Revisión sistemática sobre el impacto de la actividad física en los trastornos de la marcha en el adulto mayor

Objetivos. 1) realizar una revisión sistemática de los estudios que examinan el impacto de la actividad física en los trastornos de la marcha del adulto mayor entre el periodo de 2003-2013, y 2) hacer recomendaciones basadas en el nivel y la fuerza de las evidencias. Método. La revisión fue limitada a: tipo de estudio, periodo de publicación, alteraciones de marcha, actividad física, frecuencia, duración, intensidad, protocolos de evaluación. En el proceso de adquisición de la información fueron empleadas las palabras clave marcha, patrón de marcha, biomecánica de la marcha, autonomía, funcionalidad, actividad física, ejercicio físico, vejez, adulto mayor, lesiones, fallos, caídas. Un total de 963 artículos fueron valorados desde la metodología, los resultados, la discusión y las conclusiones. Sólo 52 documentos cumplían con los criterios inclusión y exclusión establecidos, facilitando la presentación de niveles de evidencia y fuerza de las recomendaciones. Resultados: los programas de entrenamiento físico basados en la potencia muscular, con una frecuencia no menor a dos días por semana, mínimo por 12 semanas, 150 minutos semanales de trabajo, con intensidades entre 50 % y el 80 % respecto a la variable de trabajo generan adaptaciones positivas en la marcha del adulto mayor. Hay una gran variedad de materiales y métodos empleados en la valoración de los patrones de marcha, factor que limita la validez externa de los estudios revisados

Revisió sistemàtica sobre l’impacte de l’activitat física en els trastorns de la marxa en l’adult de la tercera edat

Objectius. 1) Fer una revisió sistemàtica dels estudis que examinen l’impacte de l’activitat física en els trastorns de la marxa de l’adult de la tercera edat entre el període de 2003-2013, i 2) fer recomanacions basades en el nivell i la força de les evidències. Mètode: La revisió va ser limitada a: tipus d’estudi, període de publicació, alteracions de marxa, activitat física, freqüència, durada, intensitat, protocols d’avaluació. En el procés d’adquisició de la informació van ser emprades les paraules clau marxa, patró de marxa, biomecànica de la marxa, autonomia, funcionalitat, activitat física, exercici físic, vellesa, adult de la tercera edat, lesions, fallada, caigudes. Un total de 963 articles van ser valorats des de la metodologia, els resultats, la discussió i les conclusions. Només 52 documents complien amb els criteris d’inclusió i exclusió establerts, i facilitaven la presentació de nivells d’evidència i força de les recomanacions. Resultats: els programes d’entrenament físic basats en la potència muscular, amb una freqüència no menor a dos dies per setmana, mínim per 12 setmanes, 150 minuts setmanals de treball, amb intensitats entre 50 % i el 80 % respecte a la variable de treball generen adaptacions positives en la marxa de l’adult de la tercera edat. Hi ha una gran varietat de materials i mètodes utilitzats en la valoració dels patrons de marxa, factor que limita la validesa externa dels estudis revisats

Phenomenology of a three-family model with gauge symmetry SU(3)_c X SU(4)_L X U(1)_X

We study an extension of the gauge group SU(3)_c X SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y of the standard model to the symmetry group SU(3)_c X SU(4)_L X U(1)_X (3-4-1 for short). This extension provides an interesting attempt to answer the question of family replication in the sense that models for the electroweak interaction can be constructed so that anomaly cancellation is achieved by an interplay between generations, all of them under the condition that the number of families must be divisible by the number of colours of SU(3)_c. This method of anomaly cancellation requires a family of quarks transforming differently from the other two, thus leading to tree-level flavour changing neutral currents (FCNC) transmitted by the two extra neutral gauge bosons $Z'$ and $Z''$ predicted by the model. In a version of the 3-4-1 extension, which does not contain particles with exotic electric charges, we study the fermion mass spectrum and some aspects of the phenomenology of the neutral gauge boson sector. In particular, we impose limits on the $Z-Z'$ mixing angle and on the mass scale of the corresponding physical new neutral gauge boson $Z_2$, and establish a lower bound on the mass of the additional new neutral gauge boson $Z'' \equiv Z_3$. For the analysis we use updated precision electroweak data at the Z-pole from the CERN LEP and SLAC Linear Collider, and atomic parity violation data. The mass scale of the additional new neutral gauge boson $Z_3$ is constrained by using updated experimental inputs from neutral meson mixing in the analysis of the sources of FCNC in the model. The data constrain the $Z-Z'$ mixing angle to a very small value of O(0.001), and the lower bounds on $M_{Z_2}$ and on $M_{Z_3}$ are found to be of O(1 TeV) and of O(7 TeV), repectively.Comment: 22 pages, 6 tables, 1 figure. To appear in J. Phys. G: Nuclear and Particle Physic

Modelización de la demanda de energía eléctrica: más allá de la normalidad

La característica principal que diferencia los mercados de electricidad de otros mercados corresponde con la necesidad de producir la energía en el mismo instante que esta es consumida, a tal punto que en tiempo real los sistemas deben mantener un perfecto balance: en cada momento la demanda de energía eléctrica es igual a la generación. Esta característica impide, por ejemplo, el arbitraje intertemporal por parte de quienes realizan transacciones en este mercado. Al respecto, al modelizar la demanda, es común encontrar análisis econométricos que consideren el supuesto de normalidad; sin embargo, este supuesto puede ignorar, a priori, una eventual presencia de sesgo, curtosis o momentos de orden superior en esta variable. En este trabajo se estudia el enfoque seminoparamétrico (SNP) para describir la demanda de energía eléctrica en Colombia y los residuales de un proceso ARIMA. Se propone la selección de funciones de densidad de probabilidad en términos de una expansión Gram-Charlier finita ajustada por el criterio de máxima verosimilitud. Como caso de estudio se considera la demanda de energía eléctrica en el mercado colombiano. Como resultado se encuentra que la distribución de tipo SNP logra mejor ajuste que la distribución normal para algunas transformaciones de la demanda de energía eléctrica donde se pueden llegar a requerir más de cuatro momentos para representar esta variable.The main characteristic that differentiates electricity markets from other markets corresponds to the need to produce energy at the same time it is consumed, to such an extent that in real time the systems must maintain a perfect balance: at each moment the demand for electrical energy is equal to its generation. This characteristic prevents, for example, intertemporal arbitrage by those who carry out transactions in this market. In this regard, when modelling demand, it is common to find econometric analyzes that consider the assumption of normality; however, this assumption may ignore, a priori, an eventual presence of bias, kurtosis or higher order moments in this variable. In this paper, the Semi-Nonparametric approach (SNP) is studied to describe the demand for electricity in Colombia and the residuals of an ARIMA process. We propose the selection of probability density functions in terms of a finite Gram-Charlier expansion adjusted by the criterion of maximum likelihood. As a case study, the demand for electrical energy in the Colombian market is considered. As a result, it is found that the SNP type distribution achieves better adjustment than the normal distribution for some transformations of the electrical energy demand where it can be required more than four moments to represent this variable

Description of the initial ontogenic development of the Dorada Brycon moorei (Characiformes: Bryconidae)

Ontogeny is a biological process associated with the appearance or disappearance of anatomical structures and physiological associated process. The objective of this work is to describe ontogenic development of Brycon moorei, an oviparous and potamodromous fish species. It is a contribution to a better understanding of its initial development. Samples were obtained from parents kept in captivity. Woynarovich-type incubators were used for the embryos and cement ponds for the larvae, both with a constant supply of water at an average temperature of 27 ºC and food availability. The hours post-fertilization (HPF) of ontogeny were recorded. The optic capsule was evident at 9 HPF, the opening of the mouth and anus at 23 and 24 HPF respectively. Duration of each phase during the embryonic period: cleavage (4 h), gastrulation (3 h), embryogenesis (7 h) and, of the larval period: vitelline larva (28 h), pre-flexion (61 h), flexion (80 h) and post-flexion (>170 h). In each period and phase the analysis of its shape was carried out using distance measurements. Larvae had a considerable increase in length with the HPF. Total number of myomers was kept constant since preflexion phase. Our results can be used to explain the general picture of early development of B. moorei under captivity conditions. Also, they can help develop better breeding methods for larvae in production and to find diagnostic characters that can be used at thein taxonomic level

Modelización de la demanda de energía eléctrica: más allá de la normalidad

This work proposes a model of electrical energy demand based on time series methods and semi-nonparametric statistics (SNP). This allows knowing not only the expected value of the demand but also its probability distribution so that, by calculating metrics such as the Quantile Risk Metrics, decisions can be made based on less or more extreme values favorable than the expected value. The results show that in the case of electricity demand in the Colombian market between 2000 and 2018, the probability distribution of the average daily demand is leptokurtic. That is, extreme events occur more frequently than those assumed by a normal distribution. Thus, the Gaussian distribution assumption leads to undervaluation of risk in terms of undervaluation of the frequency of extreme values.Este trabajo propone un modelo de demanda de energía eléctrica basado en métodos de series de tiempo y estadística semi-noparamétrica (SNP). Esto permite conocer no solo el valor esperado de la demanda sino también su distribución de probabilidad de manera que, mediante el cálculo de métricas como la Medida de Riesgo de Cuantil (Quantile Risk Metrics), se puedan tomar decisiones basadas en valores extremos menos o más favorables que el valor esperado. Los resultados muestran que para el caso de la demanda de energía eléctrica del mercado colombiano entre los años 2000 y 2018 la distribución de probabilidad de la demanda diaria promedio es leptocúrtica. Es decir, los eventos extremos ocurren con mayor frecuencia que aquellos que suponen una distribución normal. De modo que, el supuesto de distribución gaussiana conlleva a la subvaloración del riesgo en términos de la subvaloración de la frecuencia de valores extremos

Designing and Engineering Methylorubrum extorquens AM1 for Itaconic Acid Production

Methylorubrum extorquens (formerly Methylobacterium extorquens) AM1 is a methylotrophic bacterium with a versatile lifestyle. Various carbon sources including acetate, succinate and methanol are utilized by M. extorquens AM1 with the latter being a promising inexpensive substrate for use in the biotechnology industry. Itaconic acid (ITA) is a high-value building block widely used in various industries. Given that no wildtype methylotrophic bacteria are able to utilize methanol to produce ITA, we tested the potential of M. extorquens AM1 as an engineered host for this purpose. In this study, we successfully engineered M. extorquens AM1 to express a heterologous codon-optimized gene encoding cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase. The engineered strain produced ITA using acetate, succinate and methanol as the carbon feedstock. The highest ITA titer in batch culture with methanol as the carbon source was 31.6 ± 5.5 mg/L, while the titer and productivity were 5.4 ± 0.2 mg/L and 0.056 ± 0.002 mg/L/h, respectively, in a scaled-up fed-batch bioreactor under 60% dissolved oxygen saturation. We attempted to enhance the carbon flux toward ITA production by impeding poly-β-hydroxybutyrate accumulation, which is used as carbon and energy storage, via mutation of the regulator gene phaR. Unexpectedly, ITA production by the phaR mutant strain was not higher even though poly-β-hydroxybutyrate concentration was lower. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis revealed that phaR mutation in the ITA-producing strain led to complex rewiring of gene transcription, which might result in a reduced carbon flux toward ITA production. Besides poly-β-hydroxybutyrate metabolism, we found evidence that PhaR might regulate the transcription of many other genes including those encoding other regulatory proteins, methanol dehydrogenases, formate dehydrogenases, malate:quinone oxidoreductase, and those synthesizing pyrroloquinoline quinone and thiamine co-factors. Overall, M. extorquens AM1 was successfully engineered to produce ITA using acetate, succinate and methanol as feedstock, further supporting this bacterium as a feasible host for use in the biotechnology industry. This study showed that PhaR could have a broader regulatory role than previously anticipated, and increased our knowledge of this regulator and its influence on the physiology of M. extorquens AM1

Hybrid cloud computing architecture based on open source technology

The advance of technologies such as distributed computing, Internetand grid computing, have enabled Cloud Computing to become part of a new model of computing and business. Cloud Computing is transforming the traditional ways in which companies use and acquire Information Technology (IT) resources. After an initial boom in Public Cloud, companies begun to mount hybrid Clouds that offer the advantages of Cloud Computing in addition to the privacy of data they consider strategic. A hybrid Cloud solution allows the integration of both systems. Leading companies in cloud solutions have understood this evolution and begun to offer hybrid solutions. Moreover, many of these companies are taking the next step by offering solutions based on open source standards that allow a high degree of interoperability and portability

Effect on the demand and stock returns: cross-sectional of Big Data and time-series analysis

For reducing the degree of uncertainty caused by constant change in the environment, large, medium or small, private or public organizations must support their decisions in something more than experience or intuition; they must be supported by the development of accurate and reliable forecasts in order to meet the needs in the organization planning tasks. This case study presents a growing company dedicated to the storage of perishable products and incorporates time series forecasting techniques to estimate the volume of storage to foresee the requirements of additional facilities, personnel and materials needed for product mobility

Testosterone and Cortisol Release among Spanish Soccer Fans Watching the 2010 World Cup Final

This field study investigated the release of testosterone and cortisol of a vicarious winning experience in Spanish fans watching the finals between Spain and the Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer. Spanish fans (n = 50) watched the match with friends or family in a public place or at home and also participated in a control condition. Consistent with hypotheses, results revealed that testosterone and cortisol levels were higher when watching the match than on a control day. However, neither testosterone nor cortisol levels increased after the victory of the Spanish team. Moreover, the increase in testosterone secretion was not related to participants' sex, age or soccer fandom, but the increase in total cortisol secretion during the match was higher among men than among women and among fans that were younger. Also, increases in cortisol secretion were greater to the degree that people were a stronger fan of soccer. Level of fandom further appeared to account for the sex effect, but not for the age effect. Generally, the testosterone data from this study are in line with the challenge hypothesis, as testosterone levels of watchers increased to prepare their organism to defend or enhance their social status. The cortisol data from this study are in line with social self-preservation theory, as higher cortisol secretion among young and greater soccer fans suggests that especially they perceived that a negative outcome of the match would threaten their own social esteem