Análisis del estrés y las exigencias cinemáticas y fisiológicas de los bomberos durante la jornada laboral

The work of firefighters is considered one of the professions with greater physical demands and predisposition to suffer stress, due to the hazardous working conditions and the responsibility with human lives. The aims of the present study were to: (i) describe the kinematical, physiological and stress demands of firefighters, and (ii) compare these demands in relation to the experience years. Eight firefighters from the fire department of Cartagena participated voluntarily, dividing them into two groups: (1) experienced: >12 years (n=4); (2) novels: <7 years (n=4). The registered variables were total acceleration (AcelT), heart rate average (HRavg) and sympathetic-parasympathetic ratio (R-S|Ps). The results shown differences between activities, finding the highest values in sport and exits. In the between-groups comparison, differences in AcelT and HRavg in sport (p<.05), being higher in experienced group; and differences in R-S|Ps in practice and exits with urgency (p<.05), being higher in novels group. In conclusion, the firefighters with less experience suffer greater stress during workday. Therefore, it is necessary the incorporation of qualified staff to design specific training and coping strategies before the resolution of conflicts adapted to the real situation.El trabajo de los bomberos es considerado como una de las profesiones con mayor exigencia física y predisposición a padecer estrés, debido a las exigentes condiciones de trabajo y la responsabilidad sobre vidas humanas. Los objetivos de la presente investigación fueron: (i) describir las exigencias cinemáticas, fisiológicas y de estrés en bomberos, y (ii) comparar estas exigencias en función de los años de experiencia. Ocho bomberos del parque del Ayuntamiento de Cartagena participaron voluntariamente, siendo divididos en dos grupos en función de la experiencia: (1) experimentados: >12 años (n=4); (2) noveles: <7 años (n=4). Se registraron las variables aceleración total (AcelT), frecuencia cardíaca media (FCmedia) y ratio simpático-parasimpático (R-S|Ps). Los resultados mostraron diferencias entre actividades, encontrando los mayores valores en deporte y salidas. En el análisis inter-grupos, se encontraron diferencias en las variables AcelT y FCmedia en deporte, siendo mayor en los bomberos experimentados (p<.05); y en la variable R-S|Ps en Práctica y Salida con urgencia (p<.05), siendo mayor en los noveles. En conclusión, los bomberos con menos experiencia sufren un mayor estrés durante la jornada laboral. Por tanto, es necesario la incorporación de personal cualificado para diseñar una planificación específica del entrenamiento y de las estrategias de afrontamiento ante la resolución de conflictos adaptadas a la situación real

Role of chaos for the validity of statistical mechanics laws: diffusion and conduction

Several years after the pioneering work by Fermi Pasta and Ulam, fundamental questions about the link between dynamical and statistical properties remain still open in modern statistical mechanics. Particularly controversial is the role of deterministic chaos for the validity and consistency of statistical approaches. This contribution reexamines such a debated issue taking inspiration from the problem of diffusion and heat conduction in deterministic systems. Is microscopic chaos a necessary ingredient to observe such macroscopic phenomena?Comment: Latex, 27 pages, 10 eps-figures. Proceedings of the Conference "FPU 50 years since" Rome 7-8 May 200

Defects in memory B-cell and plasma cell subsets expressing different immunoglobulin-subclasses in patients with CVID and immunoglobulin subclass deficiencies

Background: Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) are the most prevalent primary immunodeficiencies, but their B-cell defects and underlying genetic alterations remain largely unknown. Objective: We investigated patients with PADs for the distribution of 41 blood B-cell and plasma cell (PC) subsets, including subsets defined by expression of distinct immunoglobulin heavy chain subclasses. Methods: Blood samples from 139 patients with PADs, 61 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), 68 patients with selective IgA deficiency (IgAdef), 10 patients with IgG subclass deficiency with IgA deficiency, and 223 agematched control subjects were studied by using flow cytometry with EuroFlow immunoglobulin isotype staining. Patients were classified according to their B-cell and PC immune profile, and the obtained patient clusters were correlated with clinical manifestations of PADs. Results: Decreased counts of blood PCs, memory B cells (MBCs), or both expressing distinct IgA and IgG subclasses were identified in all patients with PADs. In patients with IgAdef, B-cell defects were mainly restricted to surface membrane (sm)IgA1 PCs and MBCs, with 2 clear subgroups showing strongly decreased numbers of smIgA1 PCs with mild versus severe smIgA1 MBC defects and higher frequencies of nonrespiratory tract infections, autoimmunity, and affected family members. Patients with IgG subclass deficiency with IgA deficiency and those with CVID showed defects in both smIgA1 and smIgG1 MBCs and PCs. Reduced numbers of switched PCs were systematically found in patients with CVID (absent in 98%), with 6 different defective MBC (and clinical) profiles: (1) profound decrease in MBC numbers; (2) defective CD271 MBCs with almost normal IgG3 1 MBCs; (3) absence of switched MBCs; and (4) presence of both unswitched and switched MBCs without and; (5) with IgG2 1 MBCs; and (6) with IgA

