Estrategias de aprendizaje de vocabulario de los estudiantes universitarios: El caso de los estudiantes del año preparatorio y de la carrera de inglés

This work was funded and supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. 4,974].Vocabulary-learning strategies play an important role in English language learning and acquisition. This study investigates the vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) that university students use while they learn new words. It is an attempt to figure out whether VLSs differ across university levels. A 5-Likert scale vocabulary learning strategies-questionnaire and a semi-structured interview administered to 82 university learners (namely, 52 first-year English major male (EFL), and 32 Preparatory Year Deanship learners (PYD)). The results showed that EFL learners and PYD learners approximately share the same number of VLSs, yet the frequent use of their strategies is different. While EFL learners mostly use metacognitive strategies in learning new words, PYD learners use determination strategies most frequently. The results indicated that enrichment of the mental lexicon and autonomy in language learning are the main reasons for using some VLSs. Besides, the main reason for not using some VLSs is the unfamiliarity with those VLSs.Las estrategias de aprendizaje de vocabulario juegan un papel importante en el aprendizaje y la adquisición del idioma inglés. Este estudio investiga las estrategias de aprendizaje de vocabulario (VLS) que usan los estudiantes universitarios mientras aprenden nuevas palabras y las razones del uso y no uso de algunas VLS notables. Es un intento de averiguar si los VLS difieren entre los niveles universitarios. Un cuestionario de estrategias de aprendizaje de vocabulario de escala Likert de 5 y una entrevista semiestructurada administrada a 82 estudiantes universitarios (es decir, 52 estudiantes de inglés de primer año (EFL) y 32 estudiantes del decanato del año preparatorio (PYD)). Los resultados mostraron que los estudiantes de EFL y PYD comparten aproximadamente la misma cantidad de VLS, pero el uso frecuente de sus estrategias es diferente. Mientras que los estudiantes de EFL utilizan principalmente estrategias metacognitivas para aprender nuevas palabras, los estudiantes de PYD utilizan estrategias de determinación con mayor frecuencia. Los resultados indicaron que el enriquecimiento del léxico mental y la autonomía en el aprendizaje del idioma son las principales razones para utilizar algunos VLS. Además, la principal razón para no usar algunos VLS es la falta de familiaridad con esos VLS.King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [4,974

The Effects of Acute Deep Seawater Supplementation on Muscle Function after Triathlon

(1) Background: Trainers and athletes have always sought to reduce the failure of muscle function during long endurance events. However, nowadays, it is a topic that is generating much debate in the scientific field. Currently, deep-sea water (DSW) intake seems to be a suitable hydration alternative for this type of endurance event. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether DSW consumption during a triathlon event could preserve muscle function after exercise. (2) Methods: Nineteen trained male triathletes (age = 39.0 ± 4.25 years; BMI = 23.67 ± 1.81 kg/m2) randomly performed three triathlons, one of them consuming DSW (Totum SPORT 30 AB, Laboratories Quinton International, S.L., Spain), the other consuming isotonic placebo and the last with tap water-hydration. A vertical jump test with countermovement and an isometric muscle strength test were conducted before and after the triathlon test. (3) Results: There was a significant difference between treatment × time during the isometric muscle strength test. Based on the Tukey post hoc analysis, the peak net force decreased statistically in the placebo (p = 0.045) and control conditions (p = 0.026), but not in the experimental condition (p = 0.121). In addition, all of the conditions studied obtained similar results in the countermovement vertical jump after exercise. (4) Conclusions: As a result, consumption of DSW seems to delay the failure of muscle function specifically in isometric exercises but does not improve performance in sports. Thus, DSW does not alter muscle capacity in a negative way; therefore, its consumption may be recommended.Laboratories Quinton International, S.L., Spain (2019-341)UGR Plan Propio de Investigación 2016Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence in Exercise and Health (UCEES), University of Granad

Toxicity and underlying lipidomic alterations generated by a mixture of water disinfection byproducts in human lung cells

Complex mixtures of disinfection by-products (DBPs) are present in disinfected waters, but their mixture toxicity has been rarely described. Apart from ingestion, DBP exposure can occur through inhalation, which may lead to respiratory effects in highly exposed individuals. However, the underlying biological mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of a mixture of 10 DBPs, including haloacetic acids and haloaromatics, on human alveolar A549 cells by assessing their cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and impact on the cell lipidome. A DBP mixture up to 50 μM slightly reduced cell viability, induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) up to 3.5-fold, and increased the frequency of micronuclei formation. Exposure to 50 μM DBP mixture led to a significant accumulation of triacylglycerides and a decrease of diacylglycerides and phosphatidylcholines in A549 cells. Lipidomic profiling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released in the culture medium revealed a marked increase in cholesterol esters, sphingomyelins, and other membrane lipids. Overall, these alterations in the lipidome of cells and EVs may indicate a disruption of lipid homeostasis, and thus, potentially contribute to the respiratory effects associated with DBP exposure.Projects PID2021-122592NB-I00 and CEX2018-000794-S (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación)ComFuturo Programme (2nd edition) funded by the Fundación General del CSICGrant RYC2020-028901-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ESF investing in your future

