A Serravallian (Middle Miocene) shark fauna from Southeastern Spain and its palaeoenvironment significance

The study of a new Serravallian (Middle Miocene) locality from the Southeastern Spain has yielded a shark assemblage characterized by microremains of at least seven taxa (Deania calcea, ¿Isistius triangulus, ¿Squaliolus cf. S. schaubi, ¿Paraetmopterus sp., Pristiophorus sp., Scyliorhinus sp. and a cf. Squaliformes indet) of three different orders (Squaliformes, Pristiophoriformes and Carcharhiniformes). In addition, associated macroremains have also been found, including teeth of ¿Cosmopolitodus hastalis, Isurus sp., Hemipristis serra, Odontaspis sp., Carcharhinus spp. and ¿Otodus (Megaselachus) megalodon. The assemblage contains taxa with disparate environmental preferences including not only neritic and epipelagic sharks but also an important number of meso and bathypelagic representatives. The migration of deep water taxa to shallower waters through submarine canyons/coastal upwelling is proposed as the most plausible cause for explaining the origin of such assemblage. Interestingly, the composition of the deep-water taxa here reported contrast with the chondrichthyans assemblages from the Pliocene and extant Mediterranean communities. This entails a complex biogeographic history, where the Messinian salinity crisis strongly affected the posterior evolution of the Mediterranean ecosystems but some other factors, such us the existence of anoxic events during the Quaternary, could have also played an important role

Effects of hamstring-emphasized neuromuscular training on strength and sprinting mechanics in football players

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a neuromuscular training program combining eccentric hamstring muscle strength, plyometrics, and free/resisted sprinting exercises on knee extensor/flexor muscle strength, sprinting performance, and horizontal mechanical properties of sprint running in football (soccer) players. Sixty footballers were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG) or a control group (CG). Twenty‐seven players completed the EG and 24 players the CG. Both groups performed regular football training while the EG performed also a neuromuscular training during a 7‐week period. The EG showed a small increases in concentric quadriceps strength (ES = 0.38/0.58), a moderate to large increase in concentric (ES = 0.70/0.74) and eccentric (ES = 0.66/0.87) hamstring strength, and a small improvement in 5‐m sprint performance (ES = 0.32). By contrast, the CG presented lower magnitude changes in quadriceps (ES = 0.04/0.29) and hamstring (ES = 0.27/0.34) concentric muscle strength and no changes in hamstring eccentric muscle strength (ES = −0.02/0.11). Thus, in contrast to the CG (ES = −0.27/0.14), the EG showed an almost certain increase in the hamstring/quadriceps strength functional ratio (ES = 0.32/0.75). Moreover, the CG showed small magnitude impairments in sprinting performance (ES = −0.35/−0.11). Horizontal mechanical properties of sprint running remained typically unchanged in both groups. These results indicate that a neuromuscular training program can induce positive hamstring strength and maintain sprinting performance, which might help in preventing hamstring strains in football players.Actividad Física y Deport

Necesidades de formación continua del profesorado de educación básica para el diseño de programas de posgrado

This paper shows the results of an exploratory study with a quantitative approach in which the continuous training needs of basic education teachers are identified: preschool, primary and secondary, in order to design a relevant and contextualized postgraduate proposal. The main objective is based on the diagnosis of training needs felt by teachers for the design and implementation of continuous training educational programs, based on the areas of opportunity expressed by teachers in service in the northern region of the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, in contrast to the professional competences for the exercise of teaching. For the collection of information, a questionnaire instrument with a Likert-type scale was used, made up of 48 items in six categories of analysis: continuous training needs, teaching and continuous improvement, educational research, professional ethics, didactic use of ICTs and English. This study shows a diagnosis of the training needs most felt by in-service teachers, from which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) could base their proposals for continuous training programs.Estudio exploratorio con enfoque cuantitativo en el que se identifican las necesidades de formación continua de docentes de educación básica: preescolar, primaria y secundaria, a fin de diseñar una propuesta de posgrado pertinente y contextualizada. El objetivo principal se basa en el diagnóstico de necesidades de formación sentidas por el profesorado para el diseño e implementación de programas educativos de formación continua, a partir de las áreas de oportunidad expresadas por los profesores en servicio de la región norte del estado de Zacatecas, México, en contraste con las competencias profesionales para el ejercicio de la docencia. Para la recogida de información se utilizó un instrumento de cuestionario con escala tipo Likert, conformado por 48 ítems en seis categorías de análisis: necesidades de formación continua, docencia y mejora continua, investigación educativa, ética profesional, uso didáctico de TIC´s e inglés. Este estudio muestra un diagnóstico de las necesidades de formación más sentidas por los docentes en servicio, a partir de las cuales las Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) podrían fundamentar sus propuestas de programas de formación continua

