A new manual wheelchair propulsion system with self-locking capability on ramps

A wheelchair user faces many difficulties in their everyday attempts to use ramps, especially those of some length. The present work describes the design and build of a propulsion system for manual wheelchairs for use in ascending or descending long ramps. The design is characterized by a self-locking mechanism that activates automatically to brake the chair when the user stops pushing. The system consists of a planetary transmission with a self-locking capacity coupled to a push rim with which the user moves the system. Different transmission ratios are proposed, adapted to the slope and to the user’s physical capacity (measured as the power the user can apply over ample time periods). The design is shown to be viable in terms of resistance, and approximate dimensions are established for the height and width of the propulsion system. Also, a prototype was built in order to test the self-locking system on ramps

Swiss ball training versus stable surface training for the treatment of low back pain in male judo athletes.

Background & Study Aim: Between 60% and 80% of the population suffers from low back pain at some point in their lives. This disease is commonly observed in judo, with a prevalence of around 35%. Therefore, any instrument, program or training method for the treatment of this disease is very important. Apparently, unstable surface training can be effective in reducing low back pain. However, there are not many studies that have been conducted in this regard, and the few existing ones have not opted for any particular training method. The purpose in this study is knowledge about the effect on low back pain of two different training programs, one using Swiss ball and the other with stable surface. Material & Methods: Thirty-six active volunteers, all of them judo athletes, participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to either the training group (exercising on a Swiss ball) or the control group (training on stable surface). Pain intensity was measured at the beginning and at the end of the 8 weeks in both groups by the Spanish version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Results: The results of paired t test showed a significant decrease in RMDQ after treatment in both groups compared with before treatment (p<0.001), while the ANCOVA revealed no significant differences among groups on the post measurement score of RMDQ, with pre-treatment scores as the covariate. Conclusions: The training on unstable surfaces does not provide any significant improvement versus training on stable surfaces and might be at least as good as training on a Swiss ball in the reduction of low back pain for judo athletes.post-print383 K

Molecular Mechanisms Regulating the DNA Repair Protein APE1: A Focus on Its Flexible N-Terminal Tail Domain

APE1 (DNA (apurinic/apyrimidinic site) endonuclease 1) is a key enzyme of one of the major DNA repair routes, the BER (base excision repair) pathway. APE1 fulfils additional functions, acting as a redox regulator of transcription factors and taking part in RNA metabolism. The mechanisms regulating APE1 are still being deciphered. Structurally, human APE1 consists of a well-characterized globular catalytic domain responsible for its endonuclease activity, preceded by a conformationally flexible N-terminal extension, acquired along evolution. This N-terminal tail appears to play a prominent role in the modulation of APE1 and probably in BER coordination. Thus, it is primarily involved in mediating APE1 localization, post-translational modifications, and protein–protein interactions, with all three factors jointly contributing to regulate the enzyme. In this review, recent insights on the regulatory role of the N-terminal region in several aspects of APE1 function are covered. In particular, interaction of this region with nucleophosmin (NPM1) might modulate certain APE1 activities, representing a paradigmatic example of the interconnection between various regulatory factors.This work was supported by a grant from the University of the Basque Country (GIU18/172

Edith Head: la función del diseñador de vestuario cinematográfico y su importancia en la industria de Hollywood

[ES] El trabajo analiza los diseños de vestuario de Edith Head para algunas películas producidas en Hollywood desde 1929 a 1979. Estudia la influencia de la evolución del cine y de la sociedad en sus diseños y la repercusión que éstos tuvieron en la moda comercial..[EN] The paper analyzes costume designs made by Edith Head for some films produced in Hollywood from 1929 to1979. It studies the influence of the evolution of movies and society in their designs and the impact that her works had on the commercial fashion

Bipolaridad, ¿oportunidad o infierno? análisis de las relaciones de significado en torno al sí mismo

El funcionamiento hedonista y la eliminación del sufrimiento han permeado la cotidianidad de la cultura, incluyendo las ciencias sociales y de la salud. Este proyecto se articula a partir del cuestionamiento frente a las comprensiones en torno al sufrimiento y la enfermedad, y particularmente las implicaciones que puede tener el diagnóstico de Trastorno Afectivo Bipolar (TAB) en las relaciones de significado en torno al sí mismo. Se revisan planteamientos desde la lógica normativa y normalizadora analizada por Foucault e investigaciones sobre las características del trastorno y quienes lo reciben. Igualmente se exploran comprensiones del sí mismo desde dos corrientes de la psicología clínica, las apreciaciones sobre el ejercicio de diagnosticar y del sufrimiento humano. Se utiliza una metodología cualitativa de carácter fenomenológico, usando como instrumentos grupos focales y entrevistas. El proyecto se llevó a cabo en la Asociación Colombiana de Bipolares, con la participación de los presidentes y algunos de los miembros. Se encontró que la forma en que los participantes hablan de sí mismos está relacionada con experiencias personales y saberes científicos, que conllevan a un ejercicio de control para mantener la estabilidad.Hedonistic functioning and the eradication of suffering have permeated daily culture including the social and health sciences. This project is articulated by questioning the understanding of human suffering and illness, and particularly the implications that a Bipolar Disorder (BD) diagnosis may have on the relations of significance with regards to one´s self. Statements by normative and normalizing logics analyzed by M. Foucault are reviewed and investigations about the characteristics of BD and the people who are diagnosed with it. Likewise, comprehensions about the self are explored from two different approaches of Clinical Psychology, appreciations around the exercise of diagnosing and appreciations about human suffering. The methods are qualitative, with a henomenological view, using focal groups and interviews as instruments. This project was conducted in the Asociación Colombiana de Bipolares (Colombian Association of Bipolars), with the participation of the presidents and some of its members. It was found that the way in which participants talk about themselves is related to personal experiences and scientific knowledge, which act as a control exercise to keep the stability.Psicólogo (a)Pregrad

