Groundwater pollution in quaternary aquifer of Vitoria - Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain)

As a result of diverse changes in land use and in water-resource management in the high basin of the Zadorra River (Basque Country), an important loss of water resources and an intense contamination by nitrogen compounds has taken place. The purpose of this paper is to detail the land transformations that have taken place on the aquifer since the 1950s: increase of drainage network, change from dry to irrigated farming, and diversion of rivers at the aquifer unit inlet. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of these transformations on the hydrodynamics and water quality of this aquifer system

Achievement Goals across Persistence—Validation of the Spanish Version of the Motivational Persistence Scale.

Abstract: Background: An important aspect of achievement goals is the persistence and determination that the person possesses in order to achieve it. Spain does not have an adequate instrument for its measurement. First, this article had the aim of adapt and validate the Motivational Persistence Scale of Constantin et al. in a Spanish population and athletes. Second, it had the aim of prove the relationship with deliberate practice and performance. Methods: In this study, 384 university students participated, where the factor structure was analyzed by means of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). In study 2 of 169 athletes was used to confirm its validity in a homogeneous population and its predictive capacity on the hours of deliberate practice (DP) and performance. Results: The AFC showed a two-factor structure, reducing the original three-factor structure, presenting a good fit in both Spanish and homogeneous population of athletes and achieving a significant predictive capacity on deliberate practice. The new dimensions were Purpose Pursuing (PP) and Recurrence of Unattained Purposes (RUP). Conclusions: Overall, our results provide evidence that this scale could be a useful tool for the assessment of Persistence in the Spanish adult and athlete population.pre-print1366 K

Src function in a unicellular relative of metazoans

Motivación: Tyrosine kinases play important roles in different cell signaling cascades in metazoans (1). The non-receptor Src family has been found to be involved in the regulation of cell-cell interaction, cell adhesion and migration (2). For this reason, its malfunctioning is implicated in diseases, such as cancer. Tyrosine kinases were thought to be specific to Metazoa, but recent comparative genomic analyses showed that they are also present in some of the closest unicellular relatives of metazoans (3). The role played by these kinases in these unicellular organisms remains unknown. The goal of this project is to decipher the function of Src in unicellular organisms.Métodos: The src gene was predicted in the genome of Creolimax fragrantissima. The gene was cloned from cDNA by PCR. A dominant negative (DN) version of the gene was designed introducing an amino acid change in the two conserved Tyr that are important for the regulation of the protein, blocking the downstream cascade (4). Both the wild-type version  and DN were cloned in a vector under the beta-tubulin promoter (b-tub) with constitutive expression, and fused to the mCherry fluorescent marker. Transformation was done by electroporation using the Neon® transfection system by Invitrogen (1μg each vector). The experiment consisted on transforming C. fragrantissima with either the normal Src or the DN  constructs plus b-tub::venus and b-tub::H2B-mCherry as controls for the transformation. Negative control had the two lasts constructs but none of the src constructs. The cells were examined using a Nikon fluorescence microscope, and time-lapse was performed when needed.Resultados: We know that the constitutive expression of src affects cell-cell interaction in cell culture experiments. C.fragrantissima has a colonial stage during its cell cycle that “explodes” giving rise to free-living amoebas (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gvrg1I8jBA). We assume that cell-cell interaction may have some relevance during this stage. For this reason we expected to see a resulting phenotype either during the colony formation or during its development. The preliminary results showed some different phenotypes although they are not significant enough. Experiments on transformation and time-lapse need to be repeated, in order to be sure that differences are found between the overexpressed and the DN src transformants, in the colonies or amoebas

Reliability of the Star Excursion Balance Test and Two New Similar Protocols to Measure Trunk Postural Control

