FiNCO farms for knowledge exchange: A Colombian seed for a good Anthropocene.

Returning to Earth's safe operating space requires driving social-ecological transformations toward a new human-nature configuration, while navigating changes and creatively dealing with crises. Family farms in the Colombian Andes have been navigating changes by using modalities of integrated management that recognize family interdependence with nature, which illustrates social-ecological resilience on a small scale. We potentiated family farming by creating FiNCO (Farms for knowledge exchange) as a strategy that renews the connection between disciplines, academia and farmers, and the rural and urban sectors, in order to promote knowledge co-production and landscape stewardship. In this sense, FiNCO is considered as a seed for a good Anthropocene. This paper is an invitation to plant FiNCO seeds in different social-ecological contexts and to share those experiences as an ideal way to create abilities to transform the upcoming humanity challenges into opportunities for humanity's needed transformation.

Safety analysis of adapted battery-powered ride-on toy car for children with disabilities using a modified test dummy with varying joint stiffness.

Adaptive ride-on toy programs have increased in popularity in recent years and provide novel rehabilitation tools as developmental aids for children with disabilities. While the adaptations made to these toys are intended to provide a safer experience for children with disabilities, safety concerns still exist. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to use a model with varying joint stiffness as a first-order approximation of a child with disabilities and to investigate whether modifications to ride-on toys are sufficient to prevent common injuries. Because the population of children with disabilities who are receiving adaptive ride-on toys have a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders, those with both decreased and increased muscle stiffness were considered in this safety study. A 5-point harness reduced movement regardless of change in joint stiffness and therefore, results from this study indicate that the use of these harnesses is effective regardless of joint stiffness. Furthermore, as excursion-related injuries are considered more critical to the user than injuries relating to kinetic variables and no known injury thresholds were exceeded, the addition of a belt is considered a necessary trade-off with little-to-no added risk.

Safety analysis of battery-powered ride-on toy car with seat and restraint system modifications.

Modified battery-powered ride-on toy cars represent novel rehabilitation tools for children with disabilities. However, safety concerns exist with the use of these battery-power toys and pose a barrier for the growth of adaptive ride-on toy programs due to the lack of evidence demonstrating that modifications made to these cars are safe. Within this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether modifications to ride-on toys are sufficient to prevent common injuries and determine how these modifications influence injury metrics. Specifically, we evaluated the effects of common modifications such as various seatbelt configurations and determined how increased seat back height effects neck forces. Results indicated that occupant displacement can be reduced using a lap belt, and further reductions in displacement are achieved with a 5-point harness. Although some injury metrics increased with restraints, none of the collected injury metrics even came close to approaching known tolerance thresholds, and most were well within the range that is experienced by a child in daily life. As the greatest concerns for these ride-on toys are related to displacement, findings from this study support the use of a 5-point harness system to minimize displacement-related injuries with little-to-no added risk.

Psychosocial benefits and costs of activism among female migrant domestic workers in southern Spain.

Economic migrant women often experience oppressive living and working conditions in the receiving societies. Activism is a liberatory behavior these women may employ to transform such situations. This study explores the activism experience of female migrant domestic workers from Latin America settled in southern Spain, in terms of its psychosocial benefits and costs. A purposeful sample of eleven activist migrant women engaged in a grassroots organization of domestic workers and eight members of social organizations supporting their activities were interviewed in-depth individually. After a qualitative content analysis approach to the data, the study presents activism as a community engagement behavior with benefits such as the strengthening of social ties, sense of community, opportunities for sharing stories of oppression, and psychological empowerment. Activism also emerged as a demanding activity requiring high investments in time by activists and producing interpersonal conflicts, hopelessness, and burnout in some cases. Such costs may pose limits to its potential to produce well-being and liberation, implying challenges for research, intervention, and activism sustainability.

