Geographical differences in wooping cough in Catalonia, Spain, from 1990 to 2010

BACKGROUND: Whooping cough is a communicable disease whose incidence has increased in recent years in some countries with vaccination. Since 1981, in Catalonia (Spain), cases must be reported to the Public Health Department. In 1997, surveillance changed from aggregated counts to individual report and the surveillance system was improved after 2002. Catalan public health is universal with equal coverage geographically. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in whooping cough incidence in rural and urban counties. METHODS: Cases in 1990-2010 were classified as rural or urban. Incidences and risk ratios (RR) between urban and rural counties and 95% CI were calculated. Associations between rural and urban counties and structural changes during the study period were analysed. RESULTS: Twelve years of the whole study period showed differences in incidence between rural and urban counties. The incidence was higher in urban counties in seven years and rural counties in five years. There was a positive association of whooping cough incidence in rural and urban counties in four-week periods. Structural changes were detected in the following four-week periods: 4th in 1993, 7th in 1996 and 3rd 2005 in rural counties and 5th 1993, 9th in 1996 and 8th in 2007 in urban counties. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in whooping cough between rural and urban counties were found. In most years, the incidence was higher in urban than in rural counties. Rural and urban counties show similar cyclic behaviour when four-week periods were considered

A negotiation framework for heterogeneous group recommendation

Over the last years, some remarkable recommender systems for group of users have been developed. When using most of these systems, each group member communicates his/her preferences to the system, which obtains a group profile as the result of an equal weighting of the individual preferences. This way, no member is particularly dissatisfied with the recommendations. However, this is not a realistic situation, given that not all the members in a group act in the same manner. This paper deals with the problem of recommendation for a group of users, where, besides his/her own preferences, each user may have different expectations about the result of the recommendation and may exhibit a different behaviour with respect to the other group members. Moreover, all this information is private and may be revealed under certain circumstances. In this context, we have opted for building a multi-agent system, where an agent acts on behalf of one group member. We have implemented a UserAgent that can be configured in order to exhibit the behaviour desired by the corresponding user. Then, different UserAgents negotiate with the aim of building a group profile that satisfies their particular minimum requirements, while preserving some privacy. Moreover, we have designed a NegotiatorAgent, which governs the negotiation and may act as a mediator in order to facilitate the agreement. Finally, we have performed some experiments that show that this mechanism is able to give a response in this heterogeneous environment.Partial support provided by Consolider Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-00022, Spanish Government Project MICINN TIN2011-27652- C03-01.García García, I.; Sebastiá Tarín, L. (2014). A negotiation framework for heterogeneous group recommendation. Expert Systems with Applications. 41(4):1245-1261. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2013.07.111S1245126141

Shifts in the protist community associated with an anticyclonic gyre in the Alboran Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

The diversity of protists was researched in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean Sea) by means of high-throughput sequencing technologies based on the amplification of the V9 region of 18S rRNA. Samples were collected at different depths in seven stations following an environmental gradient from a coastal upwelling zone to the core of an oligotrophic anticyclonic gyre (AG). Sampling was performed during summer, when the water column was stratified. The superphyla Alveolata, Stramenopila and Rhizaria accounted for 84% of the total operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The most diverse groups were Dinophyceae (21% of OTUs), Marine Alveolates-II (MALV-II; 20%), Ciliophora (9%) and MALV-I (6%). In terms of read abundance, the predominant groups were Dinophyceae (29%), Bacillariophyta (14%), MALV-II (11%) and Ciliophora (11%). Samples were clustered into three groups according to the sampling depth and position. The shallow community in coastal stations presented distinguishable patterns of diatoms and ciliates compared with AG stations. These results indicate that there was a strong horizontal coupling between phytoplankton and ciliate communities. Abundance of Radiolaria and Syndiniales increased with depth. Our analyses demonstrate that the stratification disruption produced by the AG caused shifts in the trophic ecology of the plankton assemblages inducing a transition from bottom-up to top-down control.Versión del editor3,40

Glucocorticoids' treatment impairs the medium-term immunogenic response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients

Limited data exists on SARS-CoV-2 sustained-response to vaccine in patients with rheumatic diseases. This study aims to evaluate neutralizing antibodies (nAB) induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccine after 3 to 6 months from administration in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients, as a surrogate of sustained-immunological response. This cross-sectional study compared nAB titre of 39 SLE patients and 37 Healthy individuals with no previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, who had all received a complete regimen of a mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine within the last 3 to 6 months. We included four lines of SLE treatment including Not-treated, Hydroxychloroquine, immunosuppressive drugs and biological therapy. Glucocorticoids were allowed in all groups. Healthy and Not-treated individuals showed the highest levels of nAB. Treated patients presented lower nAB titres compared to Healthy: a 73% decrease for First-Line patients, 56% for Second-Line treatment and 72% for Third-Line. A multivariate analysis pointed to Glucocorticoids as the most associated factor with declining nAB levels (75% decrease) in treated SLE. Furthermore, a significant reduction in nAB titres was observed for Rituximab-users compared to Healthy subjects (89% decrease). Medium-term response of SLE patients to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines is negatively impacted in Glucocorticoids and Rituximab users. These findings might help to inform recommendations in vaccination protocols for SLE patients

Arquitectura y danza. Simbiosis: análisis de la escenografía de “Sorolla” del BNE

La arquitectura y la danza son dos disciplinas artísticas cuyo vínculo en principio no es evidente. Con este trabajo se pretende evidenciar los puntos de conexión entre ambas. Para ello se analiza cada uno de los elementos que componen una obra de danza, concretamente la de “Sorolla” del Ballet Nacional. La elección de esta obra se debe a varios factores. Durante el trabajo se ensalza el trabajo de arquitectos, coreógrafos, artistas de varias épocas en cuyos trabajos se ha evidenciado la relación entre la arquitectura, el espacio, la geometría, el cuerpo humano y su movimiento. La capacidad del arquitecto para crear espacios es similar a la del bailarín de transformarlos a través de sus propios movimientos. Cuerpo, espacio y geometría son elementos comunes en ambas disciplinas. Este trabajo parte de un breve recorrido por la historio para conocer como la danza y los espacios donde ha sido representada han ido evolucionando a lo largo de las diferentes épocas y en función del contexto social, económico y político. A continuación se analiza el movimiento, a través del cuál el bailarín se relaciona con el espacio y la posibilidad de utilizarlo como herramienta de proyección. Finalmente se procede al análisis del espacio escénico como tal, sus elementos y su transformación a través de la escenografía. Se profundiza en esta cuestión con el análisis del caso de estudio de “Sorolla” del Ballet Nacional de España y basada en la exposición “Visiones de España” del pintor Joaquín Sorolla, un homenaje a la cultura española

Arquitectura y danza. Simbiosis: análisis de la escenografía de “Sorolla” del BNE

La arquitectura y la danza son dos disciplinas artísticas cuyo vínculo en principio no es evidente. Con este trabajo se pretende evidenciar los puntos de conexión entre ambas. Para ello se analiza cada uno de los elementos que componen una obra de danza, concretamente la de “Sorolla” del Ballet Nacional. La elección de esta obra se debe a varios factores. Durante el trabajo se ensalza el trabajo de arquitectos, coreógrafos, artistas de varias épocas en cuyos trabajos se ha evidenciado la relación entre la arquitectura, el espacio, la geometría, el cuerpo humano y su movimiento. La capacidad del arquitecto para crear espacios es similar a la del bailarín de transformarlos a través de sus propios movimientos. Cuerpo, espacio y geometría son elementos comunes en ambas disciplinas. Este trabajo parte de un breve recorrido por la historio para conocer como la danza y los espacios donde ha sido representada han ido evolucionando a lo largo de las diferentes épocas y en función del contexto social, económico y político. A continuación se analiza el movimiento, a través del cuál el bailarín se relaciona con el espacio y la posibilidad de utilizarlo como herramienta de proyección. Finalmente se procede al análisis del espacio escénico como tal, sus elementos y su transformación a través de la escenografía. Se profundiza en esta cuestión con el análisis del caso de estudio de “Sorolla” del Ballet Nacional de España y basada en la exposición “Visiones de España” del pintor Joaquín Sorolla, un homenaje a la cultura española

