El grupo y sus conflictos

La dinámica de las relaciones entre los grupos es la esencia de la vida social e, incluso, hay quienes piensan que no son las relaciones entre los grupos, sino los conflictos que se producen en ei marco de las relaciones grupaies los que nos dan las claves de la propia dinámica social. En este sentido, no es descabellado pensar que los conflictos grupaies aportan la energía necesaria para que tanto las organizaciones, como la propia sociedad muestren su actividad en constante evolución. Por ello, no se trata tanto de evitar los conflictos, como de manejarlos y darles un uso constructivo orientado al desarrollo de los propios grupos. Los trabajos que se incluyen en este libro fueron expuestos por sus autores en el Curso de Verano "El grupo y sus conflictos", celebrado en el Vicerrectorado de Extensión Universitaria de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, con sede en el campus de Cuenca. Este libro responde al esfuerzo de destacados especialistas que, fundamentalmente, desde el campo de la Psicología Social y de las Organizaciones, pero también desde la Educación y el Trabajo Social, reflexionan en torno a algunas de las cuestiones claves sobre la naturaleza de los desacuerdos en diversos grupos y en distintas organizaciones, así como las técnicas de negociación y las estrategias para la resolución de esos conflictos

Subtle sexual plumage color dimorphism and size dimorphism in a South American colonial breeder, the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

Parrots (Psittacidae Family) are one of the most colorful groups of birds in the world, their colors produced both structurally and via unusual pigments (psittacofulvins). Most species are considered to be monogamous, and many have been viewed historically as sexually monomorphic and monochromatic. However, studies using morphometric analysis and spectrophotometric techniques have revealed sexual size dimorphism and also sexual plumage color dimorphism among some species. The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), a native parrot of South America, is an interesting species for the study of plumage coloration and size since it is considered sexually monochromatic and monomorphic. Furthermore, recent studies show that the Monk Parakeet has extra-bond paternity behavior and even breeding trios, which suggests that sexual selection may play an important role in this species, and that it might have sexually dimorphic plumage (albeit imperceptible by humans) and be dimorphic in size. Methods: For the determination of plumage color we used spectrophotometry in the range of avian vision (300-700 nm) and performed a morphological analysis. Results: Our spectrophotometric results indicate that the Monk Parakeet shows subtle sexual plumage color dimorphism in three (crown, nape and wing) out of twelve body regions. Similarly, our morphometric analysis showed that there are subtle sex differences in body size (bill and weight). Conclusions: Although the Monk Parakeet shows extra-bond paternity and breeding trio behaviors which could increase sexual dimorphism, these behaviors occur among highly related individuals; perhaps the high rate of inbreeding is responsible for the attenuation of sexual plumage color dimorphism and sex differences in body size observed.Fil: Morales, Macarena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Gigena, Deysi J.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Benitez-Vieyra, Santiago Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Valdez, Diego Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentin

Investigating the Role of the Retinoblastoma Protein in the Expression of Immunosuppressive Factors

Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest types of cancer, causing approximately 160,000 deaths per year in the US alone. Because of its poor detection techniques and highly invasive abilities, conventional treatments -such as radiation and chemotherapy- fail to improve long-term survival of patients. At the moment, the 5-year survival rate for all stages of lung cancer is only 16%. Recent breakthroughs in cancer research establish immunotherapy, which involves the stimulation of the immune system to target and attack cancer cells, as a highly promising alternative treatment against this deadly disease. However, the efficiency of this treatment varies on each subset of cancer. A more efficient therapeutic strategy should include the targeting of immunosuppressive factors along with key proteins that are responsible for lung tumor growth. A possible target is the Retinoblastoma protein (Rb). This well-known tumor suppressor regulates a diverse set of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and cell adhesion. Inactivation of Rb results in uncontrolled cell proliferation, which is a major driving force behind tumorigenesis. Recent findings suggest a new role for Rb in regulating immune system function. To further characterize this emerging role of Rb in immune function, the protein expression of PD-L1, PD1, OX-40, OX40L, B7-H3 and B7-H4 was analyzed via immunoblotting in Rb-activated and Rb-inactivated lung cancer cell lines. Our hypothesis is that Rb will affect the expression of these immunosuppressive factors in tumor cells. Preliminary results show that PD-L1 and OX-40 expression is correlated to Rb active status, while PD1 and OX40L are expressed when Rb is inactivated

Culture: Not just Burns – what about the poet Robert Fergusson?

