Musical instrument classifier for early childhood percussion instruments.

While the musical instrument classification task is well-studied, there remains a gap in identifying non-pitched percussion instruments which have greater overlaps in frequency bands and variation in sound quality and play style than pitched instruments. In this paper, we present a musical instrument classifier for detecting tambourines, maracas and castanets, instruments that are often used in early childhood music education. We generated a dataset with diverse instruments (e.g., brand, materials, construction) played in different locations with varying background noise and play styles. We conducted sensitivity analyses to optimize feature selection, windowing time, and model selection. We deployed and evaluated our best model in a mixed reality music application with 12 families in a home setting. Our dataset was comprised of over 369,000 samples recorded in-lab and 35,361 samples recorded with families in a home setting. We observed the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) model to perform best using an approximate 93 ms window with only 12 mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) and signal entropy. Our best LGBM model was observed to perform with over 84% accuracy across all three instrument families in-lab and over 73% accuracy when deployed to the home. To our knowledge, the dataset compiled of 369,000 samples of non-pitched instruments is first of its kind. This work also suggests that a low feature space is sufficient for the recognition of non-pitched instruments. Lastly, real-world deployment and testing of the algorithms created with participants of diverse physical and cognitive abilities was also an important contribution towards more inclusive design practices. This paper lays the technological groundwork for a mixed reality music application that can detect children's use of non-pitched, percussion instruments to support early childhood music education and play.

Lateral fluid percussion injury: A rat model of experimental traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. The annual economic impact of TBI-including direct and indirect costs-is high, particularly impacting low- and middle-income countries. Despite extensive research, a comprehensive understanding of the primary and secondary TBI pathophysiology, followed by the development of promising therapeutic approaches, remains limited. These fundamental caveats in knowledge have motivated the development of various experimental models to explore the molecular mechanisms underpinning the pathogenesis of TBI. In this context, the Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury (LFPI) model produces a brain injury that mimics most of the neurological and systemic aspects observed in human TBI. Moreover, its high reproducibility makes the LFPI model one of the most widely used rodent-based TBI models. In this chapter, we provide a detailed surgical protocol of the LFPI model used to induce TBI in adult Wistar rats. We further highlight the neuroscore test as a valuable tool for the evaluation of TBI-induced sensorimotor consequences and their severity in rats. Lastly, we briefly summarize the current knowledge on the pathological aspects and functional outcomes observed in the LFPI-induced TBI model in rodents.

Optimized gated a SPECT-derived myocardial salvage index: its prognostic significance in predicting major adverse cardiac events following acute myocardial infarction percussion.

PURPOSE: Estimate myocardial salvage index (MSI) using a single-gated Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (GSMPI) early after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and compare its predictive value with the traditional method especially for post-PCI left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). METHODS: GSMPI was performed in 62 patients with AMI early after PCI (3-10 days). The MSI and the conventional parameters were obtained, including total perfusion deficit, LVEF, peak ejection rate (PER), and peak filling rate (PFR). The new calculation method (scoring evaluation method means the extent of abnormality is the percentage of the total scores of abnormal segments divided by the sum of the maximum scores of all myocardial segments using 4-point and 5-point scale semi-quantitative scoring method) and the reference method (number evaluation method means the extent of abnormality is the percentage of the number of abnormal segments divided by the total number of myocardial segments) were applied to acquire the MSI. We compared the predictive ability of the 2 methods based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for LVEF improvement 6 months after PCI using MSI. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for depicting survival curves for predicting MACEs by the 2 methods. Cox proportional-hazards regression was applied to confirm the independent predictors of MACEs. RESULTS: The MSI obtained by the new method indicated stronger prognostic significance in LVEF improvement [area under the curve (AUC): 0.793, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.620-0.912, P < .001] compared with the reference method (AUC: 0.634, 95%CI 0.452-0.792, P = .187). Delong's test revealed a statistically significant difference in AUCs between the 2 methods (P < .05, 95%CI 0.003-0.316). The diagnostic value of the scoring evaluation method was higher than that of the number evaluation method. The Cox prevalence of MACEs was substantially higher in the < median MSI group than in the ≥ median MSI group (hazard ratio: 0.172; 95% CI 0.041-0.724; P < .05] using the new method, whereas no considerable differences were observed between the 2 groups using the reference method (P = .12). Further, the multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that MSI was an independent indicator for predicting MACEs (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The MSI obtained from a simple GSMPI early after PCI, using the scoring evaluation method, was a reliable prognostic indicator for predicting LVEF improvement and MACEs in AMI. It remarkably improved the prognostic value compared with the previous reference methods.

