Reply: Biological Plausibility Behind the Benefits of Intravenous Metoprolol in Severe COVID-19.

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Immediate Effects of Whole-Body versus Local Dynamic Electrostimulation of the Abdominal Muscles in Healthy People Assessed by Ultrasound: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Dynamic electrostimulation consists of the application of local or global electrostimulation together with physical exercise. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of a dynamic electrostimulation session on the thickness of the abdominal musculature, inter-rectus distance, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, and to identify possible differences in its form of application. A total of 120 healthy participants were divided into three groups: the whole-body electrostimulation group, the local electrostimulation group, and the control group without electrical stimulation. All groups performed a single session with the same dynamic exercise protocol. Muscle thickness and inter-rectus distance were evaluated ultrasonographically using the Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging technique both at rest and in muscle contraction (the active straight leg raise test) to find the post-intervention differences. The results showed significant differences in immediate post-intervention heart rate, with a smaller increase in the local electrostimulation group compared to the control and whole-body electrostimulation groups. No significant differences were identified between the groups after the interventions in the rest of the variables analyzed. Therefore, a local application, with the same effects as a global application on the abdominal musculature, has fewer contraindications, which makes its use more advisable, especially in populations with cardiorespiratory disorders, for which more research is needed.Sección Deptal. de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia (Enfermería)Fac. de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y PodologíaTRUEProfessional College of Physiotherapists of Castilla y León (Spain).pu

Analysis of the isometric activation of the gluteus medius and the intrinsic musculature of the sole in the prevention of injuries in elite basketball players: a pilot study

[Resumen] Introducción: El valgo dinámico de rodilla es uno de los principales factores de riesgo de lesión de deportes de impacto como el Baloncesto. Mejorar los sistemas de análisis de identificación de los factores de riesgo y los protocolos de prevención de lesiones se ha convertido en uno de los objetivos principales del fisioterapeuta deportivo, con el objetivo de disminuir el riesgo de lesión del deportista. Material y Métodos: Se analizó la distribución de las presiones plantares y los ángulos de alineación de los segmentos corporales en el plano frontal durante el Single-Leg-Squat Test en 10 sujetos deportistas de élite, con el objetivo de y observar la modificación a corto plazo asociada a la activación isométrica del glúteo medio y la musculatura intrínseca de la planta del pie. Resultados: Variaciones significativas en el aumento de la presión plantar del primer metatarsiano se registraron tras la activación del glúteo medio y de la musculatura intrínseca del pie. No se obtuvieron resultados significativos en la modificación de los ángulos de alineación en el plano frontal. Conclusiones: Un aumento de la presión plantar de la cabeza del primer metatarsiano puede relacionarse con una mayor estabilidad del miembro, mediante la activación del glúteo medio y de la musculatura intrínseca del pie. Son necesarios estudios con muestras más amplias que correlacionen los datos obtenidos en una muestra más homogénea.[Abstract] Introduction: Dynamic knee valgus is one of the main injury risk factors of impact sports such as basketball. Systems improvement for the analysis of identification of risk factors and injury prevention protocols has become one of the main objectives of the sports physiotherapist, with the aim of reducing the risk of athletes injury. Material and Methods: The distribution of plantar pressures and the angles of alignment of the body segments in the frontal plane during the Single-Leg-Squat Test in 10 elite athletes was analyzed, with the objective of observing the modification in short-term associated with the isometric activation of the gluteus medius and the intrinsic plantar musculature of the foot. Results: Significant variations in the increase of plantar pressure of the first metatarsal were recorded after activation of the gluteus medius and the intrinsic plantar muscles of the foot. No significant results were obtained in the modification of the alignment angle in the frontal plane. Conclusions: An increase in the plantar pressure of the head of the first metatarsal can be related to greater stability of the limb, through activation of the gluteus medius and the intrinsic plantar muscles of the foot. Studies with larger samples that correlate the data obtained in a more homogeneous sample are necessary

FORTLS: An R Package for Processing TLS Data and Estimating Stand Variables in Forest Inventories

Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) enables rapid, automatic, and detailed 3D representation of surfaces with an easily handled scanner device. TLS, therefore, shows great potential for use in Forest Inventories (FIs). However, the lack of well-established algorithms for TLS data processing hampers operational use of the scanner for FI purposes. Here, we present FORTLS, which is an R package specifically developed to automate TLS point cloud data processing for forestry purposes. The FORTLS package enables (i) detection of trees and estimation of their diameter at breast height (dbh), (ii) estimation of some stand variables (e.g., density, basal area, mean, and dominant height), (iii) computation of metrics related to important tree attributes estimated in FIs at stand level, and (iv) optimization of plot design for combining TLS data and field measured data. FORTLS can be used with single-scan TLS data, thus, improving data acquisition and shortening the processing time as well as increasing sample size in a cost-efficient manner. The package also includes several features for correcting occlusion problems in order to produce improved estimates of stand variables. These features of the FORTLS package will enable the operational use of TLS in FIs, in combination with inference techniques derived from model-based and model-assisted approachesThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, AGL2016-76769-C2-2-R. JAMV was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education through the FPU program (FPU16/03057)S