Background: Although the Star Excursion Balance test (SEBT) has shown a good intrasession reliability, the intersession reliability of this test has not been deeply studied. Furthermore, there is an evident high influence of the lower limbs in the performance of the SEBT, so even if it has been used to measure core stability, it is possibly not the most suitable measurement. Objective: (1) To assess the absolute and relative between-session reliability of the SEBT and 2 novel variations of this test to assess trunk postural control while sitting, ie, the Star Excursion Sitting Test (SEST) and the Star Excursion Timing Test (SETT); and (2) to analyze the relationships between these 3 test scores. Design: Correlational and reliability testeretest study. Setting: Controlled laboratory environment. Participants: Twenty-seven physically active men (age: 24.54 3.05 years). Method: Relative and absolute reliability of the SEBT, SEST, and SETT were calculated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM), respectively. A Pearson correlation analysis was carried out between the variables of the 3 tests. Main Outcome Measures: Maximum normalized reach distances were assessed for different SEBT and SEST directions. In addition, composite indexes were calculated for SEBT, SEST, and SETT. Results: The SEBT (dominant leg: ICC ¼ 0.87 [0.73-0.94], SEM ¼ 2.12 [1.66-2.93]; nondominant leg: ICC ¼ 0.74 [0.50-0.87], SEM ¼ 3.23 [2.54-4.45]), SEST (ICC ¼ 0.85 [0.68-0.92], SEM ¼ 1.27 [1.03-1.80]), and SETT (ICC ¼ 0.61 [0.30-0.80], SEM ¼ 2.31 [1.82-3.17]) composite indexes showed moderate-to-high 1-month reliability. A learning effect was detected for some SEBT and SEST directions and for SEST and SETT composite indexes. No significant correlations were found between SEBT and its 2 variations (r .366; P > .05). A significant correlation was found between the SEST and SETT composite indexes (r ¼ .520; P > .01). Conclusions: SEBT, SEST, and SETT are reliable field protocols to measure postural control. However, whereas the SEBT assesses postural control in single-leg stance, SEST and SETT provide trunk postural control measures with lower influence of the lowerlimbs

Non-target effects of three formulated pesticides on microbially-mediated processes in a clay-loam soil

An experiment was performed to study non-target effects of difenoconazole (fungicide), deltamethrin (insecticide) and ethofumesate (herbicide) on microbial parameters in a clay-loam soil. Pesticides were applied as commercial formulations to soil samples at different concentrations (5, 50 and 500 mg kg−1 DW soil) and then incubated under laboratory conditions for 3 months. Throughout the incubation period, microbial parameters were determined at days 7, 30, 60 and 90. At 5 mg kg−1 DW soil, none of the three pesticides caused significant changes in soil microbial parameters. In contrast, at 500 mg kg−1 DW soil, pesticide application decreased overall soil microbial activity, negatively affecting the activity of soil enzymes. Similarly, at 500 mg kg−1 DW soil, difenoconazole and ethofumesate, but not deltamethrin, caused a pesticide-induced stress on soil microbial communities, as reflected by the respiratory quotient. Besides, deltamethrin and ethofumesate at 50 and 500 mg kg−1 DW soil resulted in lower values of denitrification potential. It was concluded that, although pesticide concentration had a somewhat inconsistent and erratic effect on soil microbial parameters, pesticide application at 500 mg kg−1 DW soil did have an impact on many of the microbial parameters studied here

The influence of a badminton competition with two matches in a day on muscle damage and physical performance in elite junior badminton players

[EN] To investigate the effects of a badminton competition with 2 matches in a day on hip strength and range of motion (ROM) and exercise-induced muscle damage in elite junior badminton players. Twenty players (age: 17±0.8 years; body mass: 62.9±6.5 kg, height: 173.8±8.9 cm) participated in this study. Passive hip internal (IR) and external rotation (ER), abduction (ABD) and adduction (ADD) hip ROM, isometric hip ADD and ABD muscle strength, countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) height and blood creatine kinase concentration (CK) were measured before and after a badminton competition during an international tournament. Blood samples were collected 24 h after the end of the last match. Compared to baseline values, hip IR and ER ROM were significantly decreased at post-competition in the dominant (IR=-9.0%; p=0.007 and ER=-15.2%; p=0.002) and non-dominant limbs (IR=-9.08%; p=0.004 and ER=-19.4%; p<0.001). In contrast, hip ADD (13.5%; p<0.001) and ABD (14.6%; p<0.001) strength increased significantly after the competition in the dominant limb and ABD strength increased significantly in the non-dominant limb (9.2%; p=0.001). From baseline values, CK increased after the competition (430.1%) and values remained elevated over baseline values 24 h later (160.4%). Although hip muscle strength increased, a badminton competition with two consecutive matches reduced hip ROM and increased blood CK concentration. This study suggests the necessity of investigating recovery strategies after a badminton competition to return hip ROM to basal values before the next day of the competition.SIThe authors would like to express their gratitude to badminton play- ers who participated in the study.Funding received from Badminton World Federation (BWF), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia

Age and sex-related upper body performance differences in competitive young tennis players

