Automatic analysis of human posture equilibrium using empirical mode decomposition

The present study proposes a new approach for the assessment of the human balance control. This approach is based on the decomposition of the center of pressure displacement using empirical mode decomposition (EMD) that provides an effective time-frequency analysis of non-stationary signals. Twenty-eight healthy subjects performed quiet standing in four conditions—feet apart/together with respect to eyes open/closed—while recording the stabilometric signals in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. The EMD method decomposes each stabilometric signal into several subsignals called intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Stabilogram-diffusion analysis technique is applied to generate the diffusion curve of each IMF signal. Each diffusion curve is modeled as a second-order system and provides representative features, such as the gain parameter. Analysis of the gain parameter shows the major effect of visual input and feet conditions on the strategy to control/stabilize the balance. Significant differences were found between young and elderly, and between women and men. In addition, the impact of feet position seems to be higher in ML direction than in AP direction.     

Interpersonal victimization patterns and psychopathology among Latino women: Results from the SALAS study.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 3(1) of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy (see record 2010-26899-001). There were citation errors in the last sentence of the first column of text on page 9, and a reference was omitted from the reference list. The sentence should have read: “This result is consistent with other work that has found support for the anxious and dissociative reaction associated with trauma among Latinos and how it may relate to “ataque de nervios” (Hinton, Chong, Pollack, Barlow, & McNally, 2008; Lewis-Fernandez et al., 2002; Schechter et al., 2000; Tolin, Robinson, Gaztambide, Horowitz, & Blank, 2007).] [Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy (see record 2010-26899-001). In the original article there were citation errors in the last sentence of the first column of text on page 9, and a reference was omitted from the reference list. The sentence should have read: “This result is consistent with other work that has found support for the anxious and dissociative reaction associated with trauma among Latinos and how it may relate to “ataque de nervios” (Hinton, Chong, Pollack, Barlow, & McNally, 2008; Lewis-Fernandez et al., 2002; Schechter et al., 2000; Tolin, Robinson, Gaztambide, Horowitz, & Blank, 2007).] Research on the victimization of Latino women and the subsequent psychological impact has been limited by focusing on individual forms of victimization, primarily partner violence or sexual assault. Another deficiency includes mainly using convenience and/or geographically restricted samples, which impacts the generalizability of the results. To overcome these research limitations, the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) study aimed to evaluate the broader scope of victimization among Latino women. The study surveyed a national sample of 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology. Women were asked about various forms of victimization in childhood and adulthood including physical assaults, sexual assaults, stalking, threats, and witnessed violence, as well as psychological symptomatology including depression, anxiety, anger, and dissociation. This analysis found that victimized women were more likely to experience some form of polyvictimization and/or revictimization throughout their lives, with only 36% of victimized women experiencing one form of victimization in childhood or adulthood alone. Furthermore, multiple victimization experiences significantly increased the proportion of women who experienced psychological distress symptoms in the clinical range. For almost all evaluated symptoms, the multiple forms of victimization or varying victimization patterns significantly predicted clinical levels of psychological distress over any specific form or single incident of victimization. The results suggest that victimized Latino women experience multiple forms of victimization and that the evaluation of a broader spectrum of victimization better accounts for pathological symptomatology. Clinical implications for Latino women and future research directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Oestrogen's masculine side: mediation of mating in male mice

This review focuses on the role of oestrogen in male sexual behaviour using oestrogen receptor alpha and beta knockout (ERalphaKO and ERbetaKO) mouse models. ERbetaKO mice are capable of mating and producing offspring, whereas ERalphaKO mice are unable to do either. When ERalphaKO males are treated with testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT), < 50% display mounting behaviour, few intromit and none ejaculate. However, concurrent treatment with testosterone and a dopamine agonist instates masculine sexual behaviour in both male and female ERalphaKO mice. Dopamine content in the preoptic area and associated regions is not affected by oestrogen receptor alpha gene disruption. However, expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity is severely reduced in ERalphaKO males compared with wild-type males. These findings, together with studies conducted in aromatase knockout mice, are at odds with the dogma that oestrogen is required during development for expression of male sexual behaviour in adults. However, they do support a role for oestrogens, mediated by oestrogen receptor alpha, in regulation and production of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, which in turn may control dopamine agonist release. As has been shown in male rats, in mice dopamine agonist release is likely to be an essential component of the neural pathway that mediates male sexual behaviour.     

