Low-Temperature Miniemulsion-Based Routes for Synthesis of Metal Oxides

Dedicated to Professor Gerhard Wegner on the occasion of his 80th anniversar

Proceso de recuperación funcional tras lesión del ligamento cruzado anterior. Revisión bibiográfica

La ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) es una afección muy común y siempre se deberá realizar un tratamiento fisioterápico si se desea obtener la mejor recuperación posible, puesto que es una de las afecciones que cuenta con un mayor tiempo de rehabilitación. El objetivo de esta revisión es recopilar la información disponible al respecto para conocer las bases que deben tener los programas de recuperación funcional del mismo. Se han consultado las plataformas: ¿Pubmed¿ y ¿PEDro¿. Los resultados muestran la efectividad de la realización de un protocolo de rehabilitación acelerado y de la ejecución progresiva de ejercicios en modalidad excéntrica. Además, el entrenamiento funcional es efectivo en la recuperación de la rodilla tras la reparación del LCA y debe ser tenido en cuenta por los médicos, entrenadores y fisioterapeutas. En conclusión, el tratamiento fisioterápico será relevante para la recuperación del LCA y siempre se deberá de informar a los pacientes de la existencia de dos modalidades de tratamiento, conservador y quirúrgico, siendo éste último el más recomendable en el caso de querer recuperar una actividad deportiva previa a la lesión. Finalmente, será muy importante conocer las inquietudes, dudas y expectativas de los pacientes para saber conducir el proceso de recuperación. Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very common complaint and always should be a physiotherapy treatment if you want to get the best possible recovery,since it is one of the conditions which has a longer period of rehabilitation. The objective of this review is to collect available information in order to establish the bases that the functional recovery programs should have. The platforms we have used are: 'Pubmed' and 'PEDro'. The results show the effectiveness of the development of an accelerated rehabilitation protocol and the implementation of progressive eccentric exercise. In addition, the functional training is effective in the recovery of the knee after ACL repair and must be taken into account by the doctors, trainers and physiotherapists. In conclusion, the physiotherapy treatment is relevant for ACL recovery and always you must inform the patients of the existence of two forms of treatment, conservative and surgical treatment, being this last the most recommended if you want to recover a sporting activity prior to the injury. Finally, the fact of knowing what are the concerns, questions and expectations of the patients is very important to know how to drive the rehabilitation process

Analysis of the morphological and semantic specifitity of the Andorran neology

The study of neology is not only important from a metalinguistic point of view, but also from the perspective of language planning, because monitoring the lexical creation allows for new lexicographic and terminological proposals. Taking into account the singularity of Andorra within the Catalan language domain, in terms of demography and geography but also regarding politics and culture, the language can have lexicographic and terminological needs that are different from other territories. This work analyzes the patterns in morphology and formation processes of the Andorran neology, comparing them with the rest of the language domain. Furthermore, the Andorran specific neologisms (so-called hapax legomena) have been classified and analyzed semantically, which has led to the observation that specific lexical creation is determined by the social, cultural, political, and economic environment of Andorra

Effectiveness of a manual therapy protocol based on articulatory techniques in migraine patients. A randomized controlled trial

Background: Physiotherapy is used as a non-pharmacological treatment for migraine. However, controversy exists over whether articulatory manual techniques are effective in some aspects related to migraine. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a manual therapy protocol based on articulatory techniques in pain intensity, frequency of episodes, migraine disability, quality of life, medication intake and self-reported perceived change after treatment in migraine patients. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Fifty individuals with migraine were randomized into the experimental group, which received manual therapy based on articulatory techniques (n = 25), or the placebo group (n = 25). The intervention lasted 4 weeks and included 4 sessions. Patients were assessed before (T1), after (T2) and at a one-month follow-up following the intervention (T3). The instruments used were the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire, the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the medication intake and The Patients' Global Impression of Change scale. Results: In comparison with placebo group, manual therapy patients reported significant effects on pain intensity at T2 (p < 0.001; d = 1.15) and at T3 (p < 0.001; d = 1.13), migraine disability at T3 (p < 0.05; d = 0.69), physical quality of life at T2 (p < 0.05; d = 0.72), overall quality of life at T2 (p < 0.05; d = 0.60), decrease in medication intake at T2 (p < 0.001; d = 1.11) and at T3 (p < 0.05; d = 0.77) and self-reported perceived change after treatment at T2 and T3 (p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The application of a manual therapy protocol based on articulatory techniques reduced pain intensity, migraine disability, and medication intake, while improving quality of life in patients with migraine

Análisis tiempo-frecuencia de mapas de activación cardíaca en fibrilación ventricular

El análisis de mapas de activación permite investigar la estructura de la fibrilación ventricular cardíaca (FV). El presente trabajo plantea una revisión de la utilización de objetos de interés (blobs), usados en procesado de imágenes y aplicados también a mapas de activación cerebral y cardíaca, mediante su generación a partir de representaciones tiempo-frecuencia de registros FV. Su estudio proporciona información sobre qué frecuencias de la señal están presentes en un instante dado, así como su distribución espacial. También permiten determinar el momento en que una determinada frecuencia aparece y desaparece de cada electrodo, por lo que constituye una herramienta interesante para analizar los mecanismos de generación y mantenimiento de la FV

