Preferencias por formatos de respuesta en cuestionarios para encuestas

La investigación sobre formatos de respuesta se ha centrado tradicionalmente en las características que estos elementos pueden tener en cuestiones como la fiabilidad o la validez, así como en qué medida algunos aspectos concretos, como la categoría central, tienen consecuencias en las interpretaciones de las puntuaciones. En este trabajo, el objetivo central es medir las preferencias por unos u otros formatos de las personas entrevistadas, entre los disponibles en el cuestionario utilizado para la encuesta. Para ello se han considerado únicamente tres tipos de ítems en función del formato de respuesta: discreto de cuatro puntos, discreto de cinco puntos y continuo. Estas tres categorías permiten medir la tendencia hacia la utilización de categorías o de un continuo, así como el grado de preferencia por formatos que permitan una respuesta intermedia. Los resultados muestran, entre otros aspectos, que la mayoría de las personas entrevistadas prefieren formatos discretos a los continuos y categorías impares a las pares (posibilidad de explicitar una respuesta intermedia).Ministerio de Educación y Ciencias BSO2000-108

Obesity as a Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of 280,199 Patients

Khalid Saeed Khan is a Distinguished Investigator funded by the Beatriz Galindo (senior modality) Program grant given to the University of Granada by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of the Spanish Government.Simple Summary Results from individual studies on the association between obesity and prostate cancer mortality remain inconclusive; additionally, several large cohort studies have recently been conducted. We aimed to systematically review all available evidence and synthetize it using meta-analytic techniques. The results of our study showed that obesity was associated with prostate cancer specific mortality and all-cause mortality. The temporal association was consistent with a dose-response relationship. Our results demonstrated that obesity, a potentially modifiable prognostic factor, was associated with higher prostate cancer mortality. This study improved the evidence regarding the potential impact of lifestyle on improving prostate cancer prognosis. Strategies aimed at maintaining normal, or reducing abnormal, body mass index in diagnosed prostate cancer patients might improve survival. These results should guide urologists, oncologists, patients, policy-makers and primary care providers with respect to evidence-based practice and counselling concerning lifestyle changes after prostate cancer diagnosis.The aim of this study was to systematically review all evidence evaluating obesity as a prognostic factor for PC mortality. Cohort and case-control studies reporting mortality among PC patients stratified by body mass index (BMI) were included. The risk of mortality among obese patients (BMI >= 30) was compared with the risk for normal weight (BMI = 8), obesity was associated with increased PC-specific mortality (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.14-1.35, I-2: 0.0%) and maintained the dose-response relationship (HR: 1.11 per 5 kg/m(2) increase in BMI, 95% CI: 1.07-1.15, I-2: 26.6%). Obesity had a moderate, consistent, temporal, and dose-response association with PC mortality. Weight control programs may have a role in improving PC survival.Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of the Spanish Governmen

Breve repaso a los enfoques y metodologías de los Sistemas Multiagente

[ES] El intercambio de ideas entre científicos y técnicos, tanto del ámbito académico como empresarial, es fundamental para facilitar el desarrollo de sistemas que puedan satisfacer las demandas de la sociedad actual. La transferencia de tecnología en este campo sigue siendo un reto y, por ello, este tipo de aportaciones se consideran de forma destacada en esta recopilación. Este libro trae debates y publicaciones sobre el desarrollo de técnicas innovadoras de problemas complejos de IoT. El programa técnico se centra tanto en la alta calidad como en la diversidad, con contribuciones en áreas de investigación bien establecidas y en evolución. Específicamente, 10 capítulos fueron presentados a este libro. Los editores alentaron y agradecieron particularmente las contribuciones sobre IA y computación distribuida en aplicaciones de IoT. Los editores agradecen especialmente el apoyo financiero del proyecto “Virtual-Ledgers-Tecnologías DLT/Blockchain y Cripto-IOT sobre organizaciones virtuales de agentes ligeros y su aplicación en la eficiencia en el transporte de última milla”, ID SA267P18, financiado por Junta de Castilla y León y fondos FEDER.[EN] The exchange of ideas between scientists and technicians, from both academic and business areas, is essential in order to ease the development of systems which can meet the demands of today’s society. Technology transfer in this field is still a challenge and, for that reason, this type of contributions are notably considered in this compilation. This book brings in discussions and publications concerning the development of innovative techniques of IoT complex problems. The technical program focuses both on high quality and diversity, with contributions in well-established and evolving areas of research. Specifically, 10 chapters were submitted to this book. The editors particularly encouraged and welcomed contributions on AI and distributed computing in IoT applications. The editors are specially grateful for the funding supporting by the project “Virtual-Ledgers-Tecnologías DLT/Blockchain y Cripto-IOT sobre organizaciones virtuales de agentes ligeros y su aplicación en la eficiencia en el transporte de última milla”, ID SA267P18, financed by regional government of Castilla y León and FEDER funds

Alcohol and early mortality (before 65 years) in the ‘seguimiento Universidad de Navarra’ (SUN) cohort: does any level reduce mortality?

