Metodología para la estimación del gasto energético en lesionados medulares mediante el empleo de acelerómetros

Los objetivos de la tesis fueron diseñar modelos lineales generales y redes neuronales artificiales para estimar el gasto energético de personas con paraplejia. Para ello se realizó un estuio descriptivo transversal en el que 20 personas con paraplejia realizaron una rutina de 10 actividades. Cada actividad tuvo una duración de 10 minutos y durante la realización de la misma se adquirieron datos de frecuencia cardiaca, consumo de oxínego y aceleraciones. Concretamente se colocaron 4 acelerómetros triaxiales, uno en cada muñeca, otro en el pecho y el último en la cintura. Una vez procesadas las señales y extraídas las características de interés se diseñaron los modelos matemáticos de estimación del consumo de oxígeno. Los resultados de nuestro estudio mostraron buenas estimaciones con los modelos lineales generales. De hecho estos modelos fueron mejores que los métodos de estimación del gasto energético en personas con lesión medular mediante acelerómetros existentes hasta la fecha. Además, la estimación mediante redes neuronales artificiales resultó excelente. De hecho el rendimiento de la estimación mediante las redes neuronales artificiales fue muy similar al de los mejores y más avanzados modelos de estimación existentes en personas sin discapacidad. En consecuencia, se puede concluir que se han diseñado modelos matemáticos de estimación del consumo de oxígeno en personas con paraplejia con una gran exactitud.The goals of this research were to design general linear models and artificial neural networks to estimate energy expenditure in persons with paraplegia. To do this we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study. 20 people with paraplegia performed a routine of 10 activities. Each activity lasted for 10 minutes and during such perform heart rate data, accelerations and oxygen consumption were acquired. Specifically four triaxial accelerometers were placed, one on each wrist, one on the chest and the last at the waist. Once processed and extracted signal features of interest mathematical models for estimating oxygen consumption were designed. The results of our study showed good estimates with general linear models. In fact, so far, these models were better than the methods of estimating energy expenditure in people with spinal cord injury using accelerometers. Furthermore, the estimation using artificial neural networks was excellent. In fact the accuracy of the estimation using artificial neural networks was very similar to the best and most advanced existing estimation models in people without disabilities. Consequently, we can conclude that the mathematical models designed to estimate the oxygen consumption in persons with paraplegia presents a great accuracy

Diseño y análisis del alumbrado público del municipio La Gineta (Albacete)

[ES] En este proyecto, se realizará el diseño del alumbrado público del alumbrado de La Gineta (Albacete), un municipio de aproximadamente 2500 habitantes, y 91 zonas lumínicas a estudiar. Para ello, se empleará, principalmente, el software DIALux, mediante el cual, en base a unos cálculos preliminares, se buscará la solución lumínica más apropiada (potencia lumínica, óptica, dimensiones, etc.), ajustándose a aspectos como la normativa actual y la adaptación al entorno de las luminarias (limitaciones físicas), tratando de llegar a la mejor solución posible tanto económica como energética. Se comprenden zonas de diseño como calles, plazas, pistas deportivas y un tramo de autovía, 91 en total. De este diseño principal, se obtendrán los planos de situación de las luminarias, y las propias luminarias (y sus características) empleadas en cada zona lumínica. Sustentándose en esta base, también se aportará el diseño unifilar del dimensionado eléctrico, sus componentes, así como la contratación eléctrica para nuestra instalación eléctrica y una simulación de su funcionamiento, en la que se analizará el consumo y coste, evaluando distintos escenarios de funcionamiento, modificando la configuración de los drivers. Y, finalmente, un resumen del presupuesto de la instalación y sus costes asociados.[EN] In this project, the design of the street lightning of La Gineta (Albacete) will be carried out, a municipality of approximately 2500 inhabitants, and 91 lighting areas to be studied. With this purpose, the DIALux 4 software will be used, through which, based on preliminary calculations, we will look for the most appropriate lighting solution (light power, optics, dimensions, etc.), adjusting to aspects such as, the current regulation, and the adaptation to the environment of the luminaries (physical limitations), trying to reach the best economic and energetic solution possible. It includes design areas such as streets, squares, sports areas, and a section of highway, 91 in total. From this main design, the layout of the luminaires, and the luminaires themselves (and their specifications) used in each lighting area, will be obtained. Based on this, the line diagram design of the electrical dimensioning, its components, as well as the electrical contracting for our electrical installation and simulation of its operation will be provided, in which the consumption and cost will be analysed, evaluating different operating scenarios, modifying the driver¿s configuration. And finally, a summary of the budget of the installation and its associated costs.Massó García, C. (2019). Diseño y análisis del alumbrado público del municipio La Gineta (Albacete). http://hdl.handle.net/10251/124838TFG