Anti-tumour necrosis factor discontinuation in inflammatory bowel disease patients in remission: study protocol of a prospective, multicentre, randomized clinical trial

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who achieve remission with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs may have treatment withdrawn due to safety concerns and cost considerations, but there is a lack of prospective, controlled data investigating this strategy. The primary study aim is to compare the rates of clinical remission at 1?year in patients who discontinue anti-TNF treatment versus those who continue treatment. Methods: This is an ongoing, prospective, double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with Crohn?s disease or ulcerative colitis who have achieved clinical remission for ?6?months with an anti-TNF treatment and an immunosuppressant. Patients are being randomized 1:1 to discontinue anti-TNF therapy or continue therapy. Randomization stratifies patients by the type of inflammatory bowel disease and drug (infliximab versus adalimumab) at study inclusion. The primary endpoint of the study is sustained clinical remission at 1?year. Other endpoints include endoscopic and radiological activity, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, work productivity), safety and predictive factors for relapse. The required sample size is 194 patients. In addition to the main analysis (discontinuation versus continuation), subanalyses will include stratification by type of inflammatory bowel disease, phenotype and previous treatment. Biological samples will be obtained to identify factors predictive of relapse after treatment withdrawal. Results: Enrolment began in 2016, and the study is expected to end in 2020. Conclusions: This study will contribute prospective, controlled data on outcomes and predictors of relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after withdrawal of anti-TNF agents following achievement of clinical remission. Clinical trial reference number: EudraCT 2015-001410-1

Recent advances and perspectives on starch nanocomposites for packaging applications

Starch nanocomposites are popular and abundant materials in packaging sectors. The aim of this work is to review some of the most popular starch nanocomposite systems that have been used nowadays. Due to a wide range of applicable reinforcements, nanocomposite systems are investigated based on nanofiller type such as nanoclays, polysaccharides and carbonaceous nanofillers. Furthermore, the structures of starch and material preparation methods for their nanocomposites are also mentioned in this review. It is clearly presented that mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of plasticised starch can be improved with well-dispersed nanofillers in starch nanocomposites

The V471A polymorphism in autophagy-related gene ATG7 modifies age at onset specifically in Italian Huntington disease patients

The cause of Huntington disease (HD) is a polyglutamine repeat expansion of more than 36 units in the huntingtin protein, which is inversely correlated with the age at onset of the disease. However, additional genetic factors are believed to modify the course and the age at onset of HD. Recently, we identified the V471A polymorphism in the autophagy-related gene ATG7, a key component of the autophagy pathway that plays an important role in HD pathogenesis, to be associated with the age at onset in a large group of European Huntington disease patients. To confirm this association in a second independent patient cohort, we analysed the ATG7 V471A polymorphism in additional 1,464 European HD patients of the “REGISTRY” cohort from the European Huntington Disease Network (EHDN). In the entire REGISTRY cohort we could not confirm a modifying effect of the ATG7 V471A polymorphism. However, analysing a modifying effect of ATG7 in these REGISTRY patients and in patients of our previous HD cohort according to their ethnic origin, we identified a significant effect of the ATG7 V471A polymorphism on the HD age at onset only in the Italian population (327 patients). In these Italian patients, the polymorphism is associated with a 6-years earlier disease onset and thus seems to have an aggravating effect. We could specify the role of ATG7 as a genetic modifier for HD particularly in the Italian population. This result affirms the modifying influence of the autophagic pathway on the course of HD, but also suggests population-specific modifying mechanisms in HD pathogenesis