The aim of this study was to assess the association between alcohol intake and premature mortality (younger than 65 years) and to explore the effect of potential alcohol underreporting by heavy drinkers. We followed-up 20 272 university graduates. Four categories of alcohol intake were considered (abstainer, light, moderate and heavy consumption). Repeated measurements of alcohol intake and updated information on confounders were used in time-dependent Cox models. Potential underreporting of alcohol intake by some heavy drinkers (likely misclassified as light or moderate drinkers) was explicitly addressed in an attempt to correct potential underreporting by using indirect information. During 12·3 years of median follow-up (interquartile range: 6·8–15·0), 226 participants died before their 65th birthday. A higher risk of early mortality was found for the highest category of alcohol intake (≥50 g/d) in comparison with abstention (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2·82, 95 % CI 1·38, 5·79). In analyses of alcohol as a continuous variable, the multivariable-adjusted HR was 1·17 (95 % CI 1·08, 1·26), for each 10 g/d of alcohol. This harmful linear association was present both in uncorrected models and in models corrected for potential underreporting. No significant inverse association between light or moderate alcohol intake and premature mortality was observed, even after correcting for potential misclassification. Alcohol intake exhibited a harmful linear dose–response association with premature mortality (<65 years) in this young and highly educated Mediterranean cohort. Our attempts to correct for potential misclassification did not substantially change these results

Examination of the Feynman-Hibbs Approach in the Study of NeN_N-Coronene Clusters at Low Temperatures

Feynman-Hibbs (FH) effective potentials constitute an appealing approach for investigations of many-body systems at thermal equilibrium since they allow us to easily include quantum corrections within standard classical simulations. In this work we apply the FH formulation to the study of Ne$_N$-coronene clusters ($N=$ 1-4, 14) in the 2-14 K temperature range. Quadratic (FH2) and quartic (FH4) contributions to the effective potentials are built upon Ne-Ne and Ne-coronene analytical potentials. In particular, a new corrected expression for the FH4 effective potential is reported. FH2 and FH4 cluster energies and structures -obtained from energy optimization through a basin-hoping algorithm as well as classical Monte Carlo simulations- are reported and compared with reference path integral Monte Carlo calculations. For temperatures $T> 4$ K, both FH2 and FH4 potentials are able to correct the purely classical calculations in a consistent way. However, the FH approach fails at lower temperatures, especially the quartic correction. It is thus crucial to assess the range of applicability of this formulation and, in particular, to apply the FH4 potentials with great caution. A simple model of $N$ isotropic harmonic oscillators allows us to propose a means of estimating the cut-off temperature for the validity of the method, which is found to increase with the number of atoms adsorbed on the coronene molecule

Coronene molecules in helium clusters: Quantum and classical studies of energies and configurations

Under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license to their work.Coronene-doped helium clusters have been studied by means of classical and quantum mechanical (QM) methods using a recently developed He–C24H12 global potential based on the use of optimized atom-bond improved Lennard-Jones functions. Equilibrium energies and geometries at global and local minima for systems with up to 69 He atoms were calculated by means of an evolutive algorithm and a basin-hopping approach and compared with results from path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) calculations at 2 K. A detailed analysis performed for the smallest sizes shows that the precise localization of the He atoms forming the first solvation layer over the molecular substrate is affected by differences between relative potential minima. The comparison of the PIMC results with the predictions from the classical approaches and with diffusion Monte Carlo results allows to examine the importance of both the QM and thermal effects.This work has been supported by MICINN Grant Nos. FIS2011-29596-C02-01, FIS2013-48275-C2-1-P, and FIS2014-51993-P. R.R.-C. acknowledges funding from the Grant No. JAE-Pre-2010-01277. J.H.-R. and J.B. acknowledge the financial support from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Grant No. FIS2013-41532-P.Peer reviewe