Living Senior Labs, ecosistemas de co-creación e innovación abierta con personas mayores: revisión sistemática de la literatura en Ciencias Sociales / Living Senior Labs, co-criação e ecossistemas de inovação aberta com idosos: revisão sistemática da literatura em Ciências Sociais / Living Senior Labs, ecosystems of co-creation and open innovation with older people: a systematic review on Social Science literature

Los Living Labs son experiencias colaborativas que buscan implicar a la ciudadanía en la gobernanza científica y la evaluación de tecnologías. A pesar de su interés, se sabe muy poco sobre estas comunidades, su funcionamiento, tipología y características. Por ello, se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre de un tipo particular de Living Lab, orientado hacia las personas mayores: los Living Senior Labs. A partir de una búsqueda general en las principales bases de datos científicas (WOS y Scopus), y de la aplicación de criterios de inclusión preestablecidos tras la primera selección quedaron finalmente seleccionados 19 estudios sobre Senior Labs (2010 y 2021). Los resultados proporcionan un mejor conocimiento de este tipo de ecosistemas y crean una base firme para avanzar en el conocimiento de este campo. (AU)

Os Living Labs são experiências colaborativas que procuram envolver os cidadãos na governança científica e na avaliação tecnológica. Apesar de seu interesse, muito pouco se sabe sobre essas comunidades, seu funcionamento, tipologia e características. Portanto, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre um tipo particular de Living Lab, orientado para os idosos: os Living Senior Labs. Com base em uma pesquisa geral nos principais bancos de dados científicos (WOS e Scopus) e na aplicação de critérios de inclusão pré-estabelecidos, foram selecionados 19 estudos sobre os Senior Labs (2010 a 2021). Os resultados proporcionam uma melhor compreensão deste tipo de ecossistema e criam uma base firme para o avanço do conhecimento neste campo. (AU)

Living Labs are collaborative experiences that seek to involve citizens in scientific governance and technology assessment. In spite of their interest, very little is known about these communities, their functioning, typology and characteristics. Thus, a systematic literature review was carried out about a particular type of Living Lab, oriented towards the elderly: Living Senior Labs. Based on a general search in the main scientific databases (WOS and Scopus), and the application of pre-established inclusion criteria, 19 studies about Senior Labs were selected (2010 to 2021). The results provide a more comprehensive understanding of this type of ecosystem and create a strong foundation for progress in the knowledge of this area. (AU)

Enhanced Steering and Drive Adaptations of Modified Ride-On Toy Cars for Improved Directional Control in Very Young Children With Severe Multiple Developmental Impairments.

Background and Purpose: One emerging power mobility device (PMD) option that has gained recognition as a means for a cost-effective introduction to power mobility for young children is the battery powered modified ride-on toy car. Many groups, nationally and internationally, have been modifying battery powered ride-on toy cars by adding seating support and a large center placed push button switch for motor activation. The purpose of this technical report is to introduce an enhanced steering and drive system based on proportional control through a joystick. Key Points: This report offers (1) a technical description of these modifications that allow directional steering and programmable starting and driving velocity, (2) an example of a modified ride on toy, including common seating modifications, and (3) a short summary of results from a group of 7 children under the age of six with complex, severe disabilities. Clinical Impact: Although proportional joystick modifications are more complex than the common single switch activation, they allow children greater control to achieve self-initiated, self-directed movement that allow play, peer interaction, and exploration in their natural environments, even in the most highly complex cases. All seven children were able to intentionally self-initiate activation of the modified ride-on car and experience the subsequent movement.

Neurophysics Assessment of the Muscle Bioenergy Generated by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

The content of the rectified motor evoked potential (MEP) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has ambiguously been assessed without the precision that energy calculation deserves. This fact has misled data interpretation and misguided biomedical interventions. To definitively fill the gap that exits in the neurophysics processing of these signals, we computed, in Walls ( W ^ ), the bioenergy within the rectified MEP recorded from the human first digitorum index (FDI) muscle at rest and under isometric contraction. We also gauged the biowork exerted by this muscle. Here we show that bioenergy and biowork can accurately and successfully be assessed, validated, and determined in W ^ from MEP signals induced by TMS, regardless of knowing the mathematical expression of the function of the signal. Our novel neurophysics approach represents a dramatic paradigm shift in analysis and interpretation of the content of the MEP and will give a true meaning to the content of rectified signals. Importantly, this innovative approach allowed unveiling that women exerted more bioenergy than men at the magnetic stimulations used in this study. Revisitation of conclusions drawn from studies published elsewhere assessing rectified EMG signals that have used ambiguous units is strongly recommended.