Experimento VHS, propuesta de un modelo de análisis mediático, internet-televisión

Comunicador (a) SocialPregrad

Programación didáctica de Biología de 2º de Bachillerato

Máster Universitario en Formación del Profesorado de ESO, Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanza de Idiomas. Especialidad en Biología y Geología (M105

Use of Carbonated Water as Kneading in Mortars Made with Recycled Aggregates

The increased concern about climate change is revolutionising the building materials sector, making sustainability and environmental friendliness increasingly important. This study evaluates the feasibility of incorporating recycled masonry aggregate (construction and demolition waste) in porous cement-based materials using carbonated water in mixing followed (or not) by curing in a CO2 atmosphere. The use of carbonated water can be very revolutionary in cement-based materials, as it allows hydration and carbonation to occur simultaneously. Calcite and portlandite in the recycled masonry aggregate and act as a buffer for the low-pH carbonated water. Carbonated water produced better mechanical properties and increased accessible water porosity and dry bulk density. The same behaviour was observed with natural aggregates. Carbonated water results in an interlaced shape of carbonate ettringite (needles) and fills the microcracks in the recycled masonry aggregate. Curing in CO2 together with the use of carbonated water (concomitantly) is not beneficial. This study provides innovative solutions for a circular economy in the construction sector using carbonated water in mixing (adsorbing CO2), which is very revolutionary as it allows carbonation to be applied to in-situ products

Use of carbonated water to improve the mechanical properties and reduce the carbon footprint of cement-based materials with recycled aggregates

Carbon curing of cement-based materials shows great potential for reducing the carbon footprint and improving the physical-mechanical properties. Accelerated carbonatation is usually carried out by increasing the CO2 concentration in the curing atmosphere. The use of carbonated water (source of CO2) as mixing water is an alternative that has great potential in the manufacture of in-situ cement-based materials. This study evaluated the effect of the use of carbonated water used as the mixing and/or curing solvent on cement-based material properties at an early curing age, as well as the CO2 sequestration capacity. Three variables of a porous cement-based material were tested: (i) type of aggregate (natural aggregate (NA) or recycled masonry aggregate (RMA)), (ii) type of water mixing (normal water or carbonated water), and (iii) type of curing regime (air curing or water curing with normal or carbonated water). The use of commercial carbonated water as the mixing solvent and RMA increased the CO2 sequestered by 181 % with respect to the reference material after 7 d of curing. Commercial carbonated water as the mixing solvent favoured the carbonation phenomenon and improved the physical-mechanical properties of cured samples, except for cement-based materials prepared with NA having a curing age of 1 d. Curing with normal or carbonated water is not recommended to increase the CO2 capture capacity or increase the physical-mechanical properties of cement-based materials. The best variable compared to the others tested was the use of carbonated water as mixing water

Review of the Application of Hydrotalcite as CO2 Sinks for Climate Change Mitigation

In recent decades, the environmental impact caused by greenhouse gases, especially CO2, has driven many countries to reduce the concentration of these gases. The study and development of new designs that maximise the efficiency of CO2 capture continue to be topical. This paper presents a review of the application of hydrotalcites as CO2 sinks. There are several parameters that can make hydrotalcites suitable for use as CO2 sinks. The first question is the use of calcined or uncalcined hydrotalcite as well as the temperature at which it is calcined, since the calcination conditions (temperature, rate and duration) are important parameters determining structure recovery. Other aspects were also analysed: (i) the influence of the pH of the synthesis; (ii) the molar ratio of its main elements; (iii) ways to increase the specific area of hydrotalcites; (iv) pressure, temperature, humidity and time in CO2 absorption; and (v) combined use of hydrotalcites and cement-based materials. A summary of the results obtained so far in terms of CO2 capture with the parameters described above is presented. This work can be used as a guide to address CO2 capture with hydrotalcites by showing where the information gaps are and where researchers should apply their efforts