Instructional Changes Adopted for an Engineering Course: Cluster Analysis on Academic Failure

As first-year students come from diverse backgrounds, basic skills should be accessible to everyone as soon as possible. Transferring such skills to these students is challenging, especially in highly technical courses. Ensuring that essential knowledge is acquired quickly promotes the student’s self-esteem and may positively influence failure rates. Metaphors can help do this. Metaphors are used to understand the unknown. This paper shows how we made a turn in student learning at the University of Almeria. Our hypothesis assumed that metaphors accelerate the acquisition of basic knowledge so that other skills built on that foundation are easily learned. With these goals in mind, we changed the way we teach by using metaphors and abstract concepts in a computer organisation course, a technical course in the first year of an information technology engineering degree. Cluster analysis of the data on collective student performance after this methodological change clearly identified two distinct groups. These two groups perfectly matched the before and after scenarios of the use of metaphors. The study was conducted during 11 academic years (2002/2003 to 2012/2013). The 475 observations made during this period illustrate the usefulness of this change in teaching and learning, shifting from a propositional teaching/learning model to a more dynamic model based on metaphors and abstractions. Data covering the whole period showed favourable evolution of student achievement and reduced failure rates, not only in this course, but also in many of the following more advanced courses.The paper is structured in five sections. The first gives an introduction, the second describes the methodology. The third section describes the sample and the study carried out. The fourth section presents the results and, finally, the fifth section discusses the main conclusions

A new cosmological tracker solution for Quintessence

In this paper we propose a quintessence model with the potential $V(\Phi )=V_{o}[ \sinh {(\alpha \sqrt{\kappa_{o}}\Delta \Phi})] ^{\beta}$, which asymptotic behavior corresponds to an inverse power-law potential at early times and to an exponential one at late times. We demonstrate that this is a tracker solution and that it could have driven the Universe into its current inflationary stage. The exact solutions and the description for a complete evolution of the Universe are also given. We compare such model with the current cosmological observations.Comment: 13 pages REVTeX, 5 eps color figure

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF POSSIBLE POSITIONS OF THE WATCHTOWER NETWORK OF THE MOTA FORTRESS IN ALCALA LA REAL, USING VISUAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

[EN] The cultural heritage plays a very important role in the Smart management of an area, and geospatial technologies are a perfect tool for the heritage knowledge, management and analysis. Photogrammetry, UAV systems and geographic information systems, can help in cataloguing the cultural heritage of a city. The main turistic value for Alcalá la Real, is the Monumental Group of the Fortress of La Mota and their related monuments. As the principal objetive of the Project, an analysis and the calculation of the optimal location of the watchtower network is made. To achieve this, on the one hand photogrammetry technics are used to get the geometric information of the studied area. On the other hand, photogrammetry through UAV systems is used to obtain the 3D model of one of the watchtowers, which is better preserved than others. Finally, programming tools are applied over GIS for the analysis and calculation of the optimal location of this watchtower network.[ES] El patrimonio cultural juega un papel importante en la gestión inteligente de un territorio, y las técnicas geoespaciales son una perfecta herramienta para el conocimiento, gestión y análisis de dicho patrimonio. Elementos como la fotogrametría, los sistemas UAV y los sistemas de información geográfica, pueden contribuir en gran medida a la catalogación y puesta en valor del patrimonio de una ciudad. Alcalá la Real tiene al Conjunto Monumental de la Fortaleza de la Mota y elementos relacionados como motor principal del atractivo turístico de la ciudad. Motivo por el que se plantea utilizar diversas técnicas geoespaciales para el estudio y análisis de parte de ese patrimonio. Concretamente, como objetivo principal del trabajo, se plantea el análisis y la determinación de la ubicación óptima de la red de atalayas. Para ello se utilizan técnicas fotogramétricas para obtener la información geométrica de la zona de estudio a partir de imágenes de un vuelo fotogramétrico. Por otro lado, para el conocimiento de las características de las atalayas, se realiza el modelado de una de las mejor conservadas, mediante fotogrametría con sistemas UAV. Finalmente, se utilizan herramientas de programación sobre sistemas de información geográfica para el análisis y la determinación de la ubicación óptima de la red de atalayas.Rosales Ávila, FJ.; Pérez-García, JL.; Colomo, C.; Gómez-López, JM.; Ureña, MA. (2016). MODELIZACIÓN Y SIMULACION DE LAS POSIBLES POSICIONES DE LAS ATALAYAS DE LA FORTALEZA DE LA MOTA EN ALCALA LA REAL, MEDIANTE TECNICAS DE ANALISIS VISUAL. En 8th International congress on archaeology, computer graphics, cultural heritage and innovation. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 184-190. https://doi.org/10.4995/arqueologica8.2015.3562OCS18419

Biodiversity Assessment and Geographical Affinities of Discards in Clam Fisheries in the Atlantic–Mediterranean Transition (Northern Alboran Sea)

This study focused on the assessment and quantification of discards generated by clam fisheries along the northern Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean). Discard samples (n = 278) were collected throughout one year on board nine commercial vessels. A total of 129 species were identified, mostly represented by molluscs (72 spp.), arthropods (20 spp.) and echinoderms (12 spp.). Molluscs dominated in terms of abundance (67.5%) and biomass (94.2%). The superfamily Paguroidea (i.e. hermit crabs), together with undersized target individuals, were the most abundant taxa. The abundance and biomass of discards displayed significant maximum values in winter, which could be partly related to biotic factors including population dynamics of some dominant species. Multivariate analyses indicated the presence of different assemblages related to the targeted bivalve species, reflecting the transition between a fine surface-sands biocoenosis exposed to wave action and a well-sorted fine sands biocoenosis below 5 m depth. Analysis of biogeographical affinities showed that most discarded species (73.2%) have an extensive Atlantic range, whereas 7.1% have a restricted distribution within the Mediterranean. The presence of subtropical species highlights the uniqueness of this area (the Atlantic–Mediterranean transition) in European seas. The usefulness of discard analysis for biodiversity assessment is discussed.Postprin

Scalar field "mini--MACHOs": a new explanation for galactic dark matter

We examine the possibility that galactic halos are collisionless ensembles of scalar field ``massive compact halo objects'' (MACHOs). Using mass constraints from MACHO microlensing and from theoretical arguments on halos made up of massive black holes, as well as demanding also that scalar MACHO ensambles of all scales do not exhibit gravothermal instability (as required by consistency with observations of LSB galaxies), we obtain the range: m\alt 10^{-7} M_\odot or 30 M_\odot\alt m\alt 100 M_\odot. The rather narrow mass range of large MACHOs seems to indicate that the ensambles we are suggesting should be probably made up of scalar MACHOs in the low mass range (``mini--MACHOs''). The proposed model allows one to consider a non--baryonic and non--thermal fundamental nature of dark matter, while at the same time keeping the same phenomenology of the CDM paradigm.Comment: 5 pages, 1 eps figure. RevTex 4 style. To appear in Physical Review

Spatial distribution of fishing fleets in a future Fishery Protected Area in the Malaga Bay (Northwestern Alboran Sea).

Málaga Bay is an important area from the icthyoplankton viewpoint where it is possible to find more than 80 species belonging to 68 genera and 41 families. Furthermore, the bay is an essential spawning and nursery area for many species of commercial interest, such as sardine (Sardina pilchardus), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), Atlantic horse-mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), Mediterranean horse-mackerel (T. mediterraneus) or hake (Merluccius merluccius). Local bottom trawl, purse seine and polyvalent artisanal fleets, have traditionally fished in this bay targeting on many species of fishes, crustaceans and molluscs. An ecological and fisheries study was undertaken in 2013 and 2014 with the purpose of assessing the suitability of Málaga Bay as a Fishery Protected Area. One of the important aspects taken into account is the spatial distribution of the fishing effort to evaluate its impact in the area. The findings achieved in this study are essential and valuable information for a proper fisheries management integrating the ecosystem-based approach into fisheries advice. The results show that Málaga Bay supports a heavy fishing pressure in all the fishing grounds which may affect both its commercial resources and sedimentary habitats.Versión del edito

Non-productive angiogenesis disassembles Aß plaque-associated blood vessels

The human Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain accumulates angiogenic markers but paradoxically, the cerebral microvasculature is reduced around Aß plaques. Here we demonstrate that angiogenesis is started near Aß plaques in both AD mouse models and human AD samples. However, endothelial cells express the molecular signature of non-productive angiogenesis (NPA) and accumulate, around Aß plaques, a tip cell marker and IB4 reactive vascular anomalies with reduced NOTCH activity. Notably, NPA induction by endothelial loss of presenilin, whose mutations cause familial AD and which activity has been shown to decrease with age, produced a similar vascular phenotype in the absence of Aß pathology. We also show that Aß plaque-associated NPA locally disassembles blood vessels, leaving behind vascular scars, and that microglial phagocytosis contributes to the local loss of endothelial cells. These results define the role of NPA and microglia in local blood vessel disassembly and highlight the vascular component of presenilin loss of function in AD

