Mission to Mars

No abstract availabl

Evaluation guide for global citizenship education; proposal based on the evaluative methodology of key competences

La evaluación es una fase necesaria en todo proyecto de Educación para el Desarrollo y la Ciudadanía Global (EDCG), permite mejorar futuras actuaciones educativas y progresar en los resultados de aprendizaje. En estudios previos se ha observado que la metodología de evaluación de Competencias Clave (CC) empleada en el sistema educativo, puede servir como ejemplo de evaluación a la EDCG. Todo ello se justifica por las coincidencias que presentan las dos; tanto el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje Competencial como el de EDCG fomentan el aprendizaje permanente y la adquisición de conocimientos, habilidades, valores y actitudes para aplicarlos a la vida real de forma creativa, crítica y reflexiva. Los enfoques metodológicos de ambas se caracterizan por la transversalidad, dinamismo y participación del alumno en su propio proceso de aprendizaje. En consecuencia es imprescindible que este sector de la Cooperación conozca dicha metodología para que pueda aprovechar los recursos evaluativos de las CC. En base a esta necesidad, el objetivo planteado en este estudio es ofrecer una revisión de los requerimientos esenciales en la evaluación de CC que muestre, junto a ejemplos utilizados en evaluaciones oficiales, cómo aplicar estos procedimientos en beneficio de las necesidades evaluativas de la EDCG. Con ello se obtiene un instrumento práctico, una guía, que permite saber cómo valorar los resultados obtenidos en actuaciones de EDCG del ámbito formal.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

NASA Astronaut Selection and Training

No abstract availabl

El imperialismo del siglo XIX

Dos grandes zonas del mundo, África y el Pacífico, fueron totalmente divididas por razones prácticas. No quedó ningún Estado independiente en el Pacífico, que fue totalmente dividido entre británicos, franceses, alemanes, neerlandeses, norteamericanos y japoneses. En 1914 África pertenecía a los imperios británico, francés, alemán, belga, portugués y español, con la excepción de Etiopía, la República de Liberia en el África occidental y una parte de Marruecos que todavía resistía la conquista total.El propósito de este artículo es analizar las principales razones que motivaron a las potencias europeas: Inglaterra, Francia, Alemania, Holanda, Portugal y Bélgica, a desarrollar una carrera imperialista en Asia y África, principalmente. Además, de reflexionar en torno a las consecuencias que trajo para el tercer mundo este proceso imperialista y las circunstancias sociales y económicas sobre las cuales se llevó a cabo el neocolonialismo

Exome sequencing identifies titin mutations causing hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) in families of diverse ethnic origins

Background: Hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) was described in several North European families and recently linked to a titin gene (TTN) mutation. We independently studied HMERF-like diseases with the purpose to identify the cause, refine diagnostic criteria, and estimate the frequency of this disease among myopathy patients of various ethnic origins. Methods: Whole exome sequencing analysis was carried out in a large U. S. family that included seven members suffering from skeletal muscle weakness and respiratory failure. Subsequent mutation screening was performed in further 45 unrelated probands with similar phenotypes. Studies included muscle strength evaluation, nerve conduction studies and concentric needle EMG, respiratory function test, cardiologic examination, and muscle biopsy. Results: A novel TTN p.Gly30150Asp mutation was identified in the highly conserved A-band of titin that co-segregated with the disease in the U. S. family. Screening of 45 probands initially diagnosed as myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) but excluded based on molecular screening for the known MFM genes led to the identification of a previously reported TTN p.Cys30071Arg mutation in one patient. This same mutation was also identified in a patient with suspected HMERF. The p.Gly30150Asp and p.Cys30071Arg mutations are localized to a side chain of fibronectin type III element A150 of the 10th C-zone super-repeat of titin. Conclusions: Missense mutations in TTN are the cause of HMERF in families of diverse origins. A comparison of phenotypic features of HMERF caused by the three known TTN mutations in various populations allowed to emphasize distinct clinical/pathological features that can serve as the basis for diagnosis. The newly identified p.Gly30150Asp and the p.Cys30071Arg mutation are localized to a side chain of fibronectin type III element A150 of the 10th C-zone super-repeat of titin

Autonomous CPSoS for cognitive large manufacturing industries.