Multiyear independent validation of the water cloud model for retrieving maize leaf area index from SAR time series

Taking advantage of a large multiyear data set of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground observations collected in Belgium, this research aims at improving the understanding of the SAR signal sensitivity to crop growth by means of water cloud model (WCM) inversion for retrieving maize leaf area index (LAI) from C-band and VV-polarized SAR data. The results show that at intermediate moisture levels, the contributions of both soil and plants to the SAR response are confused as, to the SAR sensor, the vegetation seems to behave as bare soil of about 21% water content. Moreover, as the WCM usually required a calibration every year, this research assessed the robustness of the calibrated WCM by model cross-validation between years for maize. Ten different calibrations and inversions of the WCM were completed based on three years of observations. Two other years of observation serve as independent data sets to calculate the LAI retrieval error. The results demonstrate the capability of transferring the model calibration to independent subsequent crop seasons with an acceptable performance reduction.     

Separation of particles from hot gases using metallic foams

One of the most complicated tasks in the field of hot gas cleaning is the removal of particles from a complex mixture of degradation products formed during thermal treatment. A robust and completely reliable technology is still to be developed to achieve high efficiencies. In the past few years, significant improvements have been brought to gas cleaning technologies. Nevertheless, none of the existing processes has proved fully successful.The aim of this work is to perform the filtration of particles generated in fluidized bed gasification experiments using metallic foams. The gasified material used is dried sewage sludge. Nickel–chromium metallic foams are likely to have inherent properties that would make them suitable for use in structures where strength, high temperature-resistance and corrosion resistance are required. Moreover, metallic foams are characterized structurally by their cell topology, relative density, high porosity (? = 0.95) and cell size. In hot gas filtration, high temperature-resistance and low pressure drop to specific area ratio are essential characteristics. In the present work, several experimental operating conditions (heating time, temperature, washing method and metallic foam thickness) are investigated. The pressure drops in the metallic foams during filtration are calculated. The experimental results obtained are compared with numerical simulation results and a good agreement is obtained. The metallic foams are simulated from tomography results and a model is created.     

Carbon–polymer composites with extreme electrical conductivity

The aim of this study was to develop Carbon–polymer composites with extreme electrical conductivity (100 S/cm) combined with good flexural strength. Despite the many optimization methods described in the literature, no comprehensive optimization procedure was to be found because the formulation did not control by itself the final properties. This study showed the major influence of the processing conditions with these peculiar materials. A detailed study of the influence of the processing conditions on the microstructural and macroscopic properties was performed. We, thereby, proposed a comprehensive way to optimize the properties of the final product. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42274.     

Milk fat composition modifies the texture and appearance of Cantal-type cheeses but not their flavor

Although the effects of cow diet on cheese sensory properties have been well documented, the putative interactions between the biochemical and microbial milk components and their respective roles in the development of the sensory properties of cheeses have yet to be explored in depth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific contribution of milk fat composition to the formation of cheese sensory properties. Two creams with different fat compositions were obtained from cows fed either pasture or maize silage. Cheeses were manufactured from the same skim milk (identical chemical and microbial composition) with either the pasture- or maize silage-origin pasteurized cream added. The gross composition and microbial composition of milks did not vary with cream origin. In milks and cheeses, the fatty acid (FA) profiles were modified by the origin of the cream. The concentrations of C18:0 and unsaturated FA such as cis-9 C18:1, trans-11 C18:1, C18:3n-3, total conjugated linoleic acids, and mono- and polyunsaturated FA were higher in milks and cheeses with the pasture-origin cream than in those with the maize-origin cream. In contrast, the maize milks and cheeses had higher concentrations of short- and medium-chain saturated FA, C16:0, and C18:2n-6. The level of lipolysis was 11% in the cheese rind and only 0.30% in the cheese core. The rind of pasture cheeses had a higher concentration of free C18:0 and C18:3n-3 and a lower concentration of free C14:0 and free C16:0 than the rind of maize cheeses. The levels of major microbial groups were similar in pasture and maize cheeses at different stages of ripening. The pasture cheeses had a more elastic and creamier texture, a yellower color, and a thinner rind than the maize cheeses, but the odor and aroma of cheeses were not affected by the origin of the cream, despite a few modifications in the balance of volatile compounds from FA catabolism. Based on these results, we conclude that milk fat composition modulated by cow diet had a direct role in the texture of the cheese but no effect on flavor. The high degree of lipolysis in cheese rind, along with the higher concentration of long-chain unsaturated free FA in pasture cheeses may be responsible for antimicrobial activity, which could explain differences in the appearance of cheese rind.