Reimagining science communication in the age of AI

This review analyses the presentation of Campus Gutenberg Museo de la Ciencia CosmoCaixa 2023 held in September 2023 in Barcelona and reflects on the connection of the event with the necessary redefinition of the social communication of science in the face of the impact of artificial intelligence

The n_TOF facility at CERN

The neutron Time-of-Flight facility (n_TOF) is an innovative facility operative since 2001 at CERN, with three experimental areas. In this paper the n_TOF facility will be described, together with the upgrade of the facility during the Long Shutdown 2 at CERN. The main features of the detectors used for capture fission cross section measurements will be presented with perspectives for the future measurements

The value and measurement of innovation in health technology assessment and its impact on public financing of medicines

Tesis Univ. Granada.Chapters I, II and III of this PhD thesis received support from the CEAT project (research project PID2019.105597RA.I00 financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/ National Research Agency MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033). The funders had no role in the study

Hysteresis in memristors produces conduction inductance and conduction capacitance effects

Memristors are devices in which the conductance state can be alternately switched between a high and a low value by means of a voltage scan. In general, systems involving a chemical inductor mechanism as solar cells, asymmetric nanopores in electrochemical cells, transistors, and solid state memristive devices, exhibit a current increase and decrease over time that generates hysteresis. By performing small signal ac impedance spectroscopy, we show that memristors, or any other system with hysteresis relying on the conductance modulation effect, display intrinsic dynamic inductor-like and capacitance-like behaviours in specific input voltage ranges. Both the conduction inductance and the conduction capacitance originate in the same delayed conduction process linked to the memristor dynamics and not in electromagnetic or polarization effects. A simple memristor model reproduces the main features of the transition from capacitive to inductive impedance spectroscopy spectra, which causes a nonzero crossing of current–voltage curves.European Research Council (ERC) via Horizon Europe Advanced Grant, grant agreement no. 101097688 (‘‘PeroSpiker’’)Projects PID2022-139586NB-C41 and PID2022-139586NB-C44 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, EU

The Role of Aerial Prospection for Monitoring and Preserving Cultural Heritage in Northeastern Africa

Anthropogenic and environmental processes present unique challenges for preserving cultural heritage in North Africa. Large parts of this region are characterised by unfavourable arid and semi-arid conditions and rapid changes to the landscapes caused by heightened regional development (e.g., urban expansion, road building, agricultural intensification, and socio-political conflicts). As a result, we are facing a fast-paced disappearance of heritage sites in regions that are still poorly understood. Following this, the utilisation of Earth observation data through aerial photographs and satellite imagery has emerged as an unmatched tool in the exploration of endangered archaeological heritage. Drawing on this context, this paper underscores the critical significance of incorporating digital research methods, such as remote sensing, GIS, or cartographic analysis, to ensure the evaluation and (digital) preservation of the historical sites along these vulnerable areas. Furthermore, our study seeks to provide new insights into data management and dissemination, fostering open research practices within North African archaeological research.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU17/06503)Vice-Rectorate for Research and Knowledge Transfer of the University of Granada (Ref: PPJIB2020.18

The fresco wall painting techniques in the Mediterranean area from Antiquity to the present: A review

Fresco wall paintings are one of the oldest artforms in our cultural heritage, dating back to the second millennium BC. In this work, we carry out a thorough review on the evolution of the fresco wall painting technique from Antiquity to the present day. Focused on the Mediterranean area, the aim is to gather in-depth information on different technological aspects of this decorative artform such as execution pro- cedure, materials used and pictorial palette. Considering that the recognition of the pictorial technique ( a fresco, a secco, or a mezzo fresco ) is often difficult since the identification of organic binders can be a challenging issue, the assignment of well-known non-alkaline-resistant pigments to the fresco technique might not always be precise. With this in mind, this review aims to highlight the contradictions found between the bibliographical sources on the fresco technique and recent scientific studies in relation to the preparation of materials, the execution on the wall and the incompatibility of certain pigments with the alkaline environment created by this pictorial technique.Research Projects PID2020-119838RA- I00 and ED431F 2022/07Xunta de Galicia project Limpeza sostible do patrimonio pictorico: optimizacion dos procesos de ablacion laser ( ED431F 2022/07 )Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry project RYC2020-028902-ISpanish Science and Innovation Ministry project RYC2020-028902-IState Research Agency (SRA)Ministry of Science and Innovation under the Research Project PID2020-119838RA-I00Junta de Andalucía Research Group RNM179Funding for open access charge: Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Relación entre la exposición a mezclas de metales pesados y semimetales y el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer en la cohorte EPIC-España