Triple-target stimuli-responsive anti-COVID-19 face mask with physiological virus-inactivating agents

Conventional face masks to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission are mostly based on a passive filtration principle. Ideally, anti-COVID-19 masks should protect the carrier not only by size exclusion of virus aerosol particles, but also be able to capture and destroy or inactivate the virus. Here we present the proof-of-concept of a filter mat for such a mask, which actively attracts aerosol droplets and kills the virus. The electrospun mats are made of polycaprolactone (PCL) a hydrophilic, functionalizable and biodegradable polyester, into which inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) a physiological biocompatible, biodegradable and antivirally active polymer (chain length, ∼40 P(i) units) has been integrated. A soluble Na-polyP as well as amorphous calcium polyP nanoparticles (Ca-polyP-NP) have been used. In this composition, the polyP component of the polyP-PCL mats is stable in aqueous protein-free environment, but capable of transforming into a gel-like coacervate upon contact with divalent cations and protein like mucin present in (virus containing) aerosol droplets. In addition, the Ca-polyP-NP are used as a carrier of tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid) which blocks the function of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein, an ion channel forming viroporin. The properties of this novel mask filter mats are as follows: First, to attract and to trap virus-like particles during the polyP coacervate formation induced in situ by aerosol droplets on the spun PCL fibers, as shown here by using SARS-CoV-2 mimicking fluorescent nanoparticles. Second, after disintegration the NP by the aerosol-mucus constituents, to release polyP that binds to and abolishes the function of the receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein. Third, to destroy the virus by releasing tretinoin, as shown by the disruption of virus-mimicking liposomes with the integrated recombinant viral viroporin. It is proposed that these properties, which are inducible (stimuli responsive), will allow the design of antiviral masks that are smart

Propuesta de reutilización de los edificios de la marina auxiliante para un uso cultural en el Cabanyal (Valencia)

La Lonja del Pescado, la Casa dels Bous, la Fábrica del Hielo y los Teñidores, conforman el conjunto de edificios heredados de la antigua cofradía de pescadores Marina Auxiliante en el barrio de El Cabanyal, en Valencia. Su gran valor patrimonial, su localización estratégica dentro del barrio y el peligro de desaparición en el que se encuentran debido a la propuesta, actualmente en discusión, de prolongación de la avenida de Blasco Ibáñez, los convierten en una pieza clave de estudio dentro de la peculiar trama urbana de El Cabanyal. Una propuesta de reutilización conjunta de este patrimonio para un uso público y cultural de carácter metropolitano, con la recuperación de los edificios y la intervención urbana en el espacio público aledaño, es una interesante oportunidad para suturar la separación entre ambas partes de El Cabanyal, generando un nuevo orden en la zona, además de suponer un foco de atracción cultural y económica dentro del barrio.Muñoz Cosme, G.; Peiró Vitoria, A.; Perepérez Espí, M. (2011). Propuesta de reutilización de los edificios de la marina auxiliante para un uso cultural en el Cabanyal (Valencia). Arché. (6):343-350. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/34468343350

Analysis of the geometric parameters influence in PCB fixtures for 2D multipole magnetization patterning of thin layer micro-magnets

Magnetic actuators, magnetic gears, vibrational energy harvesters and other micro-electromagnetic devices requires micro-magnetic rotors with alternant magnetizations to optimize their performance. Different approaches have been used for multipole magnetization of micro-magnets like fixed micro-fixtures, thermomagnetic patterning or laser machining. The main limitation of the previous techniques is that the inversion of the magnetic polarizations is only partially done. In this work, a concept based on 2D multipole magnetization printing of micro-magnets is proposed and analyzed to overcome current limitations. The fixtures are designed to be printed on a standard 35 μm PCB. The dependence of the magnetizing field with respect to the geometrical parameter of the fixture is analyzed. Maps of the required current for the magnetizing fields are also given. Some design recommendations to optimize the magnetizing field and to minimize current, thus the heat, are given.Universidad de Alcal

Miniaturized high gain flexible spiral antenna tested in human-like tissue

A miniaturized helical antenna is presented in this work. The antenna is flexible, it is 6100 μm long and it has a diameter of 352 μm. This antenna has such a small cross-section, that permits to be implanted in the human body with fine syringes and minimally invasive surgeries. The antenna can be used to receive power and/or send information in medical devices. The antenna is made of biocompatible materials: polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) and copper. The fundamental parameters of the antenna have been simulated and experimentally measured in animal human-like tissues, showing good agreement. The resonant frequency of the antenna is 4.7 GHz, with a reflection coefficient of −25.1 dB, and a gain of −4.7 dBi. As expected, the resonant frequency decreases inside biological tissues comparing to the free-space open-air measurement. Reducing the resonant frequency is an advantage because power signals can penetrate deeper into body tissues