Towards the development of an electro-mechanical finite element model of a 3 dpf zebrafish embryo heart

LAUREA MAGISTRALELe malattie cardiovascolari (CVDs) costituiscono la principale causa di mortalità a livello globale, rappresentando circa il 32% dei decessi. Tra queste, una quota significativa è attribuibile alle disfunzioni elettrofisiologiche, che riguardano anomalie nel sistema di conduzione elettrica. Per comprendere a pieno i meccanismi che sono alla base di tali malattie e sviluppare terapie innovative per contrastarle, i ricercatori spesso si affidano a modelli animali. In questo contesto, negli ultimi anni, il pesce zebra (Danio rerio) è emerso come un modello animale particolarmente promettente. I vantaggi del suo utilizzo includono una notevole somiglianza nei potenziali d’azione (PA) rispetto a quelli umani, la non classificazione come animale nei primi 5 giorni post-fertilizzazione (dpf) e un’elevata compatibilità genetica con l’uomo, oltre che la trasparenza dell’embrione nei primi giorni di vita. Con il fine di creare un modello elettromeccanico completo del cuore di pesce zebra a 3 dpf, è stata accoppiata l’elettrofisiologia di un modello agli elementi finiti (FEM) precedentemente sviluppato con la contrazione meccanica. La geometria 3D del cuore è stata suddivisa in diverse sezioni per assegnare valori di conduttività in modo da replicare specifici pattern di propagazione dei potenziali d’azione. Modelli specifici di PA sono stati applicati all’atrio e al ventricolo, mentre è stato utilizzato un modello monodominio per la propagazione elettrica. La contrazione meccanica del modello è stata resa possibile grazie all’utilizzo di una particolare formulazione del materiale assegnato, che comprendeva una componente passiva isotropa, una anisotropa (posta a zero) e una componente attiva. Per bilanciare le forze generate dalla componente attiva, è stata applicata un’onda di pressione alla superficie interna delle cavità. È stato simulato un intero ciclo cardiaco, con l’inserimento di un intervallo iniziale che è servito in parte da fase diastolica. Per validare l’elettrofisiologia e il pattern di contrazione, sono stati considerati i marker dei PA e i tempi di attivazione, mentre per validare la contrazione sono stati utilizzati i volumi intra-atriali e ventricolari. Il modello elettromeccanico è riuscito a replicare con successo i PA, che rispecchiano fedelmente le controparti degli studi sperimentali, ha generato una propagazione dei PA quasi identica a quella osservata nello studio di riferimento, e ha prodotto una contrazione che ha sviluppato un’onda di volume nell’atrio che riflette strettamente i dati di riferimento, e nel ventricolo ha riprodotto quasi perfettamente le registrazioni sperimentali utilizzate per il confronto, in termini di entità della contrazione, fasi del ciclo cardiaco e andamento della forma d’onda generale.Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) constitute the leading cause of mortality globally, ac- counting for approximately 32% of deaths. Among these, a significant portion is at- tributable to electrophysiological dysfunctions, involving abnormalities in the electrical conduction system. To fully understand the mechanisms underlying such diseases and develop innovative therapies to counter them, researchers often rely on animal models. In this context, in recent years, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a particularly promising animal model. The advantages of its use include a remarkable similarity in action potentials (APs) compared to humans, non-classification as an animal in the first 5 days post-fertilization (dpf), high genetic compatibility with humans, and transparency of the embryo in the early days of life. With the aim of creating a comprehensive electrome- chanical model of a 3 dpf zebrafish heart, a previously developed electrophysiological finite element model (FEM) was coupled with mechanical contraction. The 3D geometry of the heart was divided into different sections to assign conductivity values to replicate specific action potential propagation patterns. Specific AP models were applied to the atrium and ventricle, while a monodomain model was used for electrical propagation. The mechanical contraction of the model was made possible by using a particular material formulation, including an isotropic passive component, an anisotropic component (set to zero), and an active component. To balance the forces generated by the active component, a pressure wave was applied to the internal surface of the chambers. An entire cardiac cycle was simulated, with the insertion of an initial interval serving as part of the diastolic phase. To validate the electrophysiology and contraction pattern, AP markers and activation times were considered, while intra-atrial and ventricular volumes were used to validate con- traction. The electromechanical model successfully replicated APs that closely resembled those documented in experimental studies, generated an AP propagation pattern nearly identical to that observed in the reference study, and produced a contraction generating a volume wave in the atrium that closely resembled the reference data, and in the ventricle, it almost perfectly reproduced the experimental recordings used for comparison, in terms of entity of contraction, phases of the cardiac cycle and general waveform

El reinado de Yhwh anticipado en la liturgia de israel. Sal 93-100 como composición

Hay toda una teología de la historia contenida los salmos; pero una teología que acontece en el acto mismo de la oración, comunitaria, canónica, litúrgica. Por eso hay que rastrearla en los textos que le ponían palabras a esta plegaria. Partiendo del supuesto de una redacción planificada del Salterio, este trabajo se concentrará en el libro IV del Salterio, porque allí se constata un giro decisivo en el lenguaje, que corresponde a una redefinición de las esperanzas de Israel. En el marco de este libro cuarto, se estudiará el grupo de los Salmos 93-100 centrado en la imagen de Yhwh rey y se buscará descubrir finalmente la estructuración del espacio y del tiempo que subyace a los Sal 96 y 98 que constituyen las piezas más conspicuas de este grupo. Sobre esta base se espera entender mejor la relación entre liturgia e histori

Inclusión escolar: percepción y conciencia de ello

El interés por este tema nace de la experiencia de muchos años vivida como maestra de apoyo de la escuela primaria. Hoy en día, se habla mucho de la inclusión, desafortunadamente no siempre la declaración de los valores inclusivos conlleva a la realización de los mismos a través de un proyecto organizativo y funcional. Como supuesto previo a nuestro trabajo, asumimos el pensamiento de Fabio Dovigo (2016) según el cual la inclusión es un proceso inagotable que implica el descubrimiento gradual y la eliminación de los límites de aprendizaje y participación (Dovigo, 2016, p.75) y de Ianes, quien afirma que una escuela que quiere avanzar hacia una mayor inclusión, debe partir de una base de igualdad (todos somos iguales en la escuela (...), aceptando en la escuela de todos a cada estudiante, independientemente de su condición y de su "funcionalidad" en un sentido amplio (Ianes, 2015, p.13). En la preparación del marco teórico, se recorrieron las etapas que han marcado la evolución del proceso de integración en la realidad de la escuela italiana de los diferentes términos en uso según el periodo histórico, los cuales van de la inserción, integración, a la inclusión, teniendo también presente la Convención ONU y las diferentes Clasificaciones Internacionales dadas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Además, hemos dado particular atención a los diferentes puntos de vista e interpretaciones del concepto de inclusión que en los años han enriquecido su significado. En cuanto a la parte empírica, la investigación, realizada en Sicilia, en la ciudad de Trapani, ha querido resaltar cómo el proceso de inclusión es percibido por los docentes de la ciudad y en qué modo esta percepción es actuada de acuerdo a las prácticas organizativas y operativas según las tres Dimensiones del “Nuevo Index para la Inclusion”. El target de la investigación fue identificado entre los docentes de algunas escuelas de los cuatro niveles educativos, como son: educación infantil, primaria, secundaria y bachillerato. Como instrumento de investigación se utilizó un cuestionario, compuesto de una ficha socio-demográfica y del cuestionario “Nuevo Index para la Inclusión”, extraído de la edición italiana a cura de Fabio Dovigo del “Nuovo Index for Inclusion” de T. Booth y M. Ainscow (2016); el cuestionario consta de respuestas cerradas y, como escala de medida para las tres Dimensiones, utiliza la escala Likerta cinco puntos, en la cual el valor más bajo expresa mayor positividad a las afirmaciones de los indicadores.The interest for this topic arises from my 10-years experience as special aid teacher in a primary school. Today there is much talk about inclusion but unfortunately not always the claims of inclusive values lead to their realizations with organizational and operational practices. As an prerequisite to our work, we can assume the Fabio Dovigo optics (2016), according to which the inclusion is an inexhaustible process that involves the gradual discovery and the removal of learning and participation limits (Dovigo, 2016, p.75)and the Ianes ones, that a school that wants to move towards greater inclusiveness, starts from a basis of equality (we are all