[EN] Objective The aims of this study were to analyze the shoulder functional profile of young male and female tennis players and to establish the relationship among physical variables and serve speed. Methods A total of 128 Spanish tennis players (Under-13 (n = 32/32 males/females) and Under-15 (n = 36/28 males/females), were tested during National training camps. Tests included passive shoulder range of motion (ROM) for both internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) and isometric strength (i.e., IR and ER) of the dominant/non-dominant shoulders, medicine ball throws (MBT), and serve speed. Age and sex pairwise comparisons were carried using the Hedges’ g index (dg). Results Results showed age and sex effects on serve speed and all MBT, with males showing greater changes (1.51<=dg<=1.98) with age than females (0.92<=dg<=1.35; p<0.05). U15 males showed higher (p<0.05) absolute shoulder IR and ER strength than U13, with only significant differences between males and females in the U15. Regarding ROM, U15 males showed a decreased IR ROM compared to U13 (dg = -0.84; p<0.05) and higher significant IR bilateral deficit (dg = 0.51; p<0.05). The distances obtained in the different MBT were the variables more correlated to serve speed. Conclusion The present results suggest that shoulder strength, medicine ball throws and serve speed increased along with age in young elite tennis players of both sexes. However, a decreasedS

Injury incidence, characteristics and burden among female sub-elite futsal players: A prospective study with three-year follow-up

The main purpose of the current study was to analyze the injury incidence, characteristics and burden among sub-elite female futsal players. Individual exposure to match play and training, injury incidence and characteristics (player position, injury mechanism, type of injuries, severity of injuries, recurrent versus new injuries, season variation of injury pattern) in a female futsal team were prospectively recorded for three consecutive seasons (2015-2018). Incidences were calculated per 1000 hours of exposure. A total of 30 injuries were reported during the three seasons within a total exposure of 4446.1 hours. The overall, match and training incidence of injuries were 6.7, 6.4 and 6.8 injuries/1000 hours of exposure, respectively. Most injuries had a non-contact mechanism (93%), with the lower extremity being the most frequently injured anatomical region (5.62 injuries/1000 hours of exposure). The most common type of injury was muscle/tendon (4.9 injuries/1000 hours of exposure) followed by joint (non-bone) and ligament (1.3 injuries/1000 hours of exposure). The injuries with the highest injury burden were those that occurred at the knee (31.9 days loss/1000 hours exposure), followed by quadriceps (15.3 day loss/1000 hours) and hamstring (14.4 day loss/1000 hours) strains. The first few weeks of competition after pre-season and soon after the Christmas break were the time points when most injuries occurred. These data indicate that sub-elite female futsal players are exposed to a substantial risk of sustaining an injury. To reduce overall injury burden, efforts should be directed toward the design, implementation and assessment of preventative measures that target the most common diagnoses, namely, muscle/tendon and ligament injuries

The influence of a badminton competition with two matches in a day on muscle damage and physical performance in elite junior badminton players

To investigate the effects of a badminton competition with 2 matches in a day on hip strength and range of motion (ROM) and exercise-induced muscle damage in elite junior badminton players. Twenty players (age: 17±0.8 years; body mass: 62.9±6.5 kg, height: 173.8±8.9 cm) participated in this study. Passive hip internal (IR) and external rotation (ER), abduction (ABD) and adduction (ADD) hip ROM, isometric hip ADD and ABD muscle strength, countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) height and blood creatine kinase concentration (CK) were measured before and after a badminton competition during an international tournament. Blood samples were collected 24 h after the end of the last match. Compared to baseline values, hip IR and ER ROM were significantly decreased at post-competition in the dominant (IR=-9.0%; p=0.007 and ER=-15.2%; p=0.002) and non-dominant limbs (IR=-9.08%; p=0.004 and ER=-19.4%; p<0.001). In contrast, hip ADD (13.5%; p<0.001) and ABD (14.6%; p<0.001) strength increased significantly after the competition in the dominant limb and ABD strength increased significantly in the non-dominant limb (9.2%; p=0.001). From baseline values, CK increased after the competition (430.1%) and values remained elevated over baseline values 24 h later (160.4%). Although hip muscle strength increased, a badminton competition with two consecutive matches reduced hip ROM and increased blood CK concentration. This study suggests the necessity of investigating recovery strategies after a badminton competition to return hip ROM to basal values before the next day of the competition.Funding received from Badminton World Federation (BWF), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)