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The proton drip-line nucleus 17Ne is considered a good candidate for a Borromean two-proton halo with a 15O + p + p structure. Angular distributions of the elastic scattering and inclusive 15O production for a 136 MeV 17Ne beam incident on a 208Pb target were measured for the first time at the SPIRAL1 facility, GANIL. Use of the GLORIA detector array allowed high-resolution data over a wide angular range from 20∘ up to 95∘ in the laboratory frame to be obtained. The elastic scattering angular distribution shows similarities with those for both 6He and 20Ne at equivalent collision energies with respect to the corresponding Coulomb barriers, exhibiting the suppression of the Coulomb rainbow peak characteristic of strong coupling. Optical model and coupled channel fits suggest that this is due to a combination of coupling to low-lying quadrupole resonances and Coulomb dipole coupling to the low-lying continuum, although their relative importance depends on the relevant B(E2) values which remain to be firmly determined.

Abstract Introduction Rehabilitation after a stroke is widely considered fundamental to improve secondary functional impairments. Accessible methods based on motor learning, motor transfer and virtual environments are necessary to help to improve stroke patients’ quality of life. Objectives Continuing the line of our previous studies, this work investigated the effect of our new and innovative game‐based virtual reality training using the control of virtual objects with gaze in three chronic stroke survivors. Methods All participants performed an eye‐controlled virtual training task for 4 weeks. Pre‐ and post‐training evaluation were carried out with the Fugl‐Meyer Assessment for upper extremity scale as well as performing a tracking task inside an MRI scanner with a MRI‐compatible eye‐tracker or a joystick. Results Neural results for each participant show the increase of activity in the motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum for both effectors (hand or eye). Conclusion These promising results have a potential application as a new game‐based neurorehabilitation approach to enhance the motor activity of stroke patients.

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue investigar los efectos agudos del uso de lastres de empeine (Powerinstep®) en aspectos técnicos de agilidad y precisión en el golpeo de balón en futbolistas de categoría juvenil. Se utilizó un diseño intra-sujetos para evaluar dieciséis (n=16) jugadores, todos hombres, de categoría juvenil (media ± DE; 17,56 ± 0,51 años; 179,81 ± 5,31 cm; 75,03 ± 7,92 kg; 23,17 ± 1,83 IMC) en diferentes acciones específicas de fútbol (golpeo y conducción de balón) y cambios de dirección bajo las siguientes condiciones: lastres de 50, 100, 150 gr o sin lastre. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el test de cambios de dirección entre cargas ni hubo interacción significativa entre el resultado de los test, cargas y el uso del balón. Sí se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0.001) entre la realización del test sin balón o con balón. Tampoco hubo diferencias significativas en el golpeo de balón en relación a la precisión entre cargas (p = 0.72) pero sí entre zonas (p < 0.001). Con relación a la potencia, se encontraron diferencias significativas (p = 0.008) entre la ejecución sin lastre y con 50 gr con las cargas de 100 y 150 gr. Estos resultados muestran que el uso de las pesas de empeine tiene diferentes efectos en las acciones técnicas realizadas en el fútbol. Palabras clave: golpeo de balón, precisión, agilidad, CDD Abstract. The main objective of this study was to investigate the acute effects of the use of instep weights (Powerinstep®) on technical skills, agility, and kicking accuracy in young soccer players. A within-subjects design was used to evaluate sixteen (n=16) young male players (mean ± SD, 17.56 ± 0.51 years, 179.81 ± 5.31 cm, 75.03 ± 7.92 kg; 23.17 ± 1.83 BMI) in different soccer-specific actions (kicking and guiding the ball) and change of direction under the following conditions: 50, 100, 150 gr or without instep weights (baseline). No significant differences were found in the change of direction test between loads, and there was no significant interaction between the results of the tests, loads and the use of the ball. Significant differences were found (p < 0.001) between performing the test with or without the ball. There were also no significant differences in kicking the ball with accuracy between loads (p = 0.72), but there were significant differences between zones (p < 0.001). Considering power, significant differences (p = 0.008) were found between baseline and 50 gr with loads of 100 and 150 gr. These results show that using instep weights can have different effects on soccer technical actions. Keywords: ball hitting, accuracy, agility, COD

In response to globalisation, and the cultural, socio-economic, and educational changes it implies, higher education must offer a comprehensive education that favours personal and professional growth. To do this, it must promote competence-based learning through active teaching methodologies. This study will analyse the use of Project-Based Learning (PBL) methodologies in the context of transversal subjects, as an efficient technique to develop interpersonal communication and teamworking skills. This research is quasi-experimental, with a pre-test/post-test design with an equivalent control group. The sample consists of 610 university students from the Community of Madrid, of whom 387 participated in the PBL (Experimental Group: EG) and 223 did not (Control Group: CG). A reliable and validated questionnaire on personal competences was used as a measurement instrument. The hypotheses on the effectiveness of PBL as a technique for the development of interpersonal communication and teamworking skills in the context of transversal subjects are confirmed. The results suggest that greater use of active methodologies to promote the development of transversal or generic competences is highly recommended and that the insertion of transversal subjects into university curricula may be highly beneficial.

