Weekday and weekend days correlates of sedentary time and screen-Based behaviors in children

The aim of this study was to compare weekday and weekend day correlates of sedentary time, as well as some specific screen-based behaviors, in a sample of 213 Spanish six to eleven year-olds (8.68 +/- 1.75 years), 76 boys (8.79 +/- 1.75 years) and 137 girls (8.73 +/- 1.75 years), who wore GT3X accelerometers for 7 days. Screen-based behaviors were reported by parents through questionnaires. Different potential correlates of sedentary time and screen-based behaviors were measured, and data were analyzed using general univariate linear models and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed high levels of screen-based behaviors, both during weekdays and weekend days. From the different significant correlates for each screen-based behavior analyzed, gender, age, hours of extracurricular PA, children''s MVPA and having a TV in the bedroom were identified as the main correlates in most of the behaviors analyzed. The design of multicomponent intervention programs seems advisable. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar diferentes determinantes de tiempo sedentario en días entre semana y fines de semana, así como determinados comportamientos de consumo de pantallas, en una muestra de 213 niños de 6 a 11 (8.68 ±1.75) años, 76 chicos (8.79 ±1.75) y 137 chicas (8.73±1.75). El tiempo sedentario fue determinado mediante acelerómetros GT3X, que los sujetos llevaron durante 7 días. Los diferentes comportamientos de consumo de pantallas fueron reportados por los padres mediante cuestionarios. Se midieron diferentes potenciales determinantes de tiempo sedentario y consumo de pantallas, y los datos fueron analizados mediante modelos lineales univariantes y análisis de regresión múltiple. Los resultados revelaron altos niveles de consumo de pantallas, tanto en días entre semana como en fines de semana. De los diferentes determinantes para cada tipo de comportamiento de consumo de pantallas analizados, el género, la edad, las horas de AF extracurricular, la AFMV de los niños y tener una TV en el dormitorio, fueron identificados como los principales. El diseño de programas multicomponentes de intervención parece recomendable

Identifying promising school-based intervention programs to promote 24-hour movement guidelines among children: Protocol for a systematic review

Three key health behaviors, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep (SLP), have been identified by the 24-h framework as movement behaviors. School-based interventions targeting these multiple health behaviors among children have the potential to increase health outcomes. Despite this, the efficacy and sustainability of school-based movement behavior interventions among children has not been evaluated yet. To fill this gap in literature, this systematic review will aim to: (1) Summarize and classify movement behavior strategies used in literature to improve PA, SB and SLP in/from school in children; and (2) measure the effect of movement behavior strategies used in literature to improve PA, SB and SLP in children. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020199154). A systematic search will be conducted between 2010 to 2020 in five databases: Pubmed, Scopus, SPORTDiscuss, The Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Risk of bias and quality assessment will be evaluated and measured according to the recommended tools. This systematic review will provide information about which kind of school-based movement behavior interventions are effective, sustainable and the best to implement in children

