A search for peculiar stars in the open cluster Hogg 16

The study of chemically peculiar (CP) stars in open clusters provides valuable information about their evolutionary status. Their detection can be performed using the $\Delta a$ photometric system, which maps a characteristic flux depression at $\lambda \sim 5200$ \AA. This paper aims at studying the occurrence of CP stars in the earliest stages of evolution of a stellar population by applying this technique to Hogg 16, a very young Galactic open cluster (about 25 Myr). We identified several peculiar candidates: two B-type stars with a negative $\Delta a$ index (CD-60 4701, CPD-60 4706) are likely emission-line (Be) stars, even though spectral measurements are necessary for a proper classification of the second one; a third object (CD-60 4703), identified as a Be candidate in literature, appears to be a background B-type supergiant with no significant $\Delta a$ index, which does not rule out the possibility that it is indeed peculiar as the normality line of $\Delta a$ for supergiants has not been studied in detail yet. A fourth object (CD-60 4699) appears to be a magnetic CP star of 8 M$_\odot$, but obtained spectral data seem to rule out this hypothesis. Three more magnetic CP star candidates are found in the domain of early F-type stars. One is a probable nonmember and close to the border of significance, but the other two are probably pre-main sequence cluster objects. This is very promising, as it can lead to very strong constraints to the diffusion theory. Finally, we derived the fundamental parameters of Hogg 16 and provide for the first time an estimate of its metal content.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Astronomy. 9 pages, 4 figures, and 4 tables. A complete data table is available via CDS or upon request from the corresponding autho

Seeing is knowing? Visual word recognition in non-dyslexic and dyslexic readers: an ERP study

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether phonological/semantic processing of the word takes place simultaneously with, or following, the early processing of its visual features. Event related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in 13 dyslexic (four female) and 14 non-dyslexic (six female) native English speaking young adults in two lexical decision tasks. In Task 1 participants had to make an orthographic lexical decision to distinguish frequently used words (W) from pseudohomophones (PH1)focusing on visual properties of stimuli. In Task 2 they had to make a phonological lexical decision—to pseudohomophones (PH2) and pseudowords (PW) and decide whether stimuli sounded like real words—focusing on non-visual higher order, i.e., phonological and semantic, processing of the stimuli. The behavioural performance was less good and the ERP peaks’ latency longer in dyslexics compared to controls. The reaction times (RTs) and the number of errors (reversed for the controls in Task 2) increased across four conditions for both groups in the following order: W< PH1< PH2< PW. The ERPs were larger in Task 2 compared to Task 1 starting at 100 ms (P1) for the controls and from about 220 ms (P2) for the dyslexics. The latency of N2 peak in left occipito-temporal sites was larger (as was the number of errors) in PH2 compared to PW condition in controls only, which indicates phonological/semantic specific processing at a time latency of 250–260 ms. Thus, the visual task required less effort than the phonological task, dyslexics’ behavioural performance was less good and the brain activation delayed compared to controls. Combined behavioural and ERP results of this study indicated that phonological/semantic processing of the word took place 150 ms after processing of its visual features in controls and possibly later in dyslexics

Produtividade de novos híbridos de maracujazeiro amarelo desenvolvidos pela Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura.

A produtividade média nacional de maracujazeiro está em torno de 14,1 t ha-1, que é considerada baixa devido ao uso de cultivares e tecnologias de produção inadequadas. O uso de cultivares melhoradas a exemplo de híbridos pode ser uma solução, pois em geral, tendem a apresentar maior produtividade resultante do efeito heterótico. Nesse sentido o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade de novos híbridos de maracujazeiro amarelo desenvolvidos pela Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, em ensaios de competição agronômica.PDF. 082-11

Nuevas miradas en investigación educativa: indagar pedagógicamente la experiencia