Brain abscess - A rare confounding factor for diagnosis of post-traumatic epilepsy after lateral fluid-percussion injury.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of brain abscesses as a confounding factor for the diagnosis of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) in a rat model of lateral fluid-percussion-induced (FPI) traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: This retrospective study included 583 rats from 3 study cohorts collected over 2009-2022 in a single laboratory. The rats had undergone sham-operation or TBI using lateral FPI. Rats were implanted with epidural and/or intracerebral electrodes for electroencephalogram recordings. Brains were processed for histology to screen for abscess(es). In abscess cases, (a) unfolded cortical maps were constructed to assess the cortical location and area of the abscess, (b) the abscess tissue was Gram stained to determine the presence of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and (c) immunostaining was performed to detect infiltrating neutrophils, T-lymphocytes, and glial cells as tissue biomarkers of inflammation. In vivo and/or ex vivo magnetic resonance images available from a subcohort of animals were reviewed to evaluate the presence of abscesses. Plasma samples available from a subcohort of rats were used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to determine the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a circulating biomarker for gram-negative bacteria. RESULTS: Brain abscesses were detected in 2.6% (15/583) of the rats (6 sham, 9 TBI). In histology, brain abscesses were characterized as vascularized encapsulated lesions filled with neutrophils and surrounded by microglia/macrophages and astrocytes. The abscesses were mainly located under the screw electrodes, support screws, or craniectomy. Epilepsy was diagnosed in 60% (9/15) of rats with an abscess (4 sham, 5 TBI). Of these, 67% (6/9) had seizure clusters. The average seizure frequency in abscess cases was 0.436 ± 0.281 seizures/d. Plasma LPS levels were comparable between rats with and without abscesses (p > 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Although rare, a brain abscess is a potential confounding factor for epilepsy diagnosis in animal models of structural epilepsies following brain surgery and electrode implantation, particularly if seizures occur in sham-operated experimental controls and/or in clusters.

Effects of percussion massage therapy, dynamic stretching, and static stretching on physical performance and balance.

BACKGROUND: Percussion massage therapy is a popular approach in sport medicine for physical therapists, but few researchers have investigated the comparison with other intervention methods. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the comparison of the effects of dynamic stretching, static stretching and percussive massage therapy on balance and physical performance in individuals. METHODS: The participants who were 18-25 years of age, able to perform performance tests, did not have any orthopedic surgery, did not have problems during running and sudden turning, and did not have a professional sports history were included in the study. Participants were assigned randomly to three groups as dynamic stretching (DS) (n= 16), static stretching (SS) (n= 16) and percussive massage therapy (PMT) (n= 16) groups. Horizontal jumping test, T drill test and balance measurements on a single leg with open and closed eyes of all participants were recorded before and after applications. RESULTS: When the values of the pre and post-treatment of all groups in the study were compared, significant improvements were observed in the t-test, horizontal jumping test and right/left foot balance with eyes open in DS group (p< 0.05). Significant improvements were observed in all values in the PMT group (p< 0.05). In the comparison of the differences between the groups, PMT group values were more significant than the SS group in all parameters. CONCLUSION: Percussive massage therapy would be an alternative that can be used to increase the performance and balance of individuals before exercise.

