1,3-Bis[(naphthalen-2-ylsulfan­yl)meth­yl]benzene

Mol­ecules of the title compound, C28H22S2, are located on a crystallographic mirror plane with one half-mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the naphthyl unit is 83.14 (7)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are inter­connected by C—H⋯S and C—H⋯π inter­actions

Pain sensitivity and shoulder function among breast cancer survivors compared to matched controls: a case-control study

Objective Persistent pain and loss of shoulder function are common adverse effects to breast cancer treatment, but the extent of these issues in comparison with healthy controls is unclear for survivors beyond 1.5 years after treatment. The purpose of this study was to benchmark differences in pressure pain thresholds (PPT), maximal isokinetic muscle strength (MIMS), and active range of motion (ROM) of females with persistent pain ≥1.5 years after breast cancer treatment (BCS) compared with pain-free matched controls (CON), and examine the presence of movement-evoked pain (MEP) during assessment of MIMS. Methods The PPTs of 18 locations were assessed using a pressure algometer and a numeric rating scale was used to assess intensity of MEP. Active ROM and MIMS were measured using a universal goniometer and an isokinetic dynamometer, respectively. Results A two-way analysis of variance revealed that PPTs across all locations,MIMS for horizontal shoulder extension/flexion and shoulder adduction, active ROM for shoulder flexion, horizontal shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, and external shoulder rotation were significantly lower for BCS compared with CON (P < 0.05). MEP was significantly higher for BCS and MEP intensity had a significant, negative correlation with PPTs (P < 0.01). Discussion/conclusion BCS with persistent pain ≥1.5 years after treatment demonstrates widespread reductions in PPTs and movement-specific reductions inMIMS and active ROMof the affected shoulder, along with MEP during physical performance assessment. Implications for cancer survivors BCS with persistent pain ≥1.5 years after treatment shows signs of central sensitization andmay benefit from individualized rehabilitation.Danish Cancer Association R204-A1246

Characterization of Vitis vinifera L. subspecies sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi in the Ebro river Basin (Spain)

A wild grapevine population of 76 vines of Vitis vinifera L. subspecies sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi was found along the Iregua river valley (Northeastern Spain), located in the Ibérica mountain-range. The characterization of this phytogenetic resource was based on an ampelographic description of the male and female individuals and an evaluation of their sanitary state. This shows that the imported North American downy and powdery mildews are the main pathogens, but no symptoms caused by phylloxera on roots were found. Different degrees of infestation caused by Eryophid mites, Colomerus vitis and Calipitrimerus vitis, were also registered on leaves. On the other hand, the red wines obtained show an alcoholic degree situated between 8.5 and 10.8, pH around 3.5 and a high intensity of colour, between 10.2 and, 11.3. The vinegar had only 3.5° of acetic acid. Its phenolic composition is similar to those reported from red and Sherry vinegars produced from cultivars. The genetic analysis based on 18 samples, using 16 nuclear microsatellites, shows a low genetic diversity (He = 0.45). This might be due to inbreeding caused by mating among siblings in this isolated population. The genetic comparison with the allowed cultivars of this Guarantee of Origin showed two distinct gene pools. So it indicated that there is no genetic contribution of these native vines to current instead of actual local varieties. It is necessary to preserve this phytogenetic resource to be used in breeding programs and to restore its destructed habitats by human different impacts.

Tailoring Organic-Organic Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Microparticles and Fibers with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Reinforced Composites

Polymeric-based microparticles and fibers are tailorable for a wide range of common industrial and biomedical applications, while multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are among the most useful macromolecules based on their outstanding electronic, mechanical, and optical properties at the nanoscale. If one combines these nanostructures with various polymeric precursors, their range of potential applications becomes even greater. One of the simplest and most affordable methods for fabricating micro- and nanostructures is electrospinning. Herein we demonstrate how MWCNTs may be used to produce tailor-made organic-organic poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) microparticles and fibers via electrospinning by studying their structural, vibrational, rheological, and mechanical properties' dependence on their solvent (ethanol (EtOH) or dimethylformamide (DMF)) and resulting morphology. Specifically, we find clear differences in morphologies from perfectly spherical and isolated microparticles to fibers mats, or a combination of fibers with entangled beads, with solvent type and concentration. On the basis of our findings, we propose that the mechanism governing the shape and size of the particles is a competition between the solvent's surface tension, dielectric constant, and viscoelastic properties. We show, based on both our experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, that OH functionalization of the MWCNTs is essential for achieving high PVP coverages and promoting the stability of the resulting PVP/MWCNT nanocomposite. Finally, by fabricating PVP/MWCNT fiber mats, we demonstrate that low concentrations (0.01-0.1 wt %) of MWCNTs led to a qualitative improvement (â250%) in the resulting mechanical properties, i.e., a reinforced composite. These results show how by controlling the solvent's dielectric constant, surface tension, and polymer concentration, one may produce tailor-made polymeric nanomaterials in combination with other organic/inorganic nanoparticles, i.e., silver, gold, or carbon allotropes, for next-generation applications