En este artículo partimos de recuperar la distinción entre investigación sobre la educación e investigación educativa propuesta por John Elliot, con el propósito inicial de reflexionar acerca de las relaciones entre investigación y formación de educadores; no sólo desde la insistencia en la revisión de las relaciones de poder entre prácticos y expertos, sino también respecto a cómo la práctica de la indagación constituye una experiencia de aprendizaje pedagógico. Desde ese encuadre, rescatamos la idea del método como camino para explorar las posibilidades formativas de la investigación educativa; y lo hacemos desde la consideración de la implicación subjetiva del investigador o la investigadora, afirmando que todo proceso de indagación está sostenido personalmente. Seguidamente, y de forma coherente con estos planteamientos, proponemos una orientación para la investigación educativa que descansa en la noción de disposiciones; entendidas como una forma de orientarse reflexivamente en el curso de la indagación. Para ello organizamos nuestros argumentos sobre la base de tres momentos característicos de todo proceso indagador de corte cualitativo: pre-interactivo, interactivo y post-interactivo; y que hemos renombrado a partir de nuestros planteamientos como: estudio, directo y diferido. Cada momento se acompaña de una digresión sobre su abordaje desde una orientación fenomenológica, además de con una serie de pistas de para su desarrollo. El artículo finaliza recuperando la importancia de mantener conectada docencia e investigación, insistiendo también en las formas de difusión del conocimiento pedagógico, desde lo que Eisner llamó acumulación horizontal del saber cualitativo

Age-dependent association between protein expression of the embryonic stem cell marker Cripto-1 and survival of glioblastoma patients

Exploring the re-emergence of embryonic signaling pathways may reveal important information for cancer biology. Nodal is a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-related morphogen that plays a critical role during embryonic development. Nodal signaling is regulated by the Cripto-1 co-receptor and another TGF-β member, Lefty. Although these molecules are poorly detected in differentiated tissues, they have been found in different human cancers. Poor prognosis of glioblastomas justifies the search for novel signaling pathways that can be exploited as potential therapeutic targets. Because our intracranial glioblastoma rat xenograft model has revealed importance of gene ontology categories related to development and differentiation, we hypothesized that increased activity of Nodal signaling could be found in glioblastomas. We examined the gene expressions of Nodal, Cripto-1, and Lefty in microarrays of invasive and angiogenic xenograft samples developed from four patients with glioblastoma. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 199 primary glioblastomas, and expression levels were analyzed for detection of correlations with available clinical information. Gene expression ofNodal, Lefty, and Cripto-1 was detected in the glioblastoma xenografts. Most patient samples showed significant levels of Cripto-1 detected by immunohistochemistry, whereas only weak to moderate levels were detected for Nodal and Lefty. Most importantly, the higher Cripto-1 scores were associated with shorter survival in a subset of younger patients. These findings suggest for the first time that Cripto-1, an important molecule in developmental biology, may represent a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target in categories of younger patients with glioblastoma.publishedVersio

Volunteering as an Explanatory Factor of Social Entrepreneurship: An Analysis of an Educational Context

The promotion of entrepreneurial intention in educational contexts is a priority that is increasingly present in academic planning, especially at university level. Furthermore, social entrepreneurship has been gaining prominence not only as a formula for improving the welfare and equity of society as a whole, but also as a mechanism for professional development. Taking into account both aspects, this paper analyzes the effect of university students participating in volunteer activities on their intention to carry out social entrepreneurship projects. With this objective, this study is based on the Theory of Planned Action of Ajzen. A sample of 208 university students was analyzed, 96 of whom had some experience of volunteering. The results confirm that taking part in volunteering, during students’ education, positively affects their intention to start social entrepreneurship projects. This result allows us to conclude that encouraging volunteering could be a good methodological tool to promote social entrepreneurship within the educational field. In addition, the implementation of this type of social project could benefit university students not only by making social improvements to their environment, but also as a labor insertion tool

Nuevas miradas en investigación educativa: indagar pedagógicamente la experiencia

En este artículo partimos de recuperar la distinción entre investigación sobre la educación e investigación educativa propuesta por John Elliot, con el propósito inicial de reflexionar acerca de las relaciones entre investigación y formación de educadores; no sólo desde la insistencia en la revisión de las relaciones de poder entre prácticos y expertos, sino también respecto a cómo la práctica de la indagación constituye una experiencia de aprendizaje pedagógico. Desde ese encuadre, rescatamos la idea del método como camino para explorar las posibilidades formativas de la investigación educativa; y lo hacemos desde la consideración de la implicación subjetiva del investigador o la investigadora, afirmando que todo proceso de indagación está sostenido personalmente. Seguidamente, y de forma coherente con estos planteamientos, proponemos una orientación para la investigación educativa que descansa en la noción de disposiciones; entendidas como una forma de orientarse reflexivamente en el curso de la indagación. Para ello organizamos nuestros argumentos sobre la base de tres momentos característicos de todo proceso indagador de corte cualitativo: pre-interactivo, interactivo y post-interactivo; y que hemos renombrado a partir de nuestros planteamientos como: estudio, directo y diferido. Cada momento se acompaña de una digresión sobre su abordaje desde una orientación fenomenológica, además de con una serie de pistas de para su desarrollo. El artículo finaliza recuperando la importancia de mantener conectada docencia e investigación, insistiendo también en las formas de difusión del conocimiento pedagógico, desde lo que Eisner llamó acumulación horizontal del saber cualitativo.Artículo revisado por pare