Epilepsy phenotype and its reproducibility after lateral fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury in rats: Multicenter EpiBioS4Rx study project 1.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess reproducibility of the epilepsy outcome and phenotype in a lateral fluid percussion model of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) across three study sites. METHODS: A total of 525 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to lateral fluid percussion-induced brain injury (FPI) or sham operation. Of these, 264 were assigned to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI cohort, 43 sham, 221 traumatic brain injury [TBI]) and 261 to electrophysiological follow-up (EEG cohort, 41 sham, 220 TBI). A major effort was made to harmonize the rats, materials, equipment, procedures, and monitoring systems. On the 7th post-TBI month, rats were video-EEG monitored for epilepsy diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 245 rats were video-EEG phenotyped for epilepsy on the 7th postinjury month (121 in MRI cohort, 124 in EEG cohort). In the whole cohort (n = 245), the prevalence of PTE in rats with TBI was 22%, being 27% in the MRI and 18% in the EEG cohort (p > .05). Prevalence of PTE did not differ between the three study sites (p > .05). The average seizure frequency was .317 ± .725 seizures/day at University of Eastern Finland (UEF; Finland), .085 ± .067 at Monash University (Monash; Australia), and .299 ± .266 at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA; USA; p < .01 as compared to Monash). The average seizure duration did not differ between UEF (104 ± 48 s), Monash (90 ± 33 s), and UCLA (105 ± 473 s; p > .05). Of the 219 seizures, 53% occurred as part of a seizure cluster (≥3 seizures/24 h; p >.05 between the study sites). Of the 209 seizures, 56% occurred during lights-on period and 44% during lights-off period (p > .05 between the study sites). SIGNIFICANCE: The PTE phenotype induced by lateral FPI is reproducible in a multicenter design. Our study supports the feasibility of performing preclinical multicenter trials in PTE to increase statistical power and experimental rigor to produce clinically translatable data to combat epileptogenesis after TBI.

Behavioral deficits after mild traumatic brain injury by fluid percussion in rats.

Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to various disorders, encompassing cognitive and psychiatric complications. While pre-clinical studies have long investigated behavioral alterations, the fluid percussion injury (FPI) model still lacks a comprehensive behavioral battery that includes psychiatric-like disorders. To address this gap, we conducted multiple behavioral tasks over two months in adult male Wistar rats, focusing on mild FPI. Statistical analyses revealed that both naive and sham animals exhibited an increase in sweet liquid consumption over time. In contrast, the TBI group did not show any temporal changes, although mild FPI did induce a statistically significant decrease in sucrose consumption compared to control groups during the chronic phase. Additionally, social interaction tasks indicated reduced contact time in TBI animals. The elevated plus maze task demonstrated an increase in open-arm exploration following fluid percussion. Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed in the acute and chronic phases for the forced swim and light-dark box tasks. Evaluation of three distinct memory tasks in the chronic phase revealed that mild FPI led to long-term memory deficits, as assessed by the object recognition task, while the surgical procedure itself resulted in short-term spatial memory deficits, as evaluated by the Y-maze task. Conversely, working memory remained unaffected in the water maze task. Collectively, these findings provide a nuanced characterization of behavioral deficits induced by mild FPI.

Ex-vivo effects of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation on sputum rheological properties.

Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) has been postulated to enhance mucociliary clearance by improving tracheobronchial sputum rheological properties. The IPV effects on linear (viscoelasticity) and non-linear (flowing) rheological properties of 40 sputum samples collected from 19 patients with muco-obstructive lung diseases were investigated ex-vivo. Each sputum sample was split into 4 aliquots. These aliquots were independently placed in a circuit connected on one side to an IPV device and on the other side to a lung model that simulated spontaneous adult breaths. IPV was superimposed on simulated breathing. Three aliquots were exposed to a different IPV setting, modifying either percussion frequency or amplitude (4 Hz-200 L/min, 10 Hz-200 L/min, 10 Hz-140 L/min). One aliquot was only exposed to breathing (IPV was switched off, control condition). Each aliquot underwent 5 min of the pre-fixed mechanical stimulation before being recollected to proceed to rheological analysis. Neither percussion frequencies nor amplitudes had a significant impact on any sputum rheological properties studied. These results need to be confirmed in vivo.

Respiratory Assessment.

Respiratory illnesses often require acute care admissions and are a leading cause of death globally, thus creating a financial burden for healthcare systems. Home healthcare clinicians can significantly reduce morbidity and hospital readmissions by becoming proficient at respiratory assessment. This article aims to assist homecare clinicians in performing a respiratory assessment in a logical and structured approach, including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. This article reviews the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and describes subjective and objective respiratory assessment. It is anticipated that becoming adept at these skills will enable home healthcare clinician to assess and identify those patients at risk for deterioration and readmission.

Membranophone percussion instruments in music therapy with adult patients in the health context: a scope review.

