¿Son los alumnos capaces de atribuir a los microorganismos algunas transformaciones de los alimentos?

In this paper we investigate if primary school students are able to relate microorganisms with food transformations. The subjects of this study were 343 4th. and 7th. grade children from Lugo (Spain) and the instrument used consisted of four multiple choice questions. The results shed light on the difficulties students have at these levels when they try to apply their ideas to interpret biological phenomena. Finally, we discuss some implications for Science teaching and learning

Calidad de sueño en los atletas de los XXII Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Veracruz 2014

Resumen Introducción: Con el objeto de evaluar la calidad del sueño en los atletas de los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Veracruz 2014, se realizó el presente estudio durante el periodo de la competencia. Materiales y métodos: El estudio se realizó en una muestra no probabilística con un diseño transversal. Para la evaluación del sueño se utilizó el cuestionario: Índice de calidad del sueño de Pittsburgh. El estudio fue previamente revisado y aprobado por el Comité de Ética del Centro de Medicina de la Actividad Física y el Deporte (cemafyd). Resultados: Se realizaron 312 encuestas en atletas que participaron en los xxii Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, la edad promedio fue de 24.0 ± 5.3 años para las mujeres y de 25.4 ± 6.3 años para los hombres (p=0.11). Se obtuvo una mayor frecuencia para una buena calidad de sueño (n=176) vs una mala calidad de sueño (n=136) con una diferencia estadística significativa entre ambas frecuencias (p=0.02). No hay asociación entre la calidad de sueño y el género de los atletas, sin embargo, al parecer existe una relación entre el tipo de deporte individual o de conjunto y la calidad del sueño (p=0.01). Conclusiones: El 44% de los atletas presentó mala calidad de sueño, dato de preocupación para una población con actividad física constante. Abstract Introduction: In order to evaluate the quality of sleep in the athletes of Central American Games and of the Caribbean, Veracruz 2014 the present study was conducted during the competition. Material and methods: The study was conducted in a sample not probabilistic with a cross-sectional design. The questionnaire was used for the evaluation of sleep: the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. The study was previously reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the center of Medicine of physical activity and Sport (CEMAFyD). Results: 312 surveys were conducted in athletes who took part in the 22ND Central American Games and of the Caribbean, the average age was 24.0 ± 5.3 years for women and 25.4 ± 6.3 years for males (p = 0.11). A higher frequency for a good quality of sleep obtained (n = 176) versus a bad quality of sleep (n = 136) with a significant statistical difference between both frequencies (p = 0.02). There is no association between the quality of sleep and the genre of the athletes, but apparently there is a relationship between individual sport or set type and the quality of sleep (p = 0.01). Conclusions: 44% of the athletes presented poor quality of sleep, information of concern for a population with constant physical activity

Calidad de sueño en los atletas de los XXII Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Veracruz 2014

Resumen Introducción: Con el objeto de evaluar la calidad del sueño en los atletas de los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Veracruz 2014, se realizó el presente estudio durante el periodo de la competencia. Materiales y métodos: El estudio se realizó en una muestra no probabilística con un diseño transversal. Para la evaluación del sueño se utilizó el cuestionario: Índice de calidad del sueño de Pittsburgh. El estudio fue previamente revisado y aprobado por el Comité de Ética del Centro de Medicina de la Actividad Física y el Deporte (cemafyd). Resultados: Se realizaron 312 encuestas en atletas que participaron en los xxii Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, la edad promedio fue de 24.0 ± 5.3 años para las mujeres y de 25.4 ± 6.3 años para los hombres (p=0.11). Se obtuvo una mayor frecuencia para una buena calidad de sueño (n=176) vs una mala calidad de sueño (n=136) con una diferencia estadística significativa entre ambas frecuencias (p=0.02). No hay asociación entre la calidad de sueño y el género de los atletas, sin embargo, al parecer existe una relación entre el tipo de deporte individual o de conjunto y la calidad del sueño (p=0.01). Conclusiones: El 44% de los atletas presentó mala calidad de sueño, dato de preocupación para una población con actividad física constante. Abstract Introduction: In order to evaluate the quality of sleep in the athletes of Central American Games and of the Caribbean, Veracruz 2014 the present study was conducted during the competition. Material and methods: The study was conducted in a sample not probabilistic with a cross-sectional design. The questionnaire was used for the evaluation of sleep: the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. The study was previously reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the center of Medicine of physical activity and Sport (CEMAFyD). Results: 312 surveys were conducted in athletes who took part in the 22ND Central American Games and of the Caribbean, the average age was 24.0 ± 5.3 years for women and 25.4 ± 6.3 years for males (p = 0.11). A higher frequency for a good quality of sleep obtained (n = 176) versus a bad quality of sleep (n = 136) with a significant statistical difference between both frequencies (p = 0.02). There is no association between the quality of sleep and the genre of the athletes, but apparently there is a relationship between individual sport or set type and the quality of sleep (p = 0.01). Conclusions: 44% of the athletes presented poor quality of sleep, information of concern for a population with constant physical activity

Electrophoresis and spectrometric analyses of adaptation-related proteins in thermally stressed Chromobacterium violaceum.

