The urban metamorphosis of La Manga and the mediterraneanisation process of the Mar Menor (Spain)

La Manga del Mar Menor is an ancient dune line located in the Murcia Region (Spain). This area had an accelerated urbanization process starting in the 1960s which has had several powerful impacts on the coast, the landscape and the marine ecosystem. Among these impacts, the so-called process of mediterraneanisation of the inland lake is particularly interesting. The Mar Menor is a salty lagoon of more than 170 km2 and uniform drafts about 5 meters deep. This lagoon is a former bay of the Mediterranean Sea closed in a natural way by the sandbar of La Manga with a length of about 20 km. In 1950, this sandbar was a desert land. In around 1960 there was a tourism project to host up to 60,000 people. At present, it receives up to 250,000 people in the summer, mostly of Spanish origin. The urbanization process changed the system water flows between the inside and the seawater through channels called golas . The changes affected the coastal dynamics, the longitudinal profile of the coast and the lagoon ecosystem. Three processes in particular have caused major environmental impacts: land filling of water areas for the construction of infrastructure and building, connecting islands with routes and expanding channels and building ports for use by recreational vessels. Fifty years after the initial process, this paper analyzes the current coastal pathologies and how the urbanization process has caused them.Miralles García, JL.; García-Ayllon Veintimilla, S. (2013). The urban metamorphosis of La Manga and the mediterraneanisation process of the Mar Menor (Spain). WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. 169:53-64. doi:10.2495/CP130051S536416

Accreditation and promotion of Spanish university lecturers: situation, trends and future prospects.

[ES] Los importantes cambios legislativos realizados por la Ley de Ordenación Universitaria desde 2001 han modificado severamente las pautas de acreditación y promoción del profesorado universitario. El periodo 2001-2011 viene marcado por distintos contextos económicos y sociales en la universidad española, a la vez que por la entrada en vigor de estos nuevos sistemas de acreditación docente.El periodo de crecimiento económico hasta 2007 y la posterior crisis que dura hasta nuestros días han creado unas condiciones de contorno que repercuten directamente en la estructura del profesorado de las facultades y escuelas universitarias. Esta situación ha generado una problemática que conjuga fenómenos de corto plazo, como la coyuntura económica, junto a procesos de largo plazo, como la acreditación de los profesores en España.El presente artículo presenta la evolución del profesorado en España (asociado, funcionario, contratado, etc.) hasta 2011 y la repercusión que los sistemas de acreditación e[EN] The major legislative changes undertaken by the Spanish University Ordination Act in 2001 have sharply changed the guidelines of accreditation and promotion for university teachers. The period of 2001-2011 was marked by different economic and social contexts in Spanish universities, as well as by these new teacher evaluation systems coming into force. The period of economic growth until 2007 and the subsequent crisis that continues today have set boundary conditions that directly affect the structure of teaching staff in university faculties. This situation has created a problem that combines short-term phenomena such as the economic situation with long-term ones such as the teacher’s accreditation process. This paper presents the evolution of teachers in Spain (associate, full professor, contracted, etc.) until 2011 and the repercussions of accreditation systems in the teaching profession. It explores the causes and consequences of different variables (such as category, dedication, orGarcía-Ayllon Veintimilla, S.; Tomás Espín, A. (2014). La acreditación y promoción del profesorado en la universidad española: situación, tendencias y perspectivas de futuro. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 12(4):39-62. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2014.5614OJS3962124A.N.E.C.A. (2013). Plan estratégico 2013-2016. Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación. Madrid.A.N.E.C.A. (2010-2012). Informe sobre el estado de la evaluación externa de la calidad en las universidades españolas (años 2010, 2011, 2012). Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación. Madrid.A.N.E.C.A. (2008-2012). Informe de resultados del Programa ACADEMIA (años 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación. Madrid.A.N.E.C.A. (2006-2012). Memoria de resultados del Programa PEP (años 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación. Madrid.A.N.E.C.A. (2007). Principios y orientaciones para la aplicación de los criterios de evaluación. Programa de evaluación de profesorado para la contratación.Buela-Casal G. (2007). Reflexiones sobre el sistema de acreditación de profesores funcionarios en España. Psicothema. Vol. 17. pp. 473-482.Buela-Casal, G., Bermúdez, Mª P., Sierra, J. C., Quevedo-Blasco, R., Castro, A., GuillénRiquelme, A. (2012). Ranking de 2011 en producción y productividad en investigación de las universidades públicas españolas. Psicothema. Vol. 24 (4). pp. 505-515.Castillo J.L. (2012). Presentación: ANECA y la acreditación del profesorado universitario. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia. Madrid.Hernández J., Pérez J.A. y Hernández J. (2010). La universidad en cifras. Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Españolas.I.N.E. (2013). Profesorado de los centros propios de las universidades por universidades, sexo y categoría. Estadística de la Enseñanza Universitaria en España: Resúmenes Generales.I.N.E. (2013). Profesorado de los centros propios de las universidades por Universidades, sexo y Situación administrativa/Dedicación. Estadística de la Enseñanza Universitaria en España: Resúmenes Generales.Ley Orgánica 6/2001, de 21 de diciembre, de Universidades. Boletín Oficial del Estado. núm. 307 de 24 de Diciembre de 2001Ley Orgánica 4/2007, de 12 de abril, por la que se modifica la Ley Orgánica 6/2001, de 21 de diciembre, de Universidades. Boletín Oficial del Estado núm. 89 Viernes 13 abril 2007.Mesa de gerentes de la CRUE, comisión ejecutiva presidida por Parras M. (2013). Boletín número 65. Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Españolas.Michavila F., Zamorano S. (2008). Panorama de los sistemas de garantía de calidad en Europa: una visión trasnacional de la acreditación. Revista de Educación, número extraordinario 2008, pp. 235-263.Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieure et de la Recherche (2007). Maîtres de conférences et de professeur des universités associés en fonctions dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur au 1er Janvier de 2007. Étude démographique.Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieure et de la Recherche (2012). Étude de la promotion 2012 des qualifiés aux fonctions de maîtres de conférences et de professeur des universités.Ministerio de Economía (2013). Presupuestos Generales del Estado 2013. Título III: Oferta de Empleo Público (art. 23). Boletín Oficial del Estado.Ministerio de Economía (2013). Presupuestos Generales del Estado 2013. Capítulo 46: Subvenciones. Boletín Oficial del Estado.Real Decreto 1312/2007, de 5 de octubre, por el que se establece la acreditación nacional para el acceso a los cuerpos docentes universitarios. Boletín Oficial del Estado núm. 240 Sábado 6 octubre 2007Rué J., Arana A., González de Audícana M., Abadía A.R., Blanco F., Bueno C., Fernández A., (2013). El desarrollo docente en España, el optimismo de voluntad en un modelo de caja negra. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. REDU. Número monográfico dedicado a Formación docente del profesorado universitario, Vol. 11 (3) OctubreDiciembre. pp. 125-158.Sierra J.C., Buela-Casal G., Bermúdez M.P., Santos Iglesias P. (2008). Análisis transnacional del sistema de evaluación y selección del profesorado europeo. Interciencia. Vol. 33(4). pp. 251-257.V.V.A.A. (2013). Carta por la Ciencia. Confederación de Sociedades Científicas de España (COSCE), la Confederación de Rectores Universitarios de España (CRUE), Federación de Jóvenes Investigadores (FJI), la Plataforma de Investigación Digna (PID) Comisiones Obreras (CC OO) y Unión General de Trabajadores