OBJECTIVE: To map scientific knowledge about the use of percussion instruments in music therapy in individuals over 18 years of age in the health context. METHOD: Scope review with search strategy implemented in September 2021, in 13 databases, using indexed descriptors and keywords. Studies on the use of membranophones for care of people over 18 years of age were included. Studies with the participation of pregnant women, psychiatric patients (schizophrenia, psychosis, addiction), or people with hearing impairment, and journal editorials were excluded. The selection process was carried out by two independent researchers. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included and the results showed that the membranophones have a positive impact on the physical, psychological, and social health of people in different care environments, and allow them to repeat rhythmic patterns and play music. Active music therapy was the strategy predominantly used in interventions, and the most used membranophone was the djembe. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that music therapy with membranophones proved to be a viable intervention with beneficial results in improving physical, psychological, and social health of people over 18 years of age.

Modified mouse model of repeated mild traumatic brain injury through a thinned-skull window and fluid percussion.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a clinically highly heterogeneous neurological disorder, none of the existing animal models can replicate the entire sequelae. This study aimed to develop a modified closed head injury (CHI) model of repeated mTBI (rmTBI) for investigating Ca2+ fluctuations of the affected neural network, the alternations of electrophysiology, and behavioral dysfunctions. The transcranial Ca2+ study protocol includes AAV-GCaMP6s infection in the right motor cortex, thinned-skull preparation, and two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM) imaging. The CHI rmTBI model is fabricated using the thinned-skull site and applying 2.0 atm fluid percussion with 48-h interval. The neurological dysfunction, minor motor performance, evident mood, spatial working, and reference deficits we found in this study mimic the clinically relevant syndromes after mTBI. Besides, our study revealed that there was a trend of transition from Ca2+ singlepeak to multipeak and plateau, and the total Ca2+ activities of multipeaks and plateaus (p < .001 vs. pre-rmTBI value) were significantly increased in ipsilateral layer 2/3 motor neurons after rm TBI. In parallel, there is a low-frequency power shift from delta to theta band (p < .01 vs. control) in the ipsilateral layer 2/3 of motor cortex of the rmTBI mice, and the overall firing rates significantly increased (p < .01 vs. control). Moreover, rmTBI causes slight cortical and hippocampal neuron damage and possibly induces neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG). The alternations of Ca2+ and electrophysiological characteristics in layer 2/3 neuronal network, histopathological changes, and possible neurogenesis may play concertedly and partially contribute to the functional outcome post-rmTBI.

Levetiracetam Pharmacokinetics and Brain Uptake in a Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury Rat Model.

Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) occurs in some patients after moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although there are no approved therapies to prevent epileptogenesis, levetiracetam (LEV) is commonly given for seizure prophylaxis due to its good safety profile. This led us to study LEV as part of the Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) Project. The objective of this work is to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and brain uptake of LEV in naïve control rats and in the lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) rat model of TBI after either single intraperitoneal doses or a loading dose followed by a 7-day subcutaneous infusion. Sprague-Dawley rats were used as controls and for the LFPI model induced at the left parietal region using injury parameters optimized for moderate/severe TBI. Naïve and LFPI rats received either a bolus injection (intraperitoneal) or a bolus injection followed by subcutaneous infusion over 7 days. Blood and parietal cortical samples were collected at specified time points throughout the study. LEV concentrations in plasma and brain were measured using validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methods. Noncompartmental analysis and a naive-pooled compartmental PK modeling approach were used. Brain-to-plasma ratios ranged from 0.54 to 1.4 to 1. LEV concentrations were well fit by one-compartment, first-order absorption PK models with a clearance of 112 ml/h per kg and volume of distribution of 293 ml/kg. The single-dose pharmacokinetic data were used to guide dose selection for the longer-term studies, and target drug exposures were confirmed. Obtaining LEV PK information early in the screening phase allowed us to guide optimal treatment protocols in EpiBioS4Rx. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The characterization of levetiracetam pharmacokinetics and brain uptake in an animal model of post-traumatic epilepsy is essential to identify target concentrations and guide optimal treatment for future studies.

