El vapeo que nos confunde: oportunidades y amenazas del cigarrillo electrónico

Actualmente los cigarrillos electrónicos son objeto de un intenso debate. Este artículo pretende analizar los aspectos más controvertidos respecto al uso de los cigarrillos electrónicos por parte de lo fumadores y no fumadores, valorando las amenazas y oportunidades. Con esta finalidad se expone la evidencia científica respecto su grado de toxicidad, la problemática de su uso en no fumadores, especialmente entre los jóvenes, así como su potencial utilidad para dejar de fumar. Se discuten las implicaciones que su utilización tiene para la adicción a la nicotina, tanto en fumadores como en no fumadores. Se concluye que la evidencia sobre la potencialidad de los cigarrillos electrónicos para reducir daños y como estrategia de abandono del tabaco es limitada pero sugerente, y que este tipo de dispositivos solo puede suponer una oportunidad para el control del tabaco cuando exista una adecuada regulación por parte de las autoridades sanitarias y al mismo tiempo se detecten y controlen los riesgos y amenazas que para la salud pública puedan derivarse de su uso.Electronic cigarettes are currently the subject of intense debate. This article aims to analyze the most controversial aspects regarding the use of electronic cigarettes by smokers and nonsmokers, considering the threats and the opportunities involved. For this purpose the scientific evidence regarding their toxicity, the problem of their use by non-smokers, especially the young, and their potential utility to help give up smoking are examined. The implications that their use has for addiction to nicotine in smokers and non-smokers are discussed. It concludes that the evidence on the potential of electronic cigarettes to reduce damage and facilitate giving up smoking is limited but thoughtprovoking. Electronic cigarettes can only be an opportunity to improve the control of tobacco once there is suitable regulation by health authorities and when any risks and threats to public health that may result from their use can be detected and controlled

A robustness verification system for mobile phone authentication based on gestures using Linear Discriminant Analysis

This article evaluates an authentication technique for mobiles based on gestures. Users create a remindful identifying gesture to be considered as their in-air signature. This work analyzes a database of 120 gestures of different vulnerability, obtaining an Equal Error Rate (EER) of 9.19% when robustness of gestures is not verified. Most of the errors in this EER come from very simple and easily forgeable gestures that should be discarded at enrollment phase. Therefore, an in-air signature robustness verification system using Linear Discriminant Analysis is proposed to infer automatically whether the gesture is secure or not. Different configurations have been tested obtaining a lowest EER of 4.01% when 45.02% of gestures were discarded, and an optimal compromise of EER of 4.82% when 19.19% of gestures were automatically rejected

Hand Image Segmentation by means of Gaussian Multiscale Aggregation for biometric applications

Applying biometrics to daily scenarios involves demanding requirements in terms of software and hardware. On the contrary, current biometric techniques are also being adapted to present-day devices, like mobile phones, laptops and the like, which are far from meeting the previous stated requirements. In fact, achieving a combination of both necessities is one of the most difficult problems at present in biometrics. Therefore, this paper presents a segmentation algorithm able to provide suitable solutions in terms of precision for hand biometric recognition, considering a wide range of backgrounds like carpets, glass, grass, mud, pavement, plastic, tiles or wood. Results highlight that segmentation accuracy is carried out with high rates of precision (F-measure 88%)), presenting competitive time results when compared to state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms time performanc

Ecologically Designed Sanitary Sewer Based on Constructed WetlandsTechnology – Case Study in Managua (Nicaragua)

In developed countries the sanitation and treatment of urban wastewater is well sustained and technically solved by means of conventional pipe networksandsubsequentcentralizedtreatments.However,developingcountries lack these infrastructures and are in need of sustainable, decentralized and economically viable solutions for the disposal of their urban wastewaters. In addition to this, there are situations where the demands of conservation of naturalspacesdonotallowintensiveconstructiveproceduresandwhichforce the implementation of sanitary engineering with less environmental impact. We present the Ecological Wastewater Sewer (EWS), an ecological urban sewerage system that simultaneously transports wastewater and improves its quality.Thisinnovativetechnologyisanalternativetoconventionalsanitation piping that has minimal environmental impact. It is based on a successful previous work for the improvement of artificial wetlands in a pilot scheme andatfull-scaleonatestsite.TheEWSisachannel-shapeddevicethatrelies on the application of two key developments: a carefully designed cornered stones layout, and the creation of a natural aeration system. This way, it acts as a separating sewage system that guarantees the presence of a chamber of circulating air within the transportation unit, favouring permanent aerobic conditions in the upper levels of the mass of wastewater. Furthermore, its capacity to set tle suspended solids allows the EWS to be used as a sedimentor in water purification processes. A real-life application of this system proved successful in the sanitation of a district of Managua (Nicaragua). Working with a 100-metre-long street of 20 one-story houses, the system is reported to still be in full operating order after six years. The conclusions and results drawn from its monitoring are meticulously explained in our paper, as well astherecommendations&guidelinesforthedesignofmoreEWSunits,with aim to the popularization of this affordable, efficient and green approach to wastewater sanitation.Andalusian International School of Water Engineering, City hall of SevilleCooperation Office at the University of Sevill