First measurements of a scintillator based fast-ion loss detector near the ASDEX Upgrade divertor

A new reciprocating scintillator based fast-ion loss detector has been installed a few centimeters above the outer divertor of the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak and between two of its lower Edge Localized Modes (ELM) mitigation coils. The detector head containing the scintillator screen, Faraday cup, calibration lamp, and collimator systems are installed on a motorized reciprocating system that can adjust its position via remote control in between plasma discharges. Orbit simulations are used to optimize the detector geometry and velocity-space coverage. The scintillator image is transferred to the light acquisition systems outside of the vacuum via a lens relay (embedded in a 3D-printed titanium holder) and an in-vacuum image guide. A charge coupled device camera, for high velocity-space resolution, and an 8 × 8 channel avalanche photo diode camera, for high temporal resolution (up to 2 MHz), are used as light acquisition systems. Initial results showing velocity-space of neutral beam injection prompt losses and fast-ion losses induced by a (2, 1) neoclassical tearing mode are presented.EURATOM 63305

Valoración de actividades de animación lectora en formato vídeo por parte de futuros docentes de Educación Primaria durante la alarma sanitaria por coronavirus

Durante el segundo cuatrimestre del curso 2019-20 el alumnado de la asignatura optativa Biblioteca escolar y animación a la lectura, del grado en Educación Primaria de la Universidad de Málaga, llevó a cabo un proyecto de colaboración con las bibliotecas escolares de Málaga y provincia con la metodología de Aprendizaje Servicio (ApS). Con motivo del estado de alarma decretado en España por coronavirus se decidió que una de las acciones del proyecto consistiera en la elaboración de vídeos con actividades de animación lectora destinadas al alumnado de Educación Primaria que en esos momentos se encontraba confinado en su domicilio. Los tres grupos clase de la asignatura realizaron un total de 92 vídeos, que se pusieron a disposición de las bibliotecas escolares de los centros asignados a cada equipo de trabajo. La presente investigación se ha centrado en la valoración por parte del propio estudiantado participante (n=127) de los vídeos realizados por sus compañeros y compañeras. El objetivo principal es identificar y comprender la percepción que tiene el alumnado de los criterios de calidad que pueden tenerse en cuenta para valorar vídeos educativos orientados específicamente a la animación lectora. La obtención de los datos se ha producido a través de un cuestionario propio con preguntas abiertas y cerradas. En las conclusiones de este estudio se ha tenido en cuenta que se trata de una valoración individual de tipo cuantitativa y cualitativa.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Brca1 Alternative Splicing Landscape In Breast Tissue Samples

Background: BRCA1 is a key protein in cell network, involved in DNA repair pathways and cell cycle. Recently, the ENIGMA consortium has reported a high number of alternative splicing (AS) events at this locus in blood-derived samples. However, BRCA1 splicing pattern in breast tissue samples is unknown. Here, we provide an accurate description of BRCA1 splicing events distribution in breast tissue samples. Methods: BRCA1 splicing events were scanned in 70 breast tumor samples, 4 breast samples from healthy individuals and in 72 blood-derived samples by capillary electrophoresis (capillary EP). Molecular subtype was identified in all tumor samples. Splicing events were considered predominant if their relative expression level was at least the 10% of the full-length reference signal. Results: 54 BRCA1 AS events were identified, 27 of them were annotated as predominant in at least one sample. Delta 5q, Delta 13, Delta 9, Delta 5 and del 1aA were significantly more frequently annotated as predominant in breast tumor samples than in blood-derived samples. Predominant splicing events were, on average, more frequent in tumor samples than in normal breast tissue samples (P = 0.010). Similarly, likely inactivating splicing events (PTC-NMDs, Non-Coding, Delta 5 and Delta 18) were more frequently annotated as predominant in tumor than in normal breast samples (P = 0.020), whereas there were no significant differences for other splicing events (No-Fs) frequency distribution between tumor and normal breast samples (P = 0.689). Conclusions: Our results complement recent findings by the ENIGMA consortium, demonstrating that BRCA1 AS, despite its tremendous complexity, is similar in breast and blood samples, with no evidences for tissue specific AS events. Further on, we conclude that somatic inactivation of BRCA1 through spliciogenic mutations is, at best, a rare mechanism in breast carcinogenesis, albeit our data detects an excess of likely inactivating AS events in breast tumor samples

Inflammatory biomarkers and brain health indicators in children with overweight and obesity: The ActiveBrains project

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammation plays an important role on the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as on brain function and behaviour. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between inflammatory biomarkers and a wide range of brain health indicators (i.e., academic performance, executive function, behavioural and emotional functioning, and brain volume) in children with overweight/obesity. METHODS: A total of 107 children (10.0 ± 1.1 years, 41% girls) from the ActiveBrains project were included in the analysis. Five inflammatory biomarkers were analysed in plasma: white blood cell (WBC) count, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Academic performance was assessed by Woodcock-Munoz Tests of Achievement. Executive function was assessed through the Design Fluency Test for cognitive flexibility, the Stroop test for cognitive inhibition, and the Delayed Non-Match-to-Sample task for working memory. Behavioural and emotional functioning was evaluated through the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) questionnaire. Total and regional brain volume was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: IL-6 was inversely associated with adaptive skills (beta = -0.228; p = 0.030), while TNF-alpha was related to mathematics (beta = -0.198; p = 0.034). In addition, CRP was positively associated with externalizing (beta = 0.246; p = 0.046) and internalizing problems (beta = 0.234; p = 0.039), as well as the behavioural symptoms index (beta = 0.236; p = 0.047). However, these significant associations disappeared after multiple comparisons correction. Inflammatory biomarkers were not associated with executive function and total brain volumes. Regarding regional brain analyses, WBC was positively associated with gray matter volume in the left middle temporal gyrus (beta = 0.387; p < 0.001, k = 44), and CRP was positively associated with gray matter volume in the right superior temporal gyrus (beta = 0.439; p < 0.001, k = 29). Additionally, when adjusting by total brain volume, CRP was positively associated with gray matter volume in the right supplementary motor cortex (beta = 0.453; p < 0.001, k = 51). Moreover, both, IL-6 (beta = 0.366; p < 0.001, k = 81) and TNF-alpha (beta = 0.368; p < 0.001, k = 62) were positively associated with white matter volume around the right inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis, while CRP was inversely associated with white matter volume around the left superior frontal gyrus (beta = -0.482; p < 0.001, k = 82). After adjusting by total brain volume, CRP was also inversely associated with white matter volume in 3 additional clusters (beta ranging from -0.473 to -0.404; p < 0.001, k = 87). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation was slightly associated with brain health (i.e., academic performance, behavioural and emotional functioning and regional brain volume) in children with overweight or obesity. Further larger longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to elucidate the short-term and long-term effect of systemic low-grade inflammation on children's brain health