Do active commuters feel more competent and vital? A self-organizing maps analysis in university students

University students represent a population that faces high risks regarding physical inactivity. Research suggests that a regular engagement in physical activity (PA) may be more likely established when it leads to the experience of subjective vitality. Subjective vitality, in turn, is more likely achieved through physical activities that individuals feel competent in, and that take place in natural outdoor environments. An activity that may fulfill these conditions is active commuting to and from university (ACU). To examine whether and in which form ACU can combine this promising pattern of aspects, a person-oriented analysis was conducted. The sample contained 484 university students (59.3% females). Leisure-time PA, ACU by walking, ACU by cycling, subjective vitality, PA-related competence and body mass index were included as input variables in a self-organizing maps analysis. For both female and male university students, the identified clusters indicated that students who intensively engaged in ACU did not exhibit subjective vitality levels above average. Consistently, they did not show elevated levels of PA-related competence, which suggests that ACU does not support the perception of their physical abilities. Considerations regarding urban university environments lacking sufficient natural elements finally add to the conclusion that engaging in ACU does not suffice to establish a vitality-supportive and thus sustainable PA behavior. Additionally, the identified clusters illustrate a large heterogeneity regarding the interaction between leisure-time PA, body mass index and subjective vitality

The atmospheric iron cycle in EC-earth

The ocean is known to act as an atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) sink. About a quarter of the CO2 emitted to the atmosphere since the industrial revolution, has been captured by the ocean [1]. The capacity of the ocean to capture CO2 highly depends on ocean productivity which relies upon bioavailable iron (Fe) for photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen fixation [2]. Fe is in fact considered to be the limiting nutrient in some remote regions of the ocean known as high-nutrient low-chlorophyll (HNLC) [3]. Understanding and constraining the bio-available iron supply to the ocean is thus fundamental to be able to project future climate. Fe supply reaches the oceans mainly from rivers as suspended sediment. However, fluvial and glacial particulate Fe is restricted to near-coastal areas. Therefore, the dominant input of iron to open ocean surface is the deposition of atmospheric mineral dust emitted from arid and semiarid areas of the world. Another contributor to atmospheric Fe supply that is not always accounted for in models, is combustion, which main sources are anthropogenic combustion and biomass burning. Just a fraction of the deposited Fe over ocean can be used by marine biota as nutrient (bio-available). The assumption that soluble Fe can be considered as bio-available will be used here [4]. Freshly emitted Fe-dust is known to be mainly insoluble. Observations, modelling and laboratory studies suggest that the solubility of Fe-dust increases downwind of the sources due to different processes [5] [6]. On the other hand, although the total burden of emitted combustion Fe is known to be smaller than Fe-dust, combustion Fe at emission may be more soluble [7]

Impact of COVID-19 on the self-reported physical activity of people with complete thoracic spinal cord injury full-time manual wheelchair users

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Activitat física; Lesió medul·larCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Actividad física; Lesión de la médula espinalCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Physical activity; Spinal cord injuryContext The emergence of COVID-19 caused a new public health crisis, leading to major changes in daily life routines, often including physical activity (PA) levels. The main goal of this study was to analyze the differences in self-reported physical activity of people with complete spinal cord injuries between the time prior to the COVID-19 lockdown and the lockdown period itself. Methods A sample of 20 participants with complete thoracic spinal cord injuries completed the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Results The results showed differences between the pre-lockdown and lockdown measurements in total self-reported PA (z=−3.92; P<0.001; d=1.28), recreational PA (z=−3.92; P<0.001; d=1.18) and occupational PA (z=−2.03; P=0.042; d=0.55). Nevertheless, no differences were found in housework PA between the two time periods. Furthermore, the results showed differences in total minutes (z=−3.92; P<0.001; d=1.75), minutes spent on recreational activities (z=−3.82; P<0.001; d=1.56) and minutes spent on occupational activities (z=−2.032; P=0.042; d=0.55) of moderate/vigorous intensity. Conclusions Individuals with thoracic spinal cord injuries who were full-time manual wheelchair users displayed lower levels of PA during the pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period. The results suggest that the prohibition and restrictions on carrying out recreational and/or occupational activities are the main reasons for this inactivity. Physical activity promotion strategies should be implemented within this population to lessen the effects of this physical inactivity stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.This work was supported by the Fundació la Marató de la TV3 under [grant number 201720-10]