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative proteobacteria found in water and soil; it is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, such as the Amazon rainforest. We examined protein expression changes that occur in C. violaceum at different growth temperatures using electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Capítulo 2. Hidrografía y circulación

Regional hydrography and dynamics at the Galicia-Cantabrian region are described, as well as its interannual variability in recent decades, from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography systematic monitoring programs and other available data sources. It is found a robust warming trend, within rates above 0.20°C decade–1 , both in surface ocean waters from the detailed records of satellite and at intermediate depths from the hydrographical series (down to 1000 m, which is the depth limit of the intensive sampling carried out from mid 90’s). These trends are related to recurrent warm periods in the local atmospheric forcing as well as in the formation areas of intermediate waters that reach the region. The structure of the water column, characterized by the depth of the mixed layer and surface stratification, shows a strong interannual variability, standing out the development of an anomalously deep mixed layer in 2005 that notably affected the properties of intermediate waters in the region. At the continental shelf it is observed a very distinct pattern between the Galician region, affected by intense upwelling in summertime and the winter arrival of strong inflows related to the Iberian Poleward Current, and the Cantabrian Sea, where these dynamical effects are much weaker. As a consequence, the extent of the annual cycles of surface temperature increases dramatically from Galicia towards the eastern Bay of Biscay. Finally, a climatological record of deep water circulation from the longest series of moorings available in the region is presented.Versión del edito

Dynamical Boson Stars

The idea of stable, localized bundles of energy has strong appeal as a model for particles. In the 1950s John Wheeler envisioned such bundles as smooth configurations of electromagnetic energy that he called {\em geons}, but none were found. Instead, particle-like solutions were found in the late 1960s with the addition of a scalar field, and these were given the name {\em boson stars}. Since then, boson stars find use in a wide variety of models as sources of dark matter, as black hole mimickers, in simple models of binary systems, and as a tool in finding black holes in higher dimensions with only a single killing vector. We discuss important varieties of boson stars, their dynamic properties, and some of their uses, concentrating on recent efforts.Comment: 79 pages, 25 figures, invited review for Living Reviews in Relativity; major revision in 201

Sleep Problems Are Related to a Worse Quality of Life and a Greater Non-Motor Symptoms Burden in Parkinson’s Disease

COPPADIS Study Group.[Introduction] The aim of the present study was to examine the frequency of self-reported sleep problems and their associated factors in a large cohort of PD patients.[Methods] PD patients and controls, recruited from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort were included in this cross-sectional study. Sleep problems were assessed by the Spanish version of the Parkinson’s disease Sleep Scale version 1 (PDSS-1). An overall score below 82 or a score below 5 on at least 1 item was defined as sleep problems.[Results] The frequency of sleep problems was nearly double in PD patients compared to controls: 65.8% (448/681) vs 33.5% (65/206) (p < 0.0001). Mean total PDSS score was lower in PD patients than controls: 114.9 ± 28.8 vs 132.8 ± 16.3 (p < 0.0001). Quality of life (QoL) was worse in PD patients with sleep problems compared to those without: PDQ-39SI, 19.3 ± 14 vs 13 ± 11.6 (p < 0.0001); EUROHIS-QoL8, 3.7 ± 0.5 vs 3.9 ± 0.5 (p < 0.0001). Non-motor symptoms burden (NMSS; OR = 1.029; 95%CI 1.015–1.043; p < 0.0001) and impulse control behaviors (QUIP-RS; OR = 1.054; 95%CI 1.009–1.101; p = 0.018) were associated with sleep problems after adjustment for age, gender, disease duration, daily equivalent levodopa dose, H&Y, UPDRS-III, UPDRS-IV, PD-CRS, BDI-II, NPI, VAS-Pain, VAFS, FOGQ, and total number of non-antiparkinsonian treatments.[Conclusion] Sleep problems were frequent in PD patients and were related to both a worse QoL and a greater non-motor symptoms burden in PD. These findings call for increased awareness of sleep problems in PD patients.Peer reviewe

Staging Parkinson's Disease Combining Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms Correlates with Disability and Quality of Life.

