Effect of plyometric training on sprint performance

El propósito del estudio fue investigar el efecto del entrenamiento pliométrico en la velocidad en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte de la Universidad de León, en un periodo de entrenamiento de 4 semanas, con dos sesiones semanales, en una muestra formada por 18 sujetos (23 ± 1 año), divididos en dos grupos, el Grupo de Entrenamiento, compuesto por 13 sujetos y el Grupo Control, formado por 5 sujetos. Los resultados analizados en un Test de velocidad de 30m. lisos revelaron diferencias significativas en el Grupo Entrenamiento después de las sesiones de entrenamiento, aumentando la velocidad de 0-10m. y de 0-30m. (p<0,05). En cuanto a la aceleración también se obtuvieron cambios significativos, con una mejora de 0-10m. (p<0,05). Estos resultados demuestran que el entrenamiento pliométrico puede aumentar la velocidad de 0-10m. y de 0-30m., reduciendo el tiempo en recorrer dicha distancia.The purpose of this study was to research on the effect of plyometric training on the velocity of students from the Faculty of the Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport of León University. The training lasted four weeks, with two sessions per week. Eighteen participants (23± 1 years of age) were assigned to two groups; a Training Group, composed of fifteen subjects and a Control Group, of five subjects. The results, analyzed in a Velocity Test of a 30m sprint, revealed significant differences in the Training Group after the training sessions, the velocity having increased about 0-10m., 0-30m. (p<0,05). With regard to acceleration, significant differences were also observed, with an improvement of 0-10m. (p<0,05). These results showed that plyometric training can increase the velocity about 0-10m. and 0-30m., reducing the time to cover said distance

Influence of roughness on conoscopic holography digitizing of DIN34CrMo4 surfaces

AbstractConoscopic Holography is a non-contact digitizing technique used in inspection and reverse engineering tasks. A laser beam is projected onto a surface, and its reflection generates a holographic pattern inside the sensor. This pattern is later analysed and the distance between sensor and surface is calculated. Like other optical techniques, conoscopic holography shall be affected by surface properties and ambient conditions. This works deals with the influence of surface roughness and manufacturing process on the quality of digitizing. 34CrMo4 steel test specimens have been manufactured to obtain four different Ra levels. Two different manufacturing process, electrical discharge machining (EDM) and ball-end milling (BEM) have been also considered. Quality of the digitized point clouds under different sensor configurations has been analysed, in order to provide a recommendation for optimal capture conditions

Archaeometric analysis of a fragment of molded stucco cornice with rope from the House of the Mithraeum (Mérida, Spain)

[EN] During the excavations carried out since 2017 in the House of the Mithraeum (Casa del Mitreo) in Mérida a collection of paintings was recovered from Room 11, which had been abandoned in the late 3rd c. CE after a fire. The remains included fragments of molded stucco cornices, with braided esparto grass ropes on the reverse that were used to attach them to the ceiling. This article presents the descriptive and technical study of the finds and their compositional analysis using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Data resulting from these analyses allow us to understand the fragments¿ composition and technical execution, and even the possible circulation of workshops and raw materials.Fernández Díaz, A.; Bejarano Osorio, AM.; Bustamante-Álvarez, M.; Yusa Marco, DJ.; Vicente Palomino, S.; Castillo Alcántara, G. (2022). Archaeometric analysis of a fragment of molded stucco cornice with rope from the House of the Mithraeum (Mérida, Spain). Journal of Roman archaeology. 35(1):64-85. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1047759421000520648535

Video-based tasks for emotional processing rehabilitation in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown of cognitive processes and by a deficit of typi-cal emotional responses. Effectiveness of computerized task has been demonstrated in the field of cognitive rehabilitation. However, current rehabilitation programs based on virtual environments normally focus on higher cognitive functions, not covering social cognition training. This paper presents a set of video-based tasks specifically designed for the rehabilita-tion of emotional processing deficits in patients in early stages of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders. These tasks are part of the Mental Health program of Guttmann NeuroPer-sonalTrainer® cognitive tele-rehabilitation platform, and entail innovation both from a clinical and technological per-spective in relation with former traditional therapeutic con-tents

Analysis of the efficacy of an internet-based self-administered intervention (“Living Better”) to promote healthy habits in a population with obesity and hypertension: An exploratory randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Changes in unhealthy lifestyles are key elements in the prevention and treatment of obesity and hypertension. Internet-based programs offer great potential for the implementation of evidence-based interventions focused on promoting healthy habits. We evaluate the efcacy of an Internet-based self-administered program (“Living Better”) that addresses people diagnosed as being overweight or having type I obesity and hypertension. Methods: The sample was composed of a total of 106 participants (age Mean = 53; 59 males) from a public hospital in Spain, diagnosed as being overweight or having type I obesity and hypertension and randomized into two groups—the intervention group (IG; Internet-based intervention) and the control group (CG; usual medical treatment). The intervention used cognitive-behavioral strategies and psychoeducation to promote healthy habits. Anthropometric data (i.e., Body Mass Index –BMI-, waist circumference, and hip circumference) and lifestyle/psychological data (i.e., quality of life, physical activity, eating styles, motivation, mood, and self-efcacy) were assessed before and after the intervention, and at 6 and 12-month follow-ups. Results: Signifcant differences were observed between the IG and the CG in anthropometrical variables after intervention (i.e., BMI and waist circumference), external eating style, and anxiety and stress scores (p < 0.05). Follow-up data showed that changes were maintained in BMI, waist and hip circumference, and external eating in the IG. After receiving the Internet-based treatment, the CG also improved its clinical condition. Discussion: This study demonstrates that the Internet is a viable alternative for the delivery and dissemination of interventions focused on promoting healthy habits, and a totally self-administered intervention can produce long-term positive results