No abstract available

Rendimiento de bases de datos columnares

En la actualidad para el éxito de las empresas es decisiva la capacidad de procesar de manera eficiente una considerable cantidad de datos de una amplia gama de fuentes en cualquier lugar y momento. El análisis de datos se convierte en una estrategia clave para la mayoría de las grandes organizaciones para lograr una ventaja competitiva. Por tanto, surgen nuevas cuestiones a ser tomadas en cuenta a la hora de almacenar y consultar cantidades masivas de datos que, en general, las bases de datos relacionales tradicionales no pueden abarcar. Estas cuestiones incluyen desde la capacidad de distribuir y escalar el procesamiento o el almacenamiento físico, hasta la posibilidad de utilizar esquemas o tipos de datos no usuales. El objetivo principal de la investigación es evaluar el rendimiento de las bases de datos columnares en analítica de datos. Efectuar una comparación con bases de datos de tipo relacional, para determinar su eficiencia, realizando mediciones en distintos escenarios de pruebas. El presente estudio pretende proporcionar (evidencia científica) un instrumento que facilite a los profesionales interesados en la analítica de datos una base para sus conocimientos, al incluir cuadros y tablas comparativos con datos cuantitativos con los que se pueda sustentar las conclusiones de esta investigación. Se usa una metodología aplicada y de diseño descriptivo cuantitativo-comparativo al ser el que mejor se ajusta al estudio de características de eficiencia de bases de datos. En la medición se usa el método de promedios para n número de tomas y se soporta en la herramienta Aqua Data Studio que garantiza una alta confiabilidad al ser un programa especializado para la administración de bases de datos. Finalmente, se ha logrado determinar que las bases columnares tienen un mejor rendimiento en ambientes de análisis de datos.// Companies’ capacity to efficiently process a great amount of data from a great variety of sources anywhere and anytime is essential for them to succeed. Data analysis becomes a key strategy for most of large organizations for them to get a competitive advantage. Hence, when massive amounts of date are to be stored, new questionings arise for consideration, because traditional relational database are not capable to lodge them. Such questions include aspects that go from the capacity to distribute and escalate the physical storage to the possibility of using schemes or non-usual types of data. The main objective of the research is to evaluate the performance of the columnar databases in data analytics. Make a comparison with relational databases, to determine their efficiency, making measurements in different test scenarios. The present study aims to provide (scientific evidence) an instrument that provides professionals interested in data analytics with a base for their knowledge, to include comparative tables with quantitative data that can support the conclusions of this research. A methodology of applied type and quantitative-comparative descriptive design is used, as it is the one that best adjusts to the study of database efficiency characteristics. In the measurement the averages method is used for n number of shots and it is supported in the Aqua Data Studio tool that guarantees a high reliability as it is a specialized software for the administration of databases. Finally, it has been determined that the columnar bases have a better performance in data analysis environments

Laser-synthesis of conductive carbon-based materials from two flexible commercial substrates: A comparison

