FLEXOR: A support tool for efficient and seamless experiment data processing to evaluate musculo-articular stiffness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of musculo-articular stiffness (MAS) is an increasingly demanded procedure with applications in different fields, such as sports performance and lower limbs injury prevention. However, this task is non-automated, time-consuming and error-prone due to manual handling of data streams and files across several software applications. Despite the fact that process automation of validated procedures helps to prevent errors, there is still a lack of easy-to-use tools for analysis, management and visualization of MAS trials. METHODS: In the present work a tool called FLEXOR has been developed which applies mathematical methods and novel algorithms to automatically adjust curves of data streams for MAS analysis decreasing substantially time employed and errors. This tool permits to define different adjustment parameters, detect curve peaks and valleys, and display the results on the fly. FLEXOR has been implemented through a component-based software development (CBSD) process. All physiological fundamentals for the biomechanical measurement have been included in the tool developed. To describe the integration of all required components a 4 + 1 view model architecture has been used. The installation guide, the FLEXOR software and some data samples can be found on its GitHub repository (https://github.com/FlexorSoftware/flexor). RESULTS: A multiplatform software tool to simplify traditional complex and manual procedures for MAS analysis is obtained. The tool turns them into a simple all-in-one procedure, reducing processing times from hours to a few minutes. The methodology was tested on multiple datasets generated by previous tools in former procedures as well as on real-time trials in the laboratory, showing identical results. CONCLUSION: The results show that the developed tool can accomplish an unfilled essential task in the analysis, management and visualization of MAS measurement. The presented software tool empowers analysts to handle the different studies, investigate different parameters related to each experiment and even test with different output parameters in each experiment, enabling real-time trials and shared studies between different analysts.

Multiresidue method for simultaneous determination of quinolone antibacterials in pig kidney samples by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A new analytical method for simultaneous determination of eight quinolones namely, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine, marbofloxacin, oxolinic acid and sarafloxacin, in pig kidney samples was developed. The procedure involves the extraction of the quinolones from the samples by traditional extraction, a step for clean-up and preconcentration of the analytes by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and subsequent liquid chromatography separation with fluorescence detection (LC-FD). The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile and 10 mM citrate buffer solution of pH 4.5, with an initial composition of acetonitrile-water 12:88 (v/v) and using linear gradient elution. Norfloxacin was used as internal standard. The limits of detection (1-8 microg kg(-1)) and the limits of quantification (5-27 microg kg(-1)) found were lower than the maximum residue limits regulated by the European Union for these compounds in pig kidney.

Differential characteristics of olive pollen from different cultivars: biological and clinical implications.

The olive tree is grown in many parts of the world. Its germplasm is very broad, with 250 varieties in Spain alone. Variations in the ability of pollen to germinate have been studied in detail and show conspicuous differences between varieties. However, commercial olive pollen from cultivars whose origin is unknown is the material that is commonly used for clinical and biological studies. We aim to assess the putative heterogeneity of olive cultivars with regard to the presence of several pollen allergens and to determine whether these differences have biological and clinical relevance. Previous studies show that most allergens isolated and characterized to date are highly polymorphic. Olive cultivars display wide differences in the expression levels of many allergens and in the number and molecular characteristics of the allergen isoforms expressed. These differences are maintained over the years, and are intrinsic to the genetics of each cultivar. Such broad polymorphism seems to be involved in the physiology of the olive reproductive system, which might include the adaptation of the plant to different environmental conditions, the establishment of the compatibility system, and pollen performance. The differences in allergen composition in cultivars, particularly in the Ole e 1 allergen, are responsible for the important differences in the allergenic potency of the extracts. These findings could have a number of implications for the diagnosis and therapy of olive pollen allergy. We discuss how cultivar differences affect extract quality, diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy and safety, and the development of new vaccines based on the use of recombinant allergens.

