An Approach on Integrated Territorial Competitiveness to Ensure Long Term Viability in Rural Areas of Andalusia (Spain)

After more than ten years of rural development programmes in Andalusia, there is ongoing concern about the sustainability of the rural development initiated by the LEADER-PRODER programmes in the hypothetical event that such programmes were no longer in place. In order to be able to express an opinion about this issue, it is important to answer to an entire series of questions about the concept of territorial competitiveness as a guarantee of the long term viability of a rural area. In order to be able to respond to these questions, as part of a wider research project into the transformation of rural areas in Andalusia, the competitive position of 3 territories in the "Campina Alta" (Cordoba), which have been benefiting from rural development programmes for several years, were analysed. This paper presents some of our results relating to territorial competitiveness. The analysis were chiefly qualitative, and was applied to the "case study" abovementioned. The methodology used is based fundamentally on the analysis proposal of territorial competitiveness provided by the European Observatory, supplemented with elements of the methodology proposed by the IICA. The results indicate: 1) one cannot generalise about whether certain factors in isolation are positive or negative for territorial competitiveness, 2) only a comprehensive approach to territorial competitiveness can guarantee the long term viability of a rural area and 3) the risks associated when the viability of the territory is linked to the existence of development programmes, whose presence is not guaranteed for the future.Community/Rural/Urban Development,

The Relationship between Anxiety, Visual Function, and Symptomatology in University Students

Mental health concerns have emerged at the university level, with the psychological wellbeing of students being increasingly affected. This cross-sectional study investigated the proportion of university students having anxiety, and its effects on their visual function and symptomatology. We included 41 students (26.1 4.8 years), and their visual function was assessed through several tests to produce a general visual performance index (VPI). The visual symptomatology was studied using the Conlon Visual Discomfort Survey and the Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire. The students were classified into two groups according to the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) test (“no anxiety” and “anxiety” groups). The visual function evaluation indicated significantly worse VPI in the anxiety group (p = 0.047). These students also showed significantly higher scores in the Conlon survey (p = 0.004) and two subscales of the QoV questionnaire: symptom severity (p = 0.041) and symptom bothersomeness (p = 0.013). Moreover, the multiple linear regression model showed a significant association between visual discomfort according to the Conlon questionnaire and the level of anxiety (r = 0.405; R2 = 0.164; B = 0.405; p = 0.012). It is important to study the influence of psychological factors on vision, not only for refractive error, but also for binocular and accommodative disorder

Tuning the Néel temperature in an antiferromagnet: the case of NixCo1−xO microstructures

We show that it is possible to tune the Néel temperature of nickel(II)-cobalt(II) oxide films by changing the Ni to Co ratio. We grow single crystalline micrometric triangular islands with tens of nanometers thickness on a Ru(0001) substrate using high temperature oxygen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Composition is controlled by adjusting the deposition rates of Co and Ni. The morphology, shape, crystal structure and composition are determined by low-energy electron microscopy and diffraction, and synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectromicroscopy. The antiferromagnetic order is observed by x-ray magnetic linear dichroism. Antiferromagnetic domains up to micrometer width are observedThis work is supported by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, EU)) through Projects Nos MAT2015-64110-C2-1-P, MAT2015-64110-C2-2-P, RTI2018-095303-B-C51, and RTI2018-095303-B-C53, by the European Commission through Project H2020 No. 720853 (Amphibian) and by the Comunidad de Madrid through Project. NANOMAGCOST-CM P2018/NMT-4321. These experiments were performed at the CIRCE beamline of the ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility. A.M. acknowledges funding via a CSIC-Alba agreemen