One of the key challenges in the field of flexible electronics relies on finding conductive materials that can withstand bending and stretching stresses while maintaining their performance. In this context, this work presents a comparative study of laser-induced conductive materials from the direct laser-scribing of two commercial flexible films: the benchmark Kapton® HN polyimide (PI) precursor and the UltemTM 1000 polyetherimide (PEI) alternative contender. The synthesis process on both materials is optimized in terms of electrical conductivity using a high-performance galvanometric laser with a wavelength of 532 nm for the fabrication of multiple samples at different laser powers and speeds. The samples are structurally characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) aiming at understanding the chemical and physical changes of the ablated material. The results demonstrate that the proposed setup is feasible for the synthesis of uniform and reliable conductive patterns on the surface of both substrates with high reproducibility. In particular, it is proved that PEI is more suitable precursor for flexible electronics applications which demand high electrical conductivity, leading to a sheet resistance of 3.62 ± 0.35 Ω/sq at 0.8 W and 5 mm/s once the laser-synthesis process is optimized (against the 6.04 ± 0.63 Ω/sq at 0.6 W and 5 mm/s offered by the LIG on PI). The performance of both laser-induced patterns as electrodes for the fabrication of electrochemical capacitors is also studied and compared in terms of areal specific capacitance.FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Transformaci´on Econ´omica, IndustriaConocimiento y Universidades Project P20_00265 and Project BRNM-680-UGR20; Project TED2021-129949A-I00MCIN/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTRGrant PID2020-117344RB-I00MCIN/AEI 10.13039/ 501100011033Junta de Andalucía – Consejería de Universidad, Investigaci´on e Innovaci´on through the project ProyExcel_00268Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Innovation through the Ram´on y Cajal fellow RYC2019- 027457-I,María Zambrano fellow C21.I4.P1grant PRE2021-096886

Microalgae Cultivation for Secondary Metabolite Production

Microalgae including cyanobacteria have been recognized as an excellent source of fine chemicals, renewable fuels, vitamins, and proteins and usually are found in health food stores around the world. However, the accumulation of these compounds generally occurs at end of the exponential growth phase; furthermore, biomass density in cultivation commonly is low. Open cultures have been used for pigment, biofuels, and biomass production, but these types of culture system are not a good choice for the production of fine chemicals, due to contamination problems and the expensive production costs. Closed photobioreactors can be operated in a continuous cultivation providing an increase on biomass density and contamination-free condition and generally working at a maximum growth rate under specific conditions; besides, these systems can recycle the consumed culture medium at least three times before a new enriched medium is supplied, generating a more cost-effective production system. In addition, microalgae metabolism can be manipulated to provoke a specific secondary metabolite accumulation by the addition of organic carbon source or changing light intensity or both. In other words, photobioreactors can operate in continuous mode, with efficient light supply and the supplementation of organic carbon source to produce fine biochemicals such as anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, lectins, antiviral compounds, and biofuels

Demonstration of bare Laser reduced Graphene Oxide sensors for Ammonia and Ethanol

This work was mainly supported by TED2021-129949A-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. It was also partially funded by the Andalusian regional projects supported through the Junta de Andalucía - Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación and FEDER funds: ProyExcel_00268, B-RNM-680-UGR20, P20_00265, P20_00633, as well as by the Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Innovation through the National Project PID2020-117344RB-I00, the Ramón y Cajal fellow RYC2019-027457-I and the María Zambrano fellow C21.I4.P1.In this work, gas sensors using laser-reduced graphene oxide (LrGO) as sensitive layer have been fabricated and studied. The laser-synthetized material were structurally and electrically characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and the four-point contact method. The gas-sensing properties of the samples were studied by their exposition to 10 ppm to 100 ppm of ethanol and 25 ppm to 130 ppm of ammonia. The results show that the devices present an electrical response corresponding to a purely resistive behavior up to 100 kHz. It is also demonstrated that the resistivity of the sensing layer increases as the gas concentration increases; being of 0.0402 ± 0.001 [%/ppm] for the case of ammonia and 0.0140 ± 0.001 [%/ppm] for the case of ethanol. These results outperform existing sensors and establish a better balance in terms of simplicity, sensitivity, linearity and technology sustainability. In summary, this work especially shows the potential of LrGO for low-cost and low-energy gas sensors fabrication.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033: TED2021-129949A-I00Junta de AndalucíaFEDER funds: ProyExcel_00268, B-RNM-680-UGR20, P20_00265, P20_00633Spanish Ministry of Sciences and Innovation PID2020-117344RB-I00Ramón y Cajal fellow RYC2019-027457-IMaría Zambrano fellow C21.I4.P