of 50, 100 e 150ug.g-1 of commercial oregano essential oil was added to palm oil and the fatty acid profile was determined by gas cromatography. Analysis were done with palm oil without being used in frying processes and without added essential oil, as well as with the different essential oil concentrations submitted at three frying processes at one single day. In the second part of the project, the effect of oreganos’s comercial essential oil compared to alfavacão essential oil, at the concentration of 100ug.g-1 in palm oil, and submitted to three frying processes during eleven cycles, was studied. The lipid profile was similar to that described in the literature, which an increase in the number of frying times caused a polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease and, therefore, a proportional increase in saturated fatty acids. It was noted an increase in the amounts of total saturated fatty acids from 43.36% (control) to 43.60% (palm oil with essential oil after 11 frying cycles at the concentration of 100ug.g-1). This fact proves that during the frying process, there is an increase in the rate of formation of saturated fatty acids. However, the addition of oregano essential oil did not provide significant change in the fatty acids of palm oil used in frying process of potato chips. The addition of oregano essential oil in a concentration of 100 ug./mL-1 until the third frying cycle showed a reduction effect of trans fatty acid formation. Although, during 11 frying cycles it was not noticed the essential oil effect under trans fatty acid formation. It can be suggested that this factor may be correlated to the frying time, which may not have been sufficient for significant formation of saturated and trans compounds.

Caracterização química, atividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana do óleo essencial de Baccharis oreophila Malme

The Baccharis oreophila Malme belongs to the Asteraceae family. In Brazil are reported 120 species of Baccharis, most located in the South and Southeast regions, the latter presents the highest prevalence, especially in the state of São Paulo. Asteraceae is well known for the production of essential oils, which are liquid, volatile and aromatic substances produced by plants specialized for metabolism possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Thus, this study aimed, perform chemical and evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of essential oil from dried leaves of B. oreophila collected in winter in Piraquara, Paraná. Obtaining essential oil was given by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus, in triplicate, and the analysis was done using a gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometry GC / MS. The identification of the components was made based on retention indices calculated from the co-injection of a series of n-alkanes, followed by comparison of their mass spectra with literature. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by disk diffusion method and microdilution. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the methods DPPH equivalent Trolox, ABTS and FRAP equivalent Trolox equivalent ferrous sulfate. The essential oil showed 0.47% yield. They identified 57 components (89.38%), 1.51% were classified as hydrogenated monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes 15.14%, 34.84% and 37.87% hydrogenated sesquiterpenes sesquiterpenes oxygenates. As the major components were detected kusimono (16.37%), spathulenol (16.12%), the δ-cadinene (5.68%) and bicyclogermacrene (4.09%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil was performed for the microorganisms Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Candida albicans ATCC 18804 and Candida tropicalis ATCC 13803, the results showed that the essential oil showed activity against S. aureus Inhibitory Concentration minimum (CIM) 1250 g/mL. In the evaluation of antioxidant activity essential oil showed antioxidant potential for the three methods evaluated, with values of 1,468 m.mol.L-1, 7.126 m.mol.L-1 and 45.515 m.mol.L-1 for ABTS, DPPH and FRAP, respectively. These results demonstrate that the essential oil of B. oreophila showed antimicrobial potential against S. aureus and interesting antioxidant activity, especially for the reducing power of iron ion, demonstrating their potential for future industrial applications. It is important to emphasize that were not observed in the literature reports highlighting such biological properties of B. oreophila oil.

Estudo químico, atividade antioxidante e análise multivariada do óleo essencial de Myrocarpus frondosus

A espécie Myrocarpus frondosus é nativa da região sul do Brasil, onde é conhecida como cabreúva. É uma árvore de grande porte, e sua madeira é utilizada como reservatório de bebidas destiladas, principalmente a cachaça. Na medicina popular a espécie é utilizada no tratamento de varizes. Neste trabalho pioneiro, o óleo essencial foi extraído das folhas de três árvores de cabreúva, mensalmente no período de um ano. A determinação da composição química foi realizada através das técnicas cromatográficas CG-DIC e GC-EM, identificando trinta e cinco compostos no óleo essencial, sendo o β-pineno, biciclogermacreno e D-germacreno os terpenos majoritários. O rendimento do óleo, extraído por hidrodestilação, foi diretamente proporcional à temperatura ambiente e à radiação solar na maioria dos períodos. A espécie M. frondosus apresentou o máximo de 66,91% de atividade antioxidante para concentração 250 µg/mL do óleo essencial, utilizando o método do DPPH, e máximo de 1660,74 µM FeSO4/g de óleo essencial pelo método FRAP, e os compostos β- cariofileno, α-humuleno, D-germacreno e biciclogermacreno apresentaram maior relação com essa atividade.

Composição química e rendimento de óleo essencial de alecrim pimenta (Lippia sidoides) submetido a dois tipos de extração.