Assessment of haemophilic arthropathy through balance analysis: a promising tool

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Xavier García-Massó, Yiyao Ye-Lin, Javier Garcia-Casado, Felipe Querol & Luis-Millan Gonzalez (2019) Assessment of haemophilic arthropathy through balance analysis: a promising tool, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 22:4, 418-425, DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2018.1561877, available online at: http://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2018.1561877.[EN] The purpose of this study was to develop a tool able to distinguish between subjects who have haemophilic arthropathy in lower limbs and those who do not by analyzing the centre of pressure displacement. The second objective was to assess the possible different responses of haemophiliacs and healthy subjects by creating a classifier that could distinguish between both groups. Fiftyfour haemophilic patients (28 with and 26 without arthropathy) and 23 healthy subjects took part voluntarily in the study. A force plate was used to measure postural stability. A total of 276 centre of pressure displacement parameters were calculated under different conditions: unipedal/bipedal balance with eyes open/closed. These parameters were used to design a Quadratic Discriminant Analysis classifier. The arthropathy versus non-arthropathy classifier had an overall accuracy of 97.5% when only 10 features were used in its design. Similarly, the haemophiliac versus nonhaemophiliac classifier had an overall accuracy of 97.2% when only 7 features were used. In conclusion, an objective haemophilic arthropathy in lower limbs evaluation system was developed by analyzing centre of pressure displacement signals. The haemophiliac vs. non-haemophiliac classifier designed was also able to corroborate the existing differences in postural control between haemophilic patients (with and without arthropathy) and healthy subjects.García-Massó, X.; Ye Lin, Y.; Garcia-Casado, J.; Querol -Fuentes, F.; Gonzalez, L. (2019). Assessment of haemophilic arthropathy through balance analysis: a promising tool. Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering. 22(4):418-425. https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2018.1561877S418425224Amoud, H., Abadi, M., Hewson, D. J., Michel-Pellegrino, V., Doussot, M., & Duchêne, J. (2007). Fractal time series analysis of postural stability in elderly and control subjects. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 4(1), 12. doi:10.1186/1743-0003-4-12AZNAR, J. A., ABAD-FRANCH, L., CORTINA, V. R., & MARCO, P. (2009). The national registry of haemophilia A and B in Spain: results from a census of patients. Haemophilia, 15(6), 1327-1330. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2009.02101.xCabeza-Ruiz, R., García-Massó, X., Centeno-Prada, R. A., Beas-Jiménez, J. D., Colado, J. C., & González, L.-M. (2011). Time and frequency analysis of the static balance in young adults with Down syndrome. Gait & Posture, 33(1), 23-28. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.09.014Cruz-Montecinos, C., De la Fuente, C., Rivera-Lillo, G., Morales-Castillo, S., Soto-Arellano, V., Querol, F., & Pérez-Alenda, S. (2017). Sensory strategies of postural sway during quiet stance in patients with haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia, 23(5), e419-e426. doi:10.1111/hae.13297De SOUZA, F. M. B., PEREIRA, R. P., MINUQUE, N. P., Do CARMO, C. M., De MELLO, M. H. M., VILLAÇA, P., & TANAKA, C. (2012). Postural adjustment after an unexpected perturbation in children with haemophilia. Haemophilia, 18(3), e311-e315. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2012.02768.xDORIA, A. S. (2010). State-of-the-art imaging techniques for the evaluation of haemophilic arthropathy: present and future. Haemophilia, 16, 107-114. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2010.02307.xFALK, B., PORTAL, S., TIKTINSKY, R., WEINSTEIN, Y., CONSTANTINI, N., & MARTINOWITZ, U. (2000). Anaerobic power and muscle strength in young hemophilia patients. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52. doi:10.1097/00005768-200001000-00009GALLACH, J. E., QUEROL, F., GONZÁLEZ, L. M., PARDO, A., & AZNAR, J. A. (2008). Posturographic analysis of balance control in patients with haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia, 14(2), 329-335. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2007.01613.xGONZÁLEZ, L.-M., QUEROL, F., GALLACH, J. E., GOMIS, M., & AZNAR, V. A. (2007). Force fluctuations during the Maximum Isometric Voluntary Contraction of the quadriceps femoris in haemophilic patients. Haemophilia, 13(1), 65-70. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2006.01354.xHACKER, M. R., FUNK, S. M., & MANCO-JOHNSON, M. J. (2007). The Colorado Haemophilia Paediatric Joint Physical Examination Scale: normal values and interrater reliability. Haemophilia, 13(1), 71-78. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2006.01387.xHilberg, T., Herbsleb, M., Gabriel, H. H. W., Jeschke, D., & Schramm, W. (2001). Proprioception and isometric muscular strength in haemophilic subjects. Haemophilia, 7(6), 582-588. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2516.2001.00563.xHilgartner, M. W. (2002). Current treatment of hemophilic arthropathy. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 14(1), 46-49. doi:10.1097/00008480-200202000-00008KHAN, U., BOGUE, C., UNGAR, W. J., HILLIARD, P., CARCAO, M., MOINEDDIN, R., & DORIA, A. S. (2009). Cost-effectiveness analysis of different imaging strategies for diagnosis of haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia, 16(2), 322-332. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2009.02125.xKURZ, E., HERBSLEB, M., ANDERS, C., PUTA, C., VOLLANDT, R., CZEPA, D., … HILBERG, T. (2011). SEMG activation patterns of thigh muscles during upright standing in haemophilic patients. Haemophilia, 17(4), 669-675. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2010.02466.xLAFEBER, F. P. J. G., MIOSSEC, P., & VALENTINO, L. A. (2008). Physiopathology of haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia, 14(s4), 3-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2008.01732.xLundin, B., Pettersson, H., & Ljung, R. (2004). A new magnetic resonance imaging scoring method for assessment of haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia, 10(4), 383-389. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2004.00902.xMasui, T., Hasegawa, Y., Yamaguchi, J., Kanoh, T., Ishiguro, N., & Suzuki, S. (2006). Increasing postural sway in rural-community-dwelling elderly persons with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Orthopaedic Science, 11(4), 353-358. doi:10.1007/s00776-006-1034-9Mitchell, S. L., Collin, J. J., De Luca, C. J., Burrows, A., & Lipsitz, L. A. (1995). Open-loop and closed-loop postural control mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease: increased mediolateral activity during quiet standing. Neuroscience Letters, 197(2), 133-136. doi:10.1016/0304-3940(95)11924-lMolho, Rolland, Lebrun, Dirat, Courpied, … Croughs. (2000). Epidemiological survey of the orthopaedic status of severe haemophilia A and B patients in France. Haemophilia, 6(1), 23-32. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2516.2000.00358.xPERGANTOU, H., MATSINOS, G., PAPADOPOULOS, A., PLATOKOUKI, H., & ARONIS, S. (2006). Comparative study of validity of clinical, X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging scores in evaluation and management of haemophilic arthropathy in children. Haemophilia, 12(3), 241-247. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2006.01208.xPIPE, S. W., & VALENTINO, L. A. (2007). Optimizing outcomes for patients with severe haemophilia A. Haemophilia, 13(s4), 1-16. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2007.01552.xPlug, I. (2004). Thirty years of hemophilia treatment in the Netherlands, 1972-2001. Blood, 104(12), 3494-3500. doi:10.1182/blood-2004-05-2008Prieto, T. E., Myklebust, J. B., Hoffmann, R. G., Lovett, E. G., & Myklebust, B. M. (1996). Measures of postural steadiness: differences between healthy young and elderly adults. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 43(9), 956-966. doi:10.1109/10.532130Leslie, R., & Catherine, M. (2007). Modern management of haemophilic arthropathy. British Journal of Haematology, 136(6), 777-787. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06490.xSILVA, M., LUCK, J. V., QUON, D., YOUNG, C. R., CHIN, D. M., EBRAMZADEH, E., & FONG, Y.-J. (2008). Inter- and intra-observer reliability of radiographic scores commonly used for the evaluation of haemophilic arthropathy. Haemophilia, 14(3), 504-512. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2007.01630.xSouza, F. M. B., McLaughlin, P., Pereira, R. P., Minuque, N. P., Mello, M. H. M., Siqueira, C., … Tanaka, C. (2013). The effects of repetitive haemarthrosis on postural balance in children with haemophilia. Haemophilia, 19(4), e212-e217. doi:10.1111/hae.12106TAKEDANI, H., FUJII, T., KOBAYASHI, Y., HAGA, N., TATSUNAMI, S., & FUJII, T. (2010). Inter-observer reliability of three different radiographic scores for adult haemophilia. Haemophilia, 17(1), 134-138. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2010.02389.xTIKTINSKY, R., FALK, B., HEIM, M., & MARTINOVITZ, U. (2002). The effect of resistance training on the frequency of bleeding in haemophilia patients: a pilot study. Haemophilia, 8(1), 22-27. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2516.2002.00575.

