Second-harmonic generation in highly textured LiNbO3 films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

LiNbO3 films have been deposited on (001) sapphire substrates by pulsed laser deposition, in an oxygen environment. Films grown at substrate temperatures of 650°C are crystalline, strongly textured, and show a degree of twining that is lower the higher the oxygen pressure is in the range of 0.5-1 Torr. Values of the nonlinear optical coefficients d33 and d31 of the films, measured via second-harmonic generation, are close to those for the bulk LiNbO3 single crystal. The dependence of both the degree of twining and the nonlinear optical response on the film thickness suggests that the films become closer to single domain for larger thickness. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewe

Factores no infecciosos de variación del recuento celular de la leche de oveja

El rebaño, el estado y número de lactación, el tipo de parto, las variaciones diurnas, diarias y entre ordeños, la alimentación, etc. tienen una influencia significativa sobre el recuento celular de la leche de oveja, aunque de menor importancia que la infección. La curva del recuento en la lactación es inversa a la de la producción lechera; los valores celulares son elevados al comienzo de la lactación (especialmente en el calostro), disminuyen rápidamente y alcanzan sus valores mínimos coincidiendo con las producciones más elevadas, aumentando de nuevo progresivamente hasta el final de la lactación. Por otra parte, el recuento aumenta significativamente con el número de lactación y en las ovejas de parto múltiple. Así mismo, es más elevado en la leche de repaso que en la leche de los primeros chorros y en la leche del ordeño de la tarde que en el de la mañana, para desiguales intervalos entre ordeños. El conocimiento de estos factores no infecciosos resulta de interés de cara a una correcta interpretación del recuento celular de la leche

Predictive ability of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) in a free-living elderly population: a cross-sectional study

[EN] Background. Various scales have been used to perform a quick and first level nutritional assessment, and the MNA is one of the most used and recommended by experts in the elderly in all areas. This scale has a short form, the MNA-SF, revised and validated in 2009, which has two versions: the BMI-MNA-SF contains the first six items of the full scale including Body Mass Index while the CC-MNA-SF includes Calf Circumference instead of BMI. Objective. To evaluate the predictive ability for nutritional status of the two versions of the MNA-SF against the MNA in free-living elderly in the province of Valencia. Methods. Cross-sectional study of 660 free-living elderly in the province of Valencia selected in 12 community centres using stratified sampling by blocks. Inclusion criteria: being aged 65 or over, living at home, having functional autonomy, residing in the province of study for more than one year, regularly attending community centres and voluntarily wanting to take part. Results. Of the 660 subjects studied, 319 were men (48.3%) and 341 (51.7%) women with a mean age of 74.3 years (SD = 6.6). In terms of nutritional assessment, using the BMI-MNA-SF and the CC-MNA-SF we found that 26.5% and 26.2% were at risk of malnutrition and 0.9% and 1.5% were malnourished respectively. With the full MNA, 23.3% were at risk of malnutrition. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients indicate a high association between the full MNA score and the MNA-SFs scores (BMI-MNA-SF: rho = 0.78 p < 0.001; CC-MNA-SF: rho = 0.78 p < 0.001). In addition we obtained a very high correlation between the two MNA-SFs (rho = 0.96 p < 0.001). We evaluated the agreement between the full MNA and the MNA-SFs classification in three nutritional categories (normal nutritional status, risk of malnutrition, malnutrition) with Cohen's kappa coefficients (BMI-MNA-SF: kappa = 0.54 p < 0.001; CC-MNA-SF: kappa = 0.52 p < 0.001). These values indicate moderate agreement with the full MNA. There is very good agreement between the BMI-MNA-SF and CC-MNA-SF (rho = 0.88 p < 0.001). In order to determine the ability of both MNA-SFs to identify subjects not requiring any nutritional intervention, we considered the dichotomised categorisation of the full MNA and the MNA-SFs as "normal nutritional status'' vs. "malnutrition and risk of malnutrition'' Areas under the ROC curves using MNA as the gold standard indicate moderately high prognostic accuracy (BMI-MNA-SF: AUC = 0.88 p < 0.001; CC-MNA-SF: AUC = 0.87 p < 0.001). Both versions of the MNA-SF showed similar sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic effectiveness (BMI-MNA-SF: 73.4%, 86.6%, 83.5%; CC-MNA-SF 73.4%, 86.2%, 83.2%). Conclusions. In its two versions the MNA-SF presents useful predictive ability against the MNA. The advantage of the CC-MNA-SF is that using it requires fewer resources and less time in primary care, although always the characteristics of the population must take into account to make the right decision based on the MNA-SF scales.Montejano Lozoya, R.; Martínez Alzamora, MN.; Clemente Marín, G.; Guirao-Goris, SJ.; Ferrer Diego, RM. (2017). Predictive ability of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) in a free-living elderly population: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ. 5(e3345):1-17. doi:10.7717/peerj.3345S1175e334

