Assessment of heritage rammed-earth buildings. The Alcázar of King Don Pedro I (Spain).

The conservation and maintenance of earthen buildings is crucial, especially when dealing with heritage sites. This normally involves considerable effort in preliminary studies, which must be well planned in order to efficiently manage any restoration. This case study proposes a methodology to briefly assess the current state of a historical rammed-earth wall, to bring to light specific information regarding approaches for subsequent studies or decisions. This methodology is based on the study of damage and risk as a tool to swiftly discern critical areas or issues needing immediate attention. The procedure is illustrated on an outstanding heritage building: the Alcázar of King Don Pedro I in Carmona (Seville, Spain). Our conclusions confirm that this methodology constitutes an efficient and straightforward means to obtain not only a preliminary assessment of rammed-earth walls, but also objective and useful criteria for decision-makers

Compliance with Social Norms as an Evolutionary Stable Equilibrium

Producción CientíficaThis paper studies a two-population evolutionary game in a new setting in between a symmetric and an asymmetric evolutionary model. It distinguishes two types of agents: Sanchos, whose payoffs are defined by a prisoner’s dilemma game, and Quixotes, whose payoffs are defined by a snowdrift game. Considering an imita- tive revision protocol, a revising agent is paired with someone from his own popula- tion or the other population. When matched, they observe payoffs, but not identities. Thus, agents in one population interact and imitate agents from their own population and from the other population. In this setting we prove that a unique mixed-strategy asymptotically stable fixed point of the evolutionary dynamics exists. Taking as an example the compliance with social norms, and depending on the parameters, two type of equilibrium are possible, one with full compliance among Quixotes and par- tial compliance among Sanchos, or another with partial compliance among Quixotes and defection among Sanchos. In the former type, Sanchos comply above their Nash equilibrium (as they imitate compliant Quixotes). In the latter type, Quixotes comply below their Nash equilibrium (as they imitate defecting Sanchos).This study was funded by the Spanish Government (projects ECO2014- 52343-P and ECO2017-82227-P), as well as financial aid from Junta de Castilla y León (projects VA024P17 and VA105G18), co-financed by FEDER funds

Histone Mutants Separate R Loop Formation from Genome Instability Induction

R loops have positive physiological roles, but they can also be deleterious by causing genome instability, and the mechanisms for this are unknown. Here we identified yeast histone H3 and H4 mutations that facilitate R loops but do not cause instability. R loops containing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), versus RNA-DNA hybrids alone, were demonstrated using ssDNA-specific human AID and bisulfite. Notably, they are similar size regardless of whether or not they induce genome instability. Contrary to mutants causing R loop-mediated instability, these histone mutants do not accumulate H3 serine-10 phosphate (H3S10-P). We propose a two-step mechanism in which, first, an altered chromatin facilitates R loops, and second, chromatin is modified, including H3S10-P, as a requisite for compromising genome integrity. Consistently, these histone mutations suppress the high H3S10 phosphorylation and genomic instability of hpr1 and sen1 mutants. Therefore, contrary to what was previously believed, R loops do not cause genome instability by themselves.European Research Council ERC2014 AdG669898Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2013-42918-P, BFU2016-75058-

La cal de Morón en la arquitectura tradicional andaluza

En la aldea de Las Caleras de la Sierra de Morón de la Frontera, en la campiña sevillana, se encuentran en activo unas de las caleras más antiguas de Andalucía y los hornos productores de una cal artesanal de reconocido prestigio a nivel nacional e internacional. Esta importancia se vio acentuada cuando en el año 2011 la UNESCO declara la cal de Morón patrimonio Inmaterial Cultural de la Humanidad. Diversas entidades, subrayando al Museo de la Cal, promocionan las cualidades de este producto de alto nivel y promueven su incorporación y uso dentro del mercado de la construcción. Numerosas y destacadas intervenciones en Andalucía, tanto en el campo de la conservación del patrimonio construido como en la renovada arquitectura popular, son testimonios de la apropiada compatibilidad de la cal artesanal, principalmente con los sistemas y materiales constructivos tradicionales o poco industrializados.In the village of Las Caleras de la Sierra of Morón de la Frontera, in the Sevillian countryside, there are located several of the most ancient traditional lime factories, whose lime kilns produce nationally and internationally recognized handcrafted lime. This significance was highlighted in 2011 when UNESCO declared the traditional craftsmanship of lime–making in Morón as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Likewise, several organizations led by the Lime Museum of Morón are promoting this high quality product towards its integration within the construction market. A number of outstanding interventions carried out in Andalusia, both in the field of heritage conservation and new traditional architecture, are samples of the suitability of handcrafted lime for traditional or low industrialized constructive systems and materials