Viewers change eye-blink rate by predicting narrative content

Eye blinks provoke a loss of visual information. However, we are not constantly making conscious decisions about the appropriate moment to blink. The presence or absence of eye blinks also denotes levels of attention. We presented three movies with the exact same narrative but different styles of editing and recorded participants' eye blinks. We found that moments of increased or decreased eye blinks by viewers coincided with the same content in the different movie styles. The moments of increased eye blinks corresponded to those when the actor leaves the scene and when the movie repeats the same action for a while. The moments of decreased eye blinks corresponded to actions where visual information was crucial to proper understanding of the scene presented. According to these results, viewers' attention is more related to narrative content than to the style of editing when watching movies

Brain symmetry in alpha band when watching cuts in movies

Altres ajuts: Junta de Andalucía (PY18-823 i BIO-122)The purpose of this study is to determine if there is asymmetry in the brain activity between both hemispheres while watching cuts in movies. We presented videos with cuts to 36 participants, registered electrical brain activity through electroencephalography (EEG) and analyzed asymmetry in frontal, somatomotor, temporal, parietal and occipital areas. EEG power and alpha (8-13 Hz) asymmetry were analyzed based on 4032 epochs (112 epochs from videos × 36 participants) in each hemisphere. On average, we found negative asymmetry, indicating a greater alpha power in the left hemisphere and a greater activity in the right hemisphere in frontal, temporal and occipital areas. The opposite was found in somatomotor and temporal areas. However, with a high inter-subjects variability, these asymmetries did not seem to be significant. Our results suggest that cuts in audiovisuals do not provoke any specific asymmetrical brain activity in the alpha band in viewers. We conclude that brain asymmetry when decoding audiovisual content may be more related with narrative content than with formal style

The effect of media professionalization on cognitive neurodynamics during audiovisual cuts

Experts apply their experience to the proper development of their routine activities. Their acquired expertise or professionalization is expected to help in the development of those recurring tasks. Media professionals spend their daily work watching narrative contents on screens, so learning how they manage visual perception of those contents could be of interest in an increasingly audiovisual society. Media works require not only the understanding of the storytelling, but also the decoding of the formal rules and presentations. We recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) signals from 36 participants (18 media professionals and 18 non-media professionals) while they were watching audiovisual contents, and compared their eyeblink rate and their brain activity and connectivity. We found that media professionals decreased their blink rate after the cuts, suggesting that they can better manage the loss of visual information that blinks entail by sparing them when new visual information is being presented. Cuts triggered similar activation of basic brain processing in the visual cortex of the two groups, but different processing in medial and frontal cortical areas, where media professionals showed a lower activity. Effective brain connectivity occurred in a more organized way in media professionals-possibly due to a better communication between cortical areas that are coordinated for decoding new visual content after cuts

An author keyword analysis for mapping Sport Sciences

[EN] Scientific production has increased exponentially in recent years. It is necessary to find methodological strategies for understanding holistic or macro views of the major research trends developed in specific fields. Data mining is a useful technique to address this task. In particular, our study presents a global analysis of the information generated during last decades in the Sport Sciences Category (SSC) included in the Web of Science database. An analysis of the frequency of appearance and the dynamics of the Author Keywords (AKs) has been made for the last thirty years. Likewise, the network of co-occurrences established between words and the survival time of new words that have appeared since 2001 has also been analysed. One of the main findings of our research is the identification of six large thematic clusters in the SSC. There are also two major terms that coexist ('REHABILITATION' and 'EXERCISE') and show a high frequency of appearance, as well as a key behaviour in the calculated co-occurrence networks. Another significant finding is that AKs are mostly accepted in the SSC since there has been high percentage of new terms during 2001-2006, although they have a low survival period. These results support a multidisciplinary perspective within the Sport Sciences field of study and a colonization of the field by rehabilitation according to our AK analysis.González-Moreno, L.; García-Massó, X.; Pardo-Ibáñez, A.; Peset Mancebo, MF.; Devis Devis, J. (2018). An author keyword analysis for mapping Sport Sciences. PLoS ONE. 13(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201435S13