Solar decathlon latino América y Caribe. Cali 2015 (Colombia), Proyecto AURA

Solar Decathlon Latin America and the Caribbean 2015 will take place in the city of Cali, Colombia. Coming from North America and after the European and Asian editions, now the competition for sustainable housing arrives Latin America. ‘Solar Decathlon’ is an international competition inviting students around the world from universities specialized in Engineering, Architecture, Urban Design, Renewable Energies and related careers to participate on creating, building and operating Self-sustaining social solutions, run by solar power. In addition to the founding principles of the original Solar Decathlon, the SD LAC2015 Organization has decided to focus on the following four components, which will be fundamental to the proposals in order to adapt them to tropical climate and cultural conditions. The components are: 1. Social Housing: As social inequality is one of the most pressing issues in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Solar Decathlon should strive to prove that sustainable housing based on alternative energy sources can be accessible to the population at large, prioritizing dense urban areas where most of the population is living. 2. Density: Nowadays, most of the population lives in cities where building areas are increasingly scarce and expensive. Moreover, denser housing solutions can help minimize the environmental impact. Consequently, the SD LAC2015 will favour projects that optimize the architectural and urban footprint. 3. Rational Use of Environmental Resources: The vast majority of the Latin American population lives in the tropics, enjoying high solar radiation all year long and exceptional availability of water sources. 4. Regional Relevance: The SD LAC2015 embraces the goal of developing and promoting ideas, capacities and technologies that can be implemented for the benefit of the inhabitants of the LAC region. The actual construction of prototypes will take place in the ‘Universidad del Valle’ campus. The competition combines both theoretical and practical knowledge considering projects must be built on real scale and be tested on 10 different contests. The hisCali team, from the Sevilla University, will take part in competition together with the ‘University of Santiago de Cali’, and with the support of the IUACC and the official masters of Innovation and Sustainability, both from the Sevilla University.El Decatlón Solar para América Latina y el Caribe - SD LAC2015 – se llevará a cabo en la ciudad de Cali, Colombia, convirtiéndose en la primera sede de esta versión del concurso, tras la primigenia norteamericana y las sucesivas versiones europeas y asiáticas. "Solar Decathlon" es un concurso internacional que invita a los estudiantes de las universidades especializadas en arquitectura, diseño urbano, energías renovables y carreras afines a que participen en el diseño, la construcción y la operación de soluciones de vivienda auto-sostenibles y energéticamente eficientes para contribuir a la mitigación del cambio climático a través de la implantación de tecnologías limpias. Los proyectos que se presentan a este concurso deben seguir un esquema reglamentario específico que se adapta a las condiciones climáticas y culturales de la región presentando propuestas de viviendas sociales como soluciones de impacto positivo para la región. 1. Vivienda Social: Debido a las circunstancias de desigualdad social y económica que enfrenta la región de América Latina y del Caribe, SDLAC2015 se presenta como un espacio dinámico de elaboración de propuestas y construcción de soluciones reales que impacten de manera positiva a la comunidad. 2. Densidad: Como consecuencia del desplazamiento masivo de la población hacia la zona urbana, una de las características de diseño y distribución que debe tenerse en cuenta para las construcciones del futuro es la densidad. 3. Uso Racional de Recursos del Medio Ambiente: La mayoría de la población de América Latina y del Caribe vive en la zona tropical, enfrentando emisiones de radiación solar a lo largo del año y una disponibilidad excepcional de las fuentes de agua. 4. Relevancia Regional: La meta será desarrollar ideas y tecnologías que beneficien a los habitantes de la región. El campus de la Universidad del Valle, en la ciudad de Cali, Colombia, es el escenario escogido para llevar a cabo la construcción real de los prototipos diseñados por cada equipo participante que serán evaluados en 10 pruebas diferentes a lo largo de la competencia. A esta convocatoria de Solar Decathlon Latino América y Caribe 2015, se presenta el equipo hísCali, con profesores de áreas de conocimiento de la Universidad de Sevilla tales como Construcción, Urbanismo, Proyectos, Estructuras, Derecho, Economía, Matemática Aplicada y Bellas Artes, junto con la Universidad de Santiago de Cali y con el apoyo del IUACC y los másteres de Innovación y de Sostenibilidad, ambos asimismo de la Universidad de Sevilla