Salmonella spp. is one of the most important foodborne pathogens worldwide. Given the fact that poultry and poultry products are the main source of human infection, Salmonella control in these farms is of utmost importance. To better control this pathogen in farms, boot swabs are used to sample farm environments but the analysis of these swabs is mainly based on culture-dependent methods. In the present study, a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was developed for the rapid screening of Salmonella spp. in boot swab samples from broiler flock environments. Four different DNA extraction protocols were evaluated in depth, including a simple thermal lysis, a chelex-based protocol and two thermal lysis protocols followed by the purification of magnetic beads made of silica ("glass milk") in order to determine the most suitable alternative for potential on-site, farm analyses. The methodology evaluation included a blind interlaboratory assay and as a proof-of-concept, a naked-eye colorimetric assay was also included. Following the final methodology, it was possible to reach an LoD50 of 1.8 CFU/25 g of the samples, with a high relative sensitivity (95.7%), specificity (100%) and accuracy (96.6%) along with Cohen's kappa of concordance with respect to the ISO standard 6579-1:2017 of 0.9, with an RLOD of 1.3. In addition to this, due to the relevance of certain serotypes with the genus Salmonella spp., a serotype LAMP panel for the specific identification of S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, S. Infantis, S. Hadar and S. Virchow was also developed. Even though some degree of cross-reactivity among the primers developed was observed, all the serotypes could be accurately identified based on their melt curve analysis profile. Taken together, in the present study, a rapid Salmonella spp. screening method, suitable for farm applications, was developed, along with a serotyping panel that could be used in a laboratory setup for the identification of the most relevant serotypes of the genus, taking advantage of real-time amplification followed by melt curve analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the topological, dynamical, and descriptive set-theoretic properties of Hurwitz continued fractions. Hurwitz continued fractions associate an infinite sequence of Gaussian integers to every complex number that is not a Gaussian rational. The resulting space of sequences of Gaussian integers |$\Omega $| is not closed. Using an iterative procedure, we show that |$\Omega $| contains a natural subset whose closure |$\overline{\textsf{R}}$| encodes continued fraction expansions of complex numbers that are not Gaussian rationals. We prove that |$(\overline{\textsf{R}}, \sigma)$| is a subshift with a feeble specification property. As an application, we determine the rank in the Borel hierarchy of the set of Hurwitz normal numbers with respect to the complex Gauss measure. We also construct a family of complex transcendental numbers with bounded partial quotients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the effects of non-pharmacological treatments on sarcopenic obesity (SO). Methods A search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on SO was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, CENTRAL, SPORTDiscus, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP. A meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models for MDs. Results The meta-analysis on 21 RCTs showed that exercise improved PBF (MD: −1.67%, p  < .01, I2 = 35%), grip strength (MD: 2.2 kg, p  = .03, I2 = 61%), GS (MD: 0.08 m/s, p  = .02, I2 = 0%), TCR (MD: 2.22 repetitions, p  < .01, I2 = 0%), TUG (MD: −1.48 s, p  < .01, I2 = 61%), UE strength (MD: 1.88 kg/kg, p  < .01, I2 = 0%) and LE strength (MD: 2.19 kg/kg, p  < .01, I2 = 0%). Nutritional interventions improved grip strength (MD: 1.52 kg, p  < .01, I2 = 0%). Combine interventions improved PBF (MD: −1.97%, p  < .01, I2 = 38%), ASMM (MD: 0.4 kg, p  < .01, I2 = 6%), grip strength (MD: 1.83 kg, p  < .01, I2 = 38%) and GS (MD: 0.04 m/s, p  < .01, I2 = 0%). Combined interventions were more effective than nutrition alone for reducing PBF (MD: −0.8%, p  = .05, I2 = 0%). Conclusion The effects of exercise and nutrition interventions on SO are limited individually, especially regarding