Menos es más (complejidad). Una reflexión sobre la concepción de complejidad predominante en el pensamiento decrecentista

Asociado a los límites biofísicos es frecuente encontrar la idea de que el decrecimiento supone una descomplejización del sistema social. Creemos que esta idea se fundamenta en una concepción del concepto de complejidad asociada a variables cuantitativas y a la idea de que lo “primitivo” y “menos complejo” incrementa la resiliencia de la población. Proponemos utilizar la noción de complejidad sustentada en la obra de Edgar Morin, concepción que nos ayuda a entender que el decrecimiento no supone, inevitablemente, un decremento de la complejidad del sistema social

Educación ambiental y complejidad: el uso de las hipótesis de transición

En esta comunicación presentamos las hipótesis de transición como herramienta didáctica en el ámbito de la Educación Ambiental. El uso de este término se deriva del de hipótesis de progresión más utilizado tradicionalmente, pero este nuevo término implica considerar no solo las progresiones que se producen en el análisis de los contenidos sino también sus regresiones, y lo presentamos como una herramienta que resuelve el problema de dar sentido al proceso de construcción del conocimiento, tanto desde el punto de vista del que enseña como del participante. Para potenciar esta utilidad pensamos que deben estar basadas en el paradigma de la complejidad

Amplitude and phase representation of quantum invariants for the time dependent harmonic oscillator

The correspondence between classical and quantum invariants is established. The Ermakov Lewis quantum invariant of the time dependent harmonic oscillator is translated from the coordinate and momentum operators into amplitude and phase operators. In doing so, Turski's phase operator as well as Susskind-Glogower operators are generalized to the time dependent harmonic oscillator case. A quantum derivation of the Manley-Rowe relations is shown as an example

Effect of green Spanish-style Manzanilla packaging conditions on the prevalence of the putative probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus pentosus TOMC-LAB2

This work focuses on the persistence of the putative probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus pentosus TOMC-LAB2 on green Spanish-style Manzanilla olives according to different packaging conditions and storage temperatures. The lactic acid bacteria population decreased with time but the highest survival counts (and lowest yeasts) at the end of storage (8 months) were observed in plastic pouches under nitrogen atmosphere and glass jars with brine stored at 20°C. Molecular techniques showed a 100% presence of the putative probiotic bacteria in biofilms adhered to olive epidermis, while it was absent in PPB (plastic pouches with brine) and in olives stored at 7°C. No changes in NaCl, pH or combined acidity were observed during the storage except for a slight increase in titratable acidity at 20°C. The color of the fruits was stable but degraded at 20°C for olives in plastic pouches with brine.The research leading to these results has received funding from the EU's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n°243471 (PROBIOLIVES) and the Junta de Andalucía (through financial support to group AGR-125). Thanks to JOLCA for supplying the fruits and the packages and to ASEMESA for its support. FNAL thanks the Spanish Government and CSIC for his Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral research contract, while VRG wishes to thank the AgriFood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), Bank of Santander, Spanish Government, and ‘Aloreña de Málaga’ Olive Manufacturing Association for her predoctoral fellowship (training program of PhD in companies).EUR 1,172 APC fee funded by the EC FP7 Post-Grant Open Access PilotPeer reviewe

General electrokinetic model for concentrated suspensions in aqueous electrolyte solutions: electrophoretic mobility and electrical conductivity in static electric fields

In recent years different electrokinetic cell models for concentrated colloidal suspensions in aqueous electrolyte solutions have been developed. They share some of its premises with the standard electrokinetic model for dilute colloidal suspensions, in particular, neglecting both the specific role of the so-called added counterions (i.e., those released by the particles to the solution as they get charged), and the realistic chemistry of the aqueous solution on such electrokinetic phenomena as electrophoresis and electrical conductivity. These assumptions, while having been accepted for dilute conditions (volume fractions of solids well below 1 %, say), are now questioned when dealing with concentrated suspensions. In this work, we present a general electrokinetic cell model for such kind of systems, including the mentioned effects, and we also carry out a comparative study with the standard treatment (the standard solution only contains the ions that one purposely adds, without ionic contributions from particle charging or water chemistry). We also consider an intermediate model that neglects the realistic aqueous chemistry of the solution but accounts for the correct contribution of the added counterions. The results show the limits of applicability of the classical assumptions and allow one to better understand the relative role of the added counterions and ions stemming from the electrolyte in a realistic aqueous solution, on electrokinetic properties. For example, at low salt concentrations the realistic effects of the aqueous solution are the dominant ones, while as salt concentration is increased, it is this that progressively takes the control of the electrokinetic response for low to moderate volume fractions. As expected, if the solids concentration is high enough the added counterions will play the dominant role (more important the higher the particle surface charge), no matter the salt concentration if it is not too high. We hope this work can help in setting up the real limits of applicability of the standard cell model for concentrated suspensions by a quantitative analysis of the different effects that have been classically disregarded, showing that in many cases they can be determinant to get rigorous predictions.Financial supports for this work by MICINN, Spain (projects FIS2010- 18972, FIS2013-47666-C3-1R, 2R, 3R) and Junta de Andalucía, Spain (project P2012-FQM-694), co-financed with FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development) funds by the EU