Modelling the strongest silicate emission features of local type 1 AGN

We measure the 10 and $18\mu$m silicate features in a sample of 67 local ($z<0.1$) type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGN) with available {\it Spitzer} spectra dominated by non-stellar processes. We find that the $10\mu$m silicate feature peaks at $10.3^{+0.7}_{-0.9}\mu$m with a strength (Si$_{p}$ = ln f$_{p}$(spectrum)/f$_{p}$(continuum)) of $0.11^{+0.15}_{-0.36}$, while the $18\mu$m one peaks at $17.3^{+0.4}_{-0.7}\mu$m with a strength of $0.14^{+0.06}_{-0.06}$. We select from this sample sources with the strongest 10$\mu$m silicate strength ($\sigma_{Si_{10\mu m}}>0.28$, 10 objects). We carry out a detailed modeling of the IRS/{\it Spitzer} spectra by comparing several models that assume different geometries and dust composition: a smooth torus model, two clumpy torus models, a two-phase medium torus model, and a disk+outflow clumpy model. We find that the silicate features are well modeled by the clumpy model of Nenkova et al. 2008, and among all models those including outflows and complex dust composition are the best (Hoenig et al. 2017). We note that even in AGN-dominated galaxies it is usually necessary to add stellar contributions to reproduce the emission at the shortest wavelengths.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Paediatricians provide higher quality care to children and adolescents in primary care: A systematic review

Aim: The number of primary care paediatricians is decreasing in Europe without a justifiable reason. We aimed to compare the clinical practice of paediatricians and family doctors attending children and adolescents in primary care. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, TRIP and Google Scholar were searched from December 2008 to February 2018. No language or study design restrictions were applied. Three reviewers assessed eligibility of the studies. Seven pairs of reviewers performed the data extraction and assessed the methodological quality independently. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Results: Fifty-four, out of 1150 studies preselected, were included. We found that paediatricians show more appropriate pharmacology prescription patterns for the illness being treated; they achieve higher vaccination rates and have better knowledge of vaccines and fewer doubts about vaccine safety; their knowledge and implementation of different screening tests are better; they prescribe psychoactive drugs more cautiously and more in line with current practice guidelines; their evaluation and treatment of obesity and lipid disorders follow criteria more consistently with current clinical practice guidelines; and they perform fewer diagnostic test, show a more suitable use of the test and request fewer referrals to specialists. Conclusion: According to published data, in developed countries, paediatricians provide higher quality care to children than family doctors

Planteamiento del problema de investigación en el programa de maestría de la ENERRC, aprendizajes y dificultades.

The objective of this paper is to describe the main learning and difficulties faced by students in the drafting of the research problem statement of the Master's program in Education and Improvement of Teaching Practice (MEMPD), of the Rafael Ramírez Castañeda Normal Experimental School. (ENERRC), from the experience of the participants and the perspective of the teachers/tutors. The research was developed from a mixed approach, of an exploratory type and an action-research methodological design. The results of the research showed how the follow-up and timely accompaniment of the course teacher/tutor favored the construction of theoretical-methodological learning for the elaboration of the problem statement in qualitative research, as a starting point for the generation of reflective processes of the practice itself and the development of professional skills in the participants. At the end of the formative path of the first quarter, temporal delimitation of the research, it became clear that the most relevant learning consisted of the diagnosis of a problem in their professional practice, pertinent and justified, as well as some methodological aspects such as: background, delimitation, justification, question and research objectives. Among the most felt areas of opportunity, those related to the use of theory to substantiate, justify or argue ideas derived from empirical reflection were commented, together with the use of the correct way of referencing them in APA format.El presente escrito tiene como objetivo describir los principales aprendizajes y dificultades que enfrentaron los estudiantes en la redacción del planteamiento del problema de investigación del programa de la Maestría en Educación y Mejora de la Práctica Docente (MEMPD), de la Escuela Normal Experimental Rafael Ramírez Castañeda (ENERRC), desde la experiencia de los participantes y la perspectiva de los docentes/tutores. La investigación se desarrolló desde un enfoque mixto, de tipo exploratorio y diseño metodológico de investigación-acción. Los resultados de la investigación mostraron cómo el seguimiento y acompañamiento oportuno del docente/tutor del curso, favorecieron la construcción de aprendizajes teóricos-metodológicos para la elaboración del planteamiento del problema en una investigación cualitativa, como punto de partida para la generación de procesos reflexivos de la propia práctica y el desarrollo de competencias profesionales en los participantes. Al término del trayecto formativo del primer cuatrimestre, delimitación temporal de la investigación, quedó de manifiesto que, los aprendizajes con mayor relevancia consistieron en el diagnóstico de una problemática en su práctica profesional, pertinente y justificada, así como algunos aspectos de orden metodológico como: antecedentes, delimitación, justificación, pregunta y objetivos de investigación. Entre las áreas de oportunidad más sentidas se comentaron las relacionadas con el uso de la teoría para fundamentar, justificar o argumentar ideas derivadas de la reflexión empírica, aunado al uso de la forma correcta de referenciarlas en formato APA

First observations of oblique ionospheric sounding chirp signal in Mexico

The results of the first experiment of oblique ionospheric sounding (OIS) chirp signal reception in Mexico are reported. Maximal and Lowest Observed Frequencies variations were studied under the quiet Space Weather conditions. The diurnal ionospheric variations by OIS signal confirm the results based on GNSS data in the Mexican region. The best HF radio propagation conditions along the considered path are during morning and daytime hours. The multi-hop propagation is frequent. The interlayer propagation modes are present at nighttime