muscle mass, but their combination can yield optimal results. Additionally, physical therapy also demonstrated some potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although prolonged training with stroboscopic eyewear has demonstrated potential for enhancing visuomotor skills, the acute effects of stroboscopic stimulation are not well understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the short‐term effects of stroboscopic exposure during the ball‐specific phase of soccer warm‐up on agility performance in preplanned and unpredictable (RA) tasks. Also, these effects were examined both in tasks involving ball dribbling and without the ball, as well as under fatigued and non‐fatigued conditions. Twenty‐two male soccer players participated in three sessions: a familiarization session and two experimental sessions, one with and one without stroboscopic exposure during the warm‐up. RA was assessed before and after each session using the 10‐repetition Illinois Agility Test, with and without ball control. Results showed that stroboscopic exposure significantly enhanced RA performance in tasks involving ball dribbling (p < 0.001, effect size (ES) = 0.57), and these effects were maintained under fatigued conditions (p = 0.007, ES = 0.39). However, there were no significant improvements in RA without the ball (p > 0.05). Exercise‐induced fatigue reduced RA performance in both conditions (F = 28.2; p < 0.001), regardless of warm‐up type (F = 0.5; p = 0.484). Additionally, stroboscopic exposure did not significantly affect the changes of direction speed performance in the Illinois Agility Test (F = 0.5; p = 0.479). These findings suggest that integrating stroboscopic eyewear into the ball‐specific phase of soccer warm‐ups effectively improves RA performance in tasks involving dribbling under both non‐fatigued and fatigued conditions. The effectiveness of acute stroboscopic stimulation is closely related to the specificity of the tasks in which it is applied. These insights could benefit training across various sports, encouraging coaches to adopt this approach to enhance player preparation before both training and competitions. Highlights: Stroboscopic exposure during the ball‐specific phase of soccer warm‐up significantly improved reactive agility (RA) tasks involving ball dribbling, while RA without the ball showed no significant benefits. This highlights the importance of task‐specific effects observed during short‐term interventions.The decline in RA performance due to fatigue was less pronounced with stroboscopic training, which may be attributed to its potential to help maintain agility and decision‐making under fatigue by providing a perceptual–cognitive advantage.The effects of stroboscopic exposure were more pronounced for RA than for directional speed changes in the Illinois Agility Test. This highlights its specific benefits in enhancing perceptual–cognitive responses in non‐planned over planned agility maneuvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) often experience an abnormal hemostasis that contributes to mortality and unfavorable neurological outcomes. Objectives: We aimed to analyze epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory factors associated with mortality in patients with STBI during the first 48 h after in-hospital admission. Methods: We performed an observational retrospective study of STBI patients with associated extracranial trauma [defined as Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16 with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) head and neck ≥ 3 and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8] admitted to a Level II trauma center over seven years (2015–2021). Patients were divided into two groups: survivors and dead. We assessed differences regarding demographics, trauma severity, hemodynamics, disability, need for surgery, length of stay, transfusions, need for massive transfusion protocol, and hemostatic laboratory parameters at different time points. Results: A total of 134 STBI patients were included. Patients who died were older, mostly men, and showed higher trauma severity and disability. Hemoglobin, platelets, and clotting parameters deteriorated after admission to the emergency department (ED) with significant differences between groups within the