A fast feedback controlled magnetic drive for the ASDEX Upgrade fast-ion loss detectors

A magnetically driven fast-ion loss detector system for the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak has been designed and will be presented here. The device is feedback controlled to adapt the detector head position to the heat load and physics requirements. Dynamic simulations have been performed taking into account effects such as friction, coil self-induction, and eddy currents. A real time positioning control algorithm to maximize the detector operational window has been developed. This algorithm considers dynamical behavior and mechanical resistance as well as measured and predicted thermal loads. The mechanical design and real time predictive algorithm presented here may be used for other reciprocating systems.EURATOM 63305

Comparability of published cut-points for the assessment of physical activity: Implications for data harmonization

This study aimed to compare estimations of sedentary time (SED) and time spent in physical activity (PA) intensities in children with overweight/obesity across different age-appropriate cut-points based on different body-worn attachment sites and acceleration metrics. A total of 104 overweight/obese children (10.1 ± 1.1 years old, 43 girls) concurrently wore ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers on their right hip and non-dominant wrist for 7 days (24 hours). Euclidean norm -1 g (ENMO) and activity counts from both vertical axis (VACounts) and vector magnitude (VMCounts) were derived. We calculated estimates of SED and light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) intensity PA using different published cut-points for children. The prevalence of children meeting the recommended 60 min/d of MVPA was calculated. The time spent in SED and the different PA intensities largely differed across cut-points based on different attachment sites and acceleration metrics (ie, SED = 11-252 min/d; light PA = 10-217 min/d; moderate PA = 1-48 min/d; vigorous PA = 1-35 min/d; MVPA = 4-66 min/d). Consequently, the prevalence of children meeting the recommended 60 min/d of MVPA varied from 8% to 96% of the study sample. The present study provides a comprehensive comparison between available cut-points for different attachment and acceleration metrics in children. Furthermore, our data clearly show that it is not possible (and probably will never be) to know the prevalence of meeting the PA guidelines based on accelerometer data since apparent differences range from almost zero to nearly everyone meeting the guidelines

Facile, fast and green synthesis of a highly porous calcium-syringate bioMOF with intriguing triple bioactivity

A facile, fast and green strategy based on ethanol is utilized to prepare a new bioMOF, namely, CaSyr-1, with particular characteristics of full biocompatibility given by using just calcium and syringic acid, the latter being a phenolic natural product found in fruits and vegetables, permanent porosity with an outstanding surface area >1000 m2 g−1, and a micropore diameter of 1.4 nm close to mesopore values. Collectively, these data establish CaSyr-1 as one of the most porous bioMOFs reported to date, with high molecular adsorption capacity. The CaSyr-1 adsorptive behavior is revised here through the reversible adsorption of CO2 and the encapsulation of bioactive ingredients in the structure. Remarkably, CaSyr-1 enables the development of triple therapeutic entities, involving bioactive Ca2+, syringic acid and an impregnated drug

Physical activity and amyloid beta in middle-aged and older adults:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ). Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk, and one potential path could be through Aβ levels modulation. We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to the 28th of April 2022. Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and Aβ data in adults aged 45 years or older. Multi-level meta-analyses of intervention and observational studies were performed to examine the role of physical activity in modulating Aβ levels. Results: In total, 37 articles were included (8 randomized controlled trials, 3 non-randomized controlled trials, 4 prospective longitudinal studies, and 22 cross-sectional studies). The overall effect size of physical activity interventions on changes in blood Aβ was medium (pooled standardized mean difference = –0.69, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): –1.41 to 0.03; I2 = 74.6%). However, these results were not statistically significant, and there were not enough studies to explore the effects of physical activity on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain Aβ. Data from observational studies were examined based on measurements of Aβ in the brain using positron emission tomography scans, CSF, and blood. Higher physical activity was positively associated with Aβ only in the CSF (Estimate r = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.05–0.18; I2 = 38%). Conclusion: Physical activity might moderately reduce blood Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. However, results were only near statistical significance and might be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations observed in some of the included studies. In observational studies, higher levels of physical activity were positively associated with Aβ only in CSF. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the modulating role of physical activity in the brain, CSF, and blood Aβ, as well as its implication for cognitive health.</p