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Soy Niña

Este libro pretende contribuir al reencuentro de la educación con esas finalidades que verdaderamente importan a una niña o un niño: ser feliz, jugar, vivir juntos y (no) aprender. Para ello hemos puesto el arte, nuestras experiencias y el saber acumulado al servicio del disfrute, el cuestionamiento, el análisis crítico y la construcción común de un presente deseable. Un texto colaborativo coordinado por Ignacio Calderón Almendros y realizado por alumnado de Educación y Cambio Social en el Grado en Educación Infantil de la Universidad de Málaga

Contribuyendo a la ciencia. ¿Juegas? Diseño de una sala de escapismo para Ciencias Aplicadas a la Actividad Profesional en 4º ESO

Fecha de lectura: 24-06-2020La propuesta didáctica que se presenta está diseñada para la asignatura de 4º ESO, Ciencias Aplicadas a la Actividad Profesional (CAAP) ante la creciente necesidad de un cambio en las metodologías educativas que incorporen elementos innovadores y permitan desarrollar todas las competencias, contenidos y habilidades que requiere esta asignatura. La gamificación aplicada en el diseño de la sala de escapismo que lleva por título: “Contribuyendo a la ciencia. El desastre nuclear de Chernóbil” convierte al alumnado en protagonista de su propio aprendizaje adquiriendo un papel activo e interactuando de forma constante con los contenidos, en línea a la realidad y a través de formas de comunicación de las y los adolescentes de hoy en día. El diseño de esta sala de escape va acompañada de la programación de cuatro actividades que permitirán al alumnado adentrarse en esta metodología y alcanzar los recursos necesarios para la resolución final del juego de escape, aumentando así su motivación e implicación en la asignatura y en la enseñanza-aprendizaje de las ciencias.The didactic proposal that is presented is designed for the subject of 4º ESO, Sciences Applied to Professional Activity in the face of the growing need for a change in educational methodologies that incorporate innovative elements and that allow the development of all the competences, contents and skills required by this subject. The gamification applied in the design of the escapism room entitled: “Contributing to science. The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster” makes the students the protagonists of their own learning, by acquiring an active role and constantly interacting with the content, in line with reality and through communication methods of today's teenagers. The design of this escape room is accompanied by the programming of four activities that allow the students to go into this methodology and to reach the necessary resources for the final resolution of the escape game, thus increasing their motivation and involvement in the subject and in the teaching-learning of sciences.Universidad de Granada. Máster Oficial Universitario en Profesorado de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, Formación Profesional y Enseñanzas de Idiomas. Curso académico 2019- 202

An Approach on Integrated Territorial Competitiveness to Ensure Long Term Viability in Rural Areas of Andalusia (Spain)

After more than ten years of rural development programmes in Andalusia, there is ongoing concern about the sustainability of the rural development initiated by the LEADER-PRODER programmes in the hypothetical event that such programmes were no longer in place. In order to be able to express an opinion about this issue, it is important to answer to an entire series of questions about the concept of territorial competitiveness as a guarantee of the long term viability of a rural area. In order to be able to respond to these questions, as part of a wider research project into the transformation of rural areas in Andalusia, the competitive position of 3 territories in the "Campina Alta" (Cordoba), which have been benefiting from rural development programmes for several years, were analysed. This paper presents some of our results relating to territorial competitiveness. The analysis were chiefly qualitative, and was applied to the "case study" abovementioned. The methodology used is based fundamentally on the analysis proposal of territorial competitiveness provided by the European Observatory, supplemented with elements of the methodology proposed by the IICA. The results indicate 1) one cannot generalise about whether certain factors in isolation are positive or negative for territorial competitiveness, 2) only a comprehensive approach to territorial competitiveness can guarantee the long term viability of a rural area and 3) the risks associated when the viability of the territory is linked to the existence of development programmes, whose presence is not guaranteed for the future