Electrorotation of semiconducting microspheres

We study experimentally the electrorotation (ROT) of semiconducting microspheres. ZnO microspheres obtained by a hydrothermal synthesis method are dispersed in KCl aqueous solutions and subjected to rotating electric fields. Two ROT peaks are found in experiments: a counterfield peak and a cofield peak at somewhat higher frequencies. These observations are in accordance with recent theoretical predictions for semiconducting spheres. The counterfield rotation is originated by the charging of the electrical double layer at the particle-electrolyte interface, while the cofield rotation is due to the Maxwell-Wagner relaxation. Additionally, we also found that some microspheres in the sample behaved differently and only showed counterfield rotation. We show that the behavior of these particles can be described by the so-called shell model. The microstructure of the microspheres is analyzed with electron microscope techniques and related to the ROT measurements.Spanish Government Ministry MICINN under Contract No. PGC2018-099217-B-I00Junta de Andalucía Contract No. PEJUS-

On the street of culture.

La prensa escrita sigue siendo en España el medio que más espacio dedica a los contenidos culturales. En el contexto de la transformación digital, este artículo reflexiona sobre la necesidad de apoyar un periodismo cultural especializado, de contexto y riguroso que cumpla una misión prescriptora y relevante para la comunidad.The written press remains in Spain the medium that dedicates more space to cultural content. In the context of digital transformation, this article reflects the need to support a specialized, contextual and rigorous cultural journalism that fulfills a prescriptive and relevant mission for the community

Modeling the AC Electrokinetic Behavior of Semiconducting Spheres

We study theoretically the dielectrophoresis and electrorotation of a semiconducting microsphere immersed in an aqueous electrolyte. To this end, the particle polarizability is calculated from first principles for arbitrary thickness of the Debye layers in liquid and semiconductor. We show that the polarizability dispersion arises from the combination of two relaxation interfacial phenomena: charging of the electrical double layer and the Maxwell–Wagner relaxation. We also calculate the particle polarizability in the limit of thin electrical double layers, which greatly simplifies the analytical calculations. Finally, we show the model predictions for two relevant materials (ZnO and doped silicon) and discuss the limits of validity of the thin double layer approximation

Dipolophoresis and Travelling-Wave Dipolophoresis of Metal Microparticles

We study theoretically and numerically the electrokinetic behavior of metal microparticles immersed in aqueous electrolytes. We consider small particles subjected to non-homogeneous ac electric fields and we describe their motion as arising from the combination of electrical forces (dielectrophoresis) and the electroosmotic flows on the particle surface (induced-charge electrophoresis). The net particle motion is known as dipolophoresis. We also study the particle motion induced by travelling electric fields. We find analytical expressions for the dielectrophoresis and induced-charge electrophoresis of metal spheres and we compare them with numerical solutions. This validates our numerical method, which we also use to study the dipolophoresis of metal cylinders.Spanish Research Agency MCI under contract PGC2018-099217-B-I00

Use of the Functional Movement Screening in Division III Collegiate Athletics

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) aims to expose movement limitations and asymmetries by screening an individual on seven different fundamental movement patterns. Limited research has been conducted using individual FMS test scores comparatively to composite scores. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a corrective exercise program on improving individual FMS scores for a collegiate basketball team. Thirteen healthy, male student athletes from an NCAA Division III men’s basketball team performed all seven FMS movements. The team was randomly divided into control and treatment groups. The control group followed their typical pre-practice dynamic warm-up four days per week for four weeks, while the treatment group performed a specific warm-up geared towards improving FMS for four days per week for four weeks. The athletes performed the complete FMS following the completion of the training program. The specific corrective exercise training program did not significantly change FMS movements

Movement Capability Changes in Collegiate Basketball Players Following a Corrective Exercise Program

While much data is available regarding Functional Movement Screen (FMS) scores in corrective exercise programs and injury prevention, limited data exists regarding comparisons between movement patterns in various sports. The purpose of this study was to review FMS scores to find any mobility and stability differences between several NCAA Division III sports. In this study, 83 healthy student-athletes, from four different sports teams, performed a battery of tests to measure physical capabilities prior to the beginning of their competitive season. All participating student-athletes performed the FMS, which is a tool used to gauge fundamental movement patterns including range of motion, stability, and balance, to measure movement asymmetries and limitations

