Anthropometric Dimensions and Bone Quality in International Male Beach Handball Players: Junior vs. Senior Comparison

Background: Beach handball is a recent team sport characterized by defensive and offensive actions on a sand surface. Scientific evidence has shown that body composition is fundamental in sports performance. The main objective of this study was to know the body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and bone mineral density of elite beach handball players. Furthermore, another purpose was to analyze the differences between categories (junior and senior) and playing position. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study of 36 male players (18 juniors and 18 seniors) of the Spanish National Beach Handball Team was conducted. Full profile anthropometry and calcaneal ultrasound measurements were used. Results: Significant differences between categories (p < 0.05) were found in: height, body mass, arm span, BMI, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, skinfolds, and body perimeters. The somatotype changes depending on the playing position. Bone mineral density of the players was adequate. No significant differences were found by playing position. Conclusions: Senior players had a better body composition due to the presence of less fat mass than junior players. This study provides reference values of elite junior and senior beach handball players and by playing positions. This data is useful for the identification of talents and players who should be trained to improve their body composition

Effectiveness of a Polyphenol-Enriched Blend on Weight Management and Metabolic Syndrome-Related Parameters in Healthy Overweight Adults

Weight loss solutions are on the rise, and there is growing interest in natural alternatives to the pharmaceuticals in the market, which are not devoid of relevant side effects. To this end, the objective of the current study was to assess the effects of a botanical-based blend comprised of lemon verbena and hibiscus extracts on weight management, body fat, appetite, lipid, and glucose profiles in an overweight population for 90 days. The volunteers presented significant weight loss in absence of diet (approximately 3 kg, −3.4% total body weight), which coincided with decreased body fat (−1.7%, equivalent to an almost 6% decrease compared to initial value). Body fat was assessed by anthropometry, electrical bioimpedance and DEXA scans. Cholesterol levels were also significantly decreased (approximately 7% decrease). Satiety assessment revealed that the product contributed to increased feeling of fullness and satisfaction after a meal compared to the placebo group, which could contribute to the weight loss observed. Blood glucose and blood pressure levels remained unchanged, which was expected as the volunteers were normoglycemic and their blood pressure was in the healthy range. In conclusion, daily supplementation of a botanical-based blend contributes to weight loss in overweight individuals in absence of diet, while not affecting other parameters that are in the healthy range. This product could be a candidate alternative or add-on to other weight loss products as part of a healthy lifestyle

Effect of Supplements on Endurance Exercise in the Older Population: Systematic Review

Background: Ageing is associated with changes of physical and physiological parameters, but there is evidence that regular physical activity could minimize these effects. Additionally, the older population presents a great risk of suboptimal nutrition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to review the evidence of nutritional strategies and endurance exercises in the older population. Methods: A systematic review was performed based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The search was carried out in three different databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. Results: Eight studies were included in the present review. The use of caffeine and beta-alanine supplementation with proteins have been found to be beneficial in both sexes. In older women, a balanced diet, an increase in protein, supplementation with beta hydroxy methyl butyrate, and supplementation with sodium bicarbonate have been favorable. However, no benefit has been seen in older men with sodium bicarbonate or ubiquinone supplementation. Nevertheless, the use of supplements should be prescribed according to individual characteristics and physical activity. Conclusions: Caffeine and high protein supplement with beta-alanine may provide positive effects in the older population. In addition, in older women, bicarbonate supplementation and beta-hydroxyethyl butyrate (HMB), lysine, and arginine supplementation have shown positive effects on exercise performance

Multilevel transition in empty substrate integrated waveguide

This paper is a postprint of a paper submitted to and accepted for publication in Electronics Letters and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is available at the IET Digital Library.Empty substrate integrated waveguide (ESIW) is an improvement of the well-known substrate integrated waveguide. While maintaining the low cost, easy manufacturing, small size, and integration with other circuits in the same substrate, ESIW decreases the related losses by removing the dielectric substrate, thus rendering it more interesting for practical applications. A wide band transition has been already developed to connect ESIW to microstrip lines. Filters, couplers, and antennas have also been developed in ESIW. For multilevel configurations, where different ESIW devices are implemented in different stacked substrates, a transition is needed that connects ESIW lines in different substrate levels. A low reflection wideband transition is presented for connecting two stacked ESIW lines.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spanish Goverment, under Research Projects TEC2013-47037-C05-3-R and TEC2013-47037-C05-1-R.Morro, JV.; Rodríguez Pérez, AM.; Belenguer Martínez, Á.; Esteban González, H.; Boria Esbert, VE. (2016). Multilevel transition in empty substrate integrated waveguide. Electronics Letters. 52(18):1543-1544. doi:10.1049/el.2016.2558S15431544521

Relationship between Anthropometric Measures and Anxiety Perception in Soccer Players

