Ball possession effectiveness in men's and women's elite basketball according to situational variables in different game periods

The aim of the present study was to identify the importance of floorball tactical variables to predict ball possession effectiveness, when controlling quality of opposition and game periods. The sample was composed by 1500 ball possessions, corresponding to 14 games randomly selected from the International Championships played during 2008 and 2010 (World Championship, Four nations tournament and classificatory phases for World Championship) by teams from different competition levels (HIGH, INTERMEDIATE and LOW). The effects of the predictor variables on successful ball possessions according to the three game contexts (HIGH vs. HIGH; HIGH vs. LOW; LOW vs. LOW games) were analyzed using Binomial Logistic Regressions. The results showed no interaction with the game period. In HIGH vs. HIGH games, quality of opposition showed an association with ball possession effectiveness with ending zone, offensive system, possession duration, height of shooting and defensive pressures previous to the shot. In HIGH vs. LOW games the important factors were the starting zone, possession duration, defensive pressure previous to the last pass and to the shot, technique of shooting and the number players involved in each ball possession. Finally, in LOW vs. LOW games, the results emphasized the importance of starting and ending zones, the number of passes used and the technique of shooting. In conclusion, elite floorball performance is mainly affected by quality of opposition showing different game patterns in each context that should be considered by coaches when preparing practices and competitions

A critical review of beach restorations projects in the Northern coast of Cadiz (Spain) after thirteen years

The main purpose of this paper is to present a critical review of different beach restoration projects conducted since 1992 till today at the northern coast of Cadiz (Chipiona and Rota counties) by analyzing the different coastal engineering and coastal management considerations used in their design. In particular, four different cases of beach nourishment projects are analyzed, having each one specific and interesting points to be stressed : a) Regla beach nourishment project ; b) Rota beach nourishment project; c) Punta Candor dune restoration project ; and d) La Ballena nourishment project

Impact of compulsory participation of medical students in a multiuser online game to learn radiological anatomy and radiological signs within the virtual world Second Life

Competitive game- based learning within Second Life enables effective teaching of basic radiological anatomy and radiological signs to medical students, with good ac-ceptance and results when students participate voluntarily, but unknown in a com-pulsory context. The objectives of this study were to reproduce a competitive online game based on self- guided presentations and multiple-choice tests in a mandatory format, to evaluate its development and student perceptions compared to a volun-tary edition in 2015 (N= 90). In 2016 and 2017, respectively, 191 and 182 third-year medical students participated in the game as a mandatory course activity. The mean (±SD) score of the game was 74.7% (±19.5%) in 2015, 71.2% (±21.5%) in 2016, and 67.5% (±21.5%) in 2017 (P< 0.01). Participants valued positively the organization and educational contents but found the virtual world less attractive and the game less interesting than in the voluntary edition. The experience globally was rated with 8.2 (±1.5), 7.8 (±1.5), and 7.1 (±1.7) mean points (±SD) in a ten- point scale, in the 2015, 2016, and 2017 editions, respectively (P< 0.05). Competitive learning games within virtual worlds like Second Life have great learning potential in radiology, but the mean score in the game decreased, acceptance of virtual world technology was lower, and opinion about the game was worse with a compulsory participation, and even worse when dropouts were not allowed. Under the conditions in which this study was con-ducted, learning games in three-dimensional virtual environments should be volun-tary to maintain adequate motivation and engagement of medical students.This work was supported by the University of Málaga Innovative Education Projects, Grant Numbers: #PIE15-150, #PIE17-113, and #PIE19-217. Financing of the open access charge: University of Malaga / CBU

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Pediatric Healthcare Workers in Spain

Spain is one of the countries most severely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with almost 190,000 cases as of April 18, 2020. As healthcare workers (HCW) are one of the groups hardest hit by the infection, it is important to know the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric departments. We performed 175 immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG immunochromatographic rapid tests in the personnel working at the Pediatric Department of the Hospital Clinico Universitario of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), including pediatricians, residents, nurses, and other staff, on days 31-33 since the lockdown started. Seven out of the 175 tests were positive, including four for IgM and three for IgG, leading to a seroprevalence of 4.0% (95% CI: 1.1-6.9%). Only one of them had symptoms at the time of testing (sore throat). All seropositive cases yielded negative RT-PCR of the upper and lower respiratory tract. This is the first SARS-CoV-2 serological survey among HCWs reported in Spain. Notwithstanding the test limitations, our results reveal that personal protection policy and lockdown measures have been effective to limit population exposure. The low seroprevalence rate poses a significant challenge for the next strategic steps of pandemic control

3,3′-Di-tert-butyl-1,1′-[1,3-phenyl­enebis(methyl­ene)]diurea

The title compound, C18H30N4O2, contains two tert-butyl urea groups, each connected to a benzene ring though a methyl­ene group. One of the groups occupies a position almost normal to the aromatic plane with a C—N—C—C torsion angle of −94.4 (4)°, while the other is considerably twisted from the ring with a C—N—C—C torsion angle of −136.1 (4)°. In the crystal, pairs of mol­ecules are connected to each other, forming centrosymmetric dimers in which two NH groups of one mol­ecule act as hydrogen-bond donors to one carbonyl O atom of the other mol­ecule. The dimers are linked into sheets parallel to (100) by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the remaining N—H and C=O groups

Salivary epidermal growth factor correlates with hospitalization length in rotavirus infection

The IFI27 interferon gene expression has been found to be largely increased in rotavirus (RV)-infected patients. IFI27 gene encodes for a protein of unknown function, very recently linked to epidermal proliferation and related to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) protein. The EGF is a low-molecular-weight polypeptide that is mainly produced by submandibular and parotid glands, and it plays an important physiological role in the maintenance of oro-esophageal and gastric tissue integrity. Our aim was to determine salivary EGF levels in RV-infected patients in order to establish its potential relationship with IFI27 increased expression and EGF-mediated mucosal protection in RV infection. We conducted a prospective comparative study using saliva samples from 27 infants infected with RV (sampled at recruitment during hospital admission and at convalescence, i.e. at least 3 months after recovery) and from 36 healthy control children. Median (SD) EGF salivary concentration was 777 (529) pg/ml in RV-infected group at acute phase and 356 (242) pg/m at convalescence, while it was 337 (119) pg/ml in the healthy control group. A significant association was found between EGF levels and hospitalization length of stay (P-value = 0.022; r(2) = -0.63). The salivary levels of EGF are significantly increased during the acute phase of natural RV infection, and relate to length of hospitalization. Further assessment of this non-invasive biomarker in RV disease is warranted.Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIXunta de Galicia. Consellería de Sanidad