Introducción. La literatura científica disponible sugiere que los factores ambientales están implicados en el desarrollo del cáncer. Algunos metales pesados y semimetales (MPS) son carcinógenos, pero su asociación con el cáncer varía según el elemento analizado. La mayoría de los estudios se centran en el efecto individual de MPS. Por ello, el objetivo de esta tesis doctoral fue estimar la asociación entre la exposición a MPS y el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer en la cohorte EPIC (Estudio Prospectivo Europeo sobre Nutrición y Cáncer)-España, considerando el efecto conjunto de la mezcla. Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles en la cohorte EPICEspaña. La muestra analizada consistió en 578 mujeres, incluyendo 286 casos incidentes de cáncer de mama y 292 controles. Se cuantificaron las concentraciones plasmáticas de 16 MPS en el reclutamiento, mientras que el diagnóstico de cáncer se obtuvo a partir de Registros de Cáncer de Base Poblacional (RCBP). Se aplicaron modelos de regresión logística multivariante de efectos mixtos para explorar el efecto de MPS individuales. Se aplicaron modelos de g-computación basada en cuantiles (QgC) para identificar los componentes clave y estimar el efecto conjunto de la mezcla. Resultados. Los MPS que presentaron medias geométricas más elevadas fueron el Cu (845,6 ng/ml) y el Zn (604,8 ng/ml). Las concentraciones de Cu fueron mayores en los casos (p=0,010) y las de Zn fueron mayores en los controles (p<0,001). Los componentes clave de la mezcla fueron: con pesos positivos, Cu (+0,42) y Mn (+0,13); con pesos negativos, Zn (–0,61) y W (–0,16). El efecto conjunto estimado de la mezcla de MPS arrojó una OR=4,51 (IC 95%=2,32–8,79), sugiriendo una relación dosisrespuesta. No se evidenció no linealidad y tampoco no aditividad. El efecto de la mezcla se asoció a los elementos esenciales (p<0,001), pero no a los no esenciales. Conclusiones. Un perfil desfavorable, caracterizado por niveles altos de Cu y bajos de Zn, podría incrementar significativamente el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer de mama en mujeres de la cohorte EPIC-España, independientemente de otros factores de riesgo conocidos. Para corroborar nuestros hallazgos, se precisan estudios que evalúen esta relación en múltiples matrices biológicas y en diferentes escenarios de exposición.Introduction. Available scientific literature to date suggests that environmental factors are involved in cancer development. While some heavy metals and metalloids (MPS) are carcinogens, their association with cancer depends on the element analyzed. Most studies focus on the individual effect of MPS. Therefore, the aim of this doctoral thesis was to estimate the association between exposure to MPS and the risk of developing cancer in the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition)-Spain cohort, considering the joint effect of the mixture. Materials and methods. We conducted a case-control study within the EPIC-Spain cohort. The analytic sample comprised 578 women, including 286 incident breast cancer cases and 292 cancer-free controls. Plasma concentrations of 16 MPS were quantified at recruitment, while cancer diagnosis was retrieved from Population-Based Cancer Registries (RCBP). Mixed-effect multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore the effect of individual MPS. Quantile-based g-computation (QgC) models were applied to identify the main mixture components and to estimate the joint effect of the mixture of MPS. Results. The geometric means were higher for Cu (845.6 ng/ml) and Zn (604.8 ng/ml). Cases had significantly higher concentrations (p=0.010) and significantly lower Zn concentrations (p<0.001). Cu (+0.42) and Mn (+0.13) showed the highest positive weights, whereas Zn (–0.61) and W (–0.16) showed the highest negative weights. The joint effect of the mixture of MPS was estimated at an OR=4.51 (95% CI=2.32–8.79), suggesting a dose-response relationship. No evidence of non-linearity or nonadditivity was found. The mixture effect was associated with essential (p<0.001) but not with non-essential elements. Conclusions. An unfavorable exposure profile, primarily characterized by high Cu and low Zn levels, could lead to a significant increase in the risk of developing female breast cancer in the EPIC-Spain cohort, independently of other known risk factors. Further studies assessing multiple biological matrices and a variety of exposure scenarios are warranted to corroborate our findings.Tesis Univ. Granada.Proyecto de investigación “Exposure to mixtures of heavy metals and breast cancer risk in Spain: a causal inference analysis within the EPIC prospective cohort”, financiado por el Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (P11-2021)Predoctoral de Formación en Investigación en Salud (PFIS) asociado al proyecto “Coexposición a metales pesados y metaloides, susceptibilidad genética asociada y riesgo de cáncer en la cohorte prospectiva EPIC: el proyecto MixMET”, financiado por el Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI21/01295)