Weed harrowing in winter cereal under semi-arid conditions

Five field experiments on barley and wheat have been carried out in North-Eastern Spain on the same field during the cropping seasons 1999-00 to 2003-04 to compare the effect of different harrowing adjustments on weed control, weed biomass and cereal yield. The variables considered were harrowing timing (pre- or early post-emergence), one or two passes, travelling direction, harrowing depth and speed compared with an untreated control and herbicide. Excepting year 2001, with very little weed emergence, mechanical control as a whole caused a significant weed plant reduction compared to the untreated plots in all years. No influence of harrowing depth and travelling speed and of pre-emergence harrowing were found in the trials. A single harrowing treatment conducted across the sowing direction gave the same or less control compared to harrowing along the sowing direction. Two harrowing passes achieved a higher efficacy than one single pass and little differences were detected if the second pass was conducted the same day, across the sowing direction or 15 days later. Despite herbicide had generally a higher efficacy than the harrowing treatments, in three out of five years it was found a mechanical control with the same control than herbicide. The effect of the different treatments on weed biomass was lower than on weed number and no significant differences were found for grain yield. Considering that an herbicide treatment in the present conditions is three times more expensive than harrowing, a single post-emergence harrowing can be considered a valid option for low and medium-infested cereal fields.En este trabajo se muestran los resultados de cinco experimentos de campo localizados en el noreste de España desde 1999-00 hasta 2003-04. En ellos se comparó el efecto de distintas formas de control mecánico de la flora arvense con grada de varillas flexibles sobre la densidad y biomasa de la misma y sobre la producción de cereal comparado con un control sin tratar y el uso de herbicidas. Las variables consideradas fueron: momento y número de pases de grada, profundidad, dirección y velocidad de los pases. Excepto en 2001, con una baja infestación, el control mecánico redujo la densidad de arvenses en comparación con las parcelas sin tratar. La profundidad y la velocidad de la labor no tuvieron influencia clara y realizar el pase en preemergencia del cereal resultó ineficaz probablemente debido a la falta de humedad. Dos pases resultaron más eficaces que uno y se encontraron pocas diferencias si el segundo se hacía en el mismo día, perpendicular o 15 días después. Aunque el herbicida tuvo generalmente mayor eficacia que los tratamientos mecánicos, en tres años se encontró un tratamiento mecánico con eficacia similar. El efecto de los distintos tratamientos sobre la biomasa de arvenses fue menor que sobre el número de las mismas y no hubo diferencias significativas sobre la producción. Dado que el tratamiento herbicida en las condiciones del ensayo fue tres veces más caro que el tratamiento mecánico, un único pase en post-emergencia puede ser una opción válida con infestaciones medias o bajas de malas hierbas

Physical activity levels during unstructured recess in Spanish primary and secondary schools

Introduction. The goals of this study were: a) to describe sedentary time and different physical activity (PA) intensities during school recess; b) to analyze sex and education level differences; c) to describe compliance with recommended guidelines for recess and; d) to determine the contribution of unstructured recess to PA guidelines. Material and Methods. Two subsamples from Spain participated: one of primary school students (114 girls, 8.77 +/- 1.74 years and 59 boys, 8.47 +/- 1.71 years), and one of secondary school students (100 girls, 12.16 +/- 0.49 years and 116 boys, 12.15 +/- 0.52 years). PA was quantified by accelerometers. Results and Discussion. Significant sex and education level effect was found over the combination of different percentages of PA intensities. All PA intensities except sedentary and light, showed higher values in primary education students. Boys reported higher values in MVPA both in primary and secondary. It was found a significant effect of sex and education level on the contribution of recess to PA guidelines. Conclusions. Interventions should be carried out to encourage PA during recess, especially for girls and secondary school students. Introducción. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: a) describir el tiempo sedentario y diferentes niveles de intensidad de actividad física (AF) durante los recreos escolares; b) analizar las diferencias según el sexo y el nivel educativo; c) determinar el cumplimiento con las recomendaciones internacionales de práctica de AF para los periodos de recreo; d) definir la contribución de los recreos a las recomendaciones diarias de actividad física. Materiales y Métodos. Participaron dos muestras de alumnos: una de educación primaria (114 chicas, 8.77±1.74 años y 59 chicos, 8.47±1.71 años), y una de educación secundaria (100 chicas, 12.16±0.49 años y 116 chicos, 12.15±0.52 años). Se utilizaron acelerómetros para analizar los niveles de AF. Resultados y discusión. Los resultados mostraron un efecto significativo del género y el nivel educativo en las diferentes intensidades de actividad física. Todas las intensidades, excepto tiempo sedentario y actividad ligera, mostraron valores mayores en alumnos de educación primaria. Los chicos mostraron valores mayores en la actividad física moderada-vigorosa (AFMV). Se encontró también un efecto significativo del sexo y el nivel educativo en la contribución del recreo al cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de AF. Conclusiones. Deberían desarrollarse intervenciones para fomentar la AF durante los recreos, especialmente para chicas y alumnos de educación secundaria

May the inclusion of a legume crop change weed composition in cereal fields? Example of sainfoin in Aragon (Spain)

