The role of leadership in the promotion of quality models in secondary education

La búsqueda de la calidad en los sistemas educativos está provocando la proliferación de modelos de gestión para asegurar la eficiencia y rentabilidad de los mismos. Diseñado para el sector público es el modelo CAF (2013) (Marco Común de Evaluación); que la Consejería de Educación de Murcia trata de impulsar en los centros de la Región. Vinculado a la calidad, y como el primer factor dentro del Modelo CAF, encontramos el liderazgo, que junto con la dirección escolar, son elementos clave en los procesos de mejora continua. Esta investigación pretende conocer los procesos de gestión y organización asociados a la implantación del Modelo CAF en un Instituto de Educación Secundaria, tratando de determinar las estrategias utilizadas por el Equipo Directivo en dicho proceso. La investigación toma la metodología del estudio de caso único por ser apropiada para conocer profundamente un contexto concreto: el primer centro de España en adquirir el certificado CAF. Para alcanzar los objetivos, se han realizado entrevistas en profundidad a los miembros del Equipo Directivo y grupos de discusión con los docentesThe search for quality in education systems is provoking the proliferation of management models to ensure their efficiency and profitability. Designed for the public sector is the CAF model (2013) (Common Assessment Framework); that Ministry of Education of Murcia tries to promote in the centers of the Region. Linked to quality, and as the first factor within the CAF Model, we find the leadership, which together with the school management, are key elements in the processes of continuous improvement. This research aims to know the management and organization processes associated to the implementation of the CAF Model in a Secondary School, trying to determine the strategies used by the headmaster team in this process. The research takes the methodology of the single case study because it is appropriate to know deeply a specific context: the first school in Spain to gain the CAF certificate. In order to achieve the objectives, indepth interviews have been conducted with the members of the Management Team and discussion groups with the teacher

Enhanced antitumor activity of doxorubicin in breast cancer through the use of poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles

The use of doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most effective antitumor molecules in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, is limited by its low tumor selectivity and its severe side effects. Colloidal carriers based on biodegradable poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles (PBCA NPs) may enhance DOX antitumor activity against breast cancer cells, thus allowing a reduction of the effective dose required for antitumor activity and consequently the level of associated toxicity. DOX loading onto PBCA NPs was investigated in this work via both drug entrapment and surface adsorption. Cytotoxicity assays with DOX-loaded NPs were performed in vitro using breast tumor cell lines (MCF-7 human and E0771 mouse cancer cells), and in vivo evaluating antitumor activity in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. The entrapment method yielded greater drug loading values and a controlled drug release profile. Neither in vitro nor in vivo cytotoxicity was observed for blank NPs. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of DOX-loaded PBCA NPs was significantly lower for MCF-7 and E0771 cancer cells (4 and 15 times, respectively) compared with free DOX. Furthermore, DOX-loaded PBCA NPs produced a tumor growth inhibition that was 40% greater than that observed with free DOX, thus reducing DOX toxicity during treatment. These results suggest that DOX-loaded PBCA NPs have great potential for improving the efficacy of DOX therapy against advanced breast cancers.This investigation was funded by FEDER, Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (I + D + I), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS) through projects Nos PI11/01862 and PI11/02571, and by the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía through project No PI-0338. The authors wish to express their gratitude to G Ortiz Ferron (CIC, University of Granada, Spain) for his skillful assistance with cytometry experiments

Defects of splicing in antithrombin deficiency

Background: There is increasing evidence supporting the relevance of aberrant splicing in multiple disorders. In antithrombin deficiency only 22 intronic mutations affecting splicing sites (7% of SERPINC1 mutations) are considered as splicing mutations. Methods: SERPINC1 was analyzed by Sanger sequencing and MLPA in 141 unrelated cases with antithrombin deficiency. Plasma antithrombin was studied by functional and western blot assays, purified by FPLC and characterized by proteomic analysis. In silico predictions on splicing was done with the Human Splicing Finder software. Results: We detected 89 different SERPINC1 defects, 13 with potential effect on splicing. Ten cases presented 9 mutations disturbing splicing sites, 5 new. Three gross or small gene defects also disturbed a correct splicing. Interestingly, the first duplication of a single exon ever described (c.1154-13_1218+115dup), caused mild deficiency (75%). A deeper intronic mutation (c.1154-14G>A), identified in three unrelated patients with traces of disulphide dimers of antithrombin in plasma, created a cryptic splicing site that might generate a variant with 4 additional in frame residues according to in silico predictions. This aberrant splicing was confirmed by proteomic analysis of the dimer purified from plasma. Conclusions: A high proportion of cases with antithrombin deficiency (up to 13%) may be explained by an aberrant splicing. Up to 15% of mutations in SERPINC1: splicing site variations, gross gene defects and deep intronic mutations, may affect a correct splicing with three potential consequences type I, type II, and even moderate antithrombin deficiency

Planetary Defense team project: READI (Roadmap for EArth Defense Initiatives)