Overexpression of mitochondrial if1 prevents metastatic disease of colorectal cancer by enhancing anoikis and tumor infiltration of NK cells

Increasing evidences show that the ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 (IF1), the physiological inhibitor of the ATP synthase, is overexpressed in a large number of carcinomas contributing to metabolic reprogramming and cancer progression. Herein, we show that in contrast to the findings in other carcinomas, the overexpression of IF1 in a cohort of colorectal carcinomas (CRC) predicts less chances of disease recurrence, IF1 being an independent predictor of survival. Bioinformatic and gene expression analyses of the transcriptome of colon cancer cells with differential expression of IF1 indicate that cells overexpressing IF1 display a less aggressive behavior than IF1 silenced (shIF1) cells. Proteomic and functional in vitro migration and invasion assays confirmed the higher tumorigenic potential of shIF1 cells. Moreover, shIF1 cells have increased in vivo metastatic potential. The higher metastatic potential of shIF1 cells relies on increased cFLIP-mediated resistance to undergo anoikis after cell detachment. Furthermore, tumor spheroids of shIF1 cells have an increased ability to escape from immune surveillance by NK cells. Altogether, the results reveal that the overexpression of IF1 acts as a tumor suppressor in CRC with an important anti-metastatic role, thus supporting IF1 as a potential therapeutic target in CRCThis research was funded by grants from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (SAF2013-41945-R, SAF2016-75916-R and SAF2016-75452-R), CIBERER-ISCIII (CB06/07/0017) and Fundación Ramón Areces, Spai

Workplace training for students in initial vocational training: Analysis of performance and future perspectives

La formación en centros de trabajo (FCT) es uno de los aspectos cruciales en el desarrollo de la formación profesional actual. Este artículo presenta el funcionamiento del módulo de FCT desde las perspectivas teórica y empírica, mediante una muestra de centros educativos que imparten la formación profesional inicial en las ramas de Peluquería y Estética y Servicios Administrativos. A través de una metodología cualitativa en la que se integra el análisis de redes sociales, se analizan los puntos débiles, los puntos fuertes y las propuestas de mejora desde el punto de vista del profesorado y del alumnado. Los resultados muestran que tanto uno como otro consideran de gran importancia este módulo profesional. Ambos sectores coinciden en que sus puntos fuertes se concentran en un incremento del grado de autonomía y responsabilidad de los estudiantes y en la puesta en práctica de competencias profesionales en un entorno real de trabajo. Los principales puntos a mejorar se centran principalmente en la necesidad del profesorado de disponer de más tiempo para realizar el seguimiento del alumnado en la fase de prácticas y la búsqueda de empresas participantes, junto con la necesidad de actualizar la maquinaria y los recursos con los que cuenta el centro educativo.La formació en centres de treball (FCT) és un dels aspectes crucials en el desenvolupament de la formació professional actual. Aquest article presenta el funcionament del mòdul de la FCT des de les perspectives teòrica i empírica, mitjançant una mostra de centres educatius que imparteixen formació professional inicial en les branques de Perruqueria i Estètica i Serveis Administratius. A través d’una metodologia qualitativa en la qual s’integra l’anàlisi de xarxes socials, s’analitzen els punts febles, els forts i les propostes de millora des del punt de vista del professorat i de l’alumnat. Els resultats mostren que tant l’un com l’altre consideren de gran importància aquest mòdul professional. Els dos sectors coincideixen a assenyalar que els seus punts forts es concentren en un increment del grau d’autonomia i responsabilitat dels estudiants i en la posada en pràctica de competències professionals en un entorn real de treball. Els punts principals que cal millorar-ne se centren en la necessitat que té el professorat de disposar de més temps per realitzar el seguiment de l’alumnat en la fase de pràctiques i la cerca d’empreses participants, al mateix temps que la necessitat d’actualitzar la maquinària i els recursos dels quals disposa el centre educatiu.Workplace training (WT) is currently one of the most important components of vocational training. This paper explores WT modules from both a theoretical and empirical approach in a sample of schools offering initial vocational training in the fields of Hair & Beauty and Administrative Services. A qualitative methodology integrating social network analysis was used to determine the weak and strong points of WT modules and identify proposals for improvement from the viewpoint of teachers and students. The results show that both students and teachers consider these professional modules to be of great importance. Both groups agree that the main strengths of WT modules is that they increase students’ autonomy and sense of responsibility and provide them the opportunity to implement professional skills in a real working environment. However, improvements are needed in terms of the time teachers have available to dedicate to monitoring students in work placements and searching for participating companies. Furthermore, it is necessary to upgrade school equipment and resources