equal before the / at school (...), by welcoming everyone in the school of each student, regardless of his condition and by his "operating" in a global sense (Ianes, 2015, p.13). In preparing the theoretical mark, we have retraced the steps that have led to the evolution of the integration process in the Italian school situation in different terms, which represent historical periods, that move from insertion, integration, inclusion, even through the UN Convention,to the various classifications of International World Health Organization. We also focus on the different perspectives and interpretations of the concept of inclusion that over the years has expanded its meaning. Regarding the empirical part, this investigation, carried out in Sicily in the municipality of Trapani, wanted to highlight how the inclusion process is perceived by the teachers of the municipality and as an awareness is found in the organizational and operational practices according to the three Dimensions of "New Index for Inclusion". The search target has been identified among the teachers of some schools in the four degrees of education: kindergarten, primary school, secondary school level I and level II.As survey instrument we used a questionnaire which is made up of a socio-registry card and of a questionnaire "New Index for Inclusion", extrapolated by the Italian edition by Fabio Dovigo of the "New Index for Inclusion", by T. Booth and M. Ainscow (2016) with closed responses that, as a measuring scale for all three Dimensions, uses the Likert five-point scale, where the lowest values express greater positivity to the assertions of the indicators. The administration of the questionnaires was carried out in the months between September 2016 and December 2016. The statistical analysis of data was processed with the statistical program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), version 20 in Italian. It proceeded, at first, from the descriptive statistical calculations and found a female predominance of 86.6% compared to the male population that is 13.4%, in line with national trends. Subsequently, a comparison of the three dimensions can be seen more positive in "Creating inclusivecultures” (Size A) (mean lower response), compared to the "Creating inclusive policies" (Size B) and even less in the "Developing inclusive practices" (Size C). Among the most representative indicators, expressed in terms of increased positivity, in the opinion of teachers emerges a friendly school that encourages and promotes respect for human rightsin which everyone is welcomeand a general sharing in facilitating the acceptance of all new pupils and especially in countering bullying, reflecting a culture based on mutual respect to foster learning by all students. From a detailed examination of how the socio-demographic variables have influenced the average response, with the t-statistic of the Table t-test for independent samples and with the F statistic of “Anova univariate” analysis, we found a significant difference of the averages between the two sexes and also among the four grades of school in which teachers work, so that the resulting schools who have expressed greater positivity towards the school inclusivity are the primary and kindergarten (averages of lowest response) in comparison with the secondary school, where the minor inclusiveness, observed mainly in the secondary school level II, was influenced by the increased presence of male teachers that, with averages of the highest response in each of the three dimensions, expressed less positivity towards inclusive statements, showing lower perception of inclusive values and therefore the awareness of actions.The overall analysis of the indicators shows an image of teachers who have a good perception in creating inclusive communities but in the awareness of the shares in the organizational and teaching practices, they are affected by the distance between affirmations and inclusive achievements, probably because still far from inclusive planning

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Narcolepsy: A Possible Connection That Deserves to Be Investigated.

