Conservación de nutrientes, precisión de los análisis y control de calidad de una base de datos oceanográfica con nutrientes inorgánicos, oxígeno disuelto y clorofila a del Mediterráneo noroccidental

Oceanographic data from 28 cruises performed in the NW Mediterranean Sea between 1982 and 2003 and data from historical databases, amounting to more than 100000 data points, are used to define the quality control ranges at standard level depths of dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a. The quality of each of the key variables and the analytical precision are assessed. The results indicate that freezing is a valid preservation method for phosphate, nitrate, silicate and nitrite in samples from the NW Mediterranean Sea, though their relative error increases (6.3%, –1.6%, –2.5% and –11.4%, respectively). In contrast, freezing nutrient samples on the cruises gathered negatively affected the analytical precision and accuracy of the ammonium analysis. The analysis precision is also estimated using different approximations, the most realistic being the use of replicate samples from the same sampling bottle. Except for phosphate and dissolved oxygen, specific quality control ranges for mixed water columns, usually found in winter, have to be defined, since the surface concentrations are particularly high due to deep water mixing. The quality-controls described in this work are an important and useful tool for validating data and for detecting erroneous or anomalous data obtained in both historical and future works in the NW Mediterranean Sea.Se han utilizado datos oceanográficos de 28 campañas realizadas entre 1982 y 2003 en el Mediterráneo noroccidental, así como de bases de datos históricas, para definir rangos de control de calidad en niveles de profundidad estándares para nutrientes inorgánicos, oxígeno disuelto y clorofila a. La calidad de cada una de estas variables clave, así como la precisión analítica, han sido evaluadas. Los resultados indican que la congelación es un método válido para conservar las concentraciones de fosfato, nitrato, silicato y nitrito en muestras procedentes del Mediterráneo noroccidental, aunque el error relativo del análisis incrementa (6.3%, –1.6%, –2.5% y –11.4% respectivamente). En cambio, en las campañas recopiladas la congelación de muestras de nutrientes ha afectado negativamente a la precisión y exactitud del análisis de amonio. La precisión de los análisis también ha sido estimada utilizando diferentes aproximaciones, siendo la más realista el uso de réplicas procedentes de la misma botella de muestreo. Excepto para fosfato y oxígeno disuelto, se han definido rangos de control de calidad específicos en condiciones de columnas de agua mezcladas, típicas de invierno, puesto que las concentraciones superficiales resultan particularmente elevadas debido a la mezcla con aguas profundas. Los rangos de control de calidad descritos en el presente trabajo son una herramienta útil e importante para validar datos oceanográficos, para detectar datos erróneos o anómalos, obtenidos en el pasado o futuros trabajos en el Mediterráneo noroccidental

Truncated distributions of valuation multiples: an application to European food firms

[EN] Company valuation is increasingly used in company management for various purposes. However, in Spain, information that is useful for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is non-existent. In order to broaden this information, a mass model for valuation of companies is proposed to enable valuation multiples to be obtained. This model has been applied to SMEs in the food sector in Spain. However, the asymmetry of the distributions obtained causes an upwards bias of the mean multiples and makes it difficult to establish statistically significant differences between the distributions. To solve this problem, an algorithm to eliminate outliers has been designed which enables the most probable range of values to be obtained for each multiple. The multiples obtained are compared with the multiples for European food companies listed on the stock market, revealing statistically significant differences.Ribal Sanchis, FJ.; Blasco Ruiz, A.; Segura García Del Río, B. (2009). Truncated distributions of valuation multiples: an application to European food firms. International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research. 1(4):419-432. doi:10.1504/IJMOR.2009.026275S4194321

Como estimular los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje desde el modelo pass y el aprendizaje cooperativo

Este trabajo fin de máster ha sido un recorrido lleno de aprendizaje, dónde se ha querido conocer cómo aprenden los niños y niñas de educación infantil y primero de primaria y como los profesionales pueden favorecer las estrategias cognitivas

Photo-Induced Click Chemistry for DNA Surface Structuring by Direct Laser Writing.