Innovative non-targeted liquid chromatography fingerprinting approach for authenticating tigernuts under Protected Designation of Origin quality seal

The authors are deeply grateful to the ‘Valencia’ PDO Manage- ment Body for providing the samples for this study. In addition, AMJC acknowledges the grant (RYC2021-031993-I) funded by MCIN/AEI/501100011033 and ‘European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR’. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Gra- nada / CBUA.BACKGROUND: Tigernut is a typical foodstuff from a specific region of Valencia (Spain) called ‘L'Horta Nord’, where it is com- mercialized under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as Chufa de Valencia (‘Valencia's tigernut’). PDO-recognized tiger- nuts present unique characteristics associated with their particular production region. Increasing demand and the associated expansion of its cultivation area has made necessary an exhaustive quality control to check the geographical origin and quality seal. RESULTS: In this work, a new multivariate analytical method capable of authenticating the PDO quality seal of tigernut samples was developed. Tigernut fat fraction was extracted under optimal conditions, applying the methodology of design of experi- ments. The analytical method combined fingerprinting methodology and chemometric tools to observe the natural grouping of samples using the exploratory analysis method and to develop classification models (partial least squares–discriminatory analysis; PLS-DA) to discriminate between two sample categories: (i) PDO tigernuts; and (ii) NON-PDO tigernuts. CONCLUSION: The built PLS-DA model demonstrated 100% accuracy, high sensitivity and specificity, revealing that the tigernut fat fraction can be applied to authenticate the PDO quality seal.Grant (RYC2021-031993-I) funded by MCIN/AEI/501100011033 and ‘European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR’Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBU

Igualdad de género percibida en el reparto de cuidados y salud mental: impacto de la crisis sanitaria por COVID-19 en una muestra de mujeres andaluzas