Effects of human activity on physiological and behavioral responses of an endangered steppe bird

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Behavioral Ecology following peer review. The version of recordBehavioral Ecology 26.3 (2015): 828-838 is available online at: http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/04/02/beheco.arv016Animals may perceive humans as a form of predatory threat, a disturbance, triggering behavioral changes together with the activation of physiological stress responses. These adaptive responses may allow individuals to cope with stressful stimuli, but a repeated or long-term exposure to disturbances may have detrimental individual- and population-level effects. We studied the effects of human activities, particularly hunting, on the behavior and physiological status of a near-threatened nongame steppe bird, the little bustard. Using a semiexperimental approach, we compared before, during, and after weekends: 1) the type and intensity of human activities and 2) the behavior and 3) physiological stress (fecal corticosterone metabolites) of wintering birds. Higher rates of human activity, in particular those related to hunting, occurred during weekends and caused indirect disturbance effects on birds. Little bustards spent more time vigilant and flying during weekends, and more time foraging in the mornings after weekend, possibly to compensate for increased energy expenditure during weekends. We also found increased physiological stress levels during weekends, as shown by higher fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations. Increased corticosterone metabolite levels were associated with the highest levels of hunting-related disturbances. Little bustard showed marked behavioral and physiological (stress hormones) responses to human activities that peaked during weekends, in particular hunting. The long-term effect of this particular activity carried out during weekends from autumn throughout winter might adversely impact wintering populations of this nongame endangered species, potentially counteracting conservation efforts conducted on local as well as foreign breeding populationsFunding was provided by the Comunidad de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CCG10-UAM/AMB-5325), Spanish Ministry of Science (CGL2009-13029/BOS), and REMEDINAL2 network of the CAM (S-2009/AMB/1783) and PhD grant from the Spanish Minister of Education (FPU to R.T.) and JAE-Doc contract funded from CSIC and the European Social Fund (ESF to F.C

Upper body motor function and swallowing impairments and its association in survivors of head and neck cancer: A cross-sectional study

Background Upper body motor function and swallowing may be affected after curative treatment for head and neck cancer. The aims of this study are to compare maximum mouth opening (MMO), temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), cervical and shoulder active range of motion (AROM) and strength, and swallowing difficulty between survivors of head and neck cancer (sHNC) and healthy matched controls (HMC) and to examine the correlations between these outcomes in sHNC. Methods Thirty-two sHNC and 32 HMC participated on the study. MMO, TMD, cervical and shoulder AROM, cervical and shoulder strength, the SPADI shoulder pain and disability indices, the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) score, swallowing difficulty as determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and the location of disturbances in swallowing, were recorded. Results MMO and cervical and shoulder AROM and strength were significantly lower in sHNC, whereas FAI, SPADI score, EAT-10 and VAS were higher. The MMO, TMD, cervical and shoulder AROM, and cervical shoulder strength values showed significant correlations (some direct, others inverse) with one another. Swallowing difficulty was inversely associated with the MMO, cervical AROM and shoulder strength. Conclusion Compared with controls, sHNC present smaller MMO, lower cervical and shoulder AROM, lower cervical and shoulder strength and higher perception of TMD, shoulder pain and disability and swallowing difficulty. sHNC suffer impaired swallowing related to lower MMO, presence of TMD, cervical AROM and shoulder strength values. Improving these variables via physiotherapy may reduce the difficulty in swallowing experienced by some sHNC.Fondos Estructurales de la Union Europea (FEDER)Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), University of Granad

La paleodieta de cinco especies de mamíferos herbívoros rancholabreanos de valsequillo (Puebla, México)

Through the use of the 13C/12C and 18O/16O isotopic relationships found at enamel and osteodentine, here it is inferred the diet and preferred habitat in which five extinct herbivore species from the Late Pleistocene of Valsequillo, Puebla, México. The horses, mammoths, and sloths showed a diet mainly based in C4, meanwhile the capybaraand gomphotheres were mixed C3/C4 feeders. The vegetation in which those animals lived was open with some trees, similar to the one proposed in other studies based in some macromammals species found in the locality.Usando las relaciones isotópicas de 13C/12C y 18O/16O presentes en el esmalte y la osteodentina, se infirió la dieta y el ambiente en el cual vivieron cinco especies extintas de herbívoros procedentes del Pleistoceno Tardío de Valsequillo, Puebla, México. Los caballos, los mamutes y el perezoso mostraban una dieta basada exclusivamente en plantas C4, mientras que el carpincho y los gonfoterios exhibían una dieta mixta C3/C4. El tipo de vegetación en el cual estos animales habitaron fue abierto con poca cobertura arbórea, misma que ha sido propuesta en otros estudios usando la presencia de algunas especies de micromamíferos encontradosen la zona

