In virtual coordinates: an interdisciplinary experience between institutions of higher education

El propósito del presente trabajo consiste en analizar, desde un paradigma crítico-propositivo, las percepciones de los estudiantes que participaron en una experiencia innovadora de carácter intercultural e interdisciplinario entre la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (Argentina) y la Universidad de Sevilla (España), durante el ciclo lectivo 2012 y bajo la modalidad de grupos de trabajo cooperativos. La experiencia se centra en el desarrollo de competencias personales y participativas para la organización de grupos en Argentina con grupos espejo en España a fin de consensuar criterios, desarrollar tareas de carácter cooperativo y colaborativo y aunar aportes disciplinares a partir de diferentes pautas culturales e intereses. Los resultados evidencian la importancia de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) como soporte para el logro de objetivos más altos y demuestran que su aprendizaje -a pesar de estar subordinado al desarrollo de otras competencias- interesa al estudiante más allá de la aprobación de un requisito curricular, por el alcance en el desarrollo de su capital social y culturalThe purpose of this paper is to analyse, from a critical paradigm-purposing, the perceptions of the students who participated in an innovative intercultural and interdisciplinary experience between the National University of Mar del Plata (Argentina) and the University of Sevilla (Spain) during the 2012 school year and in the form of cooperative work groups The experience focuses on the development of personal and participatory skills for organizing groups in Argentina with mirror groups in Spain to agree on criteria, develop cooperative and collaborative tasks and combine disciplinary contributions from different cultural patterns and interests. The results show the importance of ICT as a support for the achievement of higher goals and demonstrate that their learning - despite being subordinate to the development of other competences- interested students beyond the adoption of a curricular requirement, due to the scope in the development of their social and cultural capital

Texture Evolution of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Sheet at High Strain Rates

In the current contribution the mechanical behaviour at high strain rates of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet is studied. Uniaxial deformation properties were studied by means of tensile split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) at different temperatures. The influence of the strain rate and temperature on the deformation mechanisms was investigated by means of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and neutron diffraction. It is shown that twinning plays an important role on high strain rate deformation of this alloy, even at elevated temperatures. Significant evidence of prismatic slip as a deformation mechanism is observed, also at warm temperatures, leading to the alignment of directions with the tensile axis and to a spread of the intensities of the basal pole figure towards the in-plane direction perpendicular to the tensile axis. The rate of decrease of the CRSS of non-basal systems is observed to be slower than at quasi-static rates. Secondary twinning and pyramidal slip were also outlined for some conditions. At warm temperatures, in contrast to quasi-static range, a generalized dynamic recrystallization is not observed. Moreover, the activation of rotational recrystallization mechanisms is reporte

Twinning and grain subdivision during dynamic deformation of a Mg AZ31 sheet alloy at room temperature

The microstructural evolution of an AZ31 rolled sheet during dynamic deformation at strain rates of ∼103 s−1 has been investigated by electron backscatter diffraction, X-ray and neutron diffraction. The influence of orientation on the predominant deformation mechanisms and on the recovery processes taking place during deformation has been systematically examined. The results have been compared with those corresponding to the same alloy tested quasi-statically under equivalent conditions. It has been found that strain rate enhances the activation of extension twinning dramatically, while contraction and secondary twinning are not significantly influenced. The polarity of extension twinning is even reversed in some grains under selected testing conditions. Significant grain subdivision by the formation of geometrically necessary boundaries (GNBs) takes place during both quasi-static and dynamic deformation of this AZ31 alloy. It is remarkable that GNBs of high misorientations form even at the highest strain rates. The phenomenon of recovery has been found to be orientation dependen

To take or not to take the laptop or tablet to classes, that is the question

In recent decades, so-called mobile learning or m-learning has become a new paradigm in education as a consequence of technological advances and the widespread use of mobile devices to access information and for communication. In this context, this paper analyzes different profiles depending on students’ preferences for taking mobile devices (specifically tablets and/or laptops) to economics classes at the University of Seville (Spain). A survey-based field study of a sample of 412 students and the application of bivariate probit models show a low level of mobile device integration in teaching (devices taken to class by only 29.8% of respondents) with a slight predominance of laptops. The results also show differences between users of the two types of devices. Students who take their laptops to class usually live at home with their family, have already used them in pre-university levels, and are concerned about recharging their devices in class. However, although users who take their tablets to class also live with their parents, they are much more active on social network sites and more concerned about the quality of the internet connection. These findings enable the design of strategies to encourage students to attend class with their own mobile devices

Detection of Intratumor Heterogeneity in Modern Pathology: A Multisite Tumor Sampling Perspective

Current sampling protocols of neoplasms along the digestive tract and in the urinary bladder have to be updated, as they do not respond to the necessities of modern personalized medicine. We show here that an adapted version of multisite tumor sampling (MSTS) is a sustainable model to overcome current deficiencies in digestive and bladder tumors when they are large enough so as to make unaffordable a total sampling. The new method is based on the divide-and-conquer algorithm and includes a slight modification of the MSTS, which proved to be useful very recently in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This in silico analysis confirms the usefulness of MSTS for detecting intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) in tumors arising in hollow viscera. However, MSTS does not seem to improve routine traditional sampling in detecting tumor budding, extramural venous invasion, and perineural invasion. We conclude that (1) MSTS is the best method for tumor sampling to detect ITH balancing high performance and sustainable cost, (2) MSTS must be adapted to tumor shape and tumor location for an optimal performance.JC acknowledges financial support from Ikerbasque: The Basque Foundation for Science. This work was partially funded by grant SAF2013-48812-R from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) to JL; grant DPI2016-79874-R from Ministerio Economia y Competitividad (Spain) and FEDER to JC

Análisis de la melodía: oraciones simples vs. compuestas

El objetivo de la investigación que aquí se presenta es comparar la melodía (Frecuencia Fundamental o F0) de un conjunto de oraciones simples (de conclusión y de no conclusión), coordinadas (copulativas y adversativas) y subordinadas (condicionales con si y causales con porque) delimitadas a partir de textos orales, elegidos al azar, emitidos en un estilo semiespontáneo por 43 informantes con un nivel de instrucción medio-alto o alto de las capitales de las Islas Canarias. Nuestro interés se ha centrado en la inflexión final (tonema) y en la dirección de la F0 en tres líneas de declinación trazadas a partir del punto de partida y el punto de llegada de las curvas de F0 (D1) y de los picos de altura tonal: la línea de altura tonal (D2) y la de los valles tonales (D3). El análisis acústico se efectuó con el CSL 4300 de Kay Elemetric Co.The aim of the following research is to compare the melody (the Fundamental Frequency or F0) in a set of simple conclusion and no conclusion sentences, of compound copulative and adversative clauses and of conditional and causal subordinated clauses. These sentences have been chosen at random and taken from semispontaneus speech by 43 middle-high or high level informants, from the very principal cities of the Canary Islands. Our interest has centred on the final inflexion tonema) and the direction of the F0 on three declination lines planned from the initial point to the arrival one of the F0 curves (D1), and from the Turning points: the Topline (D2) and the Baseline or Bottom line (D3). The acoustic analysis was carried out with the CSL 4300 of Kay Elemetric Co.El objetivo de la investigación que aquí se presenta es comparar la melodía (Frecuencia Fundamental o F0) de un conjunto de oraciones simples (de conclusión y de no conclusión), coordinadas (copulativas y adversativas) y subordinadas (condicionales con si y causales con porque) delimitadas a partir de textos orales, elegidos al azar, emitidos en un estilo semiespontáneo por 43 informantes con un nivel de instrucción medio-alto o alto de las capitales de las Islas Canarias. Nuestro interés se ha centrado en la inflexión final (tonema) y en la dirección de la F0 en tres líneas de declinación trazadas a partir del punto de partida y el punto de llegada de las curvas de F0 (D1) y de los picos de altura tonal: la línea de altura tonal (D2) y la de los valles tonales (D3). El análisis acústico se efectuó con el CSL 4300 de Kay Elemetric Co

Effect of ZnO, ZrO2 and B2O3 on clinkerization process. Part I. Clinkerization reactions and clinker composition

El empleo de residuos cerámicos como materia prima alternativa en la fabricación del crudo de cemento Portland, aumenta el contenido de ZnO, ZrO2 y B2O3 en el clinker. Estos elementos se encuentran en la capa esmaltada de los residuos cerámicos incorporados al crudo. Por ello el presente trabajo de investigación aborda el estudio del efecto que tiene la adición en el crudo de contenidos del 0,5 y 2% de ZnO, ZrO2 y B2O3 de manera individual y conjunta en los procesos de clinkerización, en la distribución y morfología de las fases mineralógicas del clinker. Los resultados obtenidos han demostrado que el ZnO y ZrO2 permanecen fijados en el clinker, sin embargo el B2O3 se volatiliza parcialmente. El ZnO actúa como fundente, mientras que el ZrO2 y el B2O3 no aumentan el contenido de fase fundida. La adición de estos óxidos al crudo modifica el contenido de las principales fases mineralógicas del clinker. El ZnO disminuye los contenidos de C3S y C3A, el ZrO2 disminuye marcadamente la fase ferrítica y el B2O3 estabiliza el C2S. En los clinkeres obtenidos a partir de la adición del 2% de ZnO y ZrO2 se identifica la presencia de nuevas fases mineralógicas, 3CaO·ZnO·2Al2O3, y CaZrO3The use of clay-based product waste as an alternative prime material in Portland cement raw mixes raises the ZnO, ZrO2 and B2O3 content in the clinker. These compounds are found in the enamelled surface of the tile added to the raw mix. The present study explores the effect of adding 0.5 and 2% ZnO, ZrO2 and B2O3 to the raw mix, separately and jointly, on clinkerization and the distribution and morphology of the mineral phases in the clinker. The findings showed that while ZnO and ZrO2 are fixed in the clinker, B2O3 is partially volatized. Zinc oxide acted as a flux, while neither ZrO2 nor B2O3 increased the molten phase. The addition of the oxides to the raw mix changed the content of the main mineral phases in the clinker. Zinc oxide lowered the C3S and C3A contents, ZrO2 reduced the ferritic phase and B2O3 stabilized C2S. New mineral phases, namely 3CaO·ZnO·2Al2O3 and CaZrO3, were identified in the clinkers obtained when 2% ZnO and ZrO2 were added to the raw mi

Perspectivas y retos de los extractos vegetales como aditivos alimentarios en rumiantes

Algunas plantas producen y almacenan compuestos secundarios que ejercen actividades beneficiosas en el organismo humano y animal. En lo que se refiere a su uso en alimentación animal, constituyen una alternativa natural a los aditivos antibióticos promotores del crecimiento, cuyo uso en rumiantes se ha centrado fundamentalmente en sus efectos sobre la fermentación rumial

Presente y perspectivas de futuro en la UE del empleo de probióticos en la alimentación de rumiantes

En este artículo se describe, en primer lugar, la situación legal actual de los probióticos como aditivos en la alimentación de los animales rumiantes en la Unión Europea (UE). A continuación se repasan sus mecanismos de acción, considerando especialmente los últimos avances científicos en referencia a sus acciones sobre las poblaciones microbianas ruminales, y se analizan los factores que influyen en la respuesta de los animales a la administración de estos aditivos. Finalmente, se detallan brevemente las perspectivas de futuro de los probióticos en el ámbito de la ganadería de rumiantes europea

Immunogenicity of NS4b dengue 3 virus mimotope presented to the immune system as multiple antigen peptide system

The availability of random peptide libraries displayed on bacteriophage (RPL) has provided a powerful tool for selecting sequences that mimic binding properties of natural antigen epitopes (mimotopes). These mimotopes can be used for vaccine design, drug development, and diagnostic assays. Several mimotopes have been shown to induce production of antibodies against the natural antigen. We have previously identified four dengue virus mimotopes from a phage-displayed peptide library using antidengue 3 human sera. Three of them showed similarity in their amino acid sequences with the NS4b proteins of dengue. Few studies have examined the role of NS4b proteins in the antibody response to dengue virus infection. A multiple antigen peptide (MAP) system was chemically synthesized containing this mimotope (NS4b MAP), and BALB/c mice were immunized to evaluate its immunogenicity. Antipeptide responses were induced and recognised DENV-3 infected cells as determined by immunofluorescence. The high levels of the IgG2a subtype against NS4bMAP suggest the induction of a Th1-like response. Our findings suggest that the NS4b mimotope might be a useful tool for the development of multiepitope diagnostic assays, dengue virus vaccine design, and pathogenesis studies