Introduction: In a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson's disease (PD), it is important to establish clinical stages that allow to know the course of the disease. Our aim was to analyze whether a scale combining Hoehn and Yahr's motor stage (H&Y) and the nonmotor symptoms burden (NMSB) (assessed by the nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS)) provides information about the disability and the patient's quality of life (QoL) with regard to a defined clinical stage. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study in which 603 PD patients from the COPPADIS cohort were classified according to H&Y (1, stage I; 2, stage II; 3, stage III; 4, stage IV/V) and NMSB (A: NMSS = 0-20; B: NMSS = 21-40; C: NMSS = 41-70; D: NMSS ≥ 71) in 16 stages (HY.NMSB, from 1A to 4D). QoL was assessed with the PDQ-39SI, PQ-10, and EUROHIS-QOL8 and disability with the Schwab&England ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale. Results: A worse QoL and greater disability were observed at a higher stage of H&Y and NMSB (p < 0.0001). Combining both (HY.NMSB), patients in stages 1C and 1D and 2C and 2D had significantly worse QoL and/or less autonomy for ADL than those in stages 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B, respectively (p < 0.005; e.g., PDQ-39SI in 1D [n = 15] vs 2A [n = 101]: 28.6 ± 17.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.8; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The HY.NMSB scale is simple and reflects the degree of patient involvement more accurately than the HΨ Patients with a lower H&Y stage may be more affected if they have a greater NMS burden

Predictors of Loss of Functional Independence in Parkinson’s Disease: Results from the COPPADIS Cohort at 2-Year Follow-Up and Comparison with a Control Group

COPPADIS Study Group.[Background and objective] The aim of this study was to compare the progression of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients versus a control group, as well as to identify predictors of disability progression and functional dependency (FD).[Patients and Methods] PD patients and control subjects, who were recruited from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort between January 2016 and November 2017 (V0), were included. Patients and subjects were then evaluated again at the 2-year follow-up (V2). Disability was assessed with the Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale (S&E-ADLS) at V0 and V2. FD was defined as an S&E-ADLS score less than 80%.[Results] In the PD group, a significant decrease in the S&E-ADLS score from V0 to V2 (N = 507; from 88.58 ± 10.19 to 84.26 ± 13.38; p < 0.0001; Cohen’s effect size = −0.519) was observed but not in controls (N = 124; from 98.87 ± 6.52 to 99.52 ± 2.15; p = 0.238). When only patients considered functional independent at baseline were included, 55 out of 463 (11.9%) converted to functional dependent at V2. To be a female (OR = 2.908; p = 0.009), have longer disease duration (OR = 1.152; p = 0.002), have a non-tremoric motor phenotype at baseline (OR = 3.574; p = 0.004), have a higher score at baseline in FOGQ (OR = 1.244; p < 0.0001) and BDI-II (OR = 1.080; p = 0.008), have a lower score at baseline in PD-CRS (OR = 0.963; p = 0.008), and have a greater increase in the score from V0 to V2 in UPDRS-IV (OR = 1.168; p = 0.0.29), FOGQ (OR = 1.348; p < 0.0001) and VAFS-Mental (OR = 1.177; p = 0.013) (adjusted R-squared 0.52; Hosmer and Lemeshow test = 0.94) were all found to be independent predictors of FD at V2.[Conclusions] In conclusion, autonomy for ADL worsens in PD patients compared to controls. Cognitive impairment, gait problems, fatigue, depressive symptoms, more advanced disease, and a non-tremor phenotype are independent predictors of FD in the short-term.Fundación Curemos el Parkinson (www.curemoselparkinson.org).Peer reviewe

Staging Parkinson’s Disease Combining Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms Correlates with Disability and Quality of Life

COPPADIS Study Group.[Introduction] In a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), it is important to establish clinical stages that allow to know the course of the disease. Our aim was to analyze whether a scale combining Hoehn and Yahr’s motor stage (H&Y) and the nonmotor symptoms burden (NMSB) (assessed by the nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS)) provides information about the disability and the patient’s quality of life (QoL) with regard to a defined clinical stage.[Materials and Methods] Cross-sectional study in which 603 PD patients from the COPPADIS cohort were classified according to H&Y (1, stage I; 2, stage II; 3, stage III; 4, stage IV/V) and NMSB (A: NMSS = 0–20; B: NMSS = 21–40; C: NMSS = 41–70; D: NMSS ≥ 71) in 16 stages (HY.NMSB, from 1A to 4D). QoL was assessed with the PDQ-39SI, PQ-10, and EUROHIS-QOL8 and disability with the Schwab&England ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale.[Results] A worse QoL and greater disability were observed at a higher stage of H&Y and NMSB (). Combining both (HY.NMSB), patients in stages 1C and 1D and 2C and 2D had significantly worse QoL and/or less autonomy for ADL than those in stages 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B, respectively (; e.g., PDQ-39SI in 1D [n = 15] vs 2A [n = 101]: 28.6 ± 17.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.8; ).[Conclusion] The HY.NMSB scale is simple and reflects the degree of patient involvement more accurately than the H&Y. Patients with a lower H&Y stage may be more affected if they have a greater NMS burden.Peer reviewe