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The continuous changes in our society require adapted training that encompasses both technical and competency knowledge. There is a high level of demand, especially in areas such as engineering, which can affect the mental health of students, producing high levels of stress and psychological distress, hindering self-efficacy and academic performance. Embodied learning working on self-awareness, stress reduction and self-knowledge can help to generate healthier environments. Creative therapies can be a tool to promote the prevention of health problems in this group of the population. In particular, Dance Movement Therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving health in clinical and non-clinical settings. In this work, a body awareness program based on Dance Movement Therapy is developed and implemented in engineering students. Through a mixed pre-post methodology, its impact is evaluated and analyzed in an experimental group of engineering students. Psychometric tests, physiological variables and reflective diaries are used as data sources. The results show that the experimental group, compared with the control group, increased their levels of body awareness and connectedness, well-being and life satisfaction and reduced their stress levels. The results were supported by cortisol measures. Likewise, the students acknowledged having increased their levels of self-awareness and self-knowledge and considered the inclusion of these bodily approaches in higher education to be necessary.

A systematic theoretical study on the molecular electronic structure of graphene and its oxides, including their interactions with molecular species of different polarity, was carried out. The influence of the O/C atomic ratio in the graphene oxides was also evaluated. Quantum chemical and COSMO-based statistical-thermodynamic calculations were performed. Geometry optimizations demonstrated that graphene sheets are structurally distorted by oxygen substitution, although they show high resistance to deformation. Furthermore, under axial O-C bonding, proton-donor and proton-acceptor centers are created on the graphene oxide surface, which could acquire an amphoteric character. In low-oxidized graphene oxides, H-bonding centers coexist with neutral highly polarizable π electron clouds. Deep graphene oxidation is also related to the formation of a quasi-two-dimensional H-bond network. These two phenomena are responsible for the exceptional adsorption and catalytic properties and the potential proton conductivity of graphene oxides. The current calculations demonstrated that the interactions of polar molecular species with deep-oxidized graphene derivatives are thermodynamically favorable, but not with low-oxidized ones. The capacity of the quantum chemical and COSMO-RS calculations to model all these issues opens the possibility of selecting or designing graphene-based materials with optimized properties for specific applications. Also, they are valuable in selecting/designing solvents with good exfoliant properties with respect to certain graphene derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While there is agreement on the positive link between psychological resilience and athletic performance, conclusive findings regarding the association between psychological resilience and other variables of interest (for example, age, gender, type of sport, or competitive level) remain elusive. Objective: The study aimed to assess psychological resilience levels among judokas and explore potential associations with demographic factors, judo experience and competitive level. Methods: A total of 702 judokas (469 men and 233 women) participated in the study, of whom 194 (27.6%) were classified as TOP by their competitive level. Psychological resilience was evaluated using the Spanish version of the 10 item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10), with a score range from 0 to 40. Independent T-test and Pearson's coefficient were used for bivariate analysis. A two-way non-parametric ANCOVA was carried out to analyse the impact of gender and competitive level on psychological resilience. Results: The judokas showed total mean scores in the CD-RISC 10 of 33.08 points (SD = 4.79), considered high. Levels of psychological resilience were significantly higher among men (33.36 ± 4.76) than women (32.53 ± 4.80) and were positively correlated with age and number of years practicing and competing in Judo (p = 0.019). Judokas with a higher competitive level (TOP judokas) showed significantly higher levels of resilience than the others (non-TOP judokas) (p < 0.001). These differences in resilience according to competitive level persisted, among both men and women, when adjusting the model of analysis (two-way ANCOVA) for all variables considered in the study, although with a small effect size. Conclusion: The results suggest that the practice of Judo, especially over long periods of time, is associated with high scores in psychological resilience. Furthermore, psychological resilience appears to be a differentiating variable among judokas at a high-competitive level, and its evaluation and development using different strategies based on age and gender should be considered by trainers and psychologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of assisted reproductive technologies, oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has emerged as a potential alternative to overcome the limitations associated with standard ovarian stimulation treatments. However, current IVM protocols lack standardization and yield oocytes of inferior quality compared to those matured in vivo. To address this issue, novel biomaterials like hydrogels offer distinct advantages in cell culture by providing a 3D cellular environment and facilitating easy adjustment and characterization of mechanical properties, such as hydrogel stiffness. Herein, a novel and reusable bilayer hydrogel system is presented that accurately mimics the mechanical properties of the microenvironment surrounding oocyte maturation. The system comprises an outer layer fabricated from either a 3D‐printed synthetic polymer (2‐vinyl‐4,6‐diamino‐1,3,5‐triazine, (VDT)) or a natural polymer (chitosan), along with an inner layer composed of alginate. By faithfully replicating the mechanical properties of native tissue within a 3D culture environment, this system significantly improves the quality and developmental capacity of oocytes, thus resulting in successful embryo development. Overall, this innovative system holds great potential for future medical research and applications in cell culture, thus representing a significant advancement in assisted reproductive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases has spurred researchers to develop advanced 3D models that accurately mimic neural tissues. Hydrogels stand out as ideal candidates as their properties closely resemble those of the extracellular matrix. A critical challenge in this regard is to comprehend the influence of the scaffold's mechanical properties on cell growth and differentiation, thus enabling targeted modifications. In light of this, a synthesis and comprehensive analysis of acrylamide‐based hydrogels incorporating a peptide has been conducted. Adequate cell adhesion and development is achieved due to their bioactive nature and specific interactions with cellular receptors. The integration of a precisely controlled physicochemical hydrogel matrix and inclusion of the arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid peptide sequence has endowed this system with an optimal structure, thus providing a unique ability to interact effectively with biomolecules. The analysis fully examined essential properties governing cell behavior, including pore size, mechanical characteristics, and swelling ability. Cell‐viability experiments were performed to assess the hydrogel's biocompatibility, while the incorporation of grow factors aimed to promote the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. The results underscore the hydrogel's ability to stimulate cell viability and differentiation in the presence of the peptide within the matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Work engagement is a scientifically consolidated variable, due to its fundamental role in business practice. To increase work engagement in companies, it is necessary to know which variables are antecedents and how they relate to each other. These variables include job autonomy, job crafting, and psychological capital. This research evaluates the relationships between job autonomy, job crafting, psychological capital, and work engagement. Specifically, based on the job demands and resources model and the conservation of resources theory, the study examines these relationships in a sample of 483 employees, through a serial mediation model. The results show that job crafting, and psychological capital mediates the relationship between job autonomy and work engagement. These results have practical implications for interventions to promote employee work engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research has been conducted on the dipolar and non-dipolar poly(phenylenevinylene) dendrimers which bear electron-donating electron-withdrawing groups. The synthesis of these dendrimers has been carried out via Heck and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions and the results indicate that by choosing the appropriate peripheral groups these systems' photoluminescence can be turned into the blue zone.