Planetary Defense is a complex problem, not well understood by policy makers and the general public. The recent Chelyabinsk incident in Russia created temporary international attention but has failed to effectively stimulate public action. The lack of long-term attention to cosmic hazards has resulted in limited funding to defend our planet. Hence, it is hard to realistically address this challenge and achieve the high test and operational readiness needed for an effective Planetary Defense strategy. To address this problem, we have created a set of recommendations for the development of a Planetary Defense Program, for the purpose of contributing to the protection of Earth from asteroids and comets. The SSP15 READI Project focused on threats for which there is only a short-term warning, specifically a warning of two years or less from detection of the object to impact. We have provided recommendations in five areas of Planetary Defense including detection and tracking, deflection techniques, global collaboration, outreach and education, and evacuation and recovery. We have applied this set of recommendations in a narrative scenario to make our report more impactful and engaging. We contrast optimistic and pessimistic outcomes for a comet threat, differing from each other in terms of the level of readiness achieved during the years leading up to the discovery of the threat. In our optimistic scenario, the deflection system has achieved high test and operational readiness. The world’s governments have realized the importance of being prepared against cosmic hazards and put in place all of the necessary measures for a successful defense, leading to a positive deflection of the comet. In contrast, in the pessimistic scenario no preparation is done before the detection, and the comet strikes a heavily populated area releasing energy equivalent to 80 times the most powerful nuclear bomb ever detonated. The recommendations that we have identified in this report constitute a roadmap to avoid this horrible outcome, and we believe they should be taken seriously and swiftly implemented

Safety evaluation of synthesised DNA oligonucleotides as a food additive

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to evaluate the safety of synthesised DNA oligonucleotides as a new food additive, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. Considering that the additional information requested by the Panel during the risk assessment was not provided by the applicant, the assessment was concluded on the basis of the sole information available in the application. The proposed food additive consists of purified synthetic DNA sequences intended to be used for traceability purposes, alone or combined with carriers. Information provided by the applicant on the identity, characterisation and production process of the proposed food additive was considered insufficient. The Panel considered that the product specifications as proposed by the applicant do not adequately define and characterise the proposed food additive. The applicant proposed for the food additive the maximum use levels of 0.001 mg/kg for a variety of food categories. The food additive was also proposed as a Group I additive at a specific maximum level of quantum satis. The applicant did not provide exposure estimates according to the EFSA ANS Panel guidance (2012). No biological or toxicological data were provided by the applicant for the proposed food additive. Considering the inadequate information available and the uncertainty introduced by the proposal at quantum satis, along with the insufficient specifications, the Panel could not conclude on the safety of the food additive as proposed and described by the applicant

Safety evaluation of the food additive steviol glycosides, predominantly Rebaudioside M, produced by fermentation using Yarrowia lipolytica VRM

The EFSA Panel on Food Additive and Flavourings (FAF Panel) provides a scientific opinion on the safety of a new process to produce steviol glycosides by fermentation of simple sugars using a genetically modified strain of Yarrowia lipolytica (named Y. lipolytica VRM). The manufacturing process may result in impurities different from those that may be present in the other steviol glycosides E 960a-d, therefore the Panel concluded that separate specifications are required for the food additive produced as described in the current application. Viable cells and DNA from the production strain are not present in the final product. The Panel considered that the demonstration of the absence of kaurenoic acid in the proposed food additive, using a method with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 mg/kg, is adequate to dispel the concerns for potential genotoxicity. Given that all steviol glycosides follow the same metabolic pathways, the Panel considered that the current steviol glycosides would fall within the same group of substances. Therefore, the Panel considered that the already existing data on rebaudioside M and structurally related steviol glycosides are sufficient, and a similar metabolic fate and toxicity is expected for the food additive. The results from the bacterial reverse mutation assay and the in vitro micronucleus assay were negative and indicated absence of genotoxicity from the food additive. The existing acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 4 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day, expressed as steviol equivalents, was considered to be applicable to the proposed food additive. The Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for steviol glycosides, predominantly Rebaudioside M, produced by fermentation using Y. lipolytica VRM, to be used as a food additive at the proposed uses and use levels

Analysis of vitamin C content of fruits from five pepper varieties showing different pungency levels and antimicrobial potentiality of capsaicin

In this work, the nutritional properties and antimicrobial activity of five pepper varieties, including dulce italiano (bell pepper), boiro (a Padron-type pepper), green jalapeño, red chilli, and habanero, have been investigated. The dry matter provided by each of these varieties was analyzed, and their caloric content were withdrawn from searches in databases. Thus, it was found the following caloric contents: Habanero and red chilli provided 40 kcal/100 g; jalapeño green, 29 kcal/100 g; dulce italiano, 23 kcal/100 g; and boiro (padrón), 21 kcal/100 g. On the other hand, an easy and simple method was set up to determine vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbate) in crops, using lugol and starch. The data provided by the application of this method indicated that red chili was the variety with the highest vitamin C content, and boiro the one with the lowest. The antimicrobial activity of both crude extracts from pepper fruits and pure capsaicin was probed against five bacterial species: Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Xanthomonas campestris, Dickeya dadantii and Ralstonia solanacearum. Solid (Petri dishes with agar) and liquid media were used for the assays. Our data indicated that capsaicin is able to inhibit the growth of B. subtilis, but not that of E. coli, perhaps this latter case due to the great adaptation of this species to environmental conditions.Peer reviewe

What drives farmers participation in water banks?: A Discrete Choice Experiment design in southern Spain

This research aims to examine the potential use of water banks in the Guadalquivir River Basin (GRB) as an economic instrument to reallocate water use rights in the agricultural sector. We will examine farmers preferences on the design of water banks in the GRB. Particularly we will determine the WTP/WTA related to the scale of water ex-change (intra versus inter irrigation water community) and the institution responsible for managing the water bank (public, private or private-public initiative). Additionally, we will ask the quantity of water farmers are willing to exchange in order to simulate demand and supply curves in the simulated water bank. Moreover, it will be tested the effect on farmers’ willingness to participate in water banks of providing additional information on the benefits (economic and environmental) of the water banks (through a video), framed as a nudge treatment. The outcome of this exercise will serve to better understand the dynamics of water exchanges under scarcity