Analysis of stress and kinematical and physiological demands during firefighters workday

El trabajo de los bomberos es considerado como una de las pro- fesiones con mayor exigencia física y predisposición a padecer estrés, debido a las exigentes condiciones de trabajo y la responsabilidad sobre vidas hu- manas. Los objetivos de la presente investigación fueron: (i) describir las exigencias cinemáticas, fisiológicas y de estrés en bomberos, y (ii) compa- rar estas exigencias en función de los años de experiencia. Ocho bomberos del parque del Ayuntamiento de Cartagena participaron voluntariamente, siendo divididos en dos grupos en función de la experiencia: (1) experi- mentados: >12 años (n=4); (2) noveles: <7 años (n=4). Se registraron las variables aceleración total (AcelT), frecuencia cardíaca media (FCmedia) y ratio simpático-parasimpático (R-S|Ps). Los resultados mostraron diferen- cias entre actividades, encontrando los mayores valores en deporte y salidas. En el análisis inter-grupos, se encontraron diferencias en las variables AcelT y FCmedia en deporte, siendo mayor en los bomberos experimentados (p<.05); y en la variable R-S|Ps en Práctica y Salida con urgencia (p<.05), siendo mayor en los noveles. En conclusión, los bomberos con menos ex- periencia sufren un mayor estrés durante la jornada laboral. Por tanto, es necesario la incorporación de personal cualificado para diseñar una plani- ficación específica del entrenamiento y de las estrategias de afrontamiento ante la resolución de conflictos adaptadas a la situación real.ABSTRACT: The work of firefighters is considered one of the professions with greater physical demands and predisposition to suffer stress, due to the ha- zardous working conditions and the responsibility with human lives. The aims of the present study were to: (i) describe the kinematical, physiologi- cal and stress demands of firefighters, and (ii) compare these demands in relation to the experience years. Eight firefighters from the fire department of Cartagena participated voluntarily, dividing them into two groups: (1) experienced: >12 years (n=4); (2) novels: <7 years (n=4). The registe- red variables were total acceleration (AcelT), heart rate average (HRavg) and sympathetic-parasympathetic ratio (R-S|Ps). The results shown diffe- rences between activities, finding the highest values in sport and exits. In the between-groups comparison, differences in AcelT and HRavg in sport (p<.05), being higher in experienced group; and differences in R-S|Ps in practice and exits with urgency (p<.05), being higher in novels group. In conclusion, the firefighters with less experience suffer greater stress during workday. Therefore, it is necessary the incorporation of qualified staff to de- sign specific training and coping strategies before the resolution of conflicts adapted to the real situation

Plant and soil microbial community responses to different water management strategies in an almond crop

Climate change is one of the main challenges facing the agricultural sector as it strives to meet global food needs. In arid and semiarid areas, the scarcity of water imposes the use of alternative sources - such as reclaimed water (RW) or desalinated water (DW) - and of deficit irrigation strategies, such as regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), in order to maintain productivity. The impact of both alternative water sources and RDI strategies on soil microbial communities in conjunction with the crop response has been little studied, and far less in fruit trees. Here, we evaluated the effects of the irrigation water quantity (RDI or the optimal water amount) and quality (DW or saline RW) on: i) the biomass, composition, and activity of the soil microbial community, and ii) the plant agro-physiological response at the level of the water status, nutrients, vegetative growth, and yield of almond trees. The DW-RDI treatment had a lower vegetative growth than the rest, reducing the nutrient requirements and increasing the contents of organic carbon and nitrogen in soil. This coincided with a significant increase in the bacterial biomass and enzyme activities in soil, as well as with a decrease in plant nutrient use efficiencies and yield. Irrigation with RW increased the fungal biomass. When there were no water restrictions (RW-FI), none of the plant agro-physiological parameters were affected; when RDI was applied (RW-RDI), the highest soil sodicity was reached and vegetative growth and yield were negatively affected, although the plant nutrient use efficiencies did not decrease as much as with DW-RDI. In addition, the plant nutrient use efficiencies were negatively correlated with the soil enzyme activities. These results improve our knowledge of the functioning of plant-soil interactions in Mediterranean crops subjected to different irrigation strategies