ECOLOGICAL INTERACTION OF PANTOPHTHALMUS ROSENI (ENDERLEIN) (DIPTERA: PANTOPHTHALMIDAE) AND THE RED OAK QUERCUS GERMANA SACHLTDL. ET CHAM. (FAGACEAE) IN A MEXICAN CLOUD FOREST

The interaction of the wood driller (Pantophthalmus roseni) and the red oak (Quercus germana) in the cloud forests of the Biosphere Reserve El Cielo at Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas, Mexico was studied. Forty mature individuals of Quercus germana were selected for comparison (20 healthy trees, 20 with severe damage, i.e. ³ 15 wood perforations caused by P. roseni). Healthy and damaged trees were measured for levels of herbivory, percentage of foliar nitrogen, total phenols concentration and acorn production. Herbivory was significantly greater (P< 0.05) in healthy than in damaged oaks. The healthy group had 1.5 times more leaf herbivory than the damaged group. Foliar nitrogen content in Q. germana (5.3%) showed significant variations in relation to the seasons (rainy season = 5.2% and dry season = 5.1%) and between damage groups, as well as in the interaction of season and group. The damaged trees group had 1.2 and 1.5 times more phenols concentration than the healthy group during the rainy season and dry season, respectively. Acorn production was significant greater (P< 0.05) for the damaged group than the healthy group. The importance of these results in understanding and managing this insect as a forest pest, as well as, the effects of herbivory in the cloud forests are discussed.La interacción del barreno del encino (Pantophthalmus roseni) y el encino rojo (Quercus germana) fue estudiada en el bosque mesófilo de montaña de la Reserva de la Biosfera El Cielo, Tamaulipas, México. Se seleccionaron cuarenta individuos maduros de Q. germana para comparación (20 árboles sanos y 20 árboles con daño severo, > 15 perforaciones en el fuste causadas por P. roseni). En árboles sanos y dañados fueron medidos los niveles de herbivoría, el porcentaje de nitrógeno foliar, la concentración total de fenoles y la producción de bellotas. La herbivoría fue significativamente mayor (P< 0.05) en los encinos sanos que en los dañados. El grupo de encinos sanos tuvo 1.5 veces más herbivoría foliar que el grupo de los dañados. El contenido de nitrógeno foliar en Q. germana (5.3%) mostró variaciones significativas en relación a las estaciones (estación lluviosa = 5.2% y estación seca = 5.1%) y entre grupos de daño, como también en la interacción de estación y grupo. El grupo de árboles dañados tuvo 1.2 y 1.5 veces más concentración de fenoles que el grupo de los sanos durante la estación lluviosa y la estación seca, respectivamente. La producción de bellotas fue significativamente más grande (P< 0.05) para el grupo de árboles dañados que para el grupo de los sanos. La importancia de estos resultados en la comprensión y el manejo de este insecto como una plaga forestal, así como los efectos de la herbivoría en el bosque mesófilo de montaña son discutidos

Patient safety culture: nurses’ perspective in the hospital setting

Patient safety culture (PSC) encompasses the values, attitudes, norms, beliefs, practices, perceptions, competencies, policies, and behaviours of professionals that determine organisational commitment to quality and patient safety. Few studies use mixed methods to analyse patient safety culture, and none offer the richness of using a mixed methodology to develop their theoretical model. This study aims to identify the factors nurses believe contextualise and influence PSC in relation to existing theoretical frameworks. (2) Methods: This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design combined with the Pillar Integration Process for data integration. (3) Results: In the final data integration process, 26 factors affecting nurses’ PSC were identified. Factors nurses related to PSC not being assessed with the tool used in phase 1 were notification system, flow of patients, patient involvement, resources and infrastructure, and service characteristics.(4) Conclusions: This mixed-methods study provides an opportunity to identify the weaknesses and strengths of currently developed theoretical frameworks related to PSC and offers content for its improvement. Even though multiple studies aim to assess PSC using existing quantitative method tools, the development of this study offers a glimpse of some aspects relevant to nurses’ PSC not included in the theoretical framework of the said tools, such as patient involvement, the flow of patients, and service infrastructure