2009

Influência do horário de corte no rendimento de óleo essencial de alfavaquinha e alecrim.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do horário de coleta no rendimento de óleo essencial de alfavaquinha (Ocimum selloi) e alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). O experimento foi realizado na EMBRAPA Meio Ambiente, localizada no município de Jaguariúna-SP. As plantas foram colhidas no campo experimental da EMBRAPA em cinco diferentes horários (8h30min, 10h30min, 12h30min, 14h30min e 16h30min). Os óleos essenciais das folhas foram extraídos por hidrodestilação em aparelho tipo Clevenger modificado. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, tendo como tratamento os horários de coleta. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o melhor horário para coleta de Ocimum selloi, visando a extração de óleo essencial é no período da manhã, antes das 10h e 30 minutos, e para Rosmarinus officinalis. L. o melhor horário é a partir das 16h e 30 minutos. Para as duas plantas estudadas o menor percentual de óleo essencial foi obtido ás 12h e 30 minutos, não sendo assim recomendado coleta neste horário para extração de óleo essencial.

Jorge Afonso: uma interrogação essencial na pintura primitiva portuguesa

O pintor Jorge Afonso (c. 1480-1540) ocupou cargos da maior importância e foi mestre de alguns dos mais importantes artistas da primeira metade do século XVI. Por laços familiares, por ligações profissionais, ou como representante régio no fornecimento e controle de empreitadas, esteve no centro das grandes obras artísticas do seu tempo. Fez uma carreira como oficial de armaria dentro da reestruturação manuelina, o que o tornou, também do ponto de vista simbólico, uma figura importante da corte do Venturoso. A Jorge Afonso são atribuídas as grandes tábuas da Charola do Convento de Cristo de Tomar, oito pinturas do mosteiro da Madre de Deus e o retábulo do Convento de Jesus de Setúbal. A dissertação reanalisa os dados biográficos do pintor, estuda as pinturas incluindo o seu desenho subjacente, e reelabora a compreensão da pintura portuguesa do tempo, vista sob a influência desta figura tutelar; ABSTRACT: Jorge Afonso. An essential quest on Portuguese primitive painting. Painter Jorge Afonso (1480-1540), held positions of major importance and was master of some of the most remarkable artists of the first half of the 16th century. By family links, by professional connections or as Royal representative for the supply and control of works, he was at the very center of the great artistic works of his time. He built a career as Herald what made him an important figure in King D. Manuel’s court . To Jorge Afonso are attributed the large paintings of the ‘Christ’s Convent’ Ambulatory in Tomar, eight paintings from the ‘Madre de Deus’ monastery and the ‘Covent of Jesus’ altarpiece in Setubal. This dissertation reanalysis the painter biographical data, studies the paintings including its underdrawing and reconstructs the understanding of Portuguese painting of that time, perceived under the influence of this tutelary figure.

Refletir para agir, agir para refletir - uma práxis essencial: relatório final

O presente documento constitui o relatório de estágio que confere o grau de Mestre em Educação Pré-escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Este tem como propósito espelhar todo o percurso formativo, inclusivamente, a prática pedagógica supervisionada, sustentado por uma atitude reflexiva e uma cuidada pesquisa bibliográfica. Pretende-se deste modo evidenciar o papel dos profissionais educativos, tanto em Educação Pré-Escolar como no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, cruzando com o significado da reflexão antes, durante e após a prática. A metodologia e intervenção são justificadas sorvendo do referencial teórico estudado ao longo da Licenciatura e do Mestrado. A reflexão cumpre assim, a intenção de assegurar o sucesso do processo ensino aprendizagem, atendendo de igual forma a prática do profissional docente.

Ação inseticida de óleo essencial e extrato alcoólico de Carapa guianensis Aubl. contra Tenebrio molitor em laboratório.

do tegumento de andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) contra larvas de 4º instar de Tenebrio molitor (Col., Tenebrionidae) em laboratório. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Entomologia da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, em Belém, Pará. Foram testadas formulações à base de óleo essencial e de extrato alcoólico do tegumento de C. guianensis (50 mL do produto e 20 mL sabão líquido), nas concentrações de 1% e 10%, e água destilada como testemunha, com 20 repetições por tratamento, em placas de Petri mantidas em câmaras climatizadas, tipo B.O.D, à temperatura de 27 ± 2oC, umidade relativa de 70 ± 5% e fotofase de 12 horas. A mortalidade dos insetos foi avaliada ao longo de cinco dias. O tratamento com óleo essencial de C. guianensis apresentou taxas de mortalidade superiores nas concentrações de 1% e 10%, em comparação com o tratamento à base de extrato alcoólico do tegumento. Além disso, o tempo de ação do óleo essencial foi menor para as concentrações de 1% e 10%, com taxas de mortalidade de 67,5% e 97,5% logo no 1º dia de avaliação (após 24h), se comparadas com as taxas de mortalidade de 0% e 22,5% da formulação de extrato alcoólico a 1% e 10% no mesmo período. O óleo essencial de andiroba mostrou-se mais eficiente que o extrato alcoólico do tegumento, apresentando alta taxa de mortalidade em curto intervalo tempo, o que sugere grande potencial de uso como controle alternativo de pragas futuramente em sistemas de cultivo no Estado do Pará.