Identificación inicial de genes en Babesia bigemina mediante análisis de Etiquetas de Secuencia Expresadas en el estadio intraeritrocítico del parásito

In this study, Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) were obtained and analyzed from 2208 randomly selected clones containing plasmids with cDNA inserts derived from a Babesia bigemina library. The obtained sequences were extracted and subject to Blast homology search in the Genbank databases. Sequence homology analysis resulted in the identification of 470 clones (grouped in 267 distinct clusters) which contained EST with no significant sequence identity with Babesia sp genes or other Apicomplexan parasites. Presumably, these EST would correspond either to new, unreported B. bigemina transcribed genes present in the erythrocyte stages of the parasite, or to non-translated sequences of the putative genes. 21 clones were identified which contained EST corresponding to 6 genes coding for B. bigemina antigens already reported in the literature; 1285 clones (grouped in 159 clusters of distinct sequences) had significant sequence identity with genes coding for hypothetical proteins previously identified in the Babesia bovis genome. Moreover, 32 clones had EST corresponding to 16 different Theileria sp. genes; 51 clones (26 distinct sequences) showed EST with sequence similarity to genes of Plasmodium sp., 25 EST had low identity with 13 different Toxoplasma gondii genes; and 4 clones with EST for 4 different Cryptosporidium sp genes. The results obtained, in addition to EST analysis of a larger number of B. bigemina cDNA clones, will allow the characterization and, eventually, the manipulation of gene coding regions, essential for the establishment of improved control strategies for cattle babesiosis caused by B. bigemina.En este estudio se realizó el análisis de Etiquetas de Secuencias Expresadas (EST) obtenidas a partir de 2208 clonas de Escherichia coli, con plásmidos recombinantes conteniendo insertos de cDNA de Babesia bigemina. Las secuencias se analizaron mediante búsqueda de homología en las bases de datos de genes. El análisis de homología en secuencia permitió identificar 470 clonas (agrupadas en 267 clusters) conteniendo EST con similitud de secuencia estadísticamente no significativa con algún gen de Babesia spp o de otro organismo Apicomplexa, sugiriendo la presencia de genes nuevos de B. bigemina; Se identificaron 21 clonas con EST correspondientes a 6 secuencias de genes previamente reportados para B. bigemina; además de 1285 clonas (conformando 159 clusters de genes distintos) de identidad significativa con proteínas hipotéticas o correspondientes a genes ya reportados en el genoma secuenciado de Babesia bovis; 32 clonas con EST homólogas a 16 genes distintos de Theileria spp; 51 clonas (26 genes distintos) con similitud en secuencia a genes de Plasmodium spp; 25 clonas con EST de moderada similitud con 13 genes distintos genes de Toxoplasma gondii; y 4 clonas con EST de mayor identidad con 4 genes diferentes de Cryptosporidium spp. Los resultados obtenidos permiten elaborar una base de datos sobre EST del estadio intraeritrocítico de Babesia bigemina, información básica esencial para la caracterización molecular del parásito, que permite llevar a cabo la identificación y regulación de nuevas regiones génicas codificadoras y, eventualmente el establecimiento de nuevas estrategias de control de la babesiosis bovina causada por B. bigemina

Between-session reliability of performance and asymmetry variables obtained during unilateral and bilateral countermovement jumps in basketball players

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019- 110074GB-I00 / SRA (State Research Agency) /10.13039/501100011033).This study aimed to evaluate the between-session reliability of single-leg performance and asymmetry variables during unilateral and bilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ). Twenty-three basketball players completed two identical sessions which consisted of four unilateral CMJs (two with each leg) and two bilateral CMJs. Mean and peak values of force, velocity and power, impulse, and jump height were obtained separately for each leg using a dual force platform. All performance variables presented an acceptable reliability (CVrange = 4.05-9.98%) with the exceptions of jump height for the unilateral CMJs and mean power, peak velocity, peak power, and impulse for the left leg during the bilateral CMJ (CV >= 11.0%). Nine out of 14 variables were obtained with higher reliability during the unilateral CMJ (CVratio >= 1.16), and 4 out of 14 during the bilateral CMJ (CVratio >= 1.32). Asymmetry variables always showed an unacceptable reliability (ICCrange = 0.15-0.64) and poor/slight levels of agreement in direction (Kappa(range) = -0.10 to 0.15) for the unilateral CMJ, while an acceptable reliability (ICCrange = 0.74-0.77) and substantial levels of agreement in direction (Kappa(range) = 0.65 to 0.74) were generally obtained for the bilateral CMJ. These results suggest that single-leg performance can be obtained with higher reliability during the unilateral CMJ, while the bilateral CMJ provides more consistent measures of inter-limb asymmetries.Spanish Government PID2019110074GB-I00/SR

Unilateral or Bilateral Standing Broad Jumps: Which Jump Type Provides Inter-Limb Asymmetries with a Higher Reliability?