Virtual reality-based early neurocognitive stimulation in critically ill patients: A pilot randomized clinical trial

This study focuses on the application of a non-immersive virtual reality (VR)-based neurocognitive intervention in critically ill patients. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of direct outcome measures to detect the impact of this digital therapy on patients’ cognitive and emotional outcomes. Seventy-two mechanically ventilated adult patients were randomly assigned to the “treatment as usual” (TAU, n = 38) or the “early neurocognitive stimulation” (ENRIC, n = 34) groups. All patients received standard intensive care unit (ICU) care. Patients in the ENRIC group also received adjuvant neurocognitive stimulation during the ICU stay. Outcome measures were a full neuropsychological battery and two mental health questionnaires. A total of 42 patients (21 ENRIC) completed assessment one month after ICU discharge, and 24 (10 ENRIC) one year later. At onemonth follow-up, ENRIC patients had better working memory scores (p = 0.009, d = 0.363) and showed up to 50% less non-specific anxiety (11.8% vs. 21.1%) and depression (5.9% vs. 10.5%) than TAU patients. A general linear model of repeated measures reported a main effect of group, but not of time or group–time interaction, on working memory, with ENRIC patients outperforming TAU patients (p = 0.008, ¿p2 = 0.282). Our results suggest that non-immersive VR-based neurocognitive stimulation may help improve short-term working memory outcomes in survivors of critical illness. Moreover, this advantage could be maintained in the long term. An efficacy trial in a larger sample of participants is feasible and must be conducted. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Reversible Light-Induced Dimerization of Secondary Face Azobenzene-Functionalized β-Cyclodextrin Derivatives

β-cyclodextrin (βCyD) derivatives equipped with aromatic appendages at the secondary face exhibit tailorable self-assembling capabilities. The aromatic modules can participate in inclusion phenomena and/or aromatic-aromatic interactions. Supramolecular species can thus form that, at their turn, can engage in further co-assembling with third components in a highly regulated manner; the design of nonviral gene delivery systems is an illustrative example. Endowing such systems with stimuli responsiveness while keeping diastereomeric purity and a low synthetic effort is a highly wanted advancement. Here, we show that an azobenzene moiety can be “clicked” to a single secondary O-2 position of βCyD affording 1,2,3-triazole-linked βCyD-azobenzene derivatives that undergo reversible light-controlled self-organization into dimers where the monomer components face their secondary rims. Their photoswitching and supramolecular properties have been thoroughly characterized by UV-vis absorption, induced circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and computational techniques. As model processes, the formation of inclusion complexes between a water-soluble triazolylazobenzene derivative and βCyD as well as the assembly of native βCyD/βCyD-azobenzene derivative heterodimers have been investigated in parallel. The stability of the host-guest supramolecules has been challenged against the competitor guest adamantylamine and the decrease of the medium polarity using methanol-water mixtures. The collective data support that the E-configured βCyD-azobenzene derivatives, in aqueous solution, form dimers stabilized by the interplay of aromatic-aromatic and aromatic-βCyD cavity interactions after partial reciprocal inclusion. Photoswitching to the Z-isomer disrupts the dimers into monomeric species, offering opportunity for the spatiotemporal control of the organizational status by light.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2019-105858RB-I00, PID2020-118403GB-I00, PID2020-118384GB-I00, PID2020-119130GB-I00Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional PID2021-124247OB-C21Junta de Andalucía P20_00166, US-1380698, P12-FQM-1467Universidad de Sevilla FPU18/02922, FPU19/0436

Iberian Neanderthals in forests and savannahs

This article aims to delve into the reality of glacial refuges of forests and tree species (including conifers, mesothermophilous angiosperms and xerothermic scrub) during the cold dry phases of the Iberian Pleistocene in which there is evidence of occupation of Middle Palaeolithic people. The research framework focuses on the eastern sector of the Iberian Peninsula due to the physiographic, palaeobotanical and archaeological peculiarities, substantiated by recent studies. We contend that some Neanderthal occupations developed in the context of high geobiological complexity, high biological diversity and highly structured forest ecosystems. We highlight the importance of glacial refuges as local anomalies that, however, would be contingent on vegetational development, and on the survival of Palaeolithic groups in areas with a broad diversity of natural resources.The development of this work was supported by Projects CGL2015‐69160‐R, CGL‐BOS2015‐68604‐P, funded by FEDER/Ministry of Science and Innovation – Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Project (PID2019‐1049449GB‐I00), funded by FEDER/Ministry of Science and Innovation – Agencia Estatal de Investigación and Fundación Séneca (grant no. 20788/PI/18). A.B.M.A.'s work has been partially funded by the Spanish Science Ministry (HAR2017‐84997‐P) and the ERC‐CoG project (SUBSILIENCE Ref 818299