Influence of heart rate in non-linear HRV indices as a sampling rate effect evaluated on supine and standing

The purpose of this study is to characterize and attenuate the influence of mean heart rate (HR) on nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) indices (correlation dimension, sample, and approximate entropy) as a consequence of being the HR the intrinsic sampling rate of HRV signal. This influence can notably alter nonlinear HRV indices and lead to biased information regarding autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation. First, a simulation study was carried out to characterize the dependence of nonlinear HRV indices on HR assuming similar ANS modulation. Second, two HR-correction approaches were proposed: one based on regression formulas and another one based on interpolating RR time series. Finally, standard and HR-corrected HRV indices were studied in a body position change database. The simulation study showed the HR-dependence of non-linear indices as a sampling rate effect, as well as the ability of the proposed HR-corrections to attenuate mean HR influence. Analysis in a body position changes database shows that correlation dimension was reduced around 21% in median values in standing with respect to supine position (p < 0.05), concomitant with a 28% increase in mean HR (p < 0.05). After HR-correction, correlation dimension decreased around 18% in standing with respect to supine position, being the decrease still significant. Sample and approximate entropy showed similar trends. HR-corrected nonlinear HRV indices could represent an improvement in their applicability as markers of ANS modulation when mean HR changes

Shoulder pain prevalence in competitive swimmers: A pilot study

Objetivos: conocer la prevalencia de dolor de hombro en nadadores de competición, sus características y su relación con factores antropométricos y deportivos. Métodos: estudio de prevalencia. Ciento cuarenta nadadores/as entre 12 y 24 años cumplimentaron un cuestionario durante una fase de entrenamiento específico. Resultados: el 25,7% revelaron padecer dolor de hombro. Se hallaron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el dolor de hombro y episodios previos de dolor (p<0,001), experiencia superior a tres años (p=0,014), Índice de Masa Corporal (p=0,015) y la especialidad estilo (p=0,008) y distancia (p=0,011). El dolor fue significativamente más intenso durante la actividad que en reposo (p<0,001). Conclusiones: el dolor de hombro en nadadores de competición entre 12 y 24 años parece ser un problema frecuente mayor Índice de Masa Corporal y a la especialidad del nadadorObjectives: to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain in competitive swimmers and find out the characteristics of pain as well as its relation to anthropometric and sports factors. Methods: prevalence study. A hundred and forty competitive swimmers between 12 and 24 years old completed a questionnaire in a high intensity training phase. Results: 25.7% swimmers reported shoulder pain. There were significant statistical correlations between shoulder pain and previous episodes of pain (p<0.001), more than three years of experience (p=0.014), Body Mass Index (p=0.015) and stroke (p=0.008) and distance (p=0.011) specialty. Pain was statistically correlated with activity (p<0.001). Conclusions: shoulder pain seems to be a frequent and repetitive problem in competitive swimmers between 12 and 24 years old, which increases with years of practice. Furthermore, it seems to be associated with the activity, a higher Body Mass Index and the swimmers’ specialty

The properties of the clumpy torus and BLR in the polar-scattered Seyfert 1 galaxy ESO 323-G77 through X-ray absorption variability

We report results from multi-epoch X-ray observations of the polar-scattered Seyfert 1 galaxy ESO 323-G77. The source exhibits remarkable spectral variability from months to years timescales. The observed spectral variability is entirely due to variations of the column density of a neutral absorber towards the intrinsic nuclear continuum. The column density is generally Compton-thin ranging from a few times 10$^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ to a few times 10$^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$. However, one observation reveals a Compton-thick state with column density of the order of 1.5 $\times$ 10$^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. The observed variability offers a rare opportunity to study the properties of the X-ray absorber(s) in an active galaxy. We identify variable X-ray absorption from two different components, namely (i) a clumpy torus whose individual clumps have a density of $\leq$ 1.7 $\times$ 10$^8$ cm$^{-3}$ and an average column density of $\sim$ 4 $\times$ 10$^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$, and (ii) the broad line region (BLR), comprising individual clouds with density of 0.1-8 $\times$ 10$^9$ cm$^{-3}$ and column density of 10$^{23}$-10$^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. The derived properties of the clumpy torus can also be used to estimate the torus half-opening angle, which is of the order of 47 $^\circ$. We also confirm the previously reported detection of two highly ionized warm absorbers with outflow velocities of 1000-4000 km s$^{-1}$. The observed outflow velocities are consistent with the Keplerian/escape velocity at the BLR. Hence, the warm absorbers may be tentatively identified with the warm/hot inter-cloud medium which ensures that the BLR clouds are in pressure equilibrium with their surroundings. The BLR line-emitting clouds may well be the cold, dense clumps of this outflow, whose warm/hot phase is likely more homogeneous, as suggested by the lack of strong variability of the warm absorber(s) properties during our monitoring.Comment: 15 pages, 4 tables, and 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

RBS1423 - a new QSO with relativistic reflection from an ionised disk

We present the analysis and results of a 20 ks XMM-Newton observation of RBS1423. X-ray spectral analysis is used to establish a significantly broadened relativistic iron K-alpha line from a highly ionised disk. A QSO at z=2.262 was considered to be the optical counterpart of this ROSAT Bright Survey X-ray source. Based on the improved XMM-Newton source position we identified a z=0.208 QSO as optical counterpart to RBS1423. The 0.2-12 keV X-ray luminosity of this radio-quiet QSO is 6x10^{44} erg/s. The XMM-EPIC spectra are well described by a power law with a significantly broadened iron K-alpha line. Disk line models for both Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes require hydrogen-like iron ions to fit the measured line profile. Significant ionisation of the reflection disk is confirmed by model fits with ionised disk models, resulting in an ionisation parameter xi~2000.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&A (2 April 2007