Pediatric safety: review of the susceptibility of children with disabilities to injuries involving movement related events.

BACKGROUND: Toy-related injuries have increased significantly in the past decade, in particular those related to ride-on toys. This increase has been attributed to movement related events such as falls and inertial impacts. Furthermore, children with disabilities have been reported to be at a greater risk of being injured, and are therefore more susceptible to toy-related injuries. Although, efforts are being made to modify ride-on toys as a method for increasing quality of life in children with disabilities, there are very limited pediatric safety studies regarding children with disabilities and modified ride-on toys. METHODS: This manuscript presents a systematic review of literature summarizing the current state of toy-related injuries including children with and without disabilities. Children exposed to inertial impacts in motor vehicle crashes have also been reviewed to present current pediatric safety testing methodologies and injury tolerance thresholds. Out of 2608 articles, 10 studies were included regarding current trends in toy-related injuries and safety testing methodologies. CONCLUSIONS: From this study, a gap in the literature was discovered concerning the susceptibility of children with disabilities to toy-related injuries, specifically in relation to ride-on toys and the repercussion surrounding such injuries. It is theorized that such lack of data is due to the difficulty and costs associated with experimental validation. Hence, it is recommended that computer simulations be used to provide preliminary data analysis.

Engineering, Physical Therapy and the Community: A Service Learning Course.

The School of Engineering and the Physical Therapy program at the University of North Florida developed a novel, community-based course where undergraduate engineering students are partnered with physical therapy students. In this course students participate in hands-on, team-based design projects focused on low-tech and high-tech rehabilitation technology for children with disabilities. The impact of this interprofessional education experience on the students has been evaluated using the Public Service Motivation Scale for three years and its impact on the students is presented.

Trayectorias territoriales de la asistencia a víctimas de trata de personas. Análisis cualitativo desde la perspectiva de los actores institucionales en Santander, Colombia / Territorial paths for providing assistance to victims of human trafficking. Qualitative analysis from the institutional actors' perspective in Santander, Colombia / Trajetórias territoriais do assistência às vítimas do tráfico humano. Análise qualitativo da perspectiva dos atores institutionais em Santander, Colômbia

Resumen La respuesta del Estado colombiano a la trata de personas se encuentra descentralizada. Los entes territoriales tienen competencias específicas en la materia. Este artículo estudia las acciones de asistencia a víctimas de trata de personas en Santander, Colombia. Su objetivo es ofrecer un diagnóstico de la atención a las víctimas, a partir de un examen cualitativo de las experiencias relatadas por funcionarios. Se reconstruyen cinco casos ocurridos entre el 2012 y el 2015. La información proviene de entrevistas narrativas a nueve personas que asistieron a las víctimas. A partir de la reconstrucción de los casos se presenta un conjunto de prácticas y debilidades en la asistencia, que evidencian la necesidad de fortalecer las capacidades de funcionarios e instituciones a nivel local. Los resultados son coherentes con los de otros estudios realizados en Colombia. También apuntan a fenómenos poco conocidos, como los procesos de juicio social de los funcionarios y la escasa atención que reciben las víctimas secundarias. Se sugiere la necesidad de promover una descentralización, que acompañe la delegación de responsabilidades a las entidades territoriales con un mayor apoyo técnico y financiero desde el nivel central.

