Expressive partner homicides in spain

Introduction: Although the important concert about partner homicides, there are no scientific studies in Spain. The main aim of this study is to analyze differences in Spanish partner homicides between aggressor's sex with a) crime perpetration: attempted or completed and b) criminal process: pre-crime, offence and post-crime behavior. Method: We used Basa Data 'Protocolo de Análisis del Crimen Violento en Homicidios Familiares', composed by firmed sentences of family homicides in Spain. Specifically, we analyzed a sample of 323 partner homicide firmed sentences, mostly men. Results: The results show that attempted crimes are more associated with men, and completed homicides with women. Regarding pre-crime behaviors, the existence of previous conflict and previous break up are more associated with men. In criminal context, instrumental behaviors are more related with women while expressive behaviors don't show relation with aggressor's sex; to strangle the victim is more associated with women. Finally, none of post-criminal behaviors show relation with aggressor's sex. Discussion: The results regarding pre-crime and post-crime behaviors are consistent with precedents studies in other countries, also the predominance of expressive behaviors in both, men and women. Concerning to crime perpetration, it hasn't been found previous studies comparing it with offender's sex in partner homicides

Torque distribution strategy for a four In-wheel fully electric car

Jornadas de Automática, 2 - 4 de septiembre de 2015. BilbaoElectromobility promises to have a strong impact in several aspects of our life: introducing new means of transport concepts, proposing new business models and allowing to create new vehicle configurations impossible with traditional combustion engines. Regarding the latter, this paper presents a novel torque distribution strategy for a 4 in-wheel electric vehicle which aims to reduce the total longitudinal slip. The control strategy is designed off-line supported by a simulator and tested both in simulation (with a different model from the used for designing) as well as on a real sized prototype. The results show that the total longitudinal slip is successfully reduced after applying the control strategy and additionally, the radius described by the vehicle while cornering is slightly closer to the theoretical Ackerman radius.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad DPI2013-46912-C2-

Long distance electron transfer through the aqueous solution between redox partner proteins

Despite the importance of electron transfer between redox proteins in photosynthesis and respiration, the inter-protein electron transfer rate between redox partner proteins has never been measured as a function of their separation in aqueous solution. Here, we use electrochemical tunneling spectroscopy to show that the current between two protein partners decays along more than 10 nm in the solution. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal a reduced ionic density and extended electric field in the volume confined between the proteins. The distance-decay factor and the calculated local barrier for electron transfer are regulated by the electrochemical potential applied to the proteins. Redox partners could use electrochemically gated, long distance electron transfer through the solution in order to conciliate high specificity with weak binding, thus keeping high turnover rates in the crowded environment of cells.España, MINECO BFU2015-71017-P/España, Gobierno de Andalucía (BIO198)Comisión de Universidades e Investigación del Departamento de Innovación, Universidades y Empresa de la Generalitat de Catalunya.(2017 SGR 1442, 2014 SGR 1442, and 2017 SGR 1189

Using spectral indices as early warning signals of forest dieback: The case of drought-prone Pinus pinaster forests

Moreno-Fernández, D. et al. (2021) 'Using spectral indices as early warning signals of forest dieback: The case of drought-prone Pinus pinaster forests', The Science of the total environment, 793, pp. 148578&-148578. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148578.Forest dieback processes linked to drought are expected to increase due to climate warming. Remotely sensed data offer several advantages over common field monitoring methods such as the ability to observe large areas on a systematic basis and monitoring their changes, making them increasingly used to assess changes in forest health. Here we aim to use a combined approximation of fieldwork and remote sensing to explore possible links between forest dieback and land surface phenological and trend variables derived from long Landsat time series. Forest dieback was evaluated in the field over 31 plots in a Mediterranean, xeric Pinus pinaster forest. Landsat 31-year time series of three greenness (EVI, NDVI, SAVI) and two wetness spectral indices (NMDI and TCW) were derived covering the period 1990?2020. Spectral indices from time series were decomposed into trend and seasonality using a Bayesian estimator while the relationships of the phenological and trend variables among levels of damage were assessed using linear and additive mixed models. We have not found any statistical pieces of evidence of extension or shortening patterns for the length of the phenological season over the examined 31-year period. Our results indicate that the dieback process was mainly related to the trend component of the spectral indices series whereas the phenological metrics were not related to forest dieback. We also found that plots with more dying or damaged trees displayed lower spectral indices trends after a severe drought event in the middle of the 1990s, which confirms the Landsat-derived spectral indices as indicators of earlywarning signals. Drops in trends occurred earlier for wetness indices rather than for greenness indices which suggests that the former could be more appropriate for dieback detection, i.e. they could be used as early warning signals of impending loss of tree vigor.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidade

Mussel-inspired lego approach for controlling the wettability of surfaces with colorless coatings

The control of surface wettability with polyphenol coatings has been at the forefront of materials research since the late 1990s, when robust underwater adhesion was linked to the presence of L-DOPA-a catecholic amino acid-in unusually high amounts, in the sequences of several mussel foot proteins. Since then, several successful approaches have been reported, although a common undesired feature of most of them is the presence of a remnant color and/or the intrinsic difficulty in fine-tuning and controlling the hydrophobic character. We report here a new family of functional catechol-based coatings, grounded in the oxidative condensation of readily available pyrocatechol and thiol-capped functional moieties. The presence of at least two additional thiol groups in their structure allows for polymerization through the formation of disulfide bonds. The synthetic flexibility, together with its modular character, allowed us to: (I) develop coatings with applications exemplified by textiles for oil-spill water treatment; (II) develop multifunctional coatings, and (III) fine-tune the WCA for flat and textile surfaces. All of this was achieved with the application of colorless coating

Modifications of hepatic fibrosis assessed by transient elastometry in patients with sustained virological response after treatment of hepatitis C in monoinfected (VHC) and coinfected patients(VHC – VIH)

Introducción: Se ha observado que los pacientes infectados por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC), que ya han desarrollado un grado de fibrosis significativo, son capaces de disminuir ese grado de fibrosis, al alcanzar una respuesta viral sostenida (RVS) tras el tratamiento con interferón pegilado (PEG-IFN) y ribavirina (RBV). Objetivo: Evaluar la modificación de la fibrosis, medida por elastometría transitoria, al erradicar el VHC tanto en pacientes tratados con PEG-IFN y RBV, con Boceprevir/Telaprevir, como con agentes de acción directa (AAD) y determinar la asociación entre la variación de la fibrosis y el grado de fibrosis previo al tratamiento tanto en pacientes monoinfectados (VHC), como en coinfectados (VIH/VHC). Métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo, en el que se estudiaron 50 pacientes y se evaluó su grado de fibrosis previo y posterior al tratamiento. Resultados: De los 62 pacientes, un 45,2% disminuyeron su fibrosis, con una media de descenso de 9,45kPa y un 45,2% disminuyeron al menos un estadio en la escala Metavir. Se observó una asociación entre un menor grado de fibrosis previo al tratamiento y un mayor descenso de la misma (p<0,001). Sin embargo no se observaron diferencias (p=0,713) entre la monoinfección y la coinfección con VIH; tampoco se detectó asociación significativa, entre los tres tipos de tratamientos y la modificación de la fibrosis (p=0,445). Conclusiones:En nuestro estudio, la consecución de la RVS en los pacientes con hepatitis crónica por VHC facilita la reducción de la fibrosis producida por la enfermedad, tanto en pacientes monoinfectados, como en coinfectados (VIH/VHC), independientemente del tratamiento usado.Introduction: It has been shown that patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), who have already developed a significant degree of fibrosis, are able to reduce that degree of fibrosis by achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) after treatment with Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Objective: To evaluate the modification of fibrosis, measured by transient elastometry, after HCV eradication in patients treated with PEG-IFN and RBV, with Boceprevir / Telaprevir, and with direct acting agents (AAD) and to determine the association between the variation in fibrosis and the degree of pre-treatment fibrosis in both monoinfected (HCV) and coinfected (HIV / HCV) patients. Methods: This work is a prospective observational study. 50 patients were studied and their degree of fibrosis before and after treatment was evaluated. Results: 45.2% of patients decreased their fibrosis, with a mean decrease of 9.45kPa and 45.2% decreased at least one stage on the Metavir scale. There was an association between a lower degree of fibrosis before treatment and a greater decrease in fibrosis (p <0.001). However, no differences were observed between monoinfection and HIV coinfection (p = 0.713). No significant association was detected between the three types of treatments and the modification of fibrosis (p = 0.445). Conclusions: In our study, SVR in patients with chronic HCV hepatitis facilitates the reduction of fibrosis produced by the disease, both in monoinfected patients and in coinfected patients (HIV / HCV), regardless of the treatment used

Response to direct acting agents against the hepatitis C virus in real life conditions.

Objetivos: La infección por el Virus de la Hepatitis C (VHC) es un problema de salud pública tanto a nivel mundial como en España. Los tratamientos utilizados en los años precedentes tenían una limitada eficacia que no superaba de media el 50% de éxitos. La introducción de los agentes de acción directa (AAD) libres de interferón ha cambiado la tasa de respuestas de forma significativa. Nuestros objetivos han sido comparar la tasa de respuestas a AAD en vida real de los diferentes genotipos del VHC, frente a los resultados obtenidos en los ensayos clínicos y estudios de cohortes, así como comparar la tasa de respuesta con AAD en monoinfectados por el VHC respecto a coinfectados por VIH en los mismos escenarios. Métodos: En 147 de pacientes, de los cuales eran monoinfectados 61 (25,2%) y coinfectados 86 (74,8%) que acudieron a consultas de la Unidad Enfermedades Infecciosas del Hospital Virgen de las Nieves de Granada, se evaluó el genotipo del VHC y grado de fibrosis previa al tratamiento con AAD. Resultados: En el estudio realizado se obtuvo una respuesta viral sostenida (RVS) a las 12 semanas de finalizar el tratamiento en 137 de ellos, lo que supone el 93.2%, siendo en los monoinfectados del 94,7% y en los coinfectados de 93%. Conclusiones: En las condiciones de uso en la vida real los AAD alcanzan tasas de respuesta viral sostenida (RVS) iguales a los ensayos clínicos tanto en el global de pacientes como en monoinfectados o coinfectados con el VIH. Estos mismos resultados se repiten al compararlos con los estudios de cohortes.Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide public health problem. The treatments used in previous years had a limited efficacy that did not reach 50% of success. The introduction of interferon-free direct acting agents (DAA) has significantly changed the response rate. Our objectives have been to compare the response rate to reallife DAA of the different HCV genotypes, versus the results obtained in clinical trials and cohort studies, as well as to compare the response rate with DAA in monoinfected by HCV respect to coinfected by HIV in the same circumstances. Methods: 147 patients, 61 (25.2%) monoinfected and 86 (74.8%) coinfected, who visited the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Virgen de las Nieves Hospital in Granada, were evaluated for HCV genotype and degree of fibrosis previous to treatment with DAA. Results: In the study, a sustained virologic response (SVR) was obtained 12 weeks after the end of treatment in 137 of them, representing 93.2%, 94% in monoinfected patients and 93% in coinfected patients. Conclusions: In real-life conditions, DAA achieve sustained virologic response rates (SVRs) equal to clinical trials both in the global patient population and in monoinfected or HIV coinfected patients. These same results are in concordance when compared with cohort studies

Management of Patients with Metastatic Bladder Cancer in the Real-World Setting from the Multidisciplinary Team: Current Opinion of the SOGUG MultidisciplinaryWorking Group

