Ab initio studies of propene epoxidation on oxidized silver surfaces

Producción CientíficaAb initio density functional simulations have been performed to study the adsorption of propene on partially oxidized silver surfaces and its interaction with surface oxygen. Two different adsorption conformations for propene are studied, with the molecule either intact or forming an Ag–C3H6–O oxymetallacycle (OMC) intermediate. Then, pathways for propene oxide, acrolein and propanone formation have been studied in detail, providing insight into the selectivity of the surfaces. We find that formation of acrolein must necessarily take place from OMC intermediates, requiring at least two neighbouring reactive surface oxygen anions. This suggests a strong relationship between the concentration of surface oxygen and the selectivity of these surfaces.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyect MAT2008-06483-C03-01 and MAT 2011-22781)Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación - Ref. A158A11-

Análisis de los problemas de probabilidad propuestos en las pruebas de acceso a la Universidad en Andalucía

El objetivo de este estudio fue, analizar el contenido de los problemas de probabilidad incluidos en las pruebas de Selectividad del Distrito Andaluz en la especialidad de Bachillerato de Ciencias Sociales. Se han analizado las pruebas realizadas desde 2003 a 2014. Los problemas de probabilidad se han resuelto y mediante un análisis semiótico se ha identificado los experimentos incluidos en el enunciado, el tipo de probabilidad pedida (simple, compuesta y condicional), los teoremas requeridos en su solución y los contextos utilizados en el problema. Un estudio descriptivo de la frecuencia de estas variables permite obtener conclusiones sobre la presencia y la dificultad de los mismos. Estos resultados pueden servir para la elaboración de pruebas futuras y preparar a los estudiantes que tienen que enfrentarse a las mismas

Teaching experience in Geography within The European Higher Education Area-EHEA

El presente artículo presenta la experiencia de formación docente de un grupo de profesores de Geografía de la Universidad de Sevilla, en el marco del Programa de Formación del Profesorado 2009-2010. Los principales objetivos de esta experiencia de formación fueron: analizar el proceso de aprendizaje durante el programa de formación docente, detectar posibles dificultades en el proceso de enseñanza adaptado al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) y, teniendo en cuenta la experiencia, realizar propuestas para la mejora de la docencia en Geografía. La estructura del citado programa de formación se componía de cinco módulos de aprendizaje sobre temas específicos relacionados con la docencia, cuatro sesiones presenciales para resolver dudas, dos cursos de formación, diversas reuniones de coordinación y la grabación de una clase de cada uno de los profesores y su posterior análisis. A pesar de las limitaciones actuales, el EEES supone una oportunidad para la aplicación de nuevas metodologías de trabajo docente, afectando tanto al rol del profesor como del alumno, con nuevas y múltiples posibilidades de trabajo

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Primary Care and the Role of Depression Severity and Treatment Attendance

Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICEvidence suggests the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to prevent depression relapse and decrease depressive symptoms during the acute phase. However, the effectiveness of MBCT in real-world heterogeneous samples treated in clinical health settings, including primary care, has received little attention. This study had two aims: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of MBCT delivered in primary care considering pre-treatment depression scores and (2) to explore the role of participants' characteristics on symptom improvement. Data were obtained from 433 individuals who received MBCT. Participants completed the Personality Inventory for ICD-11 (PiCD) pretreatment and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) pre- and post-treatment. Sixty percent presented moderate-to-severe depression according to scores on the BDI-II, 18.1% presented mild depression, and 21.7% were in the non-depressed range. The severity of pre-treatment depressive symptoms was associated with outcomes. Most individuals who lacked depressive symptoms at baseline remained in the non-clinical range after the treatment. Those in the severe group benefited the most from the intervention, since 35.6% were considered recovered. Rates of deterioration ranged from 2.1 to 2.7%, depending on the depression-baseline scores. Depression severity at the entrance, attendance, and age, but not personality traits, appear to be related to symptom improvement. According to our results, MBCT can be effectively and safely delivered in primary care

Automatic ankle angle detection by integrated RGB and depth camera system

Depth cameras are developing widely. One of their main virtues is that, based on their data and by applying machine learning algorithms and techniques, it is possible to perform body tracking and make an accurate three-dimensional representation of body movement. Specifically, this paper will use the Kinect v2 device, which incorporates a random forest algorithm for 25 joints detection in the human body. However, although Kinect v2 is a powerful tool, there are circumstances in which the device’s design does not allow the extraction of such data or the accuracy of the data is low, as is usually the case with foot position. We propose a method of acquiring this data in circumstances where the Kinect v2 device does not recognize the body when only the lower limbs are visible, improving the ankle angle’s precision employing projection lines. Using a region-based convolutional neural network (Mask RCNN) for body recognition, raw data extraction for automatic ankle angle measurement has been achieved. All angles have been evaluated by inertial measurement units (IMUs) as gold standard. For the six tests carried out at different fixed distances between 0.5 and 4 m to the Kinect, we have obtained (mean ± SD) a Pearson’s coefficient, r = 0.89 ± 0.04, a Spearman’s coefficient, ρ = 0.83 ± 0.09, a root mean square error, RMSE = 10.7 ± 2.6 deg and a mean absolute error, MAE = 7.5 ± 1.8 deg. For the walking test, or variable distance test, we have obtained a Pearson’s coefficient, r = 0.74, a Spearman’s coefficient, ρ = 0.72, an RMSE = 6.4 deg and an MAE = 4.7 deg.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) across projects RTC-2017-6321-1 AEI/FEDER, UE, PID2019-107270RB-C21 AEI/FEDER, UE and FEDER founds

Eurydice read the draft white paper about the role of no university teaching function (MECD II): Continuous teacher training, teacher evaluation, working conditions and supplements and incentives

En este segundo artículo la Unidad Española de Eurydice analiza la formación continua del profesorado en los siguientes aspectos: las necesidades expresadas por los profesores y la respuesta dada en los distintos sistemas educativos europeos, la participación de los docentes y su relación con las necesidades expresadas, y las motivaciones e impedimentos para dicha participación. También se analiza la evaluación que hacen los profesores, apreciando diferencias y similitudes en los enfoques, modelos, fuentes de información y resultados. A continuación se detallan las condiciones laborales del profesorado partiendo de las modalidades de ingreso y de contratación; los salarios oficiales y reales y su relación con el PIB per cápita, con la antigüedad en la carrera docente o con las condiciones de jubilación disponibles y con otros aspectos vinculados más directamente al desempeño diario: horarios laborales y lectivos, ratios de alumnos o disponibilidad de profesionales de apoyo en los centros. Para terminar, se informa sobre la existencia de complementos e incentivos tanto económicos como de ascenso profesional, de formación y desarrollo profesional continuosIn this second article the Spanish Unit of Eurydice analyses the continuous training of the teachers in the following aspects: the needs expressed by the teachers and the response offered by the different European education systems, the teachers´ commitment and their relation to the expressed needs and the motivations and obstacles of this commitment. The evaluation done by the teachers is also analysed, assessing the differences and similarities in the approaches, models, information sources and results. Then the working conditions of the teachers are described starting with the entry and recruitment procedures; the official and real salaries and their relation with the GDP per capita and the length of service or the available retirement conditions and other aspects related with the daily work: the work schedules and the lecture timetables, students´ ratio or the availability of support assistants in the education centres. It finishes informing about the income supplements and the economic and career development incentives, with continuous training and professional improvemen

Mapping the more highlights items by Tripadvisor comments when choosing a hotel in Seville