Narcolepsy in childhood-adolescence is characterized by a high occurrence of psychiatric comorbidities. The most frequent psychiatric disorders reported in these patients are attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia. However, narcolepsy can be associated also with introversion, sorrowfulness, feelings of inferiority, impaired affectivity modulation, emotional lability, irritability, aggressiveness, and poor attention, that have been pooled by some authors under a definition of "narcoleptic personality." Some aspects of this "narcoleptic personality," and in particular introversion, impaired affectivity modulation, irritability, and poor attention, partially overlap with the clinical features of the individuals with autism spectrum disorder, considering also those that are not regarded as core autism symptoms. Till now, in literature the number of cases affected by both narcolepsy and autism spectrum disorder (seven patients) has been clearly too small to demonstrate the presence of a pathogenetic link between these two conditions, but this possible connection has not yet been adequately investigated, despite the presence of several points in common. The finding of a connection between narcolepsy and autism spectrum disorder could boost the study of possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms shared between these two apparently so distant disorders. Basing on the literature data summarized in this paper, in the diagnostic work-up of a child with narcolepsy it is essential to evaluate also the social-communicative behavior using standardized tools in order to detect the real recurrence of clinical features suggesting an autism spectrum disorder. At the same time, it appears necessary to screen in the individuals with autism spectrum disorder for the possible presence of evoking symptoms of narcolepsy

A Wearable Fall Detection System Based on Body Area Networks

Falls can have serious consequences for people, leading to restrictions in mobility or, in the worst case, to traumatic-based cases of death. To provide rapid assistance, a portable fall detection system has been developed that is capable of detecting fall situations and, if necessary, alerting emergency services without any user interaction. The prototype is designed to facilitate reliable fall detection and to classify several fall types and human activities. This solution represents a life-saving service for every person that will significantly improve assistance in the case of fall events, which are a part of daily life. Additionally, this approach facilitates independent system operation, since the system does not depend on sensor or network units located within a building structure. This article also introduces fall analysis. To guarantee functional safety, a hazard analysis method named system-theoretic accident model and processes (STAMP) is applied

Ludopatía digital: una amenaza creciente a niños, niñas y adolescentes

El juego compulsivo se vio acrecentado en los ultimos tiempos en franjas etarias cada vez más chicas. Por un lado, esta modalidad hace sentido con este espíritu de época, por el otro con el advenimiento de las nuevas tecnologías se abren otras posibilidades que tienen sus ventajas y desventajas. Sobre esta problemática –en cierta forma novedosa– que abarcan también los consumos problemáticos reflexionan Andres La Blunda, Jose María Cohen y Raúl Gomez.Fil: Universidad ISALUD. Centro de Estudios sobre Consumos y Derechos Humano

Fall Detection from Electrocardiogram (ECG) Signals and Classification by Deep Transfer Learning

Fall is a prominent issue due to its severe consequences both physically and mentally. Fall detection and prevention is a critical area of research because it can help elderly people to depend less on caregivers and allow them to live and move more independently. Using electrocardiograms (ECG) signals independently for fall detection and activity classification is a novel approach used in this paper. An algorithm has been proposed which uses pre-trained convolutional neural networks AlexNet and GoogLeNet as a classifier between the fall and no fall scenarios using electrocardiogram signals. The ECGs for both falling and no falling cases were obtained as part of the study using eight volunteers. The signals are pre-processed using an elliptical filter for signal noises such as baseline wander and power-line interface. As feature extractors, frequency-time representations (scalograms) were obtained by applying a continuous wavelet transform on the filtered ECG signals. These scalograms were used as inputs to the neural network and a significant validation accuracy of 98.08% was achieved in the first model. The trained model is able to distinguish ECGs with a fall activity from an ECG with a no fall activity with an accuracy of 98.02%. For the verification of the robustness of the proposed algorithm, our experimental dataset was augmented by adding two different publicly available datasets to it. The second model can classify fall, daily activities and no activities with an accuracy of 98.44%. These models were developed by transfer learning from the domain of real images to the medical images. In comparison to traditional deep learning approaches, the transfer learning not only avoids "reinventing the wheel," but also presents a lightweight solution to otherwise computationally heavy problems.This research was funded by the research support program of Fb2, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. The research of D.G.-U. has been supported in part by the Spanish MICINN under grants PGC2018-096504-B-C33 and RTI2018-100754-B-I00, the European Union under the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Programme and the Department of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Regional Government of Andalusia (project FEDER-UCA18-108393). The research of I.M.-B. has been supported in part by the European Commission (ERDF), the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [RTI2018-093608-BC33]