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Effect on forearm muscle activity of manipulative assistive devices’ use in activities of daily living
No full textBackground
Assistive devices play a crucial role in helping individuals with impaired function to conduct activities of daily living. The application of surface electromyography technique to study forearm muscle activity in the use of assistive devices would complement kinematic studies to optimize design features of assistive devices for manipulation.
Purpose
This study investigates the effect of various assistive devices on forearm muscle activity of healthy people while performing activities of daily living, measured using surface electromyography technique.
Study Design
Primary clinical, descriptive cross-sectional study.
Methods
Fourteen pairs of equivalent activities of daily living tasks, performed with and without assistive devices in 22 participants, were compared. The surface electromyography data from the MOVMUS-UJI Dataset were used. For each pair of equivalent tasks and each spot (forearm area), related-samples Wilcoxon tests were applied in p50 and p95 surface electromyography values of muscle activity.
Results
The results revealed significant differences in forearm muscle activity, primarily due to changes in grasp type or hand-object position. Some devices led to decreased muscle activity (up to 64.2%), while others resulted in increased muscle activity (up to 95.6%) depending on the task and device characteristics.
Conclusions
The analysis of the surface electromyography recording values is useful for deciding whether an assistive device helps to reduce the effort required while performing an activities of daily living and for designing new assistive devices with features that favor the most appropriate grip type or orientation. The findings highlight the importance of personalized design for assistive devices to optimize functionality and to reduce muscular effort. Therefore, the results are beneficial for therapists prescribing assistive devices, as they assist in evaluating the specific effects on muscle activity in individual patients. This study contributes to enhance the understanding of the ergonomic implications of assistive device use for supporting individuals with impaired function in activities of daily living.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume
Adaptation to Catalan of quality of life questionnaires for cardiovascular patients
No full textEn la societat occidental actual, creix la preocupació per la qualitat de vida dels pacients amb malalties cròniques o de llarga durada. Per avaluar adequadament l’impacte d’una patologia, cal disposar de qüestionaris específics per a aquest propòsit. Molts es generen en anglès i no sol existir-ne una versió en català. El procés d’adaptació va més enllà de la traducció. Requereix seguir uns estàndards rigorosos per garantir l’equivalència entre totes dues versions. En aquest article, revisem el procés de traducció i adaptació de dos qüestionaris per a pacients amb aneurisma de l’aorta abdominal: l’AneurysmDQoL, que avalua la qualitat de vida; i l’AneurysmTSQ, que mesura la satisfacció amb el tractament. Analitzem els principals reptes del procés de traducció i adaptació, com ara preservar l’equivalència conceptual, crear una versió comprensible i respectuosa per al pacient, evitar anglicismes, utilitzar una terminologia accessible i ajustar la cortesia per evitar preguntes invasives.In modern Western societies, there is increasing concern for the quality of life of patients with chronic or long-term conditions. To properly evaluate the impact of a given pathology, it is essential to have questionnaires that are specifically developed and validated for this purpose. Many of these questionnaires are created in English and often lack a Catalan version. The adaptation process extends beyond simple translation and requires adherence to strict standards to ensure cultural equivalence between versions. This article reviews the translation and adaptation process for two questionnaires for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm: Aneurysm- DQoL, which assesses quality of life, and AneurysmTSQ, which evaluates treatment satisfaction. We discuss the main challenges encountered in this process, such as preserving conceptual equivalence, creating a version that is both understandable and respectful to patients, avoiding anglicisms, using accessible medical terminology, and adjusting politeness to avoid intrusive questions
New Mcconnellite Ceramic Pigment as a Selective Solar Absorber: Effects of Microwave Firing and Rare Earth Doping
No full textCuCrO2 (mcconnellite) was synthesized using both the solid-state method and microwave dielectric firing. It was characterized as a novel black ceramic pigment for use in various industrial glazes. For the first time, the application of mcconnellite (CuCrO2) and its coloured glazes as selective solar absorbers (SSA) for integral ceramic solar collectors has been reported. The addition of quartz or anatase as colour modifiers was investigated to prevent the bluing of the pigment in Zn-containing glazes, a phenomenon associated with the exsolution of copper. Furthermore, doping with lanthanide oxides was explored to address two key challenges: controlling the formation of pinhole defects in porcelain glazes, which are linked to the destabilization of Cu+, and adjusting the IR cut-off wavelength to improve its performance as SSA
The arthropod’s guide to European vineyards: invasive pests as hitchhikers of globalization
No full textInsects and mites are among the most widespread and economically significant invasive species worldwide due