Psicología y lesiones deportivas: un estudio en lanzadores de béisbol / Psychology and sports injuries: a study in baseball pitchers / Psicologia e lesões esportivas: um estudo em lançadores de beisebol

La etiología multifactorial de las lesiones, así como la alta incidencia y prevalencia en lanzadores de béisbol requiere que éstas sean abordadas también desde la Psicología. En la presente investigación se estudian 48 lanzadores de béisbol en Villa Clara, Cuba, para determinar la relación entre variables psicológicas asociadas al rendimiento del deportista y las lesiones sufridas. Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Aspectos Deportivos y Lesiones, el Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo-Estado, el Inventario de Ansiedad Estado en Competición y el Inventario Psicológico de Ejecución Deportiva. Los resultados muestran una alta prevalencia de lesiones, las que ocurren con mayor frecuencia en la competición. La mayoría de las variables psicológicas establecen relación con la experiencia y el número de lesiones sufridas, estimándose además el efecto negativo que éstas producen sobre la ansiedad, la autoconfianza, el control del afrontamiento negativo, el control de la atención y el control visual e imaginativo

The multifactorial etiology of injuries, as well as the high incidence and prevalence in baseball pitchers, requires that they also should be deal with from Psychology. This research studies 48 baseball pitchers in Villa Clara, Cuba, to determine the relationship between psychological variables associated with the athlete's performance and the injuries they've suffered. The Sports Aspects and Injuries Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the State Anxiety Inventory in Competition and the Psychological Inventory of Sports Execution were applied. The results show a high prevalence of injuries, which occur most frequently in competition. Most of the psychological variables are related to the experience and the number of injuries suffered, also estimating the negative effect that they produce on anxiety, self-confidence, control of negative coping, control of attention and visual and imaginative control

A etiologia multifatorial das lesões, bem como a alta incidência e prevalência em lançadores de beisebol, requere que estas sejam abordadas também a partir da Psicologia. Na presente investigação, 48 lançadores de beisebol são estudados em Villa Clara, Cuba, para determinar a relação entre variáveis psicológicas associadas ao desempenho do atleta e as lesões sofridas. Foram aplicados o Questionário de Aspectos Esportivos e Lesões, o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado, o Inventário de Ansiedade do Estado em Competição e o Inventário Psicológico de Execução Esportiva. Os resultados mostram uma alta prevalência de lesões, que ocorrem mais frequentemente na competição. A maioria das variáveis ​​psicológicas está relacionada à experiência e ao número de lesões sofridas, estimando também o efeito negativo que produzem na ansiedade, autoconfiança, controle do enfrentamento negativo, controle da atenção e controle visual e imaginativo

Ternary copper(II) complexes with N-carboxymethyl-l-prolinato(2-) ion and imidazole or creatinine: a comparative study of the interligand interactions influencing the molecular recognition and stability.

The compounds {[Cu(CMP)(Him)].H(2)O}(n) (I) and [Cu(CMP)(crea)H(2)O].3H(2)O (II) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal, spectral and magnetic methods (CMP=N-carboxymethyl-;l-prolinato(2-) ion, Him=imidazole and crea=creatinine). Appropriate structural comparison with other compounds such as {[Cu(CMP)(H(2)O)].H(2)O}(n), [Cu(crea)(2)Cl(2)] and [Cu(dipeptide)(crea)(H(2)O)(x)].nH(2)O (x=0 or 1) have been made in order to prove that crea can act as an imidazole-like ligand (because it is able to promote the same fac- to mer-CMP tridentate conformational change in copper(II) complexes) as well as to discuss the interligand interactions which control the 'Cu(CMP) complex-crea, molecular recognition processes. In contrast to that found in related ternary complexes, we have concluded that direct CMP-crea interligand interactions are missing in the Cu-CMP-crea complex due to the inappropriate correspondence between the donor and/or acceptor H-bonding properties of these ligands. CMP can only act as H-acceptor by its two terminal carboxylate group, and crea can display H-donor and H-acceptor roles by its exocyclic -NH(2) and O moieties, respectively. That promotes the reinforcement of the Cu-N(crea) bond by a bridge -N-H(crea)...O(aqua) (2.867(3)A, 176.4 degrees).