La educación intercultural. Infancia, familia y escuela

The pupils’ diversity that nowadays belongs to the Spanish school system demands an intercultural and multilingual education directed towards new ways of thinking, doing and teaching practice. Multiculturalism is not integration, assimilation, adaptation, division, marginalization, but it means respect, sharing and acceptance.Linguistic, ethnic and religious minorities have often had to be subordinated to the national institutions interests, mainly of the educational systems and legal regimes based on homogeneity. This has had a negative effect on the pupils’ achievement, it has caused many conflicts in the schools and it has hampered the students’ personal growth.It is a priority in research to understand the different levels of multiculturalism reached in the schools and to reconsider the objectives, contents, syllabus and the new pedagogical methods, because an intercultural education has to become aware of diversity and it has to be an answer to an inclusive school. This intercultural education must be based on humanist values and on a cultural and plural ethics, in which people around the world will live together and will learn to live together. We have continuedanalyzing the different familiar and cultural origins of our pupils and their correlation with the occurrence of behaviour and attitudes in the schools.This research has been developed in a public school of the Cordovan capital (Spain), located in the heart of one of the most important source of immigration and it focuses on the aforementioned correlation between familiar and school culture in order to generate improvement and intervention proposals.La diversidad del alumnado que compone actualmente los centros escolares españoles requiere una educación intercultural y multilingüe orientada por nuevos modos de pensar, hacer y ejercer la enseñanza. La interculturalidad no es integración, asimilación, adaptación, separación o marginalización, sino que significa respeto, intercambio y aceptación. Las minorías lingüísticas, étnicas o religiosas han tenido con frecuencia que subordinarse a los intereses de las instituciones nacionales, sobre todo de los sistemas educativos y regímenes jurídicos basados en la homogeneización. Esto ha repercutido negativamente en el rendimiento escolar, ha creado multitud de conflictos en los Centros Escolares y ha impedido la maduración personal de los alumnos. Es un tema prioritario en investigación conocer los distintos niveles de interculturalidad alcanzados en los centros y replantear los objetivos, contenidos, programas y los nuevos métodos pedagógicos, porque una educación intercultural que tome conciencia de la diversidad y sea la respuesta a una escuela inclusiva tiene que basarse en valores humanistas y en una ética cultural y pluralista. En nuestra línea de investigación hemos revisado las diversas procedencias familiares y culturales del alumnado y su correlación con la aparición de conductas y actitudes en la institución escolar. La investigación se ha desarrollado en un centro público de la capital cordobesa(España), situado en uno de los focos más importantes de inmigración y pone el énfasis en la mencionada correlación entre cultura familiar y cultura escolar con el fin de generar propuestas de mejora y de intervención

Close-Space Sublimation as a Scalable Method for Perovskite Solar Cells

Vacuum techniques for perovskite photovoltaics (PV) are promising for their scalability but are rarely studied with techniques readily adaptable for industry. In this work, we study the use of close-space sublimation (CSS) for making perovskite solar cells, a technique that has seen widespread use in industry, including in PV, and benefits from high material-transfer and low working pressures. A pressed pellet of formamidinium iodide (FAI) can be used multiple times as an organic source, without needing replacement. Using CSS at a rough vacuum (10 mbar), efficient cesium formamidinium lead iodide perovskite based solar cells are obtained reaching a maximum photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.7%. They maintain their performance for &gt;650 h when thermally stressed at 85 °C in a nitrogen environment. To explain the initial rise in PCE upon heating, we used drift-diffusion simulations and identified a reduction in bulk trap density as the primary factor.</p

Organic position sensitive photodetectors based on lateral donor-acceptor concentration gradients

3 pages, 3 figuresWe report on an organic photodiode configuration based on a donor/acceptor bilayer with opposed complementary thickness gradients. We rely on the strong dependence of the optical field on thickness to achieve spatially dependent spectral responses, a proof-of-concept for position sensitive detection. Ratiometric photocurrent values at two wavelengths allow for position determination independently of the light intensity with a spatial resolution below 600 μm.Acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Ramon y Cajal program, as well as through projects TEC2010-21830-C02-02, MAT2009-10642 and PLE2009-0086. Raman measurements were performed at MATGAS 2000 AIE.Peer reviewe

Circular saw benches Safe working practices

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:4335.3219(16/rev) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo