A "quick look" at ultrafast ablation using fs-resolved phase-change microscopy

A pump-probe phase-change microscope with fs temporal resolution has been used to understand the transformation induced in the sample surface as a consequence of laser-matter interaction.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Femtosecond time-resolved phase-change microscopy and ablation threshold calculations to understand ultrafast laser ablation

El trabajo recoge experimentos realizados en una configuración sonda-prueba haciendo uso de un láser de femtosegundos, con el objetivo de comprender los fenómenos de ablación de materiales sólidos ras irradiación con láseres de pulso ultracorto.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Number conserving particle-hole RPA for superfluid nuclei

TheAuthor(s) - .Published by Elsevier B.V. "This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Funded by SCOAP"We present a number conserving particle-hole RPA theory for collective excitations in the transition from normal to superfluid nuclei. The method derives from an RPA theory developed long ago in quantum chemistry using antisymmetric geminal powers, or equivalently number projected HFB states, as reference states. We show within a minimal model of pairing plus monopole interactions that the number conserving particle-hole RPA excitations evolve smoothly across the superfluid phase transition close to the exact results, contrary to particle-hole RPA in the normal phase and quasiparticle RPA in the superfluid phase that require a change of basis at the broken symmetry point. The new formalism can be applied in a straightforward manner to study particle-hole excitations on top of a number projected HFB state.Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad de la Junta de Andalucía (Spain) FQM-160 and FQM-370Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6105/UGRMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the ERDF under Projects No. FIS2015-63770-P, FIS2017-88410-P and PGC2018-094180-B-I00CEAFMC and Universidad de Huelva High Performance Computer (HPC@UHU) funded by FEDER/MINECO project UNHU-15CE-284

Number conserving particle-hole RPA for superfluid nuclei

TheAuthor(s) - .Published by Elsevier B.V. "This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Funded by SCOAP"We present a number conserving particle-hole RPA theory for collective excitations in the transition from normal to superfluid nuclei. The method derives from an RPA theory developed long ago in quantum chemistry using antisymmetric geminal powers, or equivalently number projected HFB states, as reference states. We show within a minimal model of pairing plus monopole interactions that the number conserving particle-hole RPA excitations evolve smoothly across the superfluid phase transition close to the exact results, contrary to particle-hole RPA in the normal phase and quasiparticle RPA in the superfluid phase that require a change of basis at the broken symmetry point. The new formalism can be applied in a straightforward manner to study particle-hole excitations on top of a number projected HFB state.Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad de la Junta de Andalucía (Spain) FQM-160 and FQM-370Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6105/UGRMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the ERDF under Projects No. FIS2015-63770-P, FIS2017-88410-P and PGC2018-094180-B-I00CEAFMC and Universidad de Huelva High Performance Computer (HPC@UHU) funded by FEDER/MINECO project UNHU-15CE-284

Connection between decoherence and excited state quantum phase transitions

In this work we explore the relationship between an excited state quantum phase transition (ESQPT) and the phenomenon of quantum decoherence. For this purpose, we study how the decoherence is affected by the presence of a continuous ESQPT in the environment. This one is modeled as a two level boson system described by a Lipkin Hamiltonian. We will show that the decoherence of the system is maximal when the environment undergoes a continuous ESQPT

Neoplasia Intraepitelial Cervical grado II y III: Estudio morfométrico de sus diferencias y relación con el Virus del Papiloma Humano