Based on the discussion of current state of research of relevant topics of metastatic bladder cancer (mBC) among a group of experts of a Spanish Oncology Genitourinary (SOGUG) Working Group, a set of recommendations were proposed to overcome the challenges posed by the management of mBC in clinical practice. First-line options in unfit patients for cisplatin are chemotherapy with carboplatin and immunotherapy in PD-L1 positive patients. FDG-PET/CT may be a useful imaging technique in the initial staging or re-staging. In patients with oligometastatic disease, it is important to consider not only the number of metastatic lesions, but also the tumor biology and the clinical course. The combination of stereotactic body radiotherapy and immunotherapy with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies is under investigation and could improve the results of systemic treatment in patient with oligometastatic disease. Rescue treatment with curative intent could be considered in patients with oligometastatic disease after complete response on FDG-PET/CT. Metastatic disease should be evaluated using the same imaging modality over the course of the disease from diagnosis until rescue treatment. For improving the outcome of patients with mBC, the involvement of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, including urologists, pathologists, oncologists, radiologists and other specialists is of outmost importance in the daily care of these patientsThis research was funded by AstraZenec

The Interplay of the Tree and StandLevel Processes Mediate DroughtInduced Forest Dieback: Evidence from Complementary Remote Sensing and Tree-Ring Approaches

Moreno-Fernández, D., Camarero, J.J., García, M. et al. The Interplay of the Tree and Stand-Level Processes Mediate Drought-Induced Forest Dieback: Evidence from Complementary Remote Sensing and Tree-Ring Approaches. Ecosystems 25, 1738-1753 (2022).Drought-induced forest dieback can lead to a tipping point in community dominance, but the coupled response at the tree and stand-level response has not been properly addressed. New spatially and temporally integrated monitoring approaches that target different biological organization levels are needed. Here, we compared the temporal responses of dendrochronological and spectral indices from 1984 to 2020 at both tree and stand levels, respectively, of a drought-prone Mediterranean Pinus pinea forest currently suffering strong dieback. We test the influence of climate on temporal patterns of tree radial growth, greenness and wetness spectral indices; and we address the influence of major drought episodes on resilience metrics. Tree-ring data and spectral indices followed different spatio-temporal patterns over the study period (1984?2020). Combined information from tree growth and spectral trajectories suggests that a reduction in tree density during the mid-1990s could have promoted tree growth and reduced dieback risk. Additionally, over the last decade, extreme and recurrent droughts have resulted in crown defoliation greater than 40% in most plots since 2019. We found that tree growth and the greenness spectral index were positively related to annual precipitation, while the wetness index was positively related to mean annual temperature. The response to drought, however, was stronger for tree growth than for spectral indices. Our study demonstrates the value of long-term retrospective multiscale analyses including tree and stand-level scales to disentangle mechanisms triggering and driving forest dieback.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y UniversidadesUniversidad de AlcaláMinisterio de Ciencia e InnovaciónComunidad de MadridUK Research and Innovatio

Absolute and relative handgrip strength as indicators of self-reported physical function and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. The EFICAN study

Background: Although breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world, its high survival rate implies that many people live long after the treatments and face their side effects. The physical function (PF) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people surviving BC decreases significantly, which makes important to identify markers that may be associated with a better health status and prognosis. Previous studies suggest that handgrip strength (HGS) and HGS relative to the body mass index (rHGS) are good indicators of PF and HRQoL in different populations. However, it is unknown whether this applies to BC survivors. This study aimed to evaluate the association of HGS and rHGS with PF and HRQoL in this population. Methods: Sixty female BC survivors participated. Handgrip strength was assessed with a dynamometer. Arm volume was estimated and upper limb impairments, as well as cancer-related fatigue, depression, life satisfaction and HRQoL, were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Results: Higher levels of HGS and rHGS were associated with higher levels of HRQoL, lower cancer-related fatigue, and fewer problems with the affected arm. Conclusions: These results suggest that HGS may be a good indicator of self-reported PF and HRQoL in female BC survivors