Maintenance of a Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury Device.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounts for roughly 2.5 million emergency room visits and hospitalizations annually and is a leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults. TBI is caused by a sudden force applied to the head and, to better understand human TBI and its underlying mechanisms, experimental injury models are necessary. Lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) is a commonly used injury model due to similarities in the pathological changes found in human TBI compared to LFPI, including hemorrhages, vascular disruption, neurological deficits, and neuron loss. LFPI employs a pendulum and a fluid-filled cylinder, the latter having a moveable piston at one end, and a Luer lock connection to stiff, fluid-filled tubing at the other end. Preparation of the animal involves performing a craniectomy and attaching a Luer hub over the site. The next day, the tubing from the injury device is connected to the Luer hub on the animal's skull and the pendulum is raised to a specified height and released. The impact of the pendulum with the piston generates a pressure pulse which is transmitted to the intact dura mater of the animal via the tubing and produces the experimental TBI. Proper care and maintenance are essential for the LFPI device to function reliably, as the character and severity of the injury can vary greatly depending on the condition of the device. Here, we demonstrate how to properly clean, fill, and assemble the LFPI device, and ensure that it is adequately maintained for optimal results.

Sudden death after fatal percussion of the cervical neurovascular bundle.

Background: Atypical compression of the neck may be classified as asphyxia in which the external compression on the cervical anatomical structures occurs in a peculiar manner. In such cases, death occurs due to the combination of several pathophysiological phenomena, such as respiratory, vascular, and nervous. When the mechanical action on the neck is violent and rapid, it is more correct to use the word percussion rather than compression. Usually there are no skin lesions of special significance in this type of neck percussion, unlike the cases of choking, strangulation, and hanging, and the diagnosis is challenging. It is important to carefully evaluate the body during the autopsy to identify which pathophysiological mechanism caused the death. Case report: A young woman died immediately after being struck by a concrete beam at the level of her neck. The woman was on vacation with her boyfriend and decided to hang from a concrete beam suspended between two columns to take a souvenir photo when the beam suddenly broke and fell on her. The autopsy revealed multiple abrasions, swelling, and lacerations to the face, neck, and chest. Internal examination revealed primarily the presence of hemorrhagic infiltration in the anterior cervical compartments and lacerations of various organs, including the trachea. Conclusion: Based on all the obtained data, including toxicological and histological, the cause of death was atypical ab extrinsic percussion of the neck, directed particularly at the right cervical neurovascular bundle.

Exploring the relative influence of raw materials, percussion techniques, and hominin skill levels on the diversity of the early Oldowan assemblages: Insights from the Shungura Formation, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.

The eastern African Oldowan has been documented in multiple raw material contexts and physical environments and displays considerable differences in terms of technological complexity. The relative influence of percussion techniques and raw material quality are central to debates concerning hominin skill levels as a potential driver of change during the period between 2.6 and 2 million-years (Ma). The early Oldowan assemblages from the Shugura Formation play a key role in these debates due to a number of distinctive features, including the small size of the artefacts and poorly controlled flaking. Here we mobilize quantified and replicable experimental data in order to (a) assess the significance of the bipolar technique in the Omo archaeological assemblages and (b) discriminate the respective impact of raw materials, technical choices and knapper skill levels on the unique character of these assemblages. By combining descriptive statistics with regression tree models, our analysis demonstrates knapper skill level to be of minimal importance in this context for the production of sharp-edged flakes. The absence of a link between skill and knapping success reflects the combined effect of raw material constraints, the frequent use of the bipolar technique, and relatively simple technical objectives. Our analysis confirms the key role played by local environmental conditions in the unique appearance of the Shungura assemblages, a relationship which has been frequently suggested but never demonstrated. Beyond the operational and sensorimotor skills considered in most studies, we suggest that the diversity of early Oldowan assemblages should be better sought in the cognitive abilities developed by early toolmakers as a response to landscape learning and use, two elements of early human evolution that remain largely unexplored.

George Phillip Cammann (1804-1863): A physician's contribution to the modern stethoscope and auscultatory percussion.

In the middle third of the 19th century, George Phillip Cammann became known for the stethoscope improvement that came to bear his name and for the development of the then-popular diagnostic technique of auscultatory percussion. During his postgraduate training at the Paris hospitals in 1828-1830, he acquired a special interest in auscultation while attending lectures given by a friend and colleague of Laennec's, French physician Pierre-Charles-Alexandre Louis (1787-1872). In his New York City practice, caring primarily for the working poor, he recognized the need for a better stethoscope and developed a modification that came to bear his name. He conducted research aimed at increasing the accuracy of physical diagnosis by improving and reporting on the technique of auscultatory percussion. An examination of the medical literature, both textbooks and journals, reveals the extent of influence that Cammann had on clinical practice resulting from his contributions to the improvement of the stethoscope and auscultatory percussion.