UNA APROXIMACIÓN AL ANÁLISIS RESULTADOS DE LOS EXÁMENES DE UNA ASIGNATURA DE LA DIPLOMATURA DE ENFERMERÍA EN UNA UNIVERSIDAD ESPAÑOLA.

Es reconocido el alto nivel de fracaso de la enseñanza universitaria; muchos son los informes que lo cuantifican pero no existen análisis explicando los motivos de los mismos. En toda carrera universitaria existen asignaturas con una frecuencia de suspensos muy superior a otras, tal es el caso de la asignatura Enfermería Comunitaria II en la Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Para el análisis de las causas de los suspensos en esta asignatura, se ha diseñado un estudio descriptivo y analítico; utilizando técnicas estadísticas descriptivas, bivariantes y multivariantes, se han analizado las variables medidas, mediante encuesta autoadministrada, y su asociación con los resultados de los exámenes realizados de 100 alumnos de 2º curso, examen parcial, práctico y final. Ha resultado que los alumnos que no asisten como mínimo al 80% de las clases tienen un riesgo de 7,2 y 4,9 veces de suspender los exámenes práctico y parcial respectivamente; los alumnos que antes de realizar cualquier examen manifiestan encontrarse ante una asignatura muy difícil la probabilidad de suspender es 8,5 veces mayor y los que acceden a 2º curso con asignaturas de 1º el riesgo de suspender es 10,3 veces mayor. Los alumnos que además de estudiar tienen otras obligaciones, trabajo, familia, son los que presentan mayor frecuencia de suspensos, ocurriendo lo mismo en los que confiesan tener problemas personales que le impiden concentrarse en el estudio. Los alumnos que manifiestan un aumento de síntomas nerviosos y un aumento de consumo de excitantes en época de exámenes son los que suspenden con mayor frecuencia

Teaching Competences for professional development in the current university

Asistimos a un creciente interés en caracterizar las competencias docentes que deben configurar el perfil del profesorado actual en todas las etapas educativas, incluida la universitaria. A pesar de la complejidad en su conceptualización y heterogeneidad de propuestas, es necesario atender esta cuestión debido a su importancia en la formación y desarrollo profesional docente. Para ello, la presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar, con un análisis documental y de contenido, los marcos de competencias docentes del profesorado universitario en el panorama español desde comienzos de siglo. Por un lado, se analizan las competencias docentes propuestas por marcos de referencia para establecer una síntesis de las principales competencias a desarrollar. Y, por otro lado, se identifican las competencias que se establecen en los marcos de competencias docentes, en base al marco competencial de referencia propuesto. Aunque existe dificultad en unificar las competencias básicas del profesorado universitario, se han obtenido en los marcos muchas similitudes, siendo la competencia de gestión del aprendizaje y la psicopedagógica las más comunes entre ellos. Destacan también la competencia digital, así como la de revisión y mejora como unas de las más emergentes en los últimos años. Identificar las tendencias en los marcos competenciales puede ayudar a una mejor comprensión y utilización de los mismos por parte de las instituciones universitarias

A spring search algorithm applied to engineering optimization problems

At present, optimization algorithms are used extensively. One particular type of such algorithms includes random-based heuristic population optimization algorithms, which may be created by modeling scientific phenomena, like, for example, physical processes. The present article proposes a novel optimization algorithm based on Hooke&rsquo;s law, called the spring search algorithm (SSA), which aims to solve single-objective constrained optimization problems. In the SSA, search agents are weights joined through springs, which, as Hooke&rsquo;s law states, possess a force that corresponds to its length. The mathematics behind the algorithm are presented in the text. In order to test its functionality, it is executed on 38 established benchmark test functions and weighed against eight other optimization algorithms: a genetic algorithm (GA), a gravitational search algorithm (GSA), a grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), teaching&ndash;learning-based optimization (TLBO), a grey wolf optimizer (GWO), a spotted hyena optimizer (SHO), as well as an emperor penguin optimizer (EPO). To test the SSA&rsquo;s usability, it is employed on five engineering optimization problems. The SSA delivered better fitting results than the other algorithms in unimodal objective function, multimodal objective functions, CEC 2015, in addition to the optimization problems in engineering