Effects of a concurrent exercise training program on low back and sciatic pain and pain disability in late pregnancy

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of a concurrent exercise (aerobic + resistance) training program, from the 17th gestational week (g.w.) until birth on low back and sciatic pain, and pain disability. A total of 93 pregnant women divided into exercise (n = 49) and control (n = 44) groups followed a 60-min, 3 days/week, concurrent exercise training. Methods: Low back and sciatic pain were measured with a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS). The disability resulting from pain was assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Measures were performed at the 16th and 34th g.w. Results: The exercise group increased 21.9 mm less the VAS low back (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −33.6 to −10.2; p < 0.001) and 12.9 mm less the VAS sciatica score (between-group differences: 95% CI (B): −21.8 to −4.0; p = 0.005) than the control group. Regarding the ODI questionnaire, the exercise group increased 0.7, 0.5, and 0.7 less than the control group in pain while sleeping (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −1.4 to −0.01; p = 0.025), pain while lifting weight (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −0.9 to −0.01; p = 0.016), and limitations of the social life due to pain (between-group differences(B): 95% CI: −1.3 to −0.06; p = 0.032). Furthermore, the exercise group suffered 6.9% less pain than the control group in the ODI total score (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −13.9 to 0.053; p = 0.052). Conclusion: This concurrent exercise training program adapted to pregnant women improved pain compared to controlsThe Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucía (PI-0395- 2016)University of Granada, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and HealthJunta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y UniversidadesEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF), REF. SOMM17/6107/UGRMFA was additionally funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (Grant number FPU17/03715

Intraseason changes in vertical jumps of male professional basketball players

This study aimed to analyze basketball players’ jumping bhavior in the Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), and Free Arm Swing CMJ (CMJ Free) during a professional basketball season and check if it is modulated by the players’ specific playing position, the time played on court, and the different leagues. Fifty-three male professional basketball players were assessed in three different moments of the season through SJ, CMJ, and CMJ Free. Between the beginning of pre-season (1st assessment) and the second round of the season (3rd assessment), there was a strong increase in performance in the three jumps (SJ Height: 5.6%, η2P = 0.234, p = 0.007; CMJ Height: 5.1%, η2P = 0.177, p = 0.007; CMJ Free height: 4.11%, η2P = 0.142, p = 0.01). There was also a significantly large increase in SJ and CMJ between the 2nd and 3rd assessments and in the CMJ Free between the 1st and 2nd assessments. No significant interactions were found between jumping performance and the group factors (players’ specific playing position, time played on court, and league). In conclusion, SJ, CMJ, and CMJ Free performance strongly increases between 1st and 3rd assessment, without being influenced by the specific playing position or the minutes played per game

Evaluation of tropical–temperate transitions: an example of climatic characterization in the Asian Palmate group of Araliaceae

Premise: There has been a great increase in using climatic data in phylogenetic studies over the past decades. However, compiling the high-quality spatial data needed to perform accurate climatic reconstructions is time-consuming and can result in poor geographical coverage. Therefore, researchers often resort to qualitative approximations. Our aim was to evaluate the climatic characterization of the genera of the Asian Palmate Group (AsPG) of Araliaceae as an exemplar lineage of plants showing tropical–temperate transitions. Methods: We compiled a curated worldwide spatial database of the AsPG genera and created five raster layers representing bioclimatic regionalizations of the world. Then, we crossed the database with the layers to climatically characterize the AsPG genera. Results: We found large disagreement in the climatic characterization of genera among regionalizations and little support for the climatic nature of the tropical–temperate distribution of the AsPG. Both results are attributed to the complexity of delimiting tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates in the world and to the distribution of the study group in regions with transitional climatic conditions. Conclusions: The complexity in the climatic classification of this example of the tropical–temperate transitions calls for a general climatic revision of other tropical–temperate lineages. In fact, we argue that, to properly evaluate tropical–temperate transitions across the tree of life, we cannot ignore the complexity of distribution rangesThis study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (CGL2017‐87198‐ P) and the Spanish Ministry of Science an Innovation (PID2019‐106840GA‐C22). M.C.d.l.I. was supported by the Youth Employment Initiative of European Social Fund and Community of Madrid (PEJ‐2017‐AI‐AMB‐6636 and CAM2020PEJD‐2019‐11 PRE/AMB‐15871