Fortification of table olive packing with the potential probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus pentosus TOMC-LAB2

© 2014 Rodríguez-Gómez, Romero-Gil, García-García, Garrido-Fernández and Arroyo-López. Dairy products are currently the main carriers of probiotic microorganisms to the human body. However, the development of new matrices for probiotic delivery is convenient for intolerant to milk (or its derivatives) and those requiring low-cholesterol diet consumers. The present work focused on the fortification of previously fermented green Spanish style olives with the autochthonous putative probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus pentosus TOMC-LAB2. The fortification was carried out by inoculating the bacteria into the packing brines using Manzanilla fruits from three different processes: (i) spontaneously fermented (F1), (ii) fermented using L. pentosus TOMC-LAB2 as starter (F2), and (iii) spontaneously fermented and then thermally treated (F3). Data showed that all inoculated treatments had higher population levels (5.49, 4.41, and 6.77 log10 cfu/cm2) than their respective controls (1.66, 4.33, and 0.0 log10 cfu/cm2, for F1, F2, and F3 treatments, respectively). The presence of L. pentosus TOMC-LAB2 on olive surface was confirmed by rep-PCR, with a recovery frequency at the end of the shelf life (200 days) of 52.6, 57.9, and 100.0% for F1, F2, and F3 treatments, respectively. Thus, results obtained in this work show the ability of this microorganism to survive under packing conditions for long period of times as well as to colonize the olive surface which is the food finally ingested by consumers. This opens the possibility for the development of a new and simply probiotic fortified olive product.he research leading to these results has received funding from the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement no 243471 (PROBIOLIVES). We also thank the Spanish Government for financial support (projects AGL2009-07436/ALI, and AGL2010-15529/ALI partially financed by European regional development funds, ERDF), and the Junta de Andalucía (through financial support to group AGR-125). Thanks to JOLCA and ASEMESA for supplying the fruits and their own expertise for the development of this work. Francisco N. Arroyo-López wishes to express thanks for his Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral research contract (Spanish government).Peer Reviewe

Post-surgical complications in patients undergoing radical cystectomy according to the patient’s nutritional status

Introducción: La cistectomía radical es el tratamiento de elección para los tumores vesicales musculo-invasivos presentando una gran morbilidad y una considerable tasa de mortalidad. Un factor importante a tener en cuenta es el estado nutricional del paciente ya que puede impactar de forma negativa en la evolución clínica de los pacientes. Material y métodos: Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo de las cistectomías realizadas entre 2012 y 2015 en el servicio de Urología de HU Son Espases y se evalúa la aparición de complicaciones postoperatorias según el estado nutricional calórico calculado a través del IMC, el estado nutricional proteico calculado a través de la albúmina postoperatoria inmediata y el estado nutricional inmunológico a través de los linfocitos totales. Resultados: Presentaron alguna complicación el 42% de los pacientes. Un 21% presentaron únicamente una complicación Clavien II y un 21% presentaron una complicación mayor a Clavien III o más de una complicación. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas según el estado nutricional proteico (Normal-leve vs moderado-grave) en la fuga de la anastomosis uretero-ileal. No se encontraron diferencias en el resto de variables. Conclusiones: La mayoría de pacientes sometidos a cistectomía radical con derivación urinaria tipo intestinal presentan algún estado de malnutrición proteica postoperatoria. En nuestra serie, el estado nutricional proteico del paciente presenta una relación con la aparición de fuga de la anastomosis uretero-ileal.Radical cystectomy is the election treatment for muscle-invasive bladder tumors presenting a high morbidity and significant mortality rate. An important factor to consider is the nutritional status of the patient because it can negatively impact the clinical course of patients. Methods: We perfomed a retrospective study of radical cystectomies with intestinal conduct between 2012 and 2015 in the department of Urology in HU Espases and we evaluated the postoperative complications according to the caloric nutritional status calculated by BMI, protein nutritional status calculated by the immediate postoperative albumin and the inmunological nutritional status by total account of lymphocites. Results: Developed complications the 42% of patients. 21% had only one complication Clavien II and 21% had one complication Clavien III or more than one complication. We found statistically significant differences with the protein nutritional status (mild Normal-vs moderate to severe) in the escape of the ureter-ileal anastomosis. No differences in the other variables were found. Conclusions: Most patients undergoing radical cystectomy with intestinal conduct type have a postoperative state of protein malnutrition. In our series, the protein nutritional status of the patient has a relationship with the occurrence of leakage from the ureter-ileal anastomosis

