Age validation in common octopus Octopus vulgaris using stylet increment analysis

6 páginas, 1 tabla, 3 figurasDaily periodicity of growth increments in stylets was validated in wild-caught Octopus vulgaris maintained under controlled conditions. It was corroborated by staining the stylets either with oxytetracycline (OTC) or tetracycline (TC), and comparing the number of rings produced with the number of days elapsed. In all, 19 animals (10 males and 9 females; 680–1470 g body weight, BW) were injected with OTC in Vigo (mean 124 mg kg−1), and another six animals (1 male and 5 females; 248–570 g BW) with TC at Naples (mean 120 mg kg−1). The animals were successfully maintained in captivity until sacrificed for up to 6 (one animal), 9 (one animal), 18 (the six animals from Naples), and 21 (17 animals) days. The number of increments counted in transverse stylet sections was 18.9 ± 1.4 and 20.5 ± 1.5 for octopuses maintained for 18 and 21 d, respectively. The mean rate of increment formation was 1.02 increments per day, suggesting a periodicity of 1 increment per day in the stylet. Consequently, the results successfully validate daily increment deposition in O. vulgaris stylets in the size range analysedThe research was supported by ECOSUMMER (European Union), and CAH received early training ECOSUMMER (Marie Curie Action) supportPeer reviewe

El codo flotante en el niño: opciones terapéuticas y complicaciones

La fractura simultánea ipsilateral del húmero y de uno o ambos huesos del antebrazo, llamada también "codo flotante", es una entidad poco frecuente, siendo escasa la literatura al respecto. En este artículo se describe nuestra experiencia con este tipo de lesiones en el paciente pediátrico, así como sus complicaciones asociadas y las distintas opciones de tratamiento. El tratamiento del codo flotante es actualmente controvertido en cuanto a su indicación y la técnica quirúrgica a emplear. También existe controversia con respecto a la mayor incidencia de complicaciones en este tipo de lesiones.Simultaneous ipsilateral fracture of the humerus and one or both bones of the forearm, also called "floating elbow" is a rare entity, with little literature. This article describes our experience with this type of injury in the pediatric patient and their associated complications and treatment options. The floating elbow treatment is currently controversial in terms of indications and surgical technique to use. There is also controversy over the increased incidence of complications in this type of injury

Robots Liability: A Use Case and a Potential Solution

In this chapter, a system of distribution of responsibility for damages caused by robots is introduced, and its practical application on the results obtained in the real experiences at the University of Almería (Spain) is analyzed. The attribution of liability for damages produced by autonomous agents usually focuses the theoretical discussion on legal and ethical fields on robotics. The European Parliament adopted the report with recommendations to the Commission on Civil Law Rules on Robotics (2015/2103(INL)) in February 2017. This work includes the master guidelines that the European Commission should take into account to legislate this technology. In its attempt to attribute responsibility for damages caused by robots, the Committee considers that once responsible parties have been identified, their liability level should range, looking the robot’s learning capability and the knowledge learned from its owner. This work proposes the use of responsibility setting matrix as a mechanism to distribute liabilities between the robot, the manufacturer, and the owner, depending on the knowledge programmed by the manufacturer and the one acquired by the robot (through its learning ability and the adjustments made by the owner), that would distribute the responsibility for damages among the three agents involved

Periodization and programming for individual 400 m medley swimmers

Knowledge in the scientific domain of individual medley (IM) swimming training over a competitive season is limited. The purpose of this study was to propose a detailed coaching framework incorporating the key elements of a periodized training regimen for a 400 m IM swimmer. This framework was based on the available coaching and scientific literature and the practical experience and expertise of the collaborating authors. The season has been divided in two or three macrocycles, further divided in three mesocycles each (six or nine mesocycles in total), in alignment with the two or three main competitions in each macrocycle. The principal training contents to develop during the season expressed in blood lactate zones are: aerobic training (~2 mmol·L(−1)), lactate threshold pace (~4 mmol·L(−1)) and VO(2)max (maximum oxygen uptake) (~6 mmol·L(−1)). Strength training should focus on maximum strength, power and speed endurance during the season. Altitude training camps can be placed strategically within the training season to promote physiological adaptation and improvements in performance. A well-constructed technical framework will permit development of training strategies for the 400 m IM swimmer to improve both training and competitive performance

Effects of Dry-Land Training Programs on Swimming Turn Performance: A Systematic Review.

Swimming coaches have prescribed dry-land training programs over the years to improve the overall swimming performance (starts, clean swimming, turns and finish). The main aim of the present systematic review was to examine the effects of dry-land strength and conditioning programs on swimming turns. Four online databases were scrutinised, data were extracted using the Preferred PRISMA guidelines and the PEDro scale was applied. A total of 1259 articles were retrieved from database searches. From the 19 studies which were full-text evaluated, six studies were included in the review process. The review indicated that plyometric, strength, ballistic and core training programs were implemented for improving swimming turn performance. Strength, ballistic and plyometric training focusing on neural enhancement seem to be effective for improving swimming turn performance. The data related to training of the core were not conclusive. Coaches should consider incorporating exercises focusing on improving the neuromuscular factor of the leg-extensor muscles into their daily dry-land training programs. More researches are needed to provide a better understanding of the training methods effects and training organisations for improving swimming turn performance.post-print626 K