Receptiveness of Spanish and flamenco professional dancers in their training and development

The concept of coaching is an important object of study in the development of sports coaches, and the relationship between athletes and coaches may define the professional life of the former. In the area of dance, the figure of the coach is represented by teachers, choreographers and directors; however, there are few studies that analyse the different forms of coaching and receptiveness in the training of dance professionals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to ascertain the receptiveness of professional Spanish dance and flamenco dancers to the coaching abilities of their respective teachers, directors or choreographers. The sample consisted of 143 dancers, 96 women (67.1%) and 47 men (32.9%) aged between 18 and 51 (30.52±7.86), who were students in their last year of a Higher Degree, or professionals from different companies specialising in Spanish dance and flamenco. The most relevant results show that there were significant statistical differences in receptiveness to coaching according to age, with the older dancers showing less receptiveness. Similarly, there were significant statistical differences according to the company in which the dancers carried out their professional work

A 16-week multicomponent exercise training program improves menopause-related symptoms in middle-aged women. The FLAMENCO project randomized control trial

Abstract Objective: To investigate the influence of a supervised multicomponent exercise training program on menopause-related symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms (VMS), in middle-aged women. Methods: A total of 112 middle-aged women (mean age 52 4 y old, age range 45-60 y) from the FLAMENCO project (exercise [n ¼ 59] and counseling [n ¼ 53] groups) participated in this randomized controlled trial (perprotocol basis). The exercise group followed a multicomponent exercise program composed of 60-minute sessions 3 days per week for 16 weeks. The 15-item Cervantes Menopause and Health Subscale was used to assess the frequency of menopause-related symptoms. Results: After adjusting for body mass index and Mediterranean diet adherence, the subscales measuring menopause-related symptoms and VMSs decreased 4.6 more in the exercise group compared to the counseling group (between-group differences [B]: 95% CI: -8.8 to -0.2; P ¼ 0.040). The exercise group also showed significant improvements in the subscales of couple relationships (between-group differences [B]: -1.87: 95% CI: -3.29 to - 0.45; P ¼ 0.010), psychological state (between-group differences [B]: -2.3: 95% CI: -5 to -0.2; P ¼ 0.035), and VMSs (between-group differences [B]: -4.5: 95% CI: -8.8 to -0.2; p ¼ 0.040) in the Cervantes Menopause and Health Subscale compared with the counseling group. Conclusions: A 16-week multicomponent physical exercise program showed a positive effect on menopauserelated symptoms especially in couple relationships, psychological state, and VMS, among 45 to 60 year old women

Exercise, Mediterranean Diet Adherence or Both during Pregnancy to Prevent Postpartum Depression—GESTAFIT Trial Secondary Analyses

Targeting lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy is crucial to prevent the highly prevalent postpartum depression and its consequences. In these secondary analyses of an intervention trial to investigate the effects of concurrent exercise training on postpartum depression, we aimed to investigate the potential role of Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence on the exercise effects. A total of 85 pregnant women met the per-protocol criteria (exercise n = 46, control n = 39). The exercise program was delivered in 60 min sessions, 3 days/week, from the 17th gestational week until birth. Women's dietary habits were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The Mediterranean Food Pattern (an MD index) was derived from it to assess MD adherence. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess postpartum depression. The postpartum depression score was not statistically different between control and exercise groups (p > 0.05). A higher consumption of fruits (beta = -0.242, p = 0.022), lower intake of red meat and subproducts (beta = 0.244, p = 0.020), and a greater MD adherence (beta = -0.236, p = 0.027) were associated with lower levels of postpartum depression. Greater adherence to the MD during pregnancy was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and a lower risk of postpartum depression. Postnatal depression was not reduced by prenatal exercise. Promoting fruit consumption while controlling the intake of red meat during pregnancy might prevent postnatal depression.Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucia PI-0395-2016Research and Knowledge Transfer Fund (PPIT) 2016, Excellence Actions Programme: Scientific Units of Excellence (UCEES)Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Enterprises, and UniversityEuropean Regional Development Funds of the University of Granada SOMM17/6107/UGRSpanish Government FPU17/0371

Associations of Mediterranean diet with psychological ill‑being and well‑being throughout the pregnancy course: The GESTAFIT project