Onobrychis viciifolia (Scop.) (sainfoin) is promoted in the Spanish Aragón region through the Agro-Environmental Schemes (AES) since 2007 with the aim of enhancing biodiversity. Also, in other countries, the interest in this legume crop is growing due to its rusticity and beneficial effects on the soil and livestock. However, the effect of the crop on weed flora in the subsequent cereal crops has hardly been investigated yet. With this aim, weed flora has been characterised in 2011–2014 in sainfoin fields in the second and third year of establishment (S2 and S3), in cereal monocrop (CM), in cereal after sainfoin (CS) and in organic cereal fields (OC). Additionally, the soil seedbank was determined in two years in CM and S3 fields. Weed species richness of emerged flora and of the soil seedbank was highest for sainfoin and lowest for CM, being intermediate for OC and CS regardless of the sampling year. The most feared weed species in winter cereal did not increase by growing sainfoin or in CS compared to CM. Curiously, summer annuals dominated in the soil seedbank. Sainfoin fields cause thus a shift in the weed flora, which does not seem to damage subsequent cereal crops provided fields are mouldboard ploughed after sainfoin

Phytotoxicity of sewage sludge biochars prepared at different pyrolysis conditions

6 Pags.- 8 Figs.- 3 Tabls. Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).Pyrolysis of sewage sludge was carried out at three different lab-scale reactors and conditions: an Auger reactor for sewage sludge pyrolysis at low temperature (300ºC), a stirred batch reactor (530ºC) and a fluidised bed reactor (530ºC). The starting material is anaerobically digested and thermally dried sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant located in Spain. A preliminary study to assess the feasibility of application to soil of the three biochars was performed using two germination tests and a greenhouse experiment. Water soluble compounds from biochar did not affect seed germination, but volatile compounds reduced germination of more sensitive seeds. Biochar applied to soil at agricultural rates (20 t/ha) reduced growth and development of a corn crop. No differential effects of the three pyrolysis conditions were found.The Authors are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) for the Project CTQ2013-47260-R.Peer reviewe

Evaluación de cubiertas de suelo para el control de malezas en la producción integrada de tomate

Se evaluó el uso de diferentes restos vegetales y papel como cubiertas de suelo para el control de malezas como alternativa al uso de polietileno no degradable en el cultivo de tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum L.). Se utilizó un diseño completamente aleatorizado con ocho tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron restos de cosecha de arroz, restos de cosecha de maíz, aserrín de madera, papel kraft y polietileno gris-negro, desherbado manual, herbicida (rimsulfuron+metribuzina) y testigo sin desherbar. Se determinó el efecto de las cubiertas sobre las malezas y su control, así como sobre el desarrollo y rendimiento del cultivo. Se observó una diferencia en las especies de malezas presentes entre los tratamientos. A 63 días después del tratamiento la menor cobertura del suelo por malezas la obtuvo el herbicida (1,92%), seguido del control manual (1,50%), polietileno (4,58%) y papel (14,67%). Las cubiertas de restos vegetales y el aserrín obtuvieron valores similares entre sí, pero siempre menores a los de polietileno y papel. Los tratamientos con papel y polietileno obtuvieron mayores valores para las variables de desarrollo del cultivo, aunque la biomasa seca de las plantas a 45 días después del trasplante fue menor en polietileno que en los tratamientos de cubiertas con restos vegetales. El polietileno logró los mejores rendimientos del cultivo, seguido del papel y los restos de maíz. Los materiales biodegradables evaluados son una alternativa al uso del polietileno y pueden ser de gran utilidad para la producción integrada de tomate en zonas semiáridas cálidas del trópico.The effect of soil mulching polyethylene and some biodegradable alternatives on weed control and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) growth and yield was evaluated. Eight treatments were established in a completely randomized design with four replications. The mulch treatments were rice harvest residues, maize harvest residues, wood sawdust, Kraft paper and silver-black no degradable polyethylene, untreated, hand weeding and herbicide (rimsulfuron+metribuzin). The effect of treatments on weeds and the development and yield of crop were determined. A difference in weed species was observed between treatments. To 63 days after the treatment the smaller cover of the soil by weeds was herbicide (1.92%), followed by hand weeding (1.50%), polythene (4.58%) and paper (14.67%). The vegetal mulches and the wood sawdust obtained values similar to each other, but smaller than polythene and paper. For the plots with vegetal mulches, weed control was similar among them. However, these results were significantly lower from the polyethylene and paper mulches. The best vegetative growth was obtained by plastic and paper mulches. However, biomass dry matter 45 days after transplanting was lower with polyethylene than the organic mulches. The polyethylene mulch gave the highest tomato yield, followed by paper and maize harvest residues mulches. Results show that paper and vegetal mulches could be excellent biodegradable alternatives for weed control and increasing growth and tomato yields in semiarid tropical regions