Insights for Stratification of Risk in Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited disease with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, testing identifies genetic disorders in only 20–30% of patients analysed, indicating a gap in knowledge of its genetic aetiology. Diagnosis relies on ECG, and risk stratification in BrS patients is challenging, primarily because of the complexity of the issue. As a result, clinicians fail to provide the appropriate strategy for SCD prevention for many patients. Several variables and interventions are being studied to improve diagnostics and maximise patient protection. In addition, the scientific community must increase efforts to provide patient care according to knowledge and research for improving stratification of risk. In this article, the authors summarise contemporary evidence on clinical variables and provide an overview of future directions in risk stratification and SCD prevention

Operationalizing the use of TLS in forest inventories: the R package FORTLS

Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) devices show great potential for application in Forest Inventories (FIs) as they are capable of registering high resolution point clouds rapidly and automatically. Nevertheless, operational use of TLS for FI purposes has been hampered by the absence of algorithms for processing the acquired data, particularly in the single-scan mode, as occlusions result in loss of information. The R package FORTLS has been developed to overcome this obstacle, as it automates the processing of single-scan TLS point cloud data for forestry purposes and includes several features that deal with occlusions. FORTLS makes use of the main advantage of the single-scan scenario in FI, thus improving the efficiency of data acquisition and post-processing. All of these features of the FORTLS package are potentially valuable for the operational use of TLS in FIs, in combination with inference techniques derived from model-based and model-assisted approachesThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [AGL2016-76769-C2-2-R; PID2020-119204RB-C22] and Galician Regional Government [2020-CP031; ED431F 2020/02]; JAMV was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the FPU program [FPU16/03057]; AMC was supported by Galician Regional Government within the framework of the agreement “Development of the Galician continuous forest inventory” [2020-CP031]; CPC was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [RYC2018-024939-I]S

Diseño de inventarios forestales en poblaciones muy fragmentadas: un caso de estudiosobre el uso de información catastral en Galicia

[ES] Los inventarios forestales (IFs) permiten conocer y evaluar el estado de los sistemas forestales, lo que los convierte en una herramienta de apoyo fundamental para los procesos de toma de decisiones y planificación de una gestión forestal sostenible. La fase de diseño y planificación de un IF es clave a la hora de garantizar la calidad y fiabilidad de los resultados que de él se deriven. Dos de las principales cuestiones a establecer durante el diseño de un IF son (i) la población objetivo y el diseño muestral, y (ii) el diseño de parcela. Los diseños demuestra y parcela más habituales en IF pueden presentar ciertas limitaciones cuando las masas forestales objetivo están muy fragmentadas, como ocurre en el caso de Galicia, debido a la alta probabilidad de que las áreas de medición seleccionadas intersequen parcelas con distintos usos, especies o edades. En este trabajo se ha estudiado, desde el punto de vista teórico, el efecto sobre la variabilidad de la muestra de la utilización de información catastral en el proceso de optimización del diseño de un IF para Galicia, cuya población forestal se caracteriza por presentar un alto nivel de fragmentació

Interpreting the uncertainty of model-based and design-based estimation in downscaling estimates from NFI data: a case-study in Extremadura (Spain)

[EN] Remotely sensed data are increasingly used together with National Forest Inventory (NFI) data to improve the spatial precision of forest variable estimates. In this study, we combined data from the 4th Spanish National Forest Inventory (SNFI-4) and from the 2nd nationwide Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) survey to develop predictive forest inventory variables (total over bark volume (V), basal area (G), and annual increase in total volume (IAVC)) and aboveground biomass (AGB) models for the eight major forest strata in the region of Extremadura that are included in the Spanish Forest Map (SFM). We generated maps at 25 m resolution by applying an area‐based approach (ABA) and 758 sample plots measured with good positional accuracy within the SNFI-4 in Extremadura (Spain). Inventory performance is mainly influenced by spatial scale and vegetation structure. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of statistical inference methods that can characterize forest inventory variables and AGB uncertainty across multiple spatial scales and types of vegetation structure. Predictions at pixel level were used to produce county, provincial, and regional model-based estimates, which were then compared with design-based estimates at different scales for different types of forest. We developed and tested both methods for forested area (cover, 19,744.15 km2), one province (9126.78 km2), and two counties (1594.42 km2 and 2076.76 km2, respectively) in Extremadura. The resulting relative standard error (SE) for regional level forest type-specific model-based estimates of V, G, IAVC, and AGB ranged from 3.34%–14.46%, 3.22%–12.50%, 4.46%–16.67%, and 3.63%–12.58%, respectively. The performance of the model-based approach, as assessed by the relative SE, was similar to that of the design-based approach at regional and provincial levels. However, the precision of SNFI model-based estimates was higher than that of estimates based on only the plot observations in small areas (e.g. at county level). The standard errors (SE) for model-based inferences were stable across the different scales, while SNFI design-based errors were higher due to the small sample sizes available for small areas. The findings indicate that SNFI-model based maps could be used directly to estimate forest inventory variables and AGB in the major forest strata included in the Spanish Forest Map, leading to potentially large economic savings.SIThe authors also thank to Forest Research Centre, a research unit funded by Fundação para a Ciência e aTecnologia I.P. (FCT), Portugal (UIDB/00239/2021). Postdoctoral grant Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España PTQ-13-06378 (Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness) to Dr Juan Guerra Hernández. Grant number LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-030391, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia PTDC/ASP-SIL/30391/2017. Project “Apoio à Contratação de Recursos Humanos Altamente Qualificados” (NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000045). under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement. ForestWISE - Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest & Fire Management, was recognized as a CoLAB by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (FCT). This research was supported by the project “Extensión del cuarto inventario forestal nacional mediante técnicas LiDAR para la gestión sostenible de los montes de Extremadura” from the Extremadura Forest Service (FEADER nº 1952SE1FR435

