Diseño, fabricación y aplicaciones analíticas de nanocelulosa y sus híbridos

El gran avance nanotecnológico que ha experimentado la Química Analítica en los últimos años ha sido un indicador del grado de bienestar de la sociedad. La multidisciplinaridad de la Nanociencia y Nanotecnología ha sido esencial para el avance de los métodos y herramientas analíticas, así como para llevar a cabo la automatización, simplificación y miniaturización de los procesos analíticos integrados en los laboratorios [1]. En este campo, son muchos los nanomateriales explorados por sus propiedades excepcionales (ópticas, eléctricas, magnéticas) como sensores y sorbentes así como su amplio rango de aplicación de interés medioambiental o en bienes de consumo, cosmética, agroalimentación, entre otros. Sin embargo, la nanocelulosa no se ha explorado en química analítica aun siendo postulada como uno de los nanomateriales emergentes del siglo XXI, debido a su carácter biodegradable y su abundancia en la naturaleza, así como a otras fascinantes propiedades que le confieren un sinfín de aplicaciones. No cabe duda que en la búsqueda de los nanomateriales del futuro la nanocelulosa revolucionará las industrias electrónica, textil, farmacéutica y la energética, por su producción a gran escala con bajo coste a partir de un recurso natural renovable. Teniendo en cuenta lo anteriormente expuesto, la Tesis Doctoral tiene como objetivo general el estudio de la nanocelulosa en química analítica, centrándonos en el diseño de nanofibras de celulosa como herramienta en la mejora de los procesos analíticos, así como en la separación de productos farmacéuticos y otros

QUANTIFYING IMPACTS DURING BEAM AND FLOOR TRAINING IN PREADOLESCENT GIRLS FROM TWO STREAMS OF ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

The primary aim of this study was to determine the effects of participation level (international and national), apparatus (beam and floor) and training phase (precompetition and competition) on estimates of training load in a convenient sample of gymnasts aged 7 to 13 years. Video analysis of training sessions along with accelerometer and force platform (500 Hz) peak ground reaction force data were used to establish differences between key gymnastic-specific and non-gymnastic-specific variables. International level gymnasts demonstrated higher incidence in hours of training, number of observed impacts, markers of the quality of periodised training program and lower relative injury rates. Marked differences were also observed between the two training phases. The demand for injury prevention strategies may be higher at the national level of gymnastics training

LOWER LIMB MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS CAN PREDICT OVERUSE INJURIES IN HIGH LEVEL ADOLESCENT FEMALE ATHLETES

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether measures of lower limb musculoskeletal stiffness (MSS) can prospectively predict overuse injuries in adolescent female athletes. Thirty-nine athletes from high-impact sports (gymnastics and track & field) completed a series of repeat jumps on force plates at baseline and 12 months later. Sport-related injuries were tracked using a self-report questionnaire. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves established the predictive ability and appropriate cut-off value of baseline MSS measures. Logistic regression based on the ROC findings showed measures of MSS were able to correctly categorise 77% (

Wearable sensor use for assessing standing balance and walking stability in people with Parkinson’s Disease: A systematic review

Background Postural instability and gait disability threaten the independence and well-being of people with Parkinson’s disease and increase the risk of falls and fall-related injuries. Prospective research has shown that commonly-used clinical assessments of balance and walking lack the sensitivity to accurately and consistently identify those people with Parkinson’s disease who are at a higher risk of falling. Wearable sensors provide a portable and affordable alternative for researchers and clinicians who are seeking to objectively assess movements and falls risk in the clinical setting. However, no consensus currently exists on the optimal placements for sensors and the best outcome measures to use for assessing standing balance and walking stability in Parkinson’s disease patients. Hence, this systematic review aimed to examine the available literature to establish the best sensor types, locations and outcomes to assess standing balance and walking stability in this population. Methods Papers listed in three electronic databases were searched by title and abstract to identify articles measuring standing balance or walking stability with any kind of wearable sensor among adults diagnosed with PD. To be eligible for inclusion, papers were required to be full-text articles published in English between January 1994 and December 2014 that assessed measures of standing balance or walking stability with wearable sensors in people with PD. Articles were excluded if they; i) did not use any form of wearable sensor to measure variables associated with standing balance or walking stability; ii) did not include a control group or control condition; iii) were an abstract and/or included in the proceedings of a conference; or iv) were a review article or case study. The targeted search of the three electronic databases identified 340 articles that were potentially eligible for inclusion, but following title, abstract and full-text review only 26 articles were deemed to meet the inclusion criteria. Included articles were assessed for methodological quality and relevant data from the papers were extracted and synthesized. Results Quality assessment of these included articles indicated that 31% were of low methodological quality, while 58% were of moderate methodological quality and 11% were of high methodological quality. All studies adopted a cross-sectional design and used a variety of sensor types and outcome measures to assess standing balance or walking stability in people with Parkinson’s disease. Despite the typically low to moderate methodological quality, 81% of the studies reported differences in sensor-based measures of standing balance or walking stability between different groups of Parkinson’s disease patients and/or healthy controls. Conclusion These data support the use of wearable sensors for detecting differences in standing balance and walking stability between people with PD and controls. Further high-quality research is needed to better understand the utility of wearable sensors for the early identification of Parkinson’s disease symptoms and for assessing falls risk in this population