to their rapid reproduction, high dispersal ability, and capability to survive and quickly adapt to different environmental
conditions and food sources. Increased globalization, i.e., increased human transportation and trade, is the main driver
behind arthropod invasions. Globally, the spread of invasive arthropods represents a growing problem for agriculture, as
many of these species are devastating pests, including vectors of plant pathogens. This is particularly relevant for perennial
crops such as grapevine. Grapevine is a global crop that is susceptible to a range of aggressive pathogens and pests and,
accordingly, one of the crops most frequently treated with pesticides in Europe. This review focuses on invasive insect and
mite pests damaging European grapevine through feeding or vectoring pathogens. A comprehensive overview of present
and potential future invasive arthropods threatening European viticulture is provided. Primary entry pathways of invasive
grapevine pests into the EU, as well as their spread are discussed. The pest geographic origin and current distribution within
the EU revealed particularly vulnerable regions. In the final section, lessons learned and future challenges are highlighted,
along with sustainable monitoring and management options aimed to minimize the risk of introductions, and in turn pesticide applications
Transformando la materia: una mirada desde la ingeniería química
No full textLliçó inaugural del curs 2025-2026 a la Universitat Jaume
Guided Depth Inpainting in ToF Image Sensing based on Near Infrared Information
No full textAccurate depth estimation is crucial in various computer vision applications, such as robotics, augmented reality, or autonomous driving. Despite the common use of Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensing systems, they still face challenges such as invalid pixels and missing depth values, particularly with low light reflectance, distant objects, or light-saturated conditions. Cameras using indirect ToF technology provide depth maps along with active infrared brightness images, which can offer a potential guide for depth restoration in fusion approaches. This study proposes a method for depth completion by combining depth and active infrared images in ToF systems. The approach is based on a belief propagation strategy to extend valid nearby information in missing depth regions, using the infrared gradient for depth consistency. Emphasis is placed on considering object edges, especially those coinciding with depth discontinuities, to approximate missing values. Empirical results demonstrate the efficiency and simplicity of the proposed algorithm, showcasing superior outcomes compared to other reference guided depth inpainting methods
Las cabezas de la hidra. El fenómeno de la militarización, entre las postrimerías de la guerra civil novohispana y el nacimiento de México
No full textAlmost five decades ago Christon I. Archer began to study the turbulent European events of the late 18th and early 19th centuries that marked the future of the possessions of the Spanish Monarchy in America, which, in the midst of political processes that sought autonomy and greater representativeness, they underwent their most profound changes in the defensive aspect during the years of conflict experienced from 1808 tonwards. In the midst of a civil war as bloody and destructive as the one in New Spain, a new militarized system emerged that in many ways replaced the administrative apparatus that had been established during Bourbon reformism. Then, when the bienio
trascendental 1820-1821 it caused a new political stir, it would be precisely the military sector (and even militia) that would take control of the revolution in its hands, imposing an independence project more similar to that of the pronounced Spaniards who that of the New Spain insurgents; one that was peaceful and based on the principle of leniency. Here we will continue, as a review but also as a tribute, the ideas that Archer proposed, since the scenario being studied was the one that gave way to the militarization of Mexican politics, the same as with the politicization of the armed forces (both concepts coined by this historian), making the armed sector hegemonic from that moment on, first by conquering independence and then elevating its undisputed leader to the Mexican throne.Los convulsos sucesos europeos de finales del siglo XVIII y principios del XIX marcaron el devenir de las posesiones de la Monarquía española en América, las que, en medio de procesos políticos de búsqueda de autonomía y una mayor representatividad, sufrieron profundos cambios en el aspecto defensivo debido a los años de guerra civil que se vivieron a partir de 1808, elevando con ello la importancia del papel jugado por los hombres de casaca. En medio de una guerra civil tan cruenta y destructiva como fue la novohispana, emergió un nuevo sistema militarizado que en muchos sentidos sustituyó al aparato administrativo, que perdió el terreno que había ganado con la implementación del reformismo borbónico. Luego, cuando en el bienio trascendental 1820-1821 provocó un nuevo revuelo político, sería precisamente el sector militar (e incluso miliciano) el que tomaría en sus manos el control de la revolución, imponiendo un proyecto de independencia más semejante al de los pronunciados españoles que al de los insurgentes; uno pacífico y basado en el principio de lenidad. Esto daría paso a la concreción de la militarización de la política mexicana, lo mismo que con la politización de las fuerzas armadas, dejando a este sector convertido en el hegemónico a partir de ese momento, haciendo primero la independencia para luego elevar al trono mexicano a su dirigente indiscutible. Fue la militarización el antecedente inmediato, a la vez que causante, de la era de los pronunciamientos, y sin ella no pueden explicarse los sucesos del periodo 1820-1823
