The dynamics of strategically important food preference in Indonesia: An empirical evaluation of consumption pattern and welfare loss

This study evaluated regional heterogeneity in food consumption patterns across Indonesia. The demand system for strategically important food commodities was estimated for five regions: Sumatera, Java-Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara-Maluku-Papua (Nusmapua). A two-step budgeting procedure based on the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) framework was used to estimate the unconditional elasticities of each food item in each regional setting, together with household data from the 2018 national socio-economic survey by Statistics Indonesia. The results showed that elasticities differ significantly across the regions, suggesting that regional heterogeneity needs to be considered when estimating demand structure. The estimated elasticities were used to conduct a welfare impact analysis of a simulated price increase, which showed that disregarding regional heterogeneity can overstate or understate welfare loss caused by price increases

Medical automated movement detector (MedAMD )

Treball desenvolupat en el marc del programa "European Project Semester".The 2021 EPS spring team composed of Sem, Rebekka, Bogdan, Daniel and Laurent has been working on the project proposed by the CRAAX Lab. The initially proposed name of the project was “Design of an ad-hoc adaptable sensor system for the 6MWT”. Since the scope of the project partially changed since then, the name was changed to “Medical Automated Movement Detector (MedAMD)”. The challenge is to develop a product that simplifies different tests that physicians run to know the desaturation level in patients with hypoxia, an illness in which the blood doesn’t carry enough oxygen. The CRAAX Lab has as of today two working prototypes, each specifically designed for one test. Our objective is to develop a device that is able to function for a multitude of tests, therefore facilitating the testing. In order to achieve that, we combined the technology of two devices, built by the CRAAX team and modified them so it would send data about the different movements of the patients to an already existing app, by Bluetooth. The scope of this project encompassed the analysis of the existing prototypes, conceptualizing our device, creating the overall design of both the casing of the electronic components and the strapping system to hold our device in place and build a functioning electronic circuit with the required set of sensors. The tests we are aiming to facilitate with our device require the device to be either strapped to the patient or to a cone. Ideally our device would send the data recorded by the sensors to an already existing app, via Bluetooth. As we have not had access to the existing coding and do not possess the necessary skills to code it on our own, we consider the successful bluetooth connection of our device to a bluetooth testing app (Serial Bluetooth Terminal) a measure of success. A future step to fully implement this device would be the coding necessary for the communication with an app. To conclude, we have successfully printed the redesigned casing for the electronic components, built a working strap system and the sensors have successfully sent signals to the bluetooth app ‘Serial Bluetooth Terminal’.Incomin

Whole-Body Electromyostimulation Improves Performance-Related Parameters in Runners

The aim of this study was to study the effects of a 6-session (one per week) WB-EMS training intervention on maximum oxygen uptake, aerobic and gas exchange thresholds, running economy, and muscular power in male recreational runners. Twelve men were randomized into WB-EMS intervention (n = 6; 27.0 +/- 7.5 years; 70.1 +/- 11.1 kg; 1.75 +/- 0.5 m) or control (n = 6; 27.0 +/- 6.1 years; 73.6 +/- 3.4 kg; 1.77 +/- 0.3 m). The WB-EMS group reduced the running training frequency to one per week and followed one WB-EMS training session per week during 6 weeks. Participants in the control group maintained their usual running endurance training. Each participant completed four assessments: physiological parameters [(i) VO(2)max, aerobic and gas exchange threshold values, and (ii) running economy at two intensities], muscular power (vertical jump), and anthropometric parameters both at baseline and after the intervention. Participants in the WB-EMS group improved VO(2)max, aerobic and gas exchange threshold values, running economy, and vertical jump (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. There, WB-EMS seems to be an effective training methodology leading to improvements in performance during endurance training volume reduction in male recreational runners.The study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU 13/04365, FPU14/04172, and FPU15/03960). The study was partially supported by the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). This study was also partially supported byWiemspro, Spain

Neural adaptations to electrical stimulation strength training

This review provides evidence for the hypothesis that electrostimulation strength training (EST) increases the force of a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) through neural adaptations in healthy skeletal muscle. Although electrical stimulation and voluntary effort activate muscle differently, there is substantial evidence to suggest that EST modifies the excitability of specific neural paths and such adaptations contribute to the increases in MVC force. Similar to strength training with voluntary contractions, EST increases MVC force after only a few sessions with some changes in muscle biochemistry but without overt muscle hypertrophy. There is some mixed evidence for spinal neural adaptations in the form of an increase in the amplitude of the interpolated twitch and in the amplitude of the volitional wave, with less evidence for changes in spinal excitability. Cross-sectional and exercise studies also suggest that the barrage of sensory and nociceptive inputs acts at the cortical level and can modify the motor cortical output and interhemispheric paths. The data suggest that neural adaptations mediate initial increases in MVC force after short-term EST