Strain Relief Analysis of InN Quantum Dots Grown on GaN

We present a study by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the strain state of individual InN quantum dots (QDs) grown on GaN substrates. Moiré fringe and high resolution TEM analyses showed that the QDs are almost fully relaxed due to the generation of a 60° misfit dislocation network at the InN/GaN interface. By applying the Geometric Phase Algorithm to plan-view high-resolution micrographs, we show that this network consists of three essentially non-interacting sets of misfit dislocations lying along the directions. Close to the edge of the QD, the dislocations curve to meet the surface and form a network of threading dislocations surrounding the system

Infrequent loss of luminal differentiation in ductal breast cancer metastasis

Lymph node involvement is a major prognostic variable in breast cancer. Whether the molecular mechanisms that drive breast cancer cells to colonize lymph nodes are shared with their capacity to form distant metastases is yet to be established. In a transcriptomic survey aimed at identifying molecular factors associated with lymph node involvement of ductal breast cancer, we found that luminal differentiation, assessed by the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) and GATA3, was only infrequently lost in node-positive primary tumors and in matched lymph node metastases. The transcription factor GATA3 critically determines luminal lineage specification of mammary epithelium and is widely considered a tumor and metastasis suppressor in breast cancer. Strong expression of GATA3 and ER in a majority of primary node-positive ductal breast cancer was corroborated by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in the initial sample set, and by immunohistochemistry in an additional set from 167 patients diagnosed of node-negative and -positive primary infiltrating ductal breast cancer, including 102 samples from loco-regional lymph node metastases matched to their primary tumors, as well as 37 distant metastases. These observations suggest that loss of luminal differentiation is not a major factor driving the ability of breast cancer cells to colonize regional lymph nodes

Environmental education through musical education

La Educación Ambiental supone un reto importante para la actualidad. Atendiendo a la situación crítica de nuestro planeta y con la obligación moral de sensibilizar al alumno en sus primeros años se pretende, utilizando el carácter interdisciplinario de la Educación Musical, dar a conocer las diferentes posturas y elementos que ambas áreas tienen en común. Este supone un primer paso indispensable y necesario, antes de realizar una posible propuesta de intervención pedagógicaEnvironmental Education is a major challenge for today. Attending to the critical situation of our planet and with the moral obligation to sensitize the student in its early years it is intended, by means of the interdisciplinary nature of Music Education, to release the different positions and elements that both areas have in common. This is an essential and necessary first step, before making a possible proposal for pedagogical interventio

Reduction of Preneoplastic Lesions Induced by 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine in Rat Colon by Maslinic Acid, a Pentacyclic Triterpene from Olea europaea L.

Maslinic acid triggers compelling antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in different human cancer cell lines. Hence, the chemopreventive activity was investigated on early stages of carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) which is a model that mimics human sporadic colorectal cancer. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered either maslinic acid at 5, 10 or 25 mg/kg dissolved in (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin 20% (w/v) or the solvent for 49 days. After one week of treatment, animals received three weekly intraperitoneal injections of DMH at the dose of 20 mg/kg. Maslinic acid reduced the preneoplastic biomarkers, aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and mucin-depleted foci (MDF), already at 5 mg/kg in a 15% and 27%, respectively. The decline was significant at 25 mg/kg with decreases of 33% and 51%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed a significant association between the concentrations of maslinic acid found in the colon and the reduction of ACF (r = 0.999, P = 0.019) and MDF (r = 0.997, P = 0.049). The present findings demonstrate that maslinic acid induced an inhibition of the initiation stages of carcinogenesis. The assessment of this pentacyclic triterpene at the colon sheds light for designing diets with foods rich in maslinic acid to exert a chemopreventive activity in colorectal cancer

Classdojo: a gamification and communication tool for the improvement of the educational process

En este estudio se aborda la influencia que pueden tener herramientas de gamificación y comunicación en el proceso educativo, más concretamente en la etapa de la Educación Primaria. Se presenta la plataforma y aplicación ClassDojo como una de las más atractivas para ello y con una aportación motivacional bastante relevante en el alumnado. A través de este estudio realizaremos una visión pormenorizada de las diferentes funcionalidades que nos otorga la herramienta para ello.This study addresses the influence that gamification and communication tools may have on the educational process, more precisely in the stage of Primary Education. The ClassDojo platform and application is presented as one of the most attractive for this field and with a very relevant motivational contribution in the students. Through this study we will carry out a a detailed view of the different functionalities that the tool gives us