Use of solid-phase microextraction followed by on-column silylation for determining chlorinated bisphenol A in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In this study, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method based on poly(acrylate)-coated fibres has been developed for detection and quantification of chlorinated bisphenol A in human plasma due to the need for an assessment of human exposure to them. After desorption of the analytes for 7 min at 300 degrees C, they were directly derivatized in the GC injector port by injection of 2 microL of diluted bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). The formation of trimethylsilylate derivatives improves the selectivity, sensitivity and performance of the chromatographic properties obtained when the analytes are directly separated. Quantification was carried out using single-ion monitoring (SIM). The respective chloroderivative molecular ions appear at 406, 440, 474 and 508 m/z; whereas the base peaks corresponding to a loss of a methyl group in all cases appear at 391, 425, 459 and 493 m/z for mono-, di-, tri- and tetrabisphenol A, respectively. Deuterated bisphenol A (BPA-d16) was used as an internal standard. The method was applied to the determination of Cl-BPA, Cl2-BPA, Cl3-BPA and Cl4-BPA at very low concentration levels in plasma. Recovery efficiencies were close to 100% in all cases.

Thoracic intradural chordoma.

A case of primary intradural chordoma at thoracic level is presented. This report confirms the presence of ectopic intradural chordomas within the spinal canal. It is necessary to include these lesions in the differential diagnosis of intradural-extramedullary tumors.

Determination of polyphenolic compounds in wastewater olive oil by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of 21 polyphenolic compounds in wastewater from olive oil production plants is proposed. The method involves a liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) procedure with ethyl acetate followed by a silylation step. Identification and quantification have been performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MS measurements were carried out using selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). alpha-Naftol was used as internal standard. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these compounds in wastewater from an olive oil production factory in Jaén (Spain) at concentration levels ranging from 1.0 to 75.0mugml(-1) for each compound. The autodegradation process by own microbiota in samples collected in three different points of the factory was also studied. The method was validated by a recovery assay with spiked samples.

Determination of bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of phenol by first-derivative fluorescence following micro liquid-liquid extraction (MLLE).

Bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of phenol is determined using a method based on first-derivative spectrofluorimetry. The proposed method involves a micro liquid-liquid extraction of sodium chloride saturated water samples with diethyl ether followed by direct fluorimetric analysis of extracts. The excitation spectra of both compounds in diethyl ether are recorded between 200 and 290 nm, with the emission wavelength at 306 nm. The first-derivative spectra were calculated, measuring the analytical signal for BPA at 239 nm. The concentration range over which the method was applied was 0.5-10.0 microg.l(-1) of BPA with relative standard deviations of 2.9% for a concentration of 4.0 microg.l(-1) of BPA. The detection limit was 0.07 microg.l(-1). The proposed method was applied satisfactorily to the determination of BPA in synthetic mixtures and water samples from different sources previously spiked with different amounts of these chemicals. Recovery values ranging from 93% to 112% were obtained for water samples.

Intramolecular "Aryl-metal chelate ring" pi,pi-interactions as structural evidence for metalloaromaticity in (aromatic alpha,alpha'-diimine)-copper(II) chelates: molecular and crystal structure of aqua(1,10-phenanthroline)(2-benzylmalonato)copper(II) three-hydrate.

By reaction of Cu(2)CO(3)(OH)(2), 2-benzylmalonic acid (H(2)Bzmal), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), [Cu(Bzmal)(phen)(H(2)O)] x 3H(2)O (compound 1) has been obtained and characterized by thermal, spectral, magnetic, and X-ray diffraction methods. The molecular structure of 1 is remarkably similar to that of [Cu(Bzmal)(bipy)(H(2)O)] x 2H(2)O (compound 2, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine). In both complexes, the aryl(Bzmal) ring produces an unexpected pi,pi-stacking interaction with the Cu(II)-(aromatic alpha,alpha'-diimine) chelate ring, at an average distance d(pi)(-)(pi) of 3.40 A, involving roughly parallel and smoothly slipped rings. This insight is discussed as new structural evidence for metalloaromaticity of Cu(II)-(aromatic alpha,alpha'-diimine) chelate rings. Interestingly, 1 recognizes itself by a weak intermolecular pi,pi-stacking interaction between aryl(Bzmal) ligands to give pairs of complex molecules. In contrast, there is an intermolecular pyridyl-pyridyl pi,pi-stacking interaction also forming pairs of complex molecules in 2.