We would like to thank all the subjects who selflessly participated in the study. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-110074GB-I00/SRA (State Research Agency)/10.13039/501100011033) and by the grants 451-03-68/2020-14/200015, 451-03-68/2020-14/200021 from the Ministry of education, science, and technological development of Republic of Serbia. The experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available, but are available from the corresponding author who was an organizer of the study.This study aimed to compare the between-session reliability of performance and asymmetry variables between unilateral and bilateral standing broad jumps (SBJ). Twenty-four amateur basketball players (12 males and females) completed two identical sessions which consisted of four unilateral SBJs (two with each leg) and two bilateral SBJs. Mean and peak values of force, velocity and power, and impulse were obtained separately for each leg using a dual force platform. Inter-limb asymmetries were computed using the standard percentage difference for the unilateral SBJ, and the bilateral asymmetry index-1 for the bilateral SBJ. All performance variables generally presented an acceptable absolute reliability for both SBJs (CV range = 3.65-9.81%) with some exceptions for mean force, mean power, and peak power obtained with both legs (CV range = 10.00-15.46%). Three out of 14 variables were obtained with higher reliability during the unilateral SBJ (CVratio >= 1.18), and 5 out of 14 during the bilateral SBJ (CVratio >= 1.27). Asymmetry variables always showed unacceptable reliability (ICCrange = -0.40 to 0.58), and slight to fair levels of agreement in their direction (Kappa range = -0.12 to 0.40) except for unilateral SBJ peak velocity [Kappa = 0.52] and bilateral SBJ peak power [Kappa = 0.51]) that showed moderate agreement for both SBJs. These results highlight that single-leg performance variables can be generally obtained with acceptable reliability regardless of the SBJ variant, but the reliability of the inter-limb asymmetries in the conditions examined in the present study is unacceptable to track individual changes in performance.Spanish Government PID2019-110074GB-I00/SRAMinistry of education, science, and technological development of Republic of Serbia 451-03-68/2020-14/200015 451-03-68/2020-14/20002

ARTE y PROPAGANDA Carteles de la Universitat de Valencia. Centre Cultural La Nau - Sala Thesaurus : de diciembre de 2001 a enero de 2002

La exposición "Arte y propaganda. Carteles de la Universitat de Valencia" presenta y pone en valor una parte signi ficativa de la colección gráfica unive rsitaria: los carteles republicanos de la guerra civil española. Entre los diversos bienes del patrimonio gráfico que alberga la Universitat de Valencia, destaca este excepcional repertorio de 261 affiches de guerra. La conservación de tan copioso material en la Universitat de Valencia está relacionada en gran medida con la situación que vivió Valencia como capital de la Segunda República. La mayoría de los artistas fieles a la República, de acuerdo con las ideas planteadas en el Congreso de Intelectuales Antifascistas, celebrado en Valencia, buscaron fórmulas figurativas, de carácter realista y de fácil legibilidad para la mayoría adaptando su trabajo a las nuevas necesidades de producción propagandística. Se trataba de poner al servicio de la causa republicana su particular forma de hacer acomodándola a las necesidades del momento, ya fueran informativas o de propaganda de ideas. Este contexto propició el debate en torno a planteamientos socioartísticos de honda trascendencia. Uno de ellos fue la preocupación por la orientación del arte y por precisar la función del cartel atendiendo a sus posibilidades propagandísticas y a su valor artístico. El cartel político, como instrumento artístico capaz de llegar a un amplio público y de abanderar la renovación de la plástica según los postulados y demandas de una sociedad inmersa en una dinámica revolucionaria, concentra la atención de un gran número de profesiona] es. El cartel se convirtió en una de las actividades artísticas más i"mportantes de esos años de contienda, impulsado por diversas instituciones y organizaciones, partidos políticos, centrales sindicales y asociaciones de trabajadores