Protective Mechanisms of 3-Acetyl-11-keto-ß-Boswellic Acid and Piperine in Fluid Percussion Rat Model of Traumatic Brain Injury Targeting Nrf2 and NFkB Signaling.

The current study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of 3-acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA) in combination with bioenhancer piperine in lateral fluid percussion injury-induced TBI in experimental rats. Fluid percussion injury was introduced in the rat brain by delivering 50 mmHg of pressure for 3 min to the exposed brain. AKBA 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg orally, and AKBA (25 mg/kg, p.o.) in combination with piperine (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered from day 1 to day 14 to the assigned groups. On the 1st, 7th, and 14th day, behavioral parameters were checked. On the 15th day, animals were euthanized. In TBI rat model, AKBA-piperine combination significantly restored the altered performance of grip strength, rotarod test, open field task, narrow beam task (beam crossing time and no. of foot slips), and Morris water maze (escape latency and time spent in target quadrant) (p < 0.001 vs TBI control). Furthermore, the AKBA-piperine combination significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine level in TBI rat model (&p < 0.001 vs TBI control). The combined effect of AKBA and piperine significantly restored oxidative stress parameters level, catecholamines level, and neurotransmitters level (p < 0.001 vs TBI control). Further findings showed that the AKBA-piperine combination prevented histopathological changes (p < 0.001), and the immunohistological study confirmed increased Nrf2-positive cells (p < 0.001 vs TBI control) and reduced nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) expression (p < 0.001 vs TBI control, p < 0.01 vs TBI + AKBA 50 mg/kg) in the cortical region following AKBA-piperine administration. The present study concluded that AKBA along with piperine achieved anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, and also prevented neuronal injury via targeting Nrf2 and NFkB expressions.

Design and Verification of Integrated Circuitry for Real-Time Frailty Monitoring.

In this study, a new wireless electronic circuitry to analyze weight distribution was designed and incorporated into a chair to gather data related to common human postures (sitting and standing up). These common actions have a significant impact on various motor capabilities, including gait parameters, fall risk, and information on sarcopenia. The quality of these actions lacks an absolute measurement, and currently, there is no qualitative and objective metric for it. To address this, the designed analyzer introduces variables like Smoothness and Percussion to provide more information and objectify measurements in the assessment of stand-up/sit-down actions. Both the analyzer and the proposed variables offer additional information that can objectify assessments depending on the clinical eye of the physicians.

Metodo de exploración física

Video creado por la cátedra Bases conceptuales y metodológica de enfermería, Escuela de enfermería, editado por el centro de simulación de la UNaM. Sobre método de exploración física.

Taphonomic and technological analyses of Lower Palaeolithic bone tools from Clacton-on-Sea, UK.

The exceptional survival of Middle Pleistocene wooden spears at Schöningen (Germany) and Clacton-on-Sea (UK) provides tantalizing evidence for the widespread use of organic raw materials by early humans. At Clacton, less well-known organic artefacts include modified bones that were identified by the Abbé Henri Breuil in the 1920s. Some of these pieces were described and figured by Hazzledine Warren in his classic 1951 paper on the flint industry from the Clacton Channel, but they have been either overlooked in subsequent studies or dismissed as the product of natural damage. We provide the first detailed analysis of two Clactonian bone tools found by Warren and a previously unrecognized example recovered in 1934 during excavations directed by Mary Leakey. Microscopic examination of percussion damage suggests the bones were used as knapping hammers to shape or resharpen flake tools. Early Palaeolithic bone tools are exceedingly rare, and the Clacton examples are the earliest known organic knapping hammers associated with a core-and-flake (Mode 1) lithic technology. The use of soft hammers for knapping challenges the consensus that Clactonian flintknapping was undertaken solely with hard hammerstones, thus removing a major technological and behavioural difference used to distinguish the Clactonian from late Acheulean handaxe (Mode 2) industries.