Influenza vaccination among multiple sclerosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses may have severe complications for vulnerable populations. For this reason, the World Health Organization pointed to the 2020–2021 anti-influenza campaign as being of special relevance. Our aim was to assess the 2020–2021 influenza vaccination coverage, and its associated factors, among patients in a Spanish multiple sclerosis (MS) unit. A cross–sectional study was conducted. People attending the MS unit of the Clinical Hospital of Zaragoza during 2020 were included. Variables were obtained by reviewing records. Associations with 2020–2021 influenza vaccination were analyzed using bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model. A total of 302 patients were studied; 62.6% were women, whose mean age (standard deviation) was 47.3 (11.5) years. The 2020–2021 influenza vaccination coverage was 55.3% (59.8% in women and 47.8% in men). A total of 89.7% had at least one other indication for vaccination (e.g., immunosuppressive treatment in 225 patients). The variables associated with getting vaccinated were being female (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) (aOR (95%CI) = 2.12 (1.12–3.99)), having received the 2019–2020 influenza vaccine (aOR (95%CI) = 31.82 (14.71–68.86)) and being born in Spain (aOR (95%CI) = 12.91 (1.07–156.28)). Coverage is moderate compared to other countries. It is necessary to develop strategies to improve it, especially in men and those born outside Spain

Influenza vaccination coverage among multiple sclerosis patients: evolution over time and associated factors

Our objective was to determine the influenza vaccination rate in a Spanish cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Patients who attended the MS unit of the Lozano Blesa Hospital of Zaragoza between January 2015 and 2020 were included. The variables were obtained by reviewing the specialized and primary care records. Associations between receiving the vaccine in each flu season and the other variables were analyzed using bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression models. A total of 260 patients were studied, with a median age of 31 years at the time of diagnosis. A total of 62.3% (162/260) were women. Vaccination coverage ranged from 20.4% in the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 seasons to 41.5% in the 2019–2020 season (p = 0.000). Having been vaccinated in the previous season (ORa: 16.47–390.22; p = 0.000) and receiving a vaccination recommendation from the hospital vaccination unit (ORa: 2.44–3.96; p < 0.009) were associated with being vaccinated. The coverage is in an intermediate position compared to other countries. It is necessary to improve the referral system of these patients to the hospital vaccination unit because the information obtained by this service contributed to higher vaccination rates

Factors associated with compliance with physical activity recommendations among adolescents in Huesca.

BACKGROUND: Schools have been identified as environments of choice for physical activity promotion. This study examines factors associated with compliance with objectively assessed physical activity recommendations for early adolescents taking part in “Sigue la Huella”, a school-based intervention guided by a social ecological framework and Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2002). METHODS: A total of 200 students (108 boys) aged 12-13 years (M = 12.16; SD = ± 0.51), wore accelerometers during a 7-day period and completed a questionnaire. Participants were considered compliant to the recommendations if their moderate to vigorous physical activity, averaged over 7 days, was =60 minutes a day. RESULTS: 57.4% of boys and 9.9% of girls met recommendations. In a mixed logistic regression model, compliance was higher among boys and students attending private schools, and lower for obese students. Compliance was also associated with higher perceptions of physical competence, higher perceptions of autonomy in physical education, greater importance attached to physical education and less sedentary behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Assessed objectively, gender differences in compliance with physical activity recommendations were greater than expected. Self-Determination Theory emerged as a useful framework to identify motivational factors that can be addressed in school-based physical activity interventions and programs for early adolescents