Evaluation of Electro-Optic Behaviour of Chiral Smetic Liquid Crystals Dispalys with V-shaped response

In the last years, chiral smectic liquid crystals with V-shaped electro-optic response have been reported as one of the most promising technologies for display applications. In this work,some experiments have been made in order to check electrooptical performance of this kind of materials. Particularly, frequency dependence of optical response and memory effect in transmission have been analyzed. Microscopic observations of intermediate transmission levels and measurements of apparent tilt angle and response time have been also carried out

La aproximación multimétodo en evaluación de necesidades

La evaluación de necesidades es una modalidad de investigación social aplicada, de carácter evaluativo, que consiste en identificar y priorizar los problemas existentes en un contexto determinado, como base para la planificación de intervenciones que incidan sobre las principales carencias detectadas. A pesar de la amplia variedad de métodos de investigación disponibles para el desarrollo de este tipo de estudios, la práctica de la evaluación de necesidades suele caracterizarse por cierta pobreza metodológica, con un claro predominio de la encuesta como principal o único método de recogida de información. En el presente trabajo, tras realizar una breve revisión de las aproximaciones metodológicas alternativas que es posible adoptar en el ámbito general de la investigación social y la evaluación de programas, se propone un modelo multimétodo de evaluación de necesidades que plantea el uso combinado de técnicas de investigación tanto cuantitativas como cualitativas.Needs assessment is a type of applied social evaluative research, focused on the identification and prioritization of problems in a specific context, as a base for intervention planning oriented to solve the main identified needs. In spite of the huge availability of research methods for the development of this kind of studies, needs assessment practice is too often charaterized by certain methodological poverty, with a clear dominance of the survey as the main or only research method. In the present paper, after a brief revision of the methodological approaches that may be adopted in the general field of social research and programme evaluation, a multimethod needs assessment model is proposed, suggesting the combined use of both qualitative and quantitative research techniques

Futuro profesional y competencias psicobiológicas adquiridas en una asignatura de Grado de Psicología

En este trabajo se analiza la valoración que realizan los/as alumnos/as sobre la importancia que para su futuro profesional tienen las competencias psicobiológicas adquiridas en una asignatura de Grado de Psicología. En el estudio participaron 84 estudiantes voluntarios pertenecientes a 3 agrupaciones horarias diferentes, que estaban cursando Psicología Fisiológica II, una asignatura de carácter básico que se imparte en el primer ciclo del Grado de Psicología de la Universitat de València. La tarea consistió en evaluar anónimamente y según una escala de 0 a 10 la importancia de las competencias que habían ido adquiriendo sobre los diferentes aspectos psicobiológicos abordados en el curso para su futuro profesional como psicólogo/as. Esta valoración se realizó de forma voluntaria y una vez explicados todos los temas recogidos en la Guía Docente de la asignatura. Los resultados mostraron que el alumnado valoró muy positivamente los conocimientos y destrezas psicobiológicas adquiridas durante el curso, indicando el 93% de los/as alumnos/as que las competencias alcanzadas en esta asignatura son fundamentales para su desarrollo profesional, independientemente de su futura especialización. Se concluye que los/as estudiantes de Grado de Psicología consideran la formación psicobiológica como un aspecto clave para su futuro laboral