Actas del Workshop sobre Teledetección Próxima Terrestre para Aplicaciones Forestales

Este libro contiene las actas del Workshop sobre Teledetección Próxima Terrestre para Aplicaciones Forestales que tuvo lugar los días 1, 2 y 3 de septiembre de 2021 en la Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería del Campus Terra de la Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Lugo, España). Este workshop tuvo como objetivo la puesta en común de resultados científicos y aplicaciones prácticas de estas tecnologías en el ámbito forestal, así como la práctica de aspectos operativos en la toma y análisis de datos. Para ello, constó de jornadas científico-técnicas con formato de congreso (híbrido presencial-telemático), sesiones prácticas de toma de datos en campo y de su posterior análisis y procesado en ordenador mediante la impartición de talleres (presencial), y de una mesa redonda de reflexión sobre el estado del arte de estas tecnologías en todos los ámbitos forestales implicados. Este evento fue organizado conjuntamente por los grupos de investigación GI-1716 Proyectos y Planificación (PROEPLA) y GI-1837 Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Forestal Sostenible (UXAFORES) de la Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. La celebración del workshop fue financiada por la Diputación de Lugo y la Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, a través de la Convocatoria de axudas 2021 para a realización de actividades de investigación e/ou transferencia no ámbito do desenvolvemento rural no Campus de Lugo, y por la Consellería de Educación, Universidade e Formación Profesional de la Xunta de Galicia que, mediante el Programa de Consolidación y Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas, financia los grupos de referencia competitiva PROEPLA (GRC GI-1716, ED431C 2021/27) y UXAFORES (GRC GI-1837, ED431C 2018/07). Además, el evento fue patrocinado por las empresas ÁLAVA INGENIEROS y GRAFINTA, que han participado como sponsors vinculados a dos de las tecnologías de teledetección próxima terrestre objeto de la actividad: escáner láser terrestre (TLS) y localización simultánea y mapeo (SLAM), respectivamente. En la organización del Workshop sobre Teledetección Próxima Terrestre para Aplicaciones Forestales se contó con la colaboración del Campus Terra y la Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería de la Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, que proporcionaron los espacios en los que tuvieron lugar de forma presencial las distintas sesiones y talleres del workshopDiputación de Lugo y Universidade de Santiago de Compostela: Convocatoria de axudas 2021 para a realización de actividades de investigación e/ou transferencia no ámbito do desenvolvemento rural no Campus de Lugo. Proyectos y Planificación (PROEPLA) y Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Forestal Sostenible (UXAFORES) de la Universidade de Santiago de Compostela: Consellería de Educación, Universidade e Formación Profesional de la Xunta de Galicia. Grupos de Referencia Competitiva: PROEPLA (GRC GI-1716, ED431C 2021/27) y UXAFORES (GRC GI-1837, ED431C 2018/07

Trends in the use of electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation: influence of major trials and guidelines on clinical practice

Background: The purpose of the present study was to assess the trends in the use of ECV following published studies that had compared rhythm and rate control strategies on atrial fibrillation (AF), and the recommendations included in the current clinical practice guidelines. Methods: The REVERCAT is a population-based assessment of the use of electrical cardioversion (ECV) in treating persistent AF in Catalonia (Spain). The initial survey was conducted in 2003 and the follow-up in 2010. Results: We observed a decrease of 9% in the absolute numbers of ECV performed (436 in 2003 vs. 397 in 2010). This is equivalent to 27% when considering population increases over this period. The patients treated with ECV in 2010 were younger, had a lower prevalence of previous embolism, a higher prevalence of diabetes, and increased body weight. Underlying heart disease factors indicated, in 2010, a higher proportion of NYHA >= II and left ventricular ejection fraction <30%. We observed a reduction in the number of ECV performed in 16 of the 27 (67%) participating hospitals. However, there was an increase of 14% in the number of procedures performed in tertiary hospitals, and was related to the increasing use of ECV as a bridge to AF ablation. Considering the initial number of patients treated with ECV, the rate of sinus rhythm at 3 months was almost unchanged (58% in 2003 vs. 57% in 2010; p = 0.9) despite the greater use of biphasic energy in 2010 and a similar prescription of anti-arrhythmic drugs. Conclusions: Although we observed a decrease in the number of ECVs performed over the 7 year period between the two studies, this technique remains a common option for treating patients with persistent AF. The change in the characteristics of candidate patients did not translate into better outcomes