Purpose The relation between diet and maternal mental health during pregnancy might be relevant to prevent adverse materno-foetal outcomes. This study examined the association of Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and MD components with mental health during pregnancy. Methods This secondary analysis of the GESTAFIT trial included longitudinal data from 152 pregnant women. Dietary habits were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire, and MD adherence was derived from it using the Mediterranean Food pattern. Psychological ill-being (i.e., negative affect, anxiety, and depression) and well-being (i.e., emotional intelligence, resilience, positive affect) were assessed with the Spanish version of well-established self-reported questionnaires. Cross-sectional (16th gestational week [g.w.]) and longitudinal associations (34th g.w.) between MD and mental health were studied using linear regression models. Results A greater MD adherence was inversely associated with negative affect and anxiety; and positively associated with emotional regulation, resilience and positive affect at the 16th and 34th g.w. (|β| ranging from 0.179 to 0.325, all p < 0.05). Additionally, a higher intake of whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, and a lower intake of red meat and subproducts and sweets were associated with lower negative affect, anxiety, depression and higher emotional regulation, resilience and positive affect throughout gestation (|β| ranging from 0.168 to 0.415, all p < 0.05). Conclusion A higher intake of whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil and nuts, together with a lower intake of red meat and sweets, resulted in a higher MD adherence, which was associated with a better mental health during pregnancy.Universidad de Granada /CBUA The Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucía (PI-0395–2016) The Research and Knowledge Transfer Fund (PPIT) 2016, Excellence Actions Programme: Scientific Units of Excellence (UCEES), and the Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Enterprises and University, European Regional Development Funds (SOMM17/6107/UGR) of the University of Granada. Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (Grant number FPU17/03715). The Swedish Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (2021-00036)

Photovoice as a research-intervention tool for youth neighborhood activism in societally vulnerable contexts

Teenagers who live in vulnerable neighborhoods have a higher probability of entering into a vicious circle where they suffer the consequences of an unfair structure and, at the same time, contribute to the maintenance of it. A research-intervention with photovoice was carried out with youth from a vulnerable multicultural neighborhood on the outskirts of Seville (Spain). The objective was to increase the teenagers’ neighborhood activism through an increase in their psychological sense of community, forecast of future participation, and empowerment. Young girls with different cultural roots, between the ages of 13 and 18 years old participated. After the photographs were taken by the participants, a space was opened for reflection on the strengths and challenges of the neighborhood. The photographs were worked on using artistic techniques to express the desired changes and then the group discussed how to make effective changes. Lastly, the extended community was involved through a photography exhibition. We measured the variables of interest through a pre-post questionnaire given to the participant group and to a comparison group. Complementary, narratives which emerged during the meetings were analyzed. Participants increased their level of psychological sense of community and their wish to participate in the future, but continued with the same level of empowerment. Theoretical contributions and useful suggestions for research-intervention with photovoice are discussed.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España PSI2011-2555

Evaluación de competencias profesionales en estudiantes de Ingeniería de Sistemas de Información asistida por las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación

Iara V. Tejada García es profesora adscrita al Decanato de Ingeniería e Informática de la Universidad APEC.La presente tesis está destinada a la evaluación del nivel de desarrollo de competencias profesionales en los estudiantes de Ingeniería en Sistemas de Información, a partir de un modelo formativo informatizado que se sustenta en la interrelación entre la integralidad de la tarea evaluativa de competencias profesionales, el protagonismo co-participativo formativo, la dialogicidad reflexiva en la retroalimentación y la informatización vertebradora como cualidades que se presentan simultáneamente durante todo el proceso de evaluación de competencias profesionales en el estudiante de Ingeniería de Sistemas de Información. El modelo se implementa a través de una estrategia de evaluación. En calidad de métodos y técnicas de carácter empírico, entre otros, se aplican la observación, el cuestionario, la entrevista y el pre-experimento. Para determinar la valoración científica-metodológica del modelo y la estrategia se emplea la valoración de expertos (variante del método Delphi) y se comprobó la efectividad de la estrategia a través de un pre-experimento pedagógico desarrollado con estudiantes del VIII y IX cuatrimestre de la carrera Ingeniería de Sistemas de Información en la Universidad APEC de la República Dominicana.Universidad APECTabla de contenido