El propòsit del nostre treball és valorar morfomètricament les diferències existents entre la Neoplàsia Intraepitelial Cervical (CIN) grau 2 i 3, així com el tipus de Virus del Papil·loma Humà (VPH) present, estudiat mitjançant Hibridació in situ.Hem estudiat 66 peces quirúrgiques d'exèresi del coll uterí de pacients amb diagnòstic histològic de CIN 2 i 82 de CIN 3. Hem demostrat amb el nostre estudi que la superfície afectada en el coll cervical per CIN 3 és significativament més gran que la de CIN 2, a la vegada que són lesions longitudinalment majors, amb major afectació glandular, major profunditat en l'afectació glandular i major índex mitòtic. També hem pogut demostrar que VPH 16/18 predomina en CIN 3. No hem trobat diferències significatives en quant a la presència de papil·les vasculars en ambdues lesions i tampoc hem trobat relació entre tipus de VPH i àrea afectada per CIN, així com entre tipus de VPH i edat de la pacient.El propósito de nuestro trabajo es valorar morfométricamente las diferencias existentes entre la Neoplasia Intraepitelial Cervical (CIN) grado 2 y 3, así como el tipo de Virus del Papiloma Humano (VPH) presente, estudiado mediante Hibridación in Situ. Hemos estudiado 66 piezas quirúrgicas de exéresis del cuello cervical de pacientes con diagnóstico histológico de CIN 2 y 82 de CIN 3. Hemos demostrado con nuestro estudio que la superficie afectada en el cuello cervical por CIN 3 es significativamente mayor que la de CIN 2, a la vez que son lesiones longitudinalmente mayores, con mayor afectación glandular, mayor profundidad en la afectación glandular y mayor índice mitótico. También hemos podido demostrar que VPH 16/18 predomina en CIN 3. No hemos encontrado diferencias significativas en cuanto a la presencia de papilas vasculares en las dos lesiones y tampoco hemos encontrado relación entre tipo de VPH y área afectada por CIN, así como entre tipo de VPH y edad de la paciente

Initiation codon selection is accomplished by a scanning mechanism without crucial initiation factors in sindbis virus subgenomic mRNA

© 2014 Garcia-Moreno et al. Translation initiation of alphavirus subgenomic mRNA (sgmRNA) can occur in the absence of several initiation factors (eIFs) in infected cells; however, the precise translation mechanism is still poorly understood. In this study, we have examined the mechanism of initiation and AUG selection in Sindbis virus (SINV) sgmRNA. Our present findings suggest that sgmRNA is translated via a scanning mechanism, since the presence of a hairpin structure before the initiation codon hampers protein synthesis directed by this mRNA. In addition, translation is partially recovered when an in-frame AUG codon is placed upstream of this hairpin. This scanning process takes place without the participation of eIF4A and active eIF2. These results, combined with our findings through modifying the SINV sgmRNA leader sequence, do not support the possibility of a direct initiation from the start codon without previous scanning, or a shunting mechanism. Moreover, studies carried out with sgmRNAs containing two alternative AUG codons within a good context for translation reveal differences in AUG selection which are dependent on the cellular context and the phosphorylation state of eIF2α. Thus, initiation at the additional AUG is strictly dependent on active eIF2, whereas the genuine AUG codon can start translation following eIF2α inactivation. Collectively, our results suggest that SINV sgmRNA is translated by a scanning mechanism without the potential participation of crucial eIFs. A model is presented that explains the mechanism of initiation of mRNAs bearing two alternative initiation codons.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain) grant BFU2012-31861. M.G.-M. is holder of a FPI (Formación de Personal Investigador) fellowship. The Institutional Grant awarded to the Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM) by the Fundación Ramón Areces is acknowledged.Peer Reviewe

Inhibition of host protein synthesis by Sindbis virus: Correlation with viral RNA replication and release of nuclear proteins to the cytoplasm

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Infection of mammalian cells by Sindbis virus (SINV) profoundly blocks cellular mRNA translation. Experimental evidence points to viral non-structural proteins (nsPs), in particular nsP2, as the mediator of this inhibition. However, individual expression of nsP1, nsP2, nsP3 or nsP1-4 does not block cellular protein synthesis in BHK cells. Trans-complementation of a defective SINV replicon lacking most of the coding region for nsPs by the co-expression of nsP1-4 propitiates viral RNA replication at low levels, and inhibition of cellular translation is not observed. Exit of nuclear proteins including T-cell intracellular antigen and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein is clearly detected in SINV-infected cells, but not upon the expression of nsPs, even when the defective replicon was complemented. Analysis of a SINV variant with a point mutation in nsP2, exhibiting defects in the shut-off of host protein synthesis, indicates that both viral RNA replication and the release of nuclear proteins to the cytoplasm are greatly inhibited. Furthermore, nucleoside analogues that inhibit cellular and viral RNA synthesis impede the blockade of host mRNA translation, in addition to the release of nuclear proteins. Prevention of the shut-off of host mRNA translation by nucleoside analogues is not due to the inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation, as this prevention is also observed in PKR-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts that do not phosphorylate eIF2α after SINV infection. Collectively, our observations are consistent with the concept that for the inhibition of cellular protein synthesis to occur, viral RNA replication must take place at control levels, leading to the release of nuclear proteins to the cytoplasm.DGICYT (Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain) grant (BFU2012-31861). Fundación Ramón ArecesPeer Reviewe