Abstract The response of the Colombian State to human trafficking can be described as decentralized, since territorial entities have their own specific competencies in this area. In this article, the actions aimed at assisting the victims of this despicable crime in the Department of Santander, Colombia, are examined. Its objective is to offer a diagnosis based on a qualitative analysis of experiences told by officers. Five cases occurring between 2012 and 2015 are reconstructed. The information comes from the narrative surveys of nine persons having assisted sufferers and, from the reconstruction of their narratives, the exposed set of attempted practices and setbacks evidences the need to strengthen the abilities and capacities of both officers and institutions at the local level. The results obtained are coherent with those originating in other studies carried out in Colombia. They also point out to less known phenomena such as the social judgment of officers and the poor attention and care given to secondary victims. A suggestion has been made concerning the need to promote a decentralization serving to accompany the delegation of responsibilities to territorial entities with stronger technical and financial support from the central level.

Resumo A resposta do Estado colombiano ao tráfico humano é descentralizada. Os organismos territoriais têm competências específicas na matéria. Este artigo estuda as ações da assistência às vítimas do tráfico humano em Santander, Colômbia. O objetivo é fornecer um diagnóstico da atenção às vítimas, de um exame qualitativo das experiências relatadas pelos funcionários. Cinco casos que aconteceram entre 2012 e 2015 são reconstruidos. A informação vem das entrevistas narrativas a nove pessoas que assistiram às vítimas. Da reconstrução dos casos, um conjunto de práticas e fraquezas na assistência é apresentado, e demonstram a necessidade de fortalecer as capacidades de funcionarios e de instituições no nível local. Os resultados são coherentes com aqueles de outros estudos feitos na Colômbia. Também visam aos fenômenos pouco conhecidos, como os procesos do juízo social dos funcionários e a escassa atenção que recebem as vítimas secundárias. Sugeri-se a necessidade de promover uma descentralização, que acompanhe a delegação de responsabilidades aos organismos territoriais com um maior apoio técnico e financeiro do nível central.

[Aging at home with telecare in Spain. A dicourse analysis]. / Envejecer en casa con teleasistencia en España. Un análisis del discurso.

Caring for the elderly is turning to forms of community care and home care. Telecare is one of those emergent modalities of caring. This article will explore the meanings that older people give to the experience of staying at home in later life by using telecare. Discourse analysis is used to examine a set of focus groups and interviews with telecare users from different cities of Catalonia (Spain). The outcomes include three interpretative repertoires that we called: "Aging at home", "normal aging" and "unsafe aging". For each repertoire we examine how the permanence of older people in their homes is accounted, and which role telecare plays in such experience.

Envejecer en casa con teleasistencia en España. Un análisis del discurso / Aging at home with telecare in Spain. A dicourse analysis

Resumen El cuidado de las personas mayores está dando un giro hacia modalidades de atención comunitaria y domiciliaria. La teleasistencia es una de dichas modalidades. Este artículo se propone explorar los significados que las personas mayores asocian a la experiencia de permanecer en el hogar a edades avanzadas con ayuda de la teleasistencia. Se utiliza el análisis del discurso para examinar un conjunto de grupos de discusión con y de entrevistas a usuarios de teleasistencia de diferentes ciudades de Cataluña (España). Como resultado se presentan tres repertorios interpretativos denominados: “envejecimiento en casa”, “envejecimiento normal” y “envejecimiento inseguro”. Para cada uno se examina la forma como describen la permanencia de las personas mayores en sus hogares, así como el papel que la teleasistencia juega en dicha experiencia.

Abstract Caring for the elderly is turning to forms of community care and home care. Telecare is one of those emergent modalities of caring. This article will explore the meanings that older people give to the experience of staying at home in later life by using telecare. Discourse analysis is used to examine a set of focus groups and interviews with telecare users from different cities of Catalonia (Spain). The outcomes include three interpretative repertoires that we called: “Aging at home”, “normal aging” and “unsafe aging”. For each repertoire we examine how the permanence of older people in their homes is accounted, and which role telecare plays in such experience.

Scanning electron microscopy of chronically implanted intracortical microelectrode arrays in non-human primates.