In the sports context, it has been corroborated that the physical demands of presenting an “ideal” body configuration have been associated with different psychological variables, such as self-esteem, anxiety and personality dimensions, such as perfectionism. Specifically, there is evidence that anthropometric measures may be closely related to psychological indicators. A total of 33 male soccer players (18.12 ± 1.24 years) participated in the investigation. Anthropometric assessments were carried out following the ISAK standards for the restricted profile. All of them completed the Competitive Trait Anxiety Inventory (CTAI-2D) in its Spanish version. The percent fat was calculated using Withers (density) and Siri equations. The ∑7 skinfolds were used to calculate this. After statistical analysis, significant mean differences were observed in the somatic anxiety dimension (valence) and a medium–large effect size. Regarding correlations, the significantly negative relationship between self-confidence (intentionality) and somatic anxiety (valence) was noteworthy. The relationship between psychological variables and anthropometric measurements was corroborated, showing the need for interdisciplinary work between psychologists and nutritionists who do not ignore the physical health and psychological well-being of the soccer player

Reglas para la producción de una base de conocimientos en la construcción de tesauros.

The times are gone when the software for handling larger ammounts of data was sheer craftmanship. The last two decades have witnessed the rise of models aimed to setting up a formal and theoretical framework to afford coherence to databases design. Currently, the advance of Artificial Intelligence and related disciplines allows the management of data into an new context: the deductive data bases

NEMA Performance Evaluation of CareMiBrain dedicated brain PET and Comparison with the whole-body and dedicated brain PET systems

[EN] This article presents system performance studies of the CareMiBrain dedicated brain PET according to NEMA NU 2-2012 (for whole-body PETS) and NU 4-2008 (for preclinical PETs). This scanner is based on monolithic LYSO crystals coupled to silicon photomultipliers. The results obtained for both protocols are compared with current commercial whole body PETs and dedicated brain PETs found in the literature. Spatial resolution, sensitivity, NECR and scatter-fraction are characterized with NEMA standards, as well as an image quality study. A customized image quality phantom is proposed as NEMA phantoms do not fulfil the necessities of dedicated brain PETs. The full-width half maximum of the radial/tangential/ axial spatial resolution of CareMiBrain reconstructed with FBP at 10 and 100 mm from the system center were, respectively, 1.87/1.68/1.39 mm and 1.86/1.91/1.40 mm (NU 2-2012) and 1.58/1.45/1.40 mm and 1.64/1.66/1.44 mm (NU 4-2008). Peak NECR was 49 kcps@287 MBq with a scatter fraction of 48% using NU 2-2012 phantom. The sensitivity was 13.82 cps/kBq at the center of the FOV (NU 2-2012) and 10% (NU 4-2008). Contrast recovery coefficients for customizing image quality phantom were 0.73/0.78/1.14/1.01 for the 4.5/6/9/12 mm diameter rods. The performance characteristics of CareMiBrain are at the top of the current technologies for PET systems. Dedicated brain PET systems significantly improve spatial resolution and sensitivity, but present worse results in count rate measurements and scatter-fraction tests. As for the comparison of preclinical and clinical standards, the results obtained for solid and liquid sources were similar.This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University under grant RTC-2016-5186-1, a project co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 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Automatized offline and online exploration to achieve a target dynamics in biohybrid neural circuits built with living and model neurons

Biohybrid circuits of interacting living and model neurons are an advantageous means to study neural dynamics and to assess the role of specific neuron and network properties in the nervous system. Hybrid networks are also a necessary step to build effective artificial intelligence and brain hybridization. In this work, we deal with the automatized online and offline adaptation, exploration and parameter mapping to achieve a target dynamics in hybrid circuits and, in particular, those that yield dynamical invariants between living and model neurons. We address dynamical invariants that form robust cycle-by-cycle relationships between the intervals that build neural sequences from such interaction. Our methodology first attains automated adaptation of model neurons to work in the same amplitude regime and time scale of living neurons. Then, we address the automatized exploration and mapping of the synapse parameter space that lead to a specific dynamical invariant target. Our approach uses multiple configurations and parallel computing from electrophysiological recordings of living neurons to build full mappings, and genetic algorithms to achieve an instance of the target dynamics for the hybrid circuit in a short time. We illustrate and validate such strategy in the context of the study of functional sequences in neural rhythms, which can be easily generalized for any variety of hybrid circuit configuration. This approach facilitates both the building of hybrid circuits and the accomplishment of their scientific goalThis research was supported by grants AEI/FEDER PID2021-122347NB-100, PGC2018-095895-B-I00, and PID2020- 114867RB-I00 (funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF - "A way of making Europe”

Histiocitosis de células de Langerhans: avances en la patogenia y práctica clínica