Dimensionalidad y propiedades psicométricas de un nuevo instrumento de evaluación del apego

The Children Attachment Interview (EAN) is a new instrument based on story telling reports. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the structure and basic psychometric properties of the EAN through exploratory factor analyses based on a sample of 115 Spanish children aged 8 to 13 years (63 % boys). Another two matched samples from the risk social population and clinical population were compared with the main sample in order to obtain criterial validity. Findings reveal a multi-internal structure composed of four factors that refer to children´s reactions (positive, trustful, negative and mistrustful) and five factors that refer to child-attachment figure interactions (empathic, trustful, positive, rivalry and pro-arousal). Scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency. The comparison of scales between general and criterial groups, and correlations with related constructs indicate good construct validity.ResumenLa Entrevista de Apego para Niños (EAN) es un nuevo instrumento de evaluación del apego basado en un procedimiento de completar historias. El objetivo principal de este estudio se basa en el análisis de la estructura y las propiedades psicométricas del EAN a través de análisis factoriales exploratorios sobre una muestra constituida por 115 niños y niñas españoles de entre 8 y 13 años (63 % niños). Otras dos muestras procedentes de una población en situación de riesgo psicosocial y de una población clínica fueron comparadas con la muestra principal con el fin de obtener evidencias de validez criterial. Los resultados obtenidos revelan una estructura interna compuesta de 4 factores que se refieren a reacciones del niño (positiva, confiada, negativa y desconfiada) y cinco factores referidos a interacciones niño-figura de apego (empática, confiada, positiva, negativa y desconfiada). Las escalas han demostrada una adecuada consistencia interna. La comparación de las escalas entre el grupo general y los grupos criteriales, y las correlaciones con los constructos relacionados indicaron una buena validez de constructo.AbstractThe Children Attachment Interview (EAN) is a new instrument based on story telling reports. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the structure and basic psychometric properties of the EAN through exploratory factor analyses based on a sample of 115 Spanish children aged 8 to 13 years (63 % boys). Another two matched samples from the risk social population and clinical population were compared with the main sample in order to obtain criterial validity. Findings reveal a multi-internal structure composed of four factors that refer to children´s reactions (positive, trustful, negative and mistrustful) and five factors that refer to child-attachment figure interactions (empathic, trustful, positive, rivalry and pro-arousal). Scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency. The comparison of scales between general and criterial groups, and correlations with related constructs indicate good construct validity.

Personality and contextual variables in teacher burnout

Although several papers have shown the importance of personality structure in the disposition to burnout, its role remains controversial, especially in relation to contextual variables of an organizational and environmental type. In this sense, we have first considered describing and then predicting the burnout levels of 99 teachers in the province of Seville (Spain). In addition to a structured, self-applied interview, we have used the Spanish adaptation of the reduced version of NEO-PI-R (NEO-FFI) (Costa and McCrae, 1999) and the Spanish teachers version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (Ferrando and Pe´rez, 1996). We have used Homogeneity Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression (SPSS 11). The results allow us to appreciate the important role of personality structure in combination with some of the selected contextual variables, both in the description and prediction of teacher burnout. Most results confirm what has been achieved in similar research, and they especially emphasize the role of agreeableness as a protective factor (high scores) and, at the same time, as a vulnerability factor (low scores). These results are discussed from the perspective of interaction between disposition and contextual variables