Greenhouse effect gases emission implications on sustainability of the Campus of Vegazana, University of León

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio de emisiones de CO2, uno de los gases más importantes de efecto invernadero, debido a la actividad desarrollada en el Campus de Vegazana de la Universidad de León, para el año 2006. El estudio se enmarca en un proyecto más amplio de cálculo del indicador Huella Ecológica (HE), desarrollado para conocer en qué medida se alcanzan los objetivos de sostenibilidad establecidos para el Campus, así como para el desarrollo de propuestas encaminadas a la reducción de las emisiones de CO2. Los resultados obtenidos reflejan como el área de superficie biológicamente productiva necesaria para absorber las emisiones del Campus constituyen cerca del 99% del área total de HE. La mayor parte de estas emisiones proceden del gasto energético para electricidad (38%) y uso térmico (24%, seguido del transporte (19%) y la construcción del propio complejo universitario (16%, el cual hace referencia únicamente al año 2006, considerando una vida útil de 27 años para los edificios e instalaciones del Campus, inaugurado en 1979. Una vez analizadas cualitativa y cuantitativamente las emisiones producidas, se ha buscado conocer el total de superficie forestal necesaria para absorber dichas emisiones, considerando los datos del Tercer Inventario Forestal Nacional (2003) sobre cobertura de las masas forestales para el territorio nacional, y los aportados por Bravo (2007) en relación a las tasas de fijación del gas por parte de éstas. Como conclusión, puede estimarse que del total de la superficie forestal de la provincia de León, un 0.46% es necesaria como depósito y sumidero del CO2 emitido por el Campus de Vegazana (8.470.168 toneladas. Esta estimación se ha realizado considerando que las masas forestales son las únicas depositarias de CO2, tarea compartida en la naturaleza, no obstante, con el suelo, el agua y los cultivosIn this work, we present the results obtained about the CO2 emissions, one of the most important greenhouse gases, due to the normal activity developed in the Campus of Vegazana of the University of León for the year 2006. This study is all part of a wider project for evaluating the Fingerprint ecological indicator (HE, initially developed for assessing if the sustainability objectives established by the University policies for the Campus of Vegazana have been achieved, as well as the development of proposals and ideas directed towards the reduction of the emissions of CO2. Results obtained showed that the biologically productive area necessary for absorbing all emissions are close to the 99% of the total value of HE. The majority of these emissions come from the energy consumed for producing electricity (38%) and heating (24%), followed by the transport (19%) and the constructions of the buildings and infrastructures of the University (16%, which related just for the year 2006, considering a living period of 27 years as it was inaugurated in 1979. Once analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively the emissions produced, it was developed a method for estimating the total area covered necessary for absorbing them by considering data available from the Third National Forestry Inventory of Spain (2003), related with the forest cover of the territory, and data provided by Bravo(2007, about the absorption rate of the tree species. As a conclusion, we estimated that form the total area covered by forests of the Province of León, a 0.46% is necessary as sink of the CO2 produced in the Campus of Vegazana (8.470.168 ton. This assessment has been achieved considering that forests are the only warehouse of CO2, when actually soil, water and crops are in nature.Peer Reviewe

The Lysholm score: Cross cultural validation and evaluation of psychometric properties of the Spanish version

This study aims at assessing the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the Lysholm score, a widely used instrument for assessing knee function and activity level after ligament injuries. Ninety-five participants (67.4% male, 22±5 years) completed the questionnaire twice within 7 days and a subsample of 42 participants completed a test-retest reliability. Reliability, validity and feasibility psychometric properties were studied. The validity of the questionnaire was analysed using ceiling and floor effects. Factor structure and construct validity were analysed with the SF-36, the Hip and Knee Questionnaire (HKQ) and one leg jump test (OLJT). Criterion validity with the SF-36 Physical State was moderate (r = 0.50 and p<0.01), poor and inverse relationship (r = -0.31, p<0.01) with HKQ and positive moderate (r = 0.59, p<0.01) with OLJT. Measurement error from MDC90 was 3.9%. Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a one-factor solution explaining 51.5% of total variance. The x2 test for the one-factor model was significant (x2 = 29.58, df = 20, p < 0.08). Test-retest reliability level was high (ICC2.1 = 0.92, p<0.01) and also the internal consistency (α = 0.77). The Spanish Lysholm score demonstrated that it is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to assess knee function after ligament injuries.This study takes place thanks to the additional funding from the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)