La creación de conocimiento en los deportes de equipo. Sobre el tamaño de la muestra y la generalización de los resultados

La ciencia se ha incorporado de una manera definitiva al deporte. Las decisiones que toman los preparadores están soportadas cada vez más por el conocimiento científico. Al finalizar un entrenamiento o un partido, cualquier deportista traslada a los técnicos una enorme cantidad de datos de todo tipo. Si se ha utilizado un dispositivo de localización GPS, el preparador físico sabrá qué distancia ha recorrido cada jugador durante la sesión, a que velocidades, con qué frecuencia se han producido la acciones técnicotácticas, las aceleraciones y desaceleraciones, la potencia de golpeo,… Si además el club dispone de sistemas todavía más sofisticados de recogida de información podrá recopilar el número de pases, los lanzamientos, la distancia entre jugadores, los mapas de calor de cada jugador,… Incluso es posible que se interrogue al deportista acerca de su percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo o su estado de ánimo. Los grandes clubes deportivos son verdaderos centros de I+D+I, preocupados por investigar todos los aspectos que puedan mejorar el rendimiento de los deportistas. Cada equipo dispone de un pequeño ejército de analistas, preparadores físicos, fisioterapeutas, recuperadores, ayudantes,… que intentan aportar desde su parcela datos para incrementar la probabilidad de ganar.&nbsp

Benthic-demersal communities of circalittoral soft bottoms of Málaga Bay

The Bay of Málaga is located in a biodiversity hotspot with high productivity that favors a wide variety of commercial and non-commercial species as well as fishing fleet types. Benthic and demersal fauna from circalittoral soft bottoms of this bay have been studied using a benthic dredge (8 sampling stations in December 2013) and an otter trawl (8 sampling stations on a seasonal basis). Sediment and water properties have also been studied in order to analyze their relationships with the benthic and demersal communities. A total of 287 spp. have been found, being molluscs and fishes the most diverse and abundant ones in the samples. A low number of species (44 spp.) were only collected with both sampling gears, indicating the importance on combining sampling methods in biodiversity studies. Benthic dredge samples displayed some differences in relation to depth and sediment types, whereas differences of otter trawl samples seemed to be more influenced by seasonal changes. SIMPER analyses indicated that temporal variation was due to seasonal changes of abundance of some species of commercial interest. This seasonal variability should be taken into account in further management of this area as a potential new Fisheries Reserve.Versión del edito

Gene Therapy Corrects Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells and Fibroblasts from Coq9R239X Mice

This study has been submitted to the patent's offices at the "University of Granada" and "Fundación Progreso y Salud". Please note that the results of this manuscript have been submitted to patent protection (application number P201630630; title: “Uses of Coenzyme Q biosynthetic proteins”; date:05/16/2016).Recent clinical trials have shown that in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy strategies can be an option for the treatment of several neurological disorders. Both strategies require efficient and safe vectors to 1) deliver the therapeutic gene directly into the CNS or 2) to genetically modify stem cells that will be used as Trojan horses for the systemic delivery of the therapeutic protein. A group of target diseases for these therapeutic strategies are mitochondrial encephalopathies due to mutations in nuclear DNA genes. In this study, we have developed a lentiviral vector (CCoq9WP) able to overexpress Coq9 mRNA and COQ9 protein in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from Coq9R239X mice, an animal model of mitochondrial encephalopathy due to primary Coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency. Ectopic over-expression of Coq9 in both cell types restored the CoQ biosynthetic pathway and mitochondrial function, improving the fitness of the transduced cells. These results show the potential of the CCoq9WP lentiviral vector as a tool for gene therapy to treat mitochondrial encephalopathies.This work was supported by grants from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from the European Union, to LCL through the research grants SAF2013-47761-R and SAF2015-65786-R; by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Spain) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from the European Union through the research grants PI12/01097 and ISCIII Red de Terapia Celular TerCel RD12/0019/0006 to FM; by the Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía-FEDER/Fondo de Cohesion Europeo (FSE) de Andalucía through the research grants P10-CTS-6133 to LCL; P09-CTS-04532, PI-57069, PI-0001/2009 and PAIDI-Bio-326 to F.M.; PI-0160/2012 to KB and PI-0407/2012 to MC; by the NIH through the research P01HD080642 to LCL and by the foundation “todos somos raros, todos somos únicos” to LCL. LCL is supported by the ‘Ramón y Cajal’ National Programme, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (RYC-2011-07643)