OBJECTIVE: Signal attenuation is a major problem facing intracortical sensors for chronic neuroprosthetic applications. Many studies suggest that failure is due to gliosis around the electrode tips, however, mechanical and material causes of failure are often overlooked. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to progressive signal decline by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize structural changes in chronically implanted arrays and histology to examine the tissue response at corresponding implant sites. APPROACH: We examined eight chronically implanted intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) explanted from non-human primates at times ranging from 37 to 1051 days post-implant. We used SEM, in vivo neural recordings, and histology (GFAP, Iba-1, NeuN). Three MEAs that were never implanted were also imaged as controls. MAIN RESULTS: SEM revealed progressive corrosion of the platinum electrode tips and changes to the underlying silicon. The parylene insulation was prone to cracking and delamination, and in some instances the silicone elastomer also delaminated from the edges of the MEA. Substantial tissue encapsulation was observed and was often seen growing into defects in the platinum and parylene. These material defects became more common as the time in vivo increased. Histology at 37 and 1051 days post-implant showed gliosis, disruption of normal cortical architecture with minimal neuronal loss, and high Iba-1 reactivity, especially within the arachnoid and dura. Electrode tracts were either absent or barely visible in the cortex at 1051 days, but were seen in the fibrotic encapsulation material suggesting that the MEAs were lifted out of the brain. Neural recordings showed a progressive drop in impedance, signal amplitude, and viable channels over time. SIGNIFICANCE: These results provide evidence that signal loss in MEAs is truly multifactorial. Gliosis occurs in the first few months after implantation but does not prevent useful recordings for several years. Progressive meningeal fibrosis encapsulates and lifts MEAs out of the cortex while ongoing foreign body reactions lead to progressive degradation of the materials. Long-term impedance drops are due to the corrosion of platinum, cracking and delamination of parylene, and delamination of silicone elastomer. Oxygen radicals released by cells of the immune system likely mediate the degradation of these materials. Future MEA designs must address these problems through more durable insulation materials, more inert electrode alloys, and pharmacologic suppression of fibroblasts and leukocytes.

A community-based, interdisciplinary rehabilitation engineering course.

A novel, community-based course was created through collaboration between the School of Engineering and the Physical Therapy program at the University of North Florida. This course offers a hands-on, interdisciplinary training experience for undergraduate engineering students through team-based design projects where engineering students are partnered with physical therapy students. Students learn the process of design, fabrication and testing of low-tech and high-tech rehabilitation technology for children with disabilities, and are exposed to a clinical experience under the guidance of licensed therapists. This course was taught in two consecutive years and pre-test/post-test data evaluating the impact of this interprofessional education experience on the students is presented using the Public Service Motivation Scale, Civic Actions Scale, Civic Attitudes Scale, and the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale.

"It's All Discursive!" Crossing Boundaries and Crossing Words with Rom Harré / "¡Todo es discursivo!" Cruzando los límites y erosionando las palabras con Rom Harré

Rom Harré is one of the most important figures in academia of recent decades. Born in New Zealand he developed most of his career in Oxford. Influenced by authors such as John Austin, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Lev Vygotsky, Ha-rré has produced his own and innovative approach to humanities and social sciences topics. His writings on philosophy of science have been focused on destabilizing the central doctrines of logical empiricism and positivism. However, his work has been not only influential in philosophy but also in other fields. This paper introduces his main contributions to psychology in general and social psychology in particular. It presents an interview with Rom Harré which outlines an approach to the author and his contributions to the social psychology crisis. Some key concepts in social sciences and in Rom's own work are also addressed, and research lines he advises to follow in the next decade are examined. The interview depicts Rom Harré as a scholar who crosses the boundaries between different disciplines and places.