Tripadvisor se ha convertido en una fuente de información primordial a la hora de elegir un hotel. De esta forma, los comentarios vertidos en su web pasan a ser un factor determinante para muchos usuarios en la selección de su alojamiento, hecho al que no permanece ajeno el empresario hotelero. Por tanto, estudios como el que aquí se presentan ayudan a identificar cuáles son los ítems más valorados por el cliente, haciéndole experimentar una estancia diez. Así pues, en esta investigación se analiza los comentarios calificados como excelente en los hoteles de 4 y 5 estrellas de Sevilla, de tal forma que los resultados determinan la ubicación, los servicios, las instalaciones y las habitaciones como los aspectos más valorados.Tripadvisor has become a prime source of information when choosing a hotel. Thus, the comments in the Tripadvisor web become a determining factor for many users in selecting their accommodation, a fact that hoteliers cannot ignore. Therefore, studies such as presented here help to identify the most valued items by clients, making their stay experience as perfect. Hence, in this research the comments rated as excellent in 4 and 5 stars’ hotels in Seville are analyzed, so the results determine that location, services, facilities and rooms as the most valued aspects

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the mandible : case presentation and review of the literature

The aneurysmatic osseus cyst is a very infrequent bone lesion which in some occasions can be found at the craneofacial skeleton. Among all the cystic lesions that can be found at the mandible or the maxilla it is very rare. On the other side it is at the same time very interesting in terms of its differential diagnose with other types of maxillary bone lesions We present the case of a Caucasian male with an aneurysmatic cyst located at the right angle of the mandible and a review of the literature concerning the case. We have focused on the differential diagnose, mainly with the malignancies that can be found at this location. We also comment the therapeutic options clasically described for these kind of pathologies. In our patient, the surgical excision allowed a complete removal of the lesion and a posterior bone healing which made possible a implant-supported rehabilitation of the edentulous segment

Development of Efficient FPGA-Based Multi-Channel Phase Meters for IR-Interferometers

Infrared (IR) interferometry is a method for measuring the line-electron density of fusion plasmas. The significant performance achieved by FPGAs in solving digital signal processing tasks advocates the use of this type of technology in two-color IR interferometers of modern stellarators, such as the TJ-II (Madrid, Spain) and the future W7-X (Greifswald, Germany). In this work the implementation of a line-average electron density measuring system in an FPGA device is described. Several optimizations for multichannel systems are detailed and test results from the TJ-II as well as from a W7-X prototype are presented

Biogeographical patterns in the diet of an opportunistic predator: the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the Iberian Peninsula

Biogeographical diversity is central to the trophic ecology of predators. Understanding the biogeographical trophic patterns of generalist predators, such as the red fox Vulpes vulpes, is particularly challenging because of their wide distributions, broad trophic spectra and high ecological plasticity, which often generate conflicts with humans. We reviewed 55 studies from the Iberian Peninsula concerning the diet of the red fox to describe its trophic patterns from a biogeographical perspective. We considered the frequency of occurrence of seven food groups and characterized each study site according to environmental variables. We tested relationships between geographical variables and each food group independently, and assessed the consumption of lagomorphs in relation to the other food groups. We also tested the relationships between trophic diversity, the main food groups, latitude and altitude, and finally investigated changes in the consumption of all food groups in relation to habitat type and seasonality. We found a latitudinal pattern in the diet of the red fox, which was characterized by a greater consumption of lagomorphs and invertebrates in southern areas, and a higher intake of small mammals and fruits/seeds in northern regions. Additionally, the consumption of invertebrates increased from east to west, while fruit/seed consumption increased from west to east. Consumption of lagomorphs decreased, and of small mammals increased, with altitude. Trophic diversity was not associated with geographical variables. The intake of lagomorphs and small mammals was greatest in Mediterranean scrub and forest, respectively. Reptiles and invertebrates were consumed mostly during summer; fruits/seeds in autumn. Iberian red foxes show variation in their feeding habits associated with environmental variables, which are in turn associated with the availability of their main prey. Foxes select rabbits where they are abundant, and feed on small mammals and fruits/seeds where lagomorphs are scarce.M. Delibes-Mateos currently holds a Juande la Cierva research contract awarded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and the European Social Fund. C. Ferreira was supported by a PhD grant (Ref. SFRH/BD/22084/2005) funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia of the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior, Portuguese government. Financial support for the study was provided by the Spanish MICINN Project CGL2009-10741 from Spanish Plan Nacional de I+D and FEDER funds.Peer Reviewe