A novel lncRNA as a positive regulator of carotenoid biosynthesis in Fusarium

The fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium fujikuroi produce carotenoids, lipophilic terpenoid pigments of biotechnological interest, with xanthophyll neurosporaxanthin as the main end product. Their carotenoid biosynthesis is activated by light and negatively regulated by the RING-finger protein CarS. Global transcriptomic analysis identified in both species a putative 1-kb lncRNA that we call carP, referred to as Fo-carP and Ff-carP in each species, upstream to the gene carS and transcribed from the same DNA strand. Fo-carP and Ff-carP are poorly transcribed, but their RNA levels increase in carS mutants. The deletion of Fo-carP or Ff-carP in the respective species results in albino phenotypes, with strong reductions in mRNA levels of structural genes for carotenoid biosynthesis and higher mRNA content of the carS gene, which could explain the low accumulation of carotenoids. Upon alignment, Fo-carP and Ff-carP show 75-80% identity, with short insertions or deletions resulting in a lack of coincident ORFs. Moreover, none of the ORFs found in their sequences have indications of possible coding functions. We conclude that Fo-carP and Ff-carP are regulatory lncRNAs necessary for the active expression of the carotenoid genes in Fusarium through an unknown molecular mechanism, probably related to the control of carS function or expressio

La pornografía en internet y la ritualización de las relaciones sexuales

No se puede negar el impacto que tiene sobre las conductas sexuales, así como sobre las relaciones de género, la "nueva pornografía" distribuida por internet. La familiaridad con prácticas de riesgo, la descontextualización de la sexualidad, la inmediatez, la simplificación de las relaciones interpersonales, así como la vinculación con nuevas modalidades de prostitución, convierten a la nueva pornografía en un fenómeno de especial relevancia para la comprensión de las relaciones interpersonales. Uno de los efectos que estudiamos es la creciente ritualización de las relaciones. Una parte de los nuevos rituales de relación se explica por la importante presencia de la nueva pornografía. Dicha presencia es especialmente relevante entre los hombres, a todas las edades, modificando las relaciones, las expectativas, los criterios para evaluarlas, las modalidades de las prácticas sexuales deseadas y otros aspectos de las relaciones interpersonales. La ritualización de las relaciones se basa en la simplificación de las relaciones, desde formas rituales rígidas, hasta formas rituales flexibles (con unas reglas de juego que permiten una amplia variedad de desarrollos).It can't be deny the impact of the "new pornography" distributed by internet on sexual behavior related whit gender relations, risk practices, decontextualization of sexuality, immediacy, simplification of the interpersonal relationships. All of this is related with new forms of prostitution and pornography and turns into a phenomenon of particular relevance for understanding interpersonal relationships. One effect we study is the increasing of the ritualization of relationships. Part of the new rituals of relationship is explained by the significant presence of the “new pornography”. This presence is particularly significant among men, at all ages, changing relationships, expectations, modalities of the sexual desire and other aspects of interpersonal relationships. The ritualization of relationships is based on simplification of relationships, from “rigid ritual forms” to “flexible ritual forms” (with some rules that allow a wide variety of developments)

New pornography and the modification of sexual relations among youth

No se puede negar el im¬pacto que tiene sobre las conductas sexuales, así como sobre las relaciones de género, la “nueva pornografía” distri¬buida por internet. Para intentar conocer este problema hemos realizado un estu¬dio con un enfoque, teórico y empírico bien fundamentado. En cuanto a la me¬todología, el estudio fue diseñado para obtener una muestra de actividades en la esfera privada, en relación al consu¬mo de pornografía en internet, diferen¬ciadas por género. Entre los resultados y conclusiones podemos destacar: 1) la pornografía en internet puede influir so¬bre las actitudes sexuales, valores mo-rales y actividad sexual de los juventud; 2) los varones son los grandes consu¬midores de pornografía en internet y los que presionan más en el cambio de las prácticas sexuales, y 3) el fácil acceso a la pornografía en internet forma parte de un entorno altamente sexualizado.The impact of internet-dis¬tributed “new pornography” on sexual behaviour and gender relations cannot be denied. To solve this problem, we have conducted a study based on a well-founded theoretical and empirical approach. The study was designed to obtain a sample of activities in the private sphere, in relation to the consumption of pornography on the internet, differentiat¬ed by gender. Results and conclusions: 1) pornography on the internet can influ¬ence sexual attitudes, moral values, and sexual activity of youth; 2) males are the greatest consumers of pornography on the internet and are the most likely to experience changes in sexual practices; and 3) easy access to pornography on the internet is part of a highly sexualized environment