Low Levels of after School-Hours Social Interaction and Physical Activity of 5-7 Year Olds

As part of a cluster randomized controlled trial (Bundy et al., 2017), the after school-hours activities of 5-7 year old children were recorded by parents and other adult carers on four consecutive weekdays between 3:30pm-7:00pm. Records of time use showed most time was spent indoors in activities involving low levels of physical activity. The most-frequently-recorded activity was screen time, accounting for approximately one quarter of all activities. Higher levels of physical activity were reported when children were outdoors (19.5% of time) and/or with peers (9.58%). If an adult was present, highest activity levels of children occurred when the child was with a teacher/carer (6.07%). Although concern is frequently raised about children spending too much time in organized activities, these structured forms of out-of-school choices accounted for only 8.09% of recordings. The results of the current study strengthen the evidence base, supporting the need to optimise out-ofschool times with more developmentally important social and physical contexts. We discuss ways in which context may support or inhibit opportunities physical activity in after school-hours activities

The influence of contextual factors on running performance in female Australian football match-play

The influence of contextual factors on running performance in female Australian football match-play. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2488–2495, 2019—Given the recent growth of the professional status among multiple female football codes, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of contextual factors on activity profiles and pacing strategies in female Australian football (AF) players. Thirty-five female AF players participated in this study. Global positioning system analysis was completed over 1 competitive season. Matches were separated into eight 10-minute periods. Greater distances were covered during the first half irrespective of playing position (effect size [ES] = 0.39–0.50, Likelihood ≥90%). Throughout a number of periods half-backs (defensive players) covered greater distances during losses (ES ≥ 0.74, Likelihood ≥92%) and against top 3 opponents (ES ≥ 1.0, Likelihood ≥97%). Midfielders and half-backs covered greater distances (ES ≥ 0.49, Likelihood ≥89%) in the final match period in winning compared with losing matches. A reduction in player work rate is evident during the second half of matches. The influence of contextual factors varied across positional groups. However, it is clear that coaches could use player rotation both early in the match in an attempt to delay the effect of fatigue and more frequently during the second half to increase running intensity

Urine cytology screening of French workers exposed to occupational urinary tract carcinogens: a prospective cohort study over a 20-year period

Objectives To demonstrate that urine cytology screening can provide relevant epidemiological data for earlier detection of urothelial cancer caused by occupational exposure. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Industries using urothelial carcinogens in France. Urine samples were collected on site, after a work week and were analysed at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Participants Participants were workers exposed to urothelial carcinogens. Women and current smokers at time of study recruitment were exclusion criteria. Outcomes Urine cells atypia were ranged into three classes: negative/normal, atypical/suspicious/ dysplasia or positive/malignant. Results We included 2020 workers over a period of 20 years from 1993 to 2013: 606 worked in rubber manufacturing, 692 from metal processing, 245 in chemical industry and 477 in roadwork and building industry. Workers had a mean exposure of 15.2±10.4 years before their first urine cytology screening. There was a mean of 3.4±4.3 urine cytology screenings per worker between 1993 and 2013. 6478 cytology were normal, 462 suspicious and 13 malignant. Suspicious and malignant cytology occurred in 4.8% of workers exposed for 1–10 years, 6.2% for 11–20 years of exposure, 7.6% for 21–30 years and 8.6% for > 30 years (p 30 years of exposure. Using metal processing as reference, the risk of pathological urine cytology results increased for rubber manufacturing (OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.65, p=0.02), with a trend for roadwork and building industry (OR=1.39, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.97, p=0.07) and for chemical industry (OR=1.34, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.93, p=0.11). Conclusions Urine cytology is a useful tool in occupational medicine. We promote new guidelines with an early screening of urothelial cancer by cytology, starting with beginning of exposure

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Whole Body Vibration Exposure on Markers of Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Women

Purpose. To examine the effects of two doses of low-frequency (12 Hz), low-magnitude (0.3 g), whole body vibration on markers of bone formation and resorption in postmenopausal women. Methods. Women were recruited and randomized into a sham vibration control group, one time per week vibration group (1×/week), or three times per week vibration group (3×/week). Vibration exposure consisted of 20 minutes of intermittent vibration for the 1×/week and 3×/week groups, and sham vibration (<0.1 g) for the control group for eight weeks. Double-blinded primary outcome measures were urine markers of bone resorption: N-telopeptide X normalised to creatinine (NTx/Cr) and bone formation: bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Results. Forty-six women (59.8 ± 6.2 years, median 7.3 years since menopause) were enrolled. NTx/Cr was significantly reduced (34.6%) in the 3×/wk vibration group but not in the 1×/wk vibration group compared with sham control (P < .01) group. No effect of time or group allocation was observed on the bone formation marker ALP (P = .27). Conclusion. We have shown for the first time that low-frequency, low-magnitude vibration 3×/week for eight weeks in postmenopausal women results in a significant reduction in NTx/Cr, a marker of bone resorption, when compared with sham vibration exposure

Outcomes and costs of primary care surveillance and intervention for overweight or obese children: the LEAP 2 randomised controlled trial

Objective To determine whether ascertainment of childhood obesity by surveillance followed by structured secondary prevention in primary care improved outcomes in overweight or mildly obese children