Rom Harré es una de las figuras más importantes en el mundo académico de las últimas décadas. Nacido en Nueva Zelanda desarrolló la mayor parte de su carrera en Oxford. Influenciado por autores como John Austin, Ludwig Wittgenstein y Lev Vygotsky, Harré ha producido su propia e innovadora aproximación a las humanidades y temas de las ciencias sociales. Sus escritos sobre filosofía de la ciencia se han centrado en la desestabilización de las doctrinas centrales del empirismo lógico y el positivismo. Sin embargo, su trabajo no sólo ha sido influyente en la filosofía, sino también en otros campos. Este documento presenta sus principales contribuciones a la psicología de la psicología general y social en particular. Presenta una entrevista con Rom Harré que esboza una aproximación al autor y sus contribuciones a la crisis de la psicología social. Algunos conceptos clave en las ciencias sociales y en la propia obra de Rom también se abordan, y las líneas de investigación que asesora a seguir en la próxima década se examinan. La entrevista representa Rom Harré como un erudito que cruza las fronteras entre las distintas disciplinas y lugares.

Trends in Nanomaterial-Based Non-Invasive Diabetes Sensing Technologies.

Blood glucose monitoring is considered the gold standard for diabetes diagnostics and self-monitoring. However, the underlying process is invasive and highly uncomfortable for patients. Furthermore, the process must be completed several times a day to successfully manage the disease, which greatly contributes to the massive need for non-invasive monitoring options. Human serums, such as saliva, sweat, breath, urine and tears, contain traces of glucose and are easily accessible. Therefore, they allow minimal to non-invasive glucose monitoring, making them attractive alternatives to blood measurements. Numerous developments regarding noninvasive glucose detection techniques have taken place over the years, but recently, they have gained recognition as viable alternatives, due to the advent of nanotechnology-based sensors. Such sensors are optimal for testing the amount of glucose in serums other than blood thanks to their enhanced sensitivity and selectivity ranges, in addition to their size and compatibility with electronic circuitry. These nanotechnology approaches are rapidly evolving, and new techniques are constantly emerging. Hence, this manuscript aims to review current and future nanomaterial-based technologies utilizing saliva, sweat, breath and tears as a diagnostic medium for diabetes monitoring.

A necklace sonar with adjustable scope range for assisting the visually impaired.

A sonar based device with tactile feedback was developed to improve the mobility and independence of visually impaired individuals. It features a transceiver/receiver, a potentiometer, a microcontroller, a rechargeable polymer lithium ion battery, and a Nokia Cell phone vibrator. All components are commercially available and housed in a custom acrylic package with 86 mm × 34 mm × 12 mm in dimension, and 120 grms in weight. Additionally, the device features an adjustable detection scheme for user customization of distance range, and a tactile feedback system that avoids interference with auditory sensory information. The device was tested for its navigational efficacy in an artificial indoor environment, and in a live outdoor setting. Ten subjects (9 males and 1 female), with a mean age of 35 years-old (range: 17 to 52) were presented with a series of navigational tasks resulting in considerable reduction of head, shoulder, chest, and arms collisions during their locomotion. We conclude that this device greatly improves the mobility and safety of visually impaired individuals.

An externally head-mounted wireless neural recording device for laboratory animal research and possible human clinical use.

In this paper we present a new type of head-mounted wireless neural recording device in a highly compact package, dedicated for untethered laboratory animal research and designed for future mobile human clinical use. The device, which takes its input from an array of intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEA) has ninety-seven broadband parallel neural recording channels and was integrated on to two custom designed printed circuit boards. These house several low power, custom integrated circuits, including a preamplifier ASIC, a controller ASIC, plus two SAR ADCs, a 3-axis accelerometer, a 48MHz clock source, and a Manchester encoder. Another ultralow power RF chip supports an OOK transmitter with the center frequency tunable from 3GHz to 4GHz, mounted on a separate low loss dielectric board together with a 3V LDO, with output fed to a UWB chip antenna. The IC boards were interconnected and packaged in a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) enclosure which is compatible with both animal and human use (e.g. sterilizable). The entire system consumes 17mA from a 1.2Ahr 3.6V Li-SOCl2 1/2AA battery, which operates the device for more than 2 days. The overall system includes a custom RF receiver electronics which are designed to directly interface with any number of commercial (or custom) neural signal processors for multi-channel broadband neural recording. Bench-top measurements and in vivo testing of the device in rhesus macaques are presented to demonstrate the performance of the wireless neural interface.