Oligonucleotides containing photo-caged dienes were prepared and shown to react quantitatively in a light-induced Diels-Alder cycloaddition with functional maleimides in aqueous solution within minutes. Due to its high yield and fast rate, the reaction was exploited for DNA surface patterning with sub-micrometer resolution employing direct laser writing (DLW). Functional DNA arrays were written by direct laser writing (DLW) in variable patterns, which were further encoded with fluorophores and proteins through DNA directed immobilization. This mild and efficient light-driven platform technology holds promise for the fabrication of complex bioarrays with sub-micron resolution

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Remediation and Emotional Skills Training in a Group format. Preliminary results in patients with eating disorders

Eating disorders (ED) are associated with cognitive and emotional impairments. Cognitive and Emotional Remediation Skill Training (CREST) was developed as an intervention program targeting patients' thinking styles and their skills in recognizing and managing emotions. AIM: to analyze the effects of the CREST intervention in a group format in females with ED. METHOD: eight females underwent a CREST program (eight 90-minute sessions) targeting cognitive (central coherence, set shifting, problem solving) and emotional (recognizing emotions, managing emotions) difficulties. It was assessed cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test), decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task), central coherence (Group embedded Figures Test), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), ED symptomatology (Eating Attitudes Test). RESULTS: Results showed improvements in cognitive flexibility, decision-making, and central coherence, a decrease in depression, anxiety, negative affect, and alexithymia, and an improvement in quality of life. CONCLUSION: The results of this study on patients with ED suggest that the CREST can reduce ED symptomatology and could increase adherence to psychological treatments

Atención quirúrgica en hombres y mujeres ¿diferente o desigual?

Explorar la posible existencia de sesgos de género en procedimientos quirúrgicos (PQ) frecuentes y en sus estancias medias (EM) postquirúrgicas es objetivo del presente trabajo, mediante su comparación entre sexos en el Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva del Hospital General de Alicante (20002004). Se intervienen más hombres que mujeres en 4 de los 7 PQ estudiados, apuntando posibles sesgos de género en el patrón quirúrgico, como por apendicectomías agudas (1,36 Hombres/1 Mujer) y complicadas (1,79/1). La estancia postapendicectomías, a igual edad y comorbilidad, es de 2 días más en hombres (9,49) que en mujeres (7,5). No detectar diferencias por sexo en eolecistectomías por colecistitis (más frecuentes en mujeres), puede indicar colelitiasis evolucionadas por no sospecha diagnóstica en hombre

The biogeochemistry of nutrients, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a in the Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea)

Reference depth profiles of dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a are described for the Catalan Sea using quality controlled data. Phosphate, nitrate and silicate show typical nutrient profiles, with nutriclines at different depths. Maximums of nitrite, dissolved oxygen, and occasionally ammonium, are found within the photic zone, close to the deep chlorophyll maximum. In intermediate waters we found a minimum of dissolved oxygen coincident with maximum concentrations of phosphate and nitrate. Ammonium concentration is unexpectedly high in the mesopelagic zone, where there are still measurable nitrite concentration, and their origin remains unclear. We also identify and describe anomalous data and profiles resulting from eutrophication, Western Mediterranean Deep Water formation, or dense shelf-water cascading. N:P ratio in deep waters is 22.4, which indicates P-limitation relative to the Redfield ratio. However, the N:P ratio above the deep chlorophyll maximum in stratified surface waters is <4 (<8 including ammonium). The depth profiles of key biogeochemical variables described in this study will be a useful reference for future studies in the Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea): to validate data sampled in this area, to identify anomalous processes, and to study the evolution of the ecosystem following the undergoing global change

Entrenamiento en remediación cognitiva y habilidades emocionales en formato grupal para pacientes con obesidad. Un estudio piloto

Abstract: Group cognitive remediation and emotion skills training for patients with obesity. A pilot study. Cognitive remediation and emotion skills training was initially designed by the Tchanturia group for individual intervention in patients with eating disorders. The purpose of the present study is to present its adaptation to patients with obesity in group format. It is structured in 8 weekly sessions that work on central executive functions, the relation between emotion and thought, and emotion regulation in oneself and others. In addition, we present the preliminary results of its application to a group of 5 participants with morbid obesity to assess its possible efficacy. The results indicate that, after the intervention, the patients showed improvement in their cognitive and emotional skills, as well as in their behaviors related to eating and weight. This program can be a useful complementary intervention in the initial stages of obesity treatment. Resumen: El entrenamiento en remediación cognitiva y habilidades emocionales fue diseñado inicialmente por el grupo de Tchanturia para la intervención individual de pacientes con trastornos alimentarios. El objetivo del presente trabajo es exponer su adaptación a pacientes con obesidad en formato grupal. Se estructura en 8 sesiones semanales en las que se trabaja funciones de ejecutivo central, la relación entre emoción y pensamiento, y el manejo emocional en un mismo y en los demás. Además, presentamos los resultados preliminares de su aplicación a un grupo de 5 participantes con obesidad mórbida con el fin de valorar su posible eficacia. Los resultados indican que tras la intervención, las pacientes mostraron una mejoría en sus habilidades cognitivas y emocionales, así como en las conductas relacionadas con la alimentación y el peso. Este programa puede ser una intervención útil complemento del tratamiento de la obesidad en sus fases iniciales.