Histiocitosis; Granuloma eosinófilo; Inhibidores BRAFHistiocitosi; Granuloma eosinòfil; Inhibidors BRAFHistiocytosis; Eosinophilic granuloma; BRAF inhibitorsLangerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a type of myeloid neoplasia that can affect different organs or tissues and exhibits substantial variability in its clinical presentation and biological behaviour, so it may mimic different diseases. Performance of different clinical assessments and laboratory and imaging tests is recommended to determine the extent of involvement, which may be of a single location or multisystemic, and the presence or absence of dysfunction in risk organs, such as the haematopoietic system, liver and spleen. The diagnosis must be confirmed by histological examination of a biopsy sample. Molecular tests have identified mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which has expanded treatment options. The diagnosis is complex and there is controversy regarding the management of certain cases. Treatment recommendations depend on the location of the lesions and the extent of involvement. International collaborative studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of prolonged combination therapies such as vinblastine and prednisone in severe or multisystemic forms, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and other cytostatic combinations have proven beneficial. Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a good example of the importance of precision medicine and the benefit of identifying molecular targets, common to different neoplasms, to develop new therapies. MAPK pathway inhibitors offer an alternative treatment option in refractory cases and neurodegenerative forms of LCH. Molecular testing can contribute to the prognosis, treatment and follow-up of LCH, especially in severe forms of disease.La histiocitosis de células de Langerhans es un tipo de neoplasia hematológica de origen mieloide, que puede afectar a diferentes órganos o tejidos, con gran variabilidad en la presentación clínica y comportamiento biológico, por lo que puede simular diferentes enfermedades. Se recomienda realizar diversas pruebas clínicas, analíticas y de imagen, para determinar la extensión de la afectación, que puede ser única o multisistémica, y la presencia o no de disfunción en órganos de riesgo como sistema hematopoyético, hígado y bazo. El diagnóstico se debe confirmar mediante biopsia y estudio histológico. Los estudios moleculares han permitido identificar mutaciones en la vía MAPK, lo que han ampliado las opciones terapéuticas. El diagnóstico es complejo y existe controversia en el manejo de ciertos casos. Las recomendaciones terapéuticas dependen de la localización de las lesiones y la extensión de la afectación. Los estudios colaborativos internacionales han demostrado la efectividad de terapias prolongadas combinadas como vinblastina y prednisona en formas graves o multisistémicas y destaca el papel beneficioso de fármacos antinflamatorios como indometacina y de otras combinaciones de citostáticos. HCL representa un buen ejemplo de la importancia de la medicina de precisión y del beneficio de la identificación de dianas moleculares, comunes a diferentes neoplasias, para desarrollar nuevas terapias dirigidas. Los inhibidores de la vía MAPK representan una alternativa terapéutica en casos refractarios y en las formas neurodegenerativas de HCL. Los estudios moleculares pueden contribuir en el pronóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento, especialmente en las formas graves.The study was partially funded by a grant allocated to the Histiocytosis Research Project of the Fundación Vasca de Innovación e Investigación Sanitaria BIOEF (BIO16/ER/020/BC) and the Asociación Española contra la Histiocitosis-ACHE (BC/A/15/012, BIOEF11/017, BIOEF09/047), whose principal investigator is Itziar Astigarraga

Root high-affinity K+ and Cs+ uptake and plant fertility in tomato plants are dependent on the activity of the high-affinity K+ transporter SlHAK5

Root K+ acquisition is a key process for plant growth and development, extensively studied in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Because important differences may exist among species, translational research supported by specific studies is needed in crops such as tomato. Here we present a reverse genetics study to demonstrate the role of the SlHAK5 K+ transporter in tomato K+ nutrition, Cs+ accumulation and its fertility. slhak5 KO lines, generated by CRISPR-Cas edition, were characterized in growth experiments, Rb+ and Cs+ uptake tests and root cells K+-induced plasma membrane depolarizations. Pollen viability and its K+ accumulation capacity were estimated by using the K+-sensitive dye Ion Potassium Green 4. SlHAK5 is the major system for high-affinity root K+ uptake required for plant growth at low K+, even in the presence of salinity. It also constitutes a pathway for Cs+ entry in tomato plants with a strong impact on fruit Cs+ accumulation. SlHAK5 also contributes to pollen K+ uptake and viability and its absence produces almost seedless fruits. Knowledge gained into SlHAK5 can serve as a model for other crops with fleshy fruits and it can help to generate tools to develop low Cs+ or seedless fruits crops.Fil: Nieves Cordones, Manuel. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Lara, Alberto. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Silva, Martha. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Amo, Jesús. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Rodriguez Sepulveda, Pascual. No especifíca;Fil: Rivero, Rosa M.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Martínez, Vicente. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; EspañaFil: Botella, María Ángeles. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Rubio, Francisco. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura; Españ