The practitioners’ perception about the use of a virtual environment as a support for the socio-educational programme Walking Family

El programa ‘Caminar en familia’ fue implementado y evaluado en el marco de un proyecto I+D a través de una metodología de investigaciónacción participativa. Se utilizó un Entorno Virtual (EV) para ofrecer un medio de apoyo a los profesionales que implementaron el programa con familias en el Sistema de Protección a la Infancia. El objetivo de estudio es evaluar un EV como herramienta para la formación, el apoyo y la gestión de datos en la implementación del programa socioeducativo ‘Caminar en familia’. Se realizó un Grupo Discusión (GD) por cada equipo de profesionales que implementó el programa en diferentes regiones de España. En total, se llevaron a cabo 10 GD con un total de 41 profesionales durante los años 2017 y 2018. Los resultados muestran que el EV se considera una bue-na herramienta para resolver dudas, acceder a los mate-riales y evaluar la implementación. Sin embargo, los pro-fesionales afirman que no se promovió la formación co-laborativa. También manifiestan que la poca disponibili-dad horaria fue una limitación para participar en el EV. Se propone para próximas investigaciones indagar en propuestas pedagógicas y tecnológicas para fomentar la formación colaborativa de profesionales durante la im-plementación de programas socioeducativosThe ‘Walking family’ programme was implemented and evaluated within the framework of a research project through a participatory action research methodology. A Virtual Environment (VE) was used to offer a means of support to the professionals who implemented the pro-gramme with families in the Child Welfare System. The aim of the study is to evaluate a VE as a tool for training, assistance and data management in the imple-mentation of the socio-educational program ‘Walk in family’. A Discussion Group (GD) was held for each team of pro-fessionals who implemented the program in different re-gions of Spain. In total, 10 GDs were carried out with a total of 41 professionals during the years 2017 and 2018. The results show that the VE is considered a good tool to solve doubts, access the materials and evaluate the im-plementation. However, professionals say that collaborative training was not promoted. They also describre that the limited time availability was a limitation to participate in the VE. It is proposed for future research to study pedagogical and technological proposals in order to encourage the collabo-rative training of professionals during the implementation of socioeducational programme

Efecto hipoglucemiante de las hojas del pandisho (artocarpus altilis) en ratas aloxanizadas

The objective of the present research was to verify the hypoglycemic pharmacological action of ethanolic extracts of leaves of Artocarpus altilis in aloxanized rats.An experimental study was carried out with 80 laboratory rats maintained in the biotery of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny of the National University Hermilio Valdizán from Huánuco during the period 2016. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 20 rats each, of wich three groups was Experimental and received the ethanolic extracts in concentration of 25%, 50% and 75% respectively and one positive control group of animals treated with Glibenclamide®. The data were obtained through an observation guide. We used the ANOVA, Tukey and Bonferroni tests respectively. After treatment in experimental group 3 (75% concentration of ethanolic extracts) at 30 minutes, 6 hours, 18 hours and 36 hours a mean glucose decrease of 188.6 was obtained; 158.3; 130.1 and 108.6 mg / dl, respectively. In contrast, in experimental group 1 (25% concentration of ethanolic extracts), experimental group 2 (concentration 50% of ethanolic extracts) and control group (Glibenclamide®) where the glucose averages did not decrease. These results were statistically significant (p≤0,000).Concluding that the leaves of the pandisho (Artocarpus altilis) have hypoglicemic action.El objetivo de la presente investigación fue verificar la acción farmacológica hipoglucemiante de extractos etanólicos de las hojas del Artocarpus altilis en ratas aloxanizadas. Se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental, con 80 ratas de laboratorio mantenidas en el Bioterio de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán de Huánuco, durante el período 2016. Se dividió a los animales en 4 grupos de 20 ratas cada uno, de los cuales tres grupos constituyeron los grupos experimentales a los que se les administró el extracto etanólico de las hojas del Artocarpus altilis a concentraciones de 25%, 50% y 75% respectivamente y un grupo control positivo de animales tratados con Glibenclamida®. Los datos fueron obtenidos mediante guía de observación. Se usaron las Pruebas de ANOVA, Tukey y Bonferroni respectivamente. Después del tratamiento en el grupo experimental 3 (concentración de extractos etanólicos al 75%) a 30 minutos, 6 horas, 18 horas y 36 horas se obtuvieron disminuciones de promedios de glucosa de 188,6; 158,3; 130,1 y 108,6 mg/dl, respectivamente. En comparación, con el grupo experimental 1 (concentración de extractos etanólicos al 25%), grupo experimental 2 (concentración de extractos etanólicos al 50%) y grupo control (Glibenclamida®) donde los promedios de glucosa no disminuyeron. Estos resultados fueron estadísticamente significativos (p≤0,000). Concluyéndose que las hojas del pandisho (Artocarpus altilis) tienen acción hipoglucemiante

XMM-Newton view of galaxy pairs: activation of quiescent black holes?

We report on XMM-Newton observations of three nearby galaxy pairs, AM0707-273, AM1211-465, and AM2040-674. All six galaxies were previously classified as HII galaxies based on optical and IR spectroscopic analysis. All galaxies were detected with XMM-Newton and each member was isolated and analyzed independently. The X-ray spectra reveal strong evidence of AGN activity in the NE member of AM1211-465 pair. We measured a luminosity of 1.94(+0.11/-0.15)x10^42 erg/s in the 2-10 keV band and the presence of a neutral FeK_alpha line with a confidence level of 98.8%. The high nH value, 2.2+/-0.2x10^22 cm^-2, would explain the misclassification of the source. Marginal evidence of AGN nature was found in the X-ray spectra of AM1211-465SW and AM0707-273E. The X-ray emission of the three remaining galaxies can be explained by starburst activity.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&