Traditional and new strategies in the primary prevention of eating disorders: a comparative study in Spanish adolescents

Ignacio Jáuregui Lobera1, Pilar León Lozano2, Patricia Bolaños Ríos3, Juan Romero Candau2, Gregorio Sánchez del Villar y Lebreros4, M Teresa Morales Millán1,5, M Teresa Montaña González1,5, Lourdes Andrés Martín2, Isabela Justo Villalobos2, Nuria Vargas Sánchez21Área de Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidad Pablo de Olavide; 2Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos; 3Instituto de Ciencias de la Conducta; 4Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria “Murillo”; 5Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, SpainBackground: Research conducted to date into the primary prevention of eating disorders (ED) has mainly considered the provision of information regarding risk factors. Consequently, there is a need to develop new methods that go a step further, promoting a change in attitudes and behavior in the target population.Objective: This study describes an adaptation of the Girls’ Group model to the Spanish context, the main objective being to compare two types of intervention, ie, one based on this model and the other following the traditional approach of providing information. The ultimate aim was to implement a prevention program that reduces the risk factors and boosts the protection factors that have been empirically shown to be related to ED.Methods: On the basis of previous research on the primary prevention of ED, and taking into account recognized risk and protective factors, the following topics were addressed: nutritional aspects; self-esteem; coping strategies; the ideal image of what is attractive and role of the media; and body image. The total sample (174 girls and 197 boys) was divided into 12 work groups, six for the intervention group (one school) and six for the control group (two schools). School-based input (intervention group) was provided by a pharmacist, a psychologist, a qualified nutritionist/dietician, and specialist support staff (psychologists and/or educators) and teachers of the three schools.Results: Participation in the intervention group reduced body dissatisfaction (F = 13.41; P < 0.01), the drive to thinness (F = 10.79; P < 0.01), and the influence of the media with respect to the esthetic body shape model (F = 13.90; P < 0.01), while self-esteem (F = 7.34; P < 0.01) and the use of coping strategies (F = 13.74; P < 0.01) both improved. There was also an improvement in the eating habits of participants, with better outcomes being achieved when intervening with females.Conclusions: The present study shows that in the primary prevention of eating disorders, better outcomes are achieved by new models which target the attitudes and behavior of adolescents rather than focusing solely on the provision of risk information to raise awareness.Keywords: coping strategies, adolescence, primary prevention, eating disorders, positive psycholog

The diet of the first Europeans from Atapuerca

Hominin dietary specialization is crucial to understanding the evolutionary changes of craniofacial biomechanics and the interaction of food processing methods’ effects on teeth. However, the diet-related dental wear processes of the earliest European hominins remain unknown because most of the academic attention has focused on Neandertals. Non-occlusal dental microwear provides direct evidence of the effect of chewed food particles on tooth enamel surfaces and reflects dietary signals over time. Here, we report for the first time the direct effect of dietary abrasiveness as evidenced by the buccal microwear patterns on the teeth of the Sima del Elefante-TE9 and Gran Dolina-TD6 Atapuerca hominins (1.2–0.8 million years ago − Myr) as compared with other Lower and Middle Pleistocene populations. A unique buccal microwear pattern that is found in Homo antecessor (0.96–0.8 Myr), a well-known cannibal species, indicates dietary practices that are consistent with the consumption of hard and brittle foods. Our findings confirm that the oldest European inhabitants ingested more mechanically-demanding diets than later populations because they were confronted with harsh, fluctuating environmental conditions. Furthermore, the influence of grit-laden food suggests that a high-quality meat diet from butchering processes could have fueled evolutionary changes in brain size.This work was supported by the research grants, from the Dirección General de Investigación of Ministerio Ciencia y Tecnología (Spain), numbers CGL2007-60802/BTE, CGL2011-22999, CGL2012-38434-C03-01/02/03 and CGL2014-52611-C2-1-P, as well as by the grant 2009SGR884 Group of Study on the Evolution of Hominins and other Primates and grant 2014SGR900 Group of Analyses on Socio-Ecological Processes, Cultural Changes and Population Dynamics during Prehistory (GAPS) and CERCA Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya

A GIS-based offshore wind site selection model using fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making with application to the case of the Gulf of Maine

In the last decades, a considerable number of studies have been conducted to find the optimal locations for renewable energy facilities. The reviewed literature demonstrates how the combination of spatial representation computer tools, such as geographic information systems (GIS), with multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodologies, has successfully solved the problem of identifying optimal locations. Furthermore, since the appearance of fuzzy logic, the combination approaches have extended to the field of fuzzy sets to consider the imprecision and vagueness that some criteria may involve. In this paper, we propose a comparative analysis among fuzzy versions of MCDM methodologies, including GIS technologies, for the optimal site selection of offshore wind power plants. With this aim, we combined a classical pair-wise comparison method (AHP) with two distance-based approaches (TOPSIS and VIKOR), applying GIS software and comparing the two most extended fuzzy membership functions: triangular and linear. As a case study, this optimal location problem was applied to offshore wind site selection in the Gulf of Maine (USA). Initially, 56 alternatives for potential locations were identified from 22,331 km study area. After applying the AHP methodology, the weights of the criteria were obtained, turning out to be the wind speed and bathymetry the most important criteria. The results demonstrate the robustness of the fuzzy TOPSIS methodology against potential variations in the criteria weights, since the best alternatives (optimal locations) and almost 90% of the 25 top–ranked alternatives were matching. Likewise, the rankings of alternatives illustrate that the use of triangular or linear fuzzy membership functions does not cause significant differences after applying the fuzzy VIKOR methodology and ArcGIS software. In fact, the most appropriate alternative is the same for both cases, and there is only an exchange of positions among the top–ranked alternatives. The proposed solutions can be applied to other locations and both onshore and offshore installations.2021-2

Surgical Infection Reduction Program of the Observatory of Surgical Infection (PRIQ-O): Delphi prioritization and consensus document on recommendations for the prevention of surgical site infection

La infección de localización quirúrgica es la complicación más frecuente y más evitable de la cirugía, pero las guías clínicas para su prevención tienen un seguimiento insuficiente. Presentamos los resultados de un consenso Delphi realizado por un panel de expertos de 17 sociedades científicas con revisión crítica de la evidencia científica y guías internacionales, para seleccionar las medidas con mayor grado de evidencia y facilitar su implementación. Se revisaron 40 medidas y se emitieron 53 recomendaciones. Se priorizan 10 medidas principales para su inclusión en bundles de prevención: ducha preoperatoria; correcta higiene quirúrgica de manos; no eliminación del vello del campo quirúrgico o eliminación con maquinilla eléctrica; profilaxis antibiótica sistémica adecuada; uso de abordajes mínimamente invasivos; descontaminación de la piel con soluciones alcohólicas; mantenimiento de la normotermia; protectores-retractores plásticos de herida; cambio de guantes intraoperatorio, y cambio de material quirúrgico y auxiliar antes del cierre de las heridasSurgical site infection is the most frequent and avoidable complication of surgery, but clinical guidelines for its prevention are insufficiently followed. We present the results of a Delphi consensus carried out by a panel of experts from 17 Scientific Societies with a critical review of the scientific evidence and international guidelines, to select the measures with the highest degree of evidence and facilitate their implementation. Forty measures were reviewed and 53 recommendations were issued. Ten main measures were prioritized for inclusion in prevention bundles: preoperative shower; correct surgical hand hygiene; no hair removal from the surgical field or removal with electric razors; adequate systemic antibiotic prophylaxis; use of minimally invasive approaches; skin decontamination with alcoholic solutions; maintenance of normothermia; plastic wound protectors-retractors; intraoperative glove change; and change of surgical and auxiliary material before wound closur

¿Son las universidades socialmente responsables? Una iniciativa a través de los Proyectos Fin de Carrera

La presente comunicación propone la posibilidad de realizar parte de los proyectos final de carrera de las titulaciones con un fin social para que la Universidad pueda incluirse en las empresas o entidades socialmente responsables. Se presentan las ideas de dos experiencias como indicadores de esta línea que pueden ser fácilmente trasladables, adaptadas o simplemente como punto de partida desde la reflexión de las mismas