Funciones ejecutivas y regulación emocional en obesidad y trastornos alimentarios

Introduction: eating disorders (ED) such as anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN), as well as obesity (OB), are related to emotional and neuropsychological impairments on measures of cognitive flexibility, central coherence or decision making. However, little is known about the association among emotional regulation, neuropsychological variables and affect. Objectives: to analyze whether neuropsychological and affect variables can predict emotional regulation in ED and in OB. Methods: thirty females with restricting ED (restricting AN) were assessed, 18 with purging ED (purging AN and BN), 33 with OB and 39 healthy controls matched for intelligence. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) assessed cognitive flexibility, the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) assessed central coherence, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) assessed decision making, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule assessed positive (PANAS-PA) and negative (PANAS-NA) affect, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) assessed emotional regulation. Results: relative to the healthy control group, ED and OB groups performed worse on IGT (p = 0.002) and GEFT (p = 0.003), had lower scores on PANAS-PA (p = 0.001) and higher scores on DERS (p < 0.001). ED groups had higher scores on PANAS-NA tan both OB and healthy controls (p = 0.001). PANAS-PA, PANAS-NA and IGT accounted for 51.4% of the variance of the DERS (p < 0.001). Conclusions: our study shows a significant association between decision making, affect and emotional regulation in the continuum from AN to OB, and also highlights the importance of including programs focused on decision making and affect in cognitive interventions for ED and OB.Introducción: los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) como la anorexia nerviosa (AN) o la bulimia nerviosa (BN), así como la obesidad (OB), se relacionan con alteraciones neuropsicológicas en flexibilidad cognitiva, coherencia central, toma de decisiones y alteraciones emocionales. Sin embargo, se desconoce la asociación entre regulación emocional, variables neuropsicológicas y variables de afecto. Objetivos: analizar si variables neuropsicológicas y afectivas pueden predecir la regulación emocional en los TCA y en la OB. Métodos: se evaluó a 30 mujeres con TCA restrictivo (AN restrictiva), 18 con TCA purgativo (AN purgativa y BN), 33 OB y 39 controles sanas emparejadas por nivel intelectual. El Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) evaluó la flexibilidad cognitiva; el Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), la coherencia central; el Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), la toma de decisiones; el Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, el afecto positivo (PANAS-PA) y negativo (PANAS-NA); y la Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), la regulación emocional. Resultados: respecto al grupo control, los grupos TCA y OB rindieron peor en IGT (p = 0,002) y GEFT (p = 0,003) y presentaron menores puntuaciones en PANAS-PA (p = 0,001) y mayores en DERS (p < 0,001). Los grupos TCA puntuaron más alto en PANAS-NA que los grupos OB y control (p = 0,001). El 51,4% de la varianza del DERS fue explicado por PANAS-PA, PANAS-NA e IGT (p < 0,001). Conclusiones: nuestro estudio muestra una asociación entre toma de decisiones y afecto con regulación emocional en el continuo de AN a OB e indica la importancia de incluir programas de toma de decisiones y afecto en las intervenciones cognitivas para TCA y para OB.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (Grant PSI2009/10957); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (PSI2014-51920-R)

Atopic dermatitis incidence and risk factors in young adults in Castellon (Spain): A prospective cohort study

Introduction: There are few atopic dermatitis (AD) incidence cohort studies in young adults, the etiology of this disease remains obscure, and AD risk factors in adults are not well understood. The objective of this study was to estimate AD ten-year incidence and prevalence in a cohort of adolescent aged 14–16 at inception in Castellon province in Valencia Region, Spain and describe related risk factors. Material and methods: From 2002 to 2012, a population-based prospective cohort study was carried out. Questionnaires from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) were used with an additional questionnaire for related factors completed by participants and their parents, respectively, in 2002. In 2012 the same questionnaires were completed by the participants’ through a telephone interview, and incidence and prevalence of AD were estimated. Directed acyclic graphs, Poisson regression and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment were used. Results: The participation rate was 79.5% (1435/1805) with AD lifetime prevalence of 34.9% and AD incidence of 13.5 per 1000 person years. Females presented higher prevalence and incidence than males. After adjustment significant risk factors were being female, history of asthma or allergic rhinitis, family history of AD, history of respiratory infections, history of bronchitis, history of pneumonia, history of sinusitis, and birthplace outside Castellon province. The highest AD population attributable risks were female, 30.3%, and history of respiratory infections 15.3%. Differences with AD childhood risk factors were found. Conclusions: AD incidence in our cohort was high and several risks factors were related to AD