Using socioscientific issues as an educational tool to develop scientific literacy

La desconexión existente entre la ciencia que es llevada a cabo por los científicos y la ciencia escolar es una realidad que se refleja no sólo en diferentes informes sino también en el creciente desinterés del alumnado por las cuestiones científicas. En este artículo nos planteamos la formación en competencias científicas y, más concretamente, la adquisición de la alfabetización científica a través de las cuestiones o controversias sociocientíficas (SSI). Las SSI acercan la llamada "ciencia en construcción" a la realidad del aula, despertando el interés del alumnado con temas controvertidos científica y socialmente. Estos problemas abiertos nos sirven como contexto para estudiar la ciencia y sobre la ciencia; y constituyen, además, una potente herramienta para alcanzar la denominada ciencias para todos y todas, una de las líneas de investigación más relevante en la enseñanza de las ciencias en los últimos años.The science that is making by scientists and scholar science are not related. This lack of connection between the two is reflected in different reports and also in the increasing disinterest of students about the cience subjects. In this paper, we set out training in scientific competence and, specifically, the achievement of the scientific literacy through socioscientific issues (SSI). SSI bring "science in the making" to the class wakening the interest of the students in themes that are related to science and to society. These open problems are a good context to study science and about the science that at the same time they constitute a owerful tool to develop scientific literacy. Furthermore, during the last years, SSI has constituted one of the more innovative lines of research in science education.Universidad Pablo de Olavid

Raptor Interactions with Wind Energy: Case Studies from Around the World

The global potential for wind power generation is vast, and the number of installations is increasing rapidly. We review case studies from around the world of the effects on raptors of wind-energy development. Collision mortality, displacement, and habitat loss have the potential to cause population-level effects, especially for species that are rare or endangered. The impact on raptors has much to do with their behavior, so careful siting of wind-energy developments to avoid areas suited to raptor breeding, foraging, or migration would reduce these effects. At established wind farms that already conflict with raptors, reduction of fatalities may be feasible by curtailment of turbines as raptors approach, and offset through mitigation of other human causes of mortality such as electrocution and poisoning, provided the relative effects can be quantified. Measurement of raptor mortality at wind farms is the subject of intense effort and study, especially where mitigation is required by law, with novel statistical approaches recently made available to improve the notoriously difficult-to-estimate mortality rates of rare and hard-to-detect species. Global standards for wind farm placement, monitoring, and effects mitigation would be a valuable contribution to raptor conservation worldwide.publishedVersio

The effect of the top 20 Alzheimer disease risk genes on gray-matter density and FDG PET brain metabolism

INTRODUCTION: We analyzed the effects of the top 20 Alzheimer disease (AD) risk genes on gray-matter density (GMD) and metabolism. METHODS: We ran stepwise linear regression analysis using posterior cingulate hypometabolism and medial temporal GMD as outcomes and all risk variants as predictors while controlling for age, gender, and APOE ε4 genotype. We explored the results in 3D using Statistical Parametric Mapping 8. RESULTS: Significant predictors of brain GMD were SLC24A4/RIN3 in the pooled and mild cognitive impairment (MCI); ZCWPW1 in the MCI; and ABCA7, EPHA1, and INPP5D in the AD groups. Significant predictors of hypometabolism were EPHA1 in the pooled, and SLC24A4/RIN3, NME8, and CD2AP in the normal control group. DISCUSSION: Multiple variants showed associations with GMD and brain metabolism. For most genes, the effects were limited to specific stages of the cognitive continuum, indicating that the genetic influences on brain metabolism and GMD in AD are complex and stage dependent