Preliminary Studies of the Toxicity of Agaricus Bisporous Aqueous Enzymatic Extracts (AbAEE) In Rats

The health benefits of extracts from Agaricus bisporus greatly extend its use as components of new functional foods for the treatment and prevention of diseases, rather than restricting it to a good food with high nutritional value and good flavor. A. bisporus aqueous enzymatic extracts (AbAEE) have unique flavor, good taste, and health benefits which makes it a good candidate for its incorporation in different matrices for development of new functional foods and nutraceuticals. The potential use of AbAEE as nutraceutical or incorporated as a part of new functional foods requires its characterization and a subsequent food safety study. The focus of this paper was to carry out a preliminary toxicological study on experimental animals (rats in this case) by acute and sub-chronic oral administration. To evaluate potential adverse effects of AbAEE at high doses the acute toxic class method was used. After administration of the preset doses, behavior changes, toxic symptoms, and deaths were observed continuously for 1 h after treatment and then intermittently at 4th, 8th and 24th h. After these initial observations, the rats were further observed for up to 14 consecutive days for any signs of toxicity and/or death. Because of the likelihood that the results obtained in this preliminary acute toxicity test have a direct relevance for protecting human health with respect to the use of AbAEE as a functional food or nutraceutial, an additional upper dose level of 5000 mg/kg b.wt. was used. Since no death was observed, the LD50 could not be estimated but is expected to exceed 5000 mg/kg and this extract could be classified as hazard category 5 (in Globally Harmonized Classification System for Chemical Substances and Mixtures.) or even unclassified for its acute toxicity by the oral route. The sub-chronic oral toxicity study of AbAEE (250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt. day) did not induce significant alterations in almost all hematological and biochemical parameters in rats. Therefore, the overall results of the present study provide supportive data on the use of AbAEE and provide a promising first step for their use as component of new functional foods or as nutraceutical. Though, further studies in both, animals and humans are needed for better evaluation of the food safety of this extract.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO). España IPT- 2011-1418-060000FEDER IPT- 2011-1418-06000

Análisis de experiencias en la impartición de Ingeniería Software I

En este artículo se analizan las experiencias obtenidas tras la impartición docente de la materia de Ingeniería Software I. Esta asignatura tiene un fuerte carácter práctico, por lo que el análisis es efectuado uno a uno por los resultados obtenidos por cada una de las prácticas. Y, finalmente, se realiza una valoración global, tras lo cual se determinan las acciones propuestas que mejoren su docencia en el próximo curso

La Función Informática en la Empresa

La impartición de una asignatura por vez primera tiene siempre dificultades. Sin embargo éstas pueden ser aún mayores si se trata de una materia cuyos contenidos han quedado obsoletos respecto del momento en el que se redactó el Plan de estudios, y el perfil de profesores encargados también cambia. En esta ponencia se explica y se justifica el proceso por el que se ha desarrollado un programa para la asignatura, resaltando especialmente la selección de contenidos y los ejercicios en los que se basa la evaluación