first 24 h after admission. Platelet count < 150 × 103/μL at ED arrival, GCS, and age were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Older age, GCS, and platelet count at ED arrival were independent risk factors for mortality in STBI patients with associated extracranial trauma. Early thrombocytopenia < 150 × 103/μL at ED arrival may be used as a simple prognostic tool to early predict mortality between non-isolated STBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Staging Parkinson's disease (PD) with a novel simple classification called MNCD, based on four axes (Motor; Non-motor; Cognition; Dependency) and five stages, correlated with disease severity, patients' quality of life and caregivers' strain and burden. Our aim was to apply the MNCD classification in advanced PD patients treated with device-aided therapy (DAT). Patients and Methods: A multicenter observational retrospective study of the first patients to start the levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG) in Spain was performed (LECIPARK study). The MNCD total score (from 0 to 12) and MNCD stages (from 1 to 5) were collected by the neurologist at V0 (before starting LECIG) and V2 (follow-up visit). Wilcoxon's signed rank and Marginal Homogeneity tests were applied to compare changes from V0 to V2. Results: Sixty-seven PD patients (58.2% males; 69.9 ± 9.3 years old) with a mean disease duration of 14.4 ± 6.5 years were included. The mean treatment duration (V2) was 172.9 ± 105.2 days. At V0, patients were classified as in stage 2 (35.8%), 3 (46.3%) or 4 (17.9%). The frequency of patients in stage 4 decreased to 9% at V2 (p = 0.001). The MNCD total score decreased from 6.27 ± 1.94 at V0 to 5.21 ± 2.23 (p < 0.0001). From V0 to V2, the motor (M; p < 0.0001) and non-motor symptom (N; p < 0.0001) burden decreased, and autonomy for the activities of daily living (D; p = 0.005) improved. Conclusions: The MNCD classification could be useful to classify advanced PD patients and to monitor the response to a DAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the influence of different take-off thresholds on the reliability and magnitude of countermovement jump (CMJ) performance variables. Twenty-three men were tested on two separate sessions. CMJ performance variables were obtained against three external loads (0.5-30-60 kg) using three take-off thresholds: 10 N (arbitrary value of 10 N), 5SD (mean value plus 5 standard deviations of the vertical force recorded during the flight phase), and PRF (peak difference between the vertical force trace and 0 N during the flight phase). No significant differences in reliability were observed between the three thresholds (CV and ICC values of one threshold were within 95% CI of the other thresholds). The magnitude of the variables generally differed between the 10 N threshold and the 5SD and PRF thresholds (P < 0.05), but not between the 5SD and PRF thresholds (P > 0.05). These results demonstrate that the take-off threshold influences the magnitude of CMJ performance variables but not their reliability.

An a-posteriori multicentre reliability study was conducted to compare the reliability and magnitude of the maximum power (P[subscript max]) and optimal velocity (V[subscript opt]) between the force-power-velocity relationships during the leg cycle-ergometer and bench press throw exercises. The force-power-velocity relationships were determined in two separate sessions considering the values of force, velocity, and power collected under multiple loads. The force-velocity relationship was also determined from the force and velocity values collected under only the two most distant loads. Reliability of all regression models was high for P[subscript max] and V[subscript opt] during the leg cycle-ergometer (CV[subscript range]: 1.73-2.98%) and for P[subscript max] during the bench press throw (CV[subscript range]: 4.47-4.73%), while the reliability was acceptable for V[subscript opt] during the bench press throw (CV[subscript range]: 6.52-7.34%). Significant differences between the force-power-velocity relationships were observed for both P[subscript max] and V[subscript opt] (P < 0.001). All regression models can be confidently used to determine P[subscript max] and V[subscript opt], but these should not be used interchangeably.

BackgroundThe Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) is a novel test battery specifically designed to reduce the impact of multiculturality in cognitive assessment.ObjectiveWe aimed to validate the CNTB in Spaniards in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including patients at mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia stages, and Parkinson's disease with MCI (PD-MCI).MethodsThirty patients with AD-MCI, 30 with AD-dementia (AD-D), and 30 with PD-MCI were recruited. Each clinical group was compared against a healthy control group (HC) with no differences in sex, age, or years of education. Intergroup comparisons, ROC analysis, and cut-off scores were calculated.ResultsAD-MCI scored lower than HC in those subtests associated with episodic memory and verbal fluency. AD-D also showed lower scores in executive functions and visuospatial tests. Effect sizes for all the subtests were large. PD-MCI showed lower performance than HC in memory and executive functions, particularly on error scores, with large effect sizes. Comparing AD-MCI and PD-MCI, AD-MCI had lower memory scores, while PD-MCI showed the worst performance in executive functions. CNTB showed appropriate convergent validity with standardized neuropsychological tests measuring the same cognitive domains. We obtained similar cut-off scores to previous studies performed in other populations.ConclusionsThe CNTB showed appropriate diagnostic properties in AD and PD, including those stages with mild cognitive impairment. This supports the utility of the CNTB for the early detection of cognitive impairment in AD and PD.

Objective: Phenylcapsaicin (PC) is a new capsaicin analog which has exhibited a higher bioavailability. This sudy assessed the effects of a low dose (LD) of 0.625 mg and a high dose (HD) of 2.5 mg of PC on aerobic capacity, substrate oxidation, energy metabolism and exercise physiological variables in young males.Materials and methods: Seventeen active males (age = 24.7 ± 6.0 years) enrolled to this randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Participants attended the laboratory on 4 sessions separated by 72–96 h. A submaximal exercise test [to determine maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and the intensity at MFO (FATmax)] followed by a maximal incremental test (to determine VO2max) were performed in a preliminary session. The subsequent sessions only differed in the supplement ingested [LD, HD or placebo (PLA)] and consisted of a steady-state test (60 min at FATmax) followed by a maximal incremental test. Energy metabolism, substrate oxidation, heart rate, general (gRPE) and quadriceps (RPEquad) rate of perceived exertion, skin temperature and thermal perception were tested.Results: Clavicle thermal perception was lower in HD compared to PLA and LD (p = 0.04) across time. HD reduced maximum heart rate in comparison to PLA and LD (p = 0.03). LD reported higher general RPE (RPEg) values during the steady-state test compared to PLA and HD across time (p = 0.02). HD and LD elicited higher peak of fat oxidation during the steady-state test compared with PLA (p = 0.05). Intra-test analyses revealed significant differences for fat oxidation (FATox) in favor of HD and LD compared to PLA (p = 0.002 and 0.002, respectively), and for carbohydrate oxidation (CHOox) (p = 0.05) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (p = 0.03) for PLA. In the incremental test, only general RPE at 60% of the maximal intensity (W) differed favoring HD (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusion: Therefore, PC may contribute to increase aerobic capacity through the improvement of fat oxidation, maximum heart rate and perceptual responses during exercise.

Este artículo aborda la representación de la diversidad funcional y las relaciones sexoafectivas entre adolescentes dentro de la serie de ficción Sex Education durante la segunda y tercera temporadas (2020-2021), coincidiendo con la aparición del personaje de Isaac, un chico con diversidad funcional. A partir de una metodología basada en el análisis de discurso de los personajes y de los relatos sobre la diversidad funcional, se explora la construcción de Isaac como sujeto deseante y deseado, así como su relación sexoafectiva con Maeve. Se concluye que Sex Education visibiliza, reivindica y normaliza las necesidades afectivas y sexuales de la juventud con diversidad funcional, evitando caer en un discurso donde impera la infantilización, la patologización y la asexualidad, al tiempo que abre a los personajes con diversidad funcional un horizonte de posibilidad para amar y consumar relaciones sexuales. Asimismo, la serie plantea un escenario donde la igualdad y la integración son un éxito consumado en la sociedad y sitúan las dificultades y violencias a las que se enfrenta Isaac como una excepción, más que como un problema social estructural.