The restrictions during COVID-19 seem to have had an unequal impact on the mental health and habits of the population in terms of gender. The literature states that crises such as this have a more negative impact on women. We explored perceived overload due to household chores and informal caregiving in a sample of Andalusian women, their perception of an increase in this overload after the pandemic, and its possible effect on mental health. To do this, we administered an online retrospective questionnaire to explore the perception of 166 women on care economy variables by estimating hours, effort, overload, and sharing of chores at three different times: before the onset of the pandemic, during lockdown, and at the time of data collection (one year after lockdown). We also measured depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction at the time of data collection through validated scales. Results showed that women estimated significantly more time and effort on household chores and caregiving for the lockdown period. The retrospective estimation of the sharing of tasks was similar over the three moments but women perceived that they did more than their heterosexual partners. One in four women perceived an increase in caregiving overload after the pandemic. Women who felt mental overload due to caregiving scored higher in depression than those who felt physical overload. Considering these findings, and despite the limitations of this study, the pandemic may have led to an increase in informal caregiving overload for many women. Furthermore, the relation between depression and overload one year after lockdown was demonstrated. Measures are required to reduce the impact of gender in crises by designing prevention policies and programs that promote co-responsibility.Las restricciones vividas durante la COVID-19 parecen haber causado un impacto diferencial de género en la salud mental y en los hábitos de gran parte de la población. Asimismo, la literatura indica que las situaciones de crisis como la vivida tienen peor impacto en las mujeres. El objetivo de este trabajo es explorar la sobrecarga percibida por las tareas del hogar y cuidados informales en una muestra de mujeres andaluzas, su percepción de un incremento en la misma tras la pandemia, y su posible relación con variables de salud mental. Para ello se administró un cuestionario online para explorar la percepción de 166 mujeres en variables de economía de cuidados estimando retrospectivamente las horas, esfuerzo, sobrecarga y reparto de tareas del hogar para el momento de recogida de datos (un año tras el confinamiento), para el momento previo al inicio de la pandemia y durante el confinamiento. También se administraron instrumentos validados para medir depresión, ansiedad, estrés y satisfacción vital en el momento de recogida de datos. Los resultados mostraron una percepción de mayor dedicación y esfuerzo debido a los cuidados y tareas del hogar estimado para el momento de confinamiento. El reparto de tareas se estimó similar para los tres momentos sobre los que se preguntó, y percibieron que ellas hacían más estas tareas que sus parejas heterosexuales. Una de cada cuatro mujeres percibió un aumento de la sobrecarga debida a cuidados tras la pandemia y los niveles de depresión fueron mayores en mujeres que sentían una sobrecarga mental debida a los cuidados, por encima de quien identificó sobrecarga física. Aun considerando las limitaciones de este trabajo, la pandemia ha podido suponer un incremento en la sobrecarga por los cuidados informales para muchas mujeres y, evidenciada la relación entre depresión y sobrecarga, podría entenderse que esta relación también se diera durante el confinamiento. Se requieren medidas que reduzcan el impacto de género en situaciones de crisis y políticas y programas de prevención que fomenten la corresponsabilidad.This work has been funded by Fundación María Fulmen (Sevilla) within their Third Call for Grants for Projects Aimed at Women Promotion (2021) [III Convocatoria de ayudas 2021 a proyectos dirigidos a la promoción de mujeres]

Work–Life Balance and Teleworking: Lessons Learned during the Pandemic on Gender Role Transformation and Self-Reported Well-Being

Lockdown during COVID-19 forced the emergence of a new scenario, with men and women teleworkers spending all their time at home. The purpose of this study is to address whether this situation has triggered a transformation in gender roles and self-reported well-being, comparing the responses of male and female respondents to the EUROFOUND April to July 2020 survey. The analysis addresses cultural differences across European regions related to diverse gender regimes, employment status, and the possibility of teleworking. It explores male and female well-being through life satisfaction, the distance between happiness and life satisfaction, and rates their feelings about work–life balance. Findings on life satisfaction display a low transformation of social roles, with women still worrying about work–life balance, while men were more affected by the health crisis. Men self-report high life satisfaction across Europe compared to women, although unexpectedly, female freelancers in Northern and Southern European had a higher life satisfaction ratio than men. Both men and women teleworkers reported difficulties with managing work–life balance at home, despite women handling core care and household tasks. These findings suggest that women would have received more support from men, as they worked harder and longer hours during the lockdown, despite their weak position in the labor market. This would seem to be a propitious setting for men to have assumed more responsibility at home, resulting in a more equal distribution of roles at home

Aspects of sustainability and design engineering for the production of interconnected smart food packaging

In the present work, the problem of food wastage and the concept of sustainability are studied. An analysis of Life Cycle Assessment as a tool and of the innovative concept of Cradle to Cradle is also carried out, together with an exhaustive comparison of these two approaches. Based on these concepts, an integrated methodology is proposed for the design of interconnected smart products. The smart packaging systems currently available are studied theoretically and a practical case is analysed using the proposed methodology through the design and Life Cycle Assessment of a smart interconnected container that is able to detect the ethylene emitted by climacteric fruit, thereby minimizing food wastage. For the case under study, a major impact is observed of the selected plastics in the resources category, and of the smart system in the human health category