The general aim of a cognitive Cyber Physical System of Systems (CPSoS) is to provide managed access to data in a smart fashion such that sensing and actuation capabilities are connected. Whilst there is significant funding and research devoted to this area, focus remains purely on creating bespoke systems. This paper presents a novel approach, based on a set of components to leverage Situational Awareness and Smart Actuation in large manufacturing industries with the focus on enabling predictive maintenance for asset and abnormal situation management. This paper presents a novel generic platform, named AtiCoS, that combines case-based and common-sense reasoning, as the enabling methodologies for enhancing CPSoS with cognitive capabilities

Bacteriological Water Quality Indicators in Natural Waters

Abstract A number of natural waters were analyzed for the presence of somatic coliphages, total and fecal coliforms (TC and FC), Escherichia coli (Ec), heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and fecal streptococci (FS). Sources sampled include permanent and intermittent streams, irrigation canals, potable water treatment plant influents and sewage treatment plant influents and effluents and receiving waters above and below those effluents. Earlier studies in Puerto Rico have suggested that coliphages are only detected in natural waters contaminated with sewage(1). In this study most sources had coliphages most of the time. Coliphage densities are compared with the bacteriological indicators analyzed. Standard Methods(2) includes formulae for the estimation of total and fecal coliform densities from coliphage results. For this study coefficients of empirical formulae to estimate TC and FC densities from coliphage occurrence are given and extended to E. coli densities. Coliphages have proven to be reliable indicators of the occurrence of TC and FC, though not Ec, in these samples and the ease, reliability and precision of the method suggest that it may with confidence be substituted for other methods for natural water monitoring. Key Words: coliphage, natural water quality. Methods & Materials Samples were collected in clean, sterile polypropylene 0.5 or 1 L bottles. A dechlorinating agent was not used for samples from non-chlorinated sources. All samples were transported immediately to the laboratory and refrigerated. All analyses were completed within thirty hours of sample collection. Analyses for coliphage, total coliform(TC), fecal coliform(FC) and fecal streptococci(FS) were in accordance with Standard Methods(2). Heterotrophic plate counts were made on R2A medium, by spread plate techniques and were incubated in the dark for 168 hours at ambient temperature. All coliphage determinations were made utilizing the host culture, Escherichia coli C, ATCC 13706 and following the technique in Standard Methods. Plaques were counted at 6 hours. Presumptive E. coli, (Ec) determinations were made utilizing MPN methods with media containing MUG. MUG-positive cultures (cultures which fluoresce when exposed to long-wave UV -approximately 340 nm) are presumed positive for the presence of E. coli. Samples were collected from 4 sites on an irrigation canal system (canal samples), 5 sites on Río Guanajibo (river samples), a sewage treatment plant influent and effluent and a potable water treatment plant influent (collected at the plant, piped from a small reservoir). Two of the canal sample sites are the influent and effluent of a large wetland, consisting of approximately 350 acres with an average depth of water of 1.5 -2 feet (1.8 billion gallons, 648,000 m 3 )with an unknown residence time. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing PC software, SPSS and SYSTAT, both from SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL. Estimates of TC and FC identified as "calculated" (TCcalc, e.g.) were according to formulae 1 and 3 from Standard Methods

Elucidating the genetic architecture of reproductive ageing in the Japanese population.

Population studies elucidating the genetic architecture of reproductive ageing have been largely limited to European ancestries, restricting the generalizability of the findings and overlooking possible key genes poorly captured by common European genetic variation. Here, we report 26 loci (all P < 5 × 10-8) for reproductive ageing, i.e. puberty timing or age at menopause, in a non-European population (up to 67,029 women of Japanese ancestry). Highlighted genes for menopause include GNRH1, which supports a primary, rather than passive, role for hypothalamic-pituitary GnRH signalling in the timing of menopause. For puberty timing, we demonstrate an aetiological role for receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases by combining evidence across population genetics and pre- and peri-pubertal changes in hypothalamic gene expression in rodent and primate models. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate widespread differences in allele frequencies and effect estimates between Japanese and European associated variants, highlighting the benefits and challenges of large-scale trans-ethnic approaches

Performance of molecular methods for identification of unusual subtypes of hepatitis C virus genotype 2

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) displays high genetic variability, with seven genotypes and numerous subtypes. The determination of the viral type has been essential for the selection and timing of antiviral treatment. In Venezuela, HCV genotype 2 is relatively diverse, being particularly prevalent subtype 2j. Objective: To evaluate the performance of methodologies for genotyping HCV, particularly for identification of subtype 2j. Materials and methods: HCV genotype and subtype were determined by reverse hybridization technique (LiPA) and sequencing of the HCV 5’UTR and NS5B regions. Results: A total of 65 samples from HCV-infected patients were analyzed. PCR amplifications of the 5’UTR region exhibited the highest sensitivity (100% vs 91% for LiPA and 77% for NS5B). Genotype determination, taking as reference test NS5B, showed 100% concordance with the other methods, and 67% and 59% for subtypes with 5´NC and LiPA, respectively. NS5B sequencing allowed the identification of subtypes 2j and 2s, which were not detected by the other methods. A specific LiPA pattern was not observed for HCV subtype 2j. Conclusion: Although being the methodology with lowest sensitivity for amplification of HCV RNA, sequencing NS5B region remains a powerful tool for correct discrimination of the different HCV subtypes, which is of epidemiological relevance