Marine degradation of plastics in Western Mediterranean Sea: Comparison between biodegradable and conventional polymers
No full textBiodegradable polymers have been proposed as a possible solution to plastic pollution in the ocean but there is still a lack of knowledge about their behavior in this particular ecosystem due to the great variability of marine habitats. The abiotic and biotic deterioration of biodegradable polymers -polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), (PHBV) - and conventional polymers - polyamide 6/6.6 copolymer (PA), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) - were studied throughout 12 months of immersion in the western Mediterranean sea. The behavior of PLA was not distinct from that of the non-biodegradable plastics. PA, PE and PP only showed small changes derived from their interaction with the marine environment. Their low mass reduction and attrition of mechanical properties were ascribed to abiotic factors. Biodegradation was clearly observed only for the PHBV, reaching a 16 % of weight loss in the registered period and showing an increased surface roughness, and higher biofilm density than the rest of materials. However, as time progressed, a noticeable reduction in the biodegradation rate was observed. This decline may be attributed to a limitation of optimal conditions for microorganisms on the material's surface, likely influenced by the unique characteristics of the surrounding environment, such as biofouling, pollution, and temperature variations. FTIR experiments confirmed the layer-by-layer degradation mechanism starting from amorphous zones. This is a step forward in understanding the degradability of polymers in specific marine environments required for developing prediction systems of plastics’ lifetime in the ocean.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume I
Literatura femenina digital en el bachillerato italiano: canon y escritoras feministas invisibles en los planes de estudio
No full textThe inadequate representation of Italian women writers in the Italian school curriculum has been a topic of concern over the last few years, raising questions about their exclusion from the literary school canon despite their contributions. Through an examination of the relationships between gender, literature, and education, altogether with the feminist critique workcarried outsince the 1970s, this paper seeks to explore digital learning environments that promote gender-related reflections in Italian secondary schools and to examine key factors that have contributed to the invisibility of Italian women writers in educational contexts. Through the specific quantitative analysis of the digital textbook Letteratura Oggi,tomes 3A and 3B, intended for the students of the Italian lyceum last year, this article addresses the presence of any improvements made for major equity between writers.La escasa representación de las escritoras italianas en los planes de estudio de las escuelas italianas ha sido motivo de preocupación en los últimos años, por lo que se han planteadocuestiones sobre su exclusión del canon literario escolar, a pesar de sus evidentes contribuciones. A través de un examen de las relaciones entre género, literatura y educación, junto con el trabajo de crítica feminista realizado desde la década de 1970, este artículo pretende explorar los entornos digitales de aprendizaje quepromueven las reflexiones relacionadas con el género en las escuelas de educación secundaria, así como examinarlos factores clave que han contribuido a la invisibilidad de las escritoras italianas en los contextos educativos. A través del análisis cuantitativo específico de los tomos 3A y 3B del libro de texto digital Letteratura Oggi, destinado a los estudiantes del liceo italiano de último curso, este artículo aborda la presencia de mejoras realizadas para una mayor equidad entre escritoras y escritores
Segmenting tourists based on perceived sustainability and satisfaction using machine learning
No full textSegmentation is crucial for developing sustainability strategies, and tourists’ perceptions of destinations offer important segmentation criteria. This paper aims to gain insight into the tourist segments with similar perceived sustainability and satisfaction levels in three different Spanish destination types: urban, rural, and sun and sea. Perceived sustainability is based on tourist perceptions and is measured as a multidimensional construct. Using a sample of 1406 Spanish tourists, we use machine learning algorithms for clustering. The results show four tourist segments: Enthusiastic (Segment 1), Moderately enthusiastic (Segment 3), Moderate (Segment 2), and Critic (Segment 4). These segments differ considerably in terms of the dimensions of perceived sustainability (environmental, socio-cultural, and economic) and satisfaction. They also differ regarding socio-demographic characteristics: age and education, and especially destination type. Enthusiastic and Moderately enthusiastic display the highest perceived sustainability and satisfaction, and mostly visit rural destinations. While Critic and Moderate show the lowest perceived sustainability and satisfaction, and mainly visit urban destinations. Moreover, Critic are the most educated and on average the youngest. The research showcases the potential of machine learning in creating more nuanced and dynamic tourist segments, thereby improving destination management and marketing strategies regarding sustainability, mainly, in rural destinations