Mechanical properties and electrical surface charges of microfibrillated cellulose/imidazole-modified polyketone composite membranes

In the present work, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) suspensions were produced by high-pressure homogenization and subsequently used to fabricate MFC membranes (C-1) by vacuum filtration followed by hot-pressing. A polyketone (PK50) was chemically modified by Paal-Knorr reaction to graft imidazole (IM) functional groups along its backbone structure. The resulting polymer is referred to as PK50IM80. By solution impregnation, C-1 was immersed in an aqueous solution of PK50IM80 and subsequently hot pressed, resulting in the fabrication of MFC/PK50IM80 composite membranes (C-IMP). Another method, referred to as solution mixing, consisted in adding MFC into an aqueous solution of PK50IM80 followed by vacuum filtration and hot-pressing to obtain MFC/PK50IM80 composite membranes (C-MEZC). C-IMP and C-MEZC were characterized by a wide range of analytical techniques including, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared chemical imaging, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamical mechanical analysis, tensile testing as well as streaming zeta potential, and compared to C-1 (reference material). The results suggested that C-IMP possess a more homogeneous distribution of PK50IM80 at their surface compared to C-MEZC. C-IMP was found to possess significantly enhanced Young's modulus compared to C-1 and C-MEZC. The tensile strength of C-IMP was found to improve significantly compared to C-1, whereas C-1 possessed significantly higher tensile index than C-IMP and C-MEZC. Furthermore, the presence of PK50IM80 at the surface of MFC was found to significantly shift the isoelectric point (IEP) of the membranes from pH 2.3 to a maximum value of 4.5 for C-IMP. Above the IEP, C-IMP and C-MEZC were found to possess significantly less negative electrical surface charges (plateau value of -25 mV at pH 10) when compared to C-1 (plateau value of -42 mV at pH 10). Our approach may have implication to broaden the range of filtration applications of MFC-based membranes

Diferencias entre la mejor marca en piscina de 25 vs 50 metros en la prueba de 200 estilos individual en relación al sexo

Antecedentes: La natación de competición se realiza en piscina corta (25 m) y larga (50 m). Los nadadores normalmente realizan mejores tiempos en piscina corta debido a la mayor cantidad de virajes, por lo que existe un factor de corrección para transformar las marcas realizadas en piscina a corta a marcas equivalentes en piscina larga. Sin embargo, las diferencias entre piscina corta y largas según el sexo en las pruebas de estilos todavía no se conoce. Objetivo: El principal objetivo de este estudio es analizar las diferencias entre la mejor marca en una prueba de 200 estilos en piscina corta y piscina larga en función del sexo. Método: Para ello, se seleccionaron los mejores tiempos realizados en piscina corta y larga en la prueba de 200 estilos de 100 nadadores nacionales españoles de primer nivel en dos temporadas. Resultados: Se llevó a cabo un análisis de los datos mediante una prueba T de student para muestras independientes. Los resultados muestran que en ambos sexos la mejor marca corresponde a la realizada en piscina corta (p<0,001). A su vez, los nadadores masculinos muestran mayores diferencias frente a las mujeres en la prueba de 200 estilos individual entre piscina corta y piscina larga (p<0,05). Conclusiones: De acuerdo con estos resultados, se sugiere la utilización de un factor de corrección diferente para poder transformar los tiempos entre piscina corta y larga en función del sexo para la prueba de 200 estilos individual

Vehículo autónomo polivalente para trabajos en invernadero.

Número de publicación: ES2329107 A1 (20.11.2009) También publicado como: ES2329107 B2 (07.09.2010) Número de Solicitud: Consulta de Expedientes OEPM (C.E.O.) P200801645 (19.05.2008)Vehículo autónomo polivalente para trabajos en invernadero. El objeto de la invención es un vehículo que de forma autónoma puede moverse entre las líneas de cultivo en invernadero para realizar diferentes operaciones. Está dotado de un chasis diseñado para poder recibir diferentes implementos, así como un punto de enganche en la parte trasera para el acoplamiento de máquinas y equipos. Dispone de un sistema de transmisión hidrostático controlado electrónicamente que permite mover el equipo en un rango de velocidades continuo para adaptarla convenientemente a las exigencias del trabajo, además de suministrar energía a los implementos que la requieran. El movimiento del vehículo se consigue mediante el equilibrio dinámico de cada una de las orugas que componen el sistema de rodadura. Para ello dispone de un sistema sensorial compuesto por captadores de presión, codificadores incrementales y un radar. El sistema sensorial del vehículo se completa con sensores de ultrasonido distribuidos por todo el perímetro (detección de obstáculos), una brújula magnética (orientación del vehículo) y sensores de seguridad (prevenir colisiones). La información suministrada por el sistema sensorial permite la localización y navegación del vehículo en el entorno de trabajo. Toda la información es gestionada por un sistema empotrado, donde se ejecutan los programas que controlan el vehículo. El equipo también está dotado de una cámara multiespectral, adaptada para realizar un seguimiento continuo de determinados parámetros del cultivo, como pueden ser: detectar problemas fitosanitarios y de nutrición, controlar la evolución de la masa vegetal, localizar frutos, determinar la maduración de los frutos, etc.Universidad de Almerí