Development of a dexterity assessment method

This research was aimed at contributing to the understanding of dexterity through a scientific analysis of some of its more important features, as well as the development of viable methods to quantify these characteristics. The methods and procedures developed during this research were applied to evaluate traditional dexterity assessment methods, comparing dexterity features among tests and hand daily living tasks in order to characterise their reliability and robustness. The study makes use of visual, mathematical, and experimental methods to obtain, process, and analyse a series of hand function parameters that account for some of the main features that affect dexterity in modern daily living. Furthermore, the designed methods and analysis techniques provide fundamental insights into our understanding of the relationships between motor coordination, movement, and hand function. More importantly, the data and conclusions derived from this research have the potential to aid in the development of improved health care practice, assistive technologies, and quality of life research, by providing practitioners and researchers with updated knowledge on human movement analysis, hand function, and dexterity. The overall conclusion of this research is that the broad range of movements and patterns of the human hand, along with the infinite number of possible coordination strategies result in the need for the identification of movement patterns in order to accurately assess dexterity and hand function. Furthermore, although timed tests are time-efficient and cost-effective methods to measure dexterity, a truly objective and robust measurement of dexterity most cover all the factors and parameters that play a role in this phenomenon

La gestión institucional en un centro de educación superior mexicano en el proceso de construcción de confianza desde los enfoques de atención al sujeto

Los modelos educativos propuestos en las tres últimas décadas han adoptado un enfoque centrado en el alumnado y en el aprendizaje. En este contexto, vale la pena preguntarse cómo se aplican, concretamente, en las instituciones de educación superior (IES), cuando se trata de entornos como el mexicano, donde el sistema educativo es altamente burocrático, centrado en la eficacia, no en la persona y estrechamente ligado al sistema político. El objetivo del presente artículo es mostrar la manera en que un centro universitario aplicó el modelo educativo general que ha adoptado la IES, y cómo lo ha traducido en acciones concretas adaptadas a su propio contexto, involucrando no solo actividades de enseñanzaaprendizaje, sino la gestión misma del espacio académico en su conjunto. La investigación es exploratoria, documental y sustentada en el diseño de estudio de caso. Los hallazgos encontrados señalan que las acciones emprendidas trascendieron el ámbito de aplicación de planes de estudio y abarcaron diferentes esferas de actuación del centro educativo, convirtiéndose en un caso de interés en el contexto mexicano (y tal vez latinoamericano) por conseguir que un modelo educativo general se aplicara, de manera integral y contextualizada, logrando convertirlo en un modelo de gestión institucional propio

Antibacterial Metallic Touch Surfaces

Our aim is to present a comprehensive review of the development of modern antibacterial metallic materials as touch surfaces in healthcare settings. Initially we compare Japanese, European and US standards for the assessment of antimicrobial activity. The variations in methodologies defined in these standards are highlighted. Our review will also cover the most relevant factors that define the antimicrobial performance of metals, namely, the effect of humidity, material geometry, chemistry, physical properties and oxidation of the material. The state of the art in contact-killing materials will be described. Finally, the effect of cleaning products, including disinfectants, on the antimicrobial performance, either by direct contact or by altering the touch surface chemistry on which the microbes attach, will be discussed. We offer our outlook, identifying research areas that require further development and an overview of potential future directions of this exciting field

Pre-recorded sound file versus human coach: Investigating auditory guidance effects on elite rowers

Presented at the 27th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2022) 24-27 June 2022, Virtual conference.We report on an experiment in which nine Norwegian national team rowers (one female) were tested on a rowing ergometer in a motion capture lab. After the warm-up, all participants rowed in a neutral condition for three minutes, without any instructions. Then they rowed in two conditions (three minutes each), with a counterbalanced order: (1) a coaching condition, during which they received oral instructions from a national team coach, and (2) a sound condition, during which they listened to a pre-recorded sound file that was produced to promote good rowing technique. Performance was measured in terms of distance traveled, and subjective responses were measured via a questionnaire inquiring participants about how useful the two interventions were for rowing efficiency. The results showed no significant difference between the two conditions of main interest–the pre-recorded sound file and traditional coaching–on any measure. Our study indicates that auditory guidance can be a cost-efficient supplement to athletes’ training, even at higher levels

Tuning the antimicrobial behaviour of Cu 85 Zr 15 thin films in “wet” and “dry” conditions through structural modifications

The antimicrobial behaviour of Cu85Zr15 at.% thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering was studied in both wet and dry conditions. Small variations in key deposition processing parameters (pressure and substrate temperature) enabled the growth of thin films with similar nanostructures but different degrees of compactness, according to the Thornton's structural zone model. This model has proven its effectiveness in providing sensitive structural information to explain significant differences in antimicrobial behaviour of the CuZr thin films, even when processing conditions lie within the same structural zone. The antimicrobial behaviour has been studied for E. coli and S. aureus for up to 4 h of “dry” contact. Structures of lower compactness, grown at higher deposition pressure, are shown to provide higher antimicrobial activity for “dry” conditions than for “wet” conditions. For thin films of CuZr deposited at 0.5 Pa, the reduction percentage of bacteria is 99.47%, which is much higher than the results of 70–80% obtained for the films deposited at 0.1 and 0.3 Pa. Microscopy studies indicate that for 4 h of contact time, bacteria exhibit inner damage and even lysis, however, no morphological changes are detected because of the short timeframes used

Is erythrocyte size a strategy to avoid hypoxia in Wiegmann’s Torquate Lizards (Sceloporus torquatus)? Field evidence

This study examined changes in certain hematological parameters in a reptilian model naturally exposed to altitude-associated hypoxia. Four populations of the Mexican lizard Sceloporus torquatus Wiegmann, 1828 (Wiegmann’s Torquate Lizard) from different altitudes were sampled to evaluate erythrocyte count (Erc), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and erythrocyte size (Ers). Blood was also assayed to determine hemoglobin ([Hb]), glucose, lactate, and electrolyte concentrations. Erc was performed using a Neubauer hemocytometer. Hct was calculated as percentage of packed cell volume by centrifuging blood samples. [Hb] was determined using a Bausch and Lomb Spectronic colorimeter. MCHC was calculated with the formula 100 × [Hb]/Hct. Ers was calculated from blood smear microphotographs analyzed with the Sigma Scan Pro software. Values of serum electrolytes (sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+)), pH, glucose, and lactate from blood samples were obtained through a blood electrolyte analyzer. Highland populations of S. torquatus exhibited a significant increase in Erc, Hct, Ers, and [Hb]. In contrast, MCHC showed no correlation with altitude. Additionally, significant differences in lactate, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ were observed in highland populations. In general, we found that most hematological parameters were significantly different among lizard populations from different altitudes. This is the first study to report changes in Ers in relation to altitude, which could be a physiological response to hypoxia.CONACYT 17872