From Housewives and Mothers to Mules: The Case of Latin American Women Prisoners in Spain

Latin American women play a key role in the international cocaine business as couriers or mules. Beginning from theoretical perspectives that explain the relationship between criminality and gender, we analyze why women without a criminal background become criminals, how they become involved in trafficking, their positions and functions in the criminal organization, and the risks and benefits of their participation. Qualitative fieldwork was carried out based on in-depth interviews with fifty-one female inmates and twenty members of prison staff from nine Spanish prisons. A thematic analysis has been carried out based on this data. The results reveal that the prevalent profile among Latin women traffickers is that of heads of household. There is a relationship between their social and geographical contexts of origin and cocaine trafficking, which determines their criminal behavior. They occupy the most exposed and lowest-paid positions in the criminal structure. We found through their discourses, how they are recruited, how they transport cocaine and the money they obtain. We conclude that cocaine trafficking is a resource that women use to escape situations of exclusion and that allows them to avoid other options, such as prostitution and migration. Despite the risks of trafficking, the economic benefits they obtain from it leads them to commit the crime

RanBP2-Mediated SUMOylation Promotes Human DNA Polymerase Lambda Nuclear Localization and DNA Repair

Cellular DNA is under constant attack by a wide variety of agents, both endogenous and exogenous. To counteract DNA damage, human cells have a large collection of DNA repair factors. Among them, DNA polymerase lambda (Polλ) stands out for its versatility, as it participates in different DNA repair and damage tolerance pathways in which gap-filling DNA synthesis is required. In this work we show that human Polλ is conjugated with Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) proteins both in vitro and in vivo, with Lys27 being the main target of this covalent modification. Polλ SUMOylation takes place in the nuclear pore complex and is mediated by the E3 ligase RanBP2. This post-translational modification promotes Polλ entry into the nucleus, which is required for its recruitment to DNA lesions and stimulated by DNA damage induction. Our work represents an advance in the knowledge of molecular pathways that regulate cellular localization of human Polλ, which are essential to be able to perform its functions during repair of nuclear DNA, and that might constitute an important point for the modulation of its activity in human cells

Un reto educativo en el Siglo XXI : la educación de delincuentes dentro del ámbito penitenciario. Una perspectiva de género

Este artículo analiza la función educativa que se lleva a cabo en las prisiones españolas, uno de los aspectos más olvidados dentro del ámbito educativo, siendo uno de los retos más importantes que tiene planteada la Educación en el siglo XXI. Por otra parte, a pesar de que la normativa penitenciaria que regula la educación en los centros penitenciarios va dirigida a los reclusos, independientemente de que estos sean hombres o mujeres, la realidad es que existen claras diferencias en la oferta educativa, tanto la referida a la formación profesional como a la ocupacional, con un marcado sesgo discriminatorio. Estas razones hacen necesario introducir en el estudio de la educación en las prisiones una perspectiva de género que ponga de manifiesto las diferencias existentes entre hombres y mujeres y sus causas.________________________________This article analyzes the educative function that is carried out in the Spanish prisons, one of the forgotten aspects more within the educative scope, although it is one of the most important challenges that it has raised the Education in century XXI. On the other hand, in spite of the penitentiary norm that regulates the education in the penitentiary centers goes independently directed to the inmates, of which these are men or women, the reality is that clear differences in the educative offer exist, as much referred to the professional formation like as the occupational one, with discriminatory slanted marking. These reasons do necessary to introduce, in the study of the education in the prisons, a gender perspective that shows the existing differences between men and women and their causes

Functional characterization of two enhancers located downstream FOXP2

Background: Mutations in the coding region of FOXP2 are known to cause speech and language impairment. However, it is not clear how dysregulation of the gene contributes to language deficit. Interestingly, microdeletions of the region downstream the gene have been associated with cognitive deficits. Methods: Here, we investigate changes in FOXP2 expression in the SK-N-MC neuroblastoma human cell line after deletion by CRISPR-Cas9 of two enhancers located downstream of the gene. Results: Deletion of any of these two functional enhancers downregulates FOXP2, but also upregulates the closest 3′ gene MDFIC. Because this effect is not statistically significant in a HEK 293 cell line, derived from the human kidney, both enhancers might confer a tissue specific regulation to both genes. We have also found that the deletion of any of these enhancers downregulates six well-known FOXP2 target genes in the SK-N-MC cell line. Conclusions: We expect these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how FOXP2 and MDFIC are regulated to pace neuronal development supporting cognition, speech and language.Spanish National Research and Development Plan PI14/01884Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI14/01884FEDER PI14/0188

El periódico en Educación Infantil como motor de desarrollo de la Alfabetización Mediática

Visibilizar y desarrollar adecuadamente la alfabetización mediática dentro de la etapa de Educación Infantil, requiere un tratamiento conjunto de la competencia digital y la competencia mediática, como un mecanismo idóneo para lograr una ciudadanía crítica y responsable en la sociedad tecnológica ymediática en la que vivimos. Para ello, proponemos una propuesta didáctica, vinculando la metodología por proyectos de trabajo y el periódico como un recurso didáctico con un enorme potencial por los múltiples beneficios que aporta a la práctica de aula, no solo a nivel de aprendizajes instrumentales, sino también a nivel mediático y digital en la Educación Infantil. En este sentido, las actividades propuestas abarcan distintas dimensiones de la competencia mediática, relacionadas con la manipulación mediática, el lenguaje audiovisual y estético, y la búsqueda, selección, transformación y difusión de la información que desde las primeras edades es necesario desarrollar.To make visible and to develop properly the media literacy within the Kindergarden Stage requires a joint treatment of digital competence and the media competence, as the best mechanism to achieve a critical and responsible citizenship in the technological and media society in which we live. To this end, we propose a didactic approach linking the methodology of work by projects and the newspapers as a teaching resource with enormous potential because of the many benefits it brings to the classroom practice, not only at instrumental learning level but also to media level and to digital level in the kindergarden stage. In this sense, the proposed activities encompass different dimensions of media competence linked to media manipulation, audio-visual and aesthetic language, and searching, sorting, processing and diffusion of information which from the earliest ages is necessary to develop

Fabrication of gold nanowires on insulating substrates by field-induced mass transport

A method for the fabrication of nanometer size gold wires on insulating surfaces is presented. An oscillating gold-coated atomic force microscope tip is brought into close proximity of a silicon dioxide surface. The application of a negative sample voltage produces the transport of gold atoms from the tip to the surface. The voltage is applied when there is a tip–surface separation of ∼3 nm. The finite tip–surface separation enhances the tip lifetime. It also allows the application of sequences of multiple voltage pulses. Those sequences allow the fabrication of continuous nanowires. The atomic force microscope gold deposition is performed at room temperature and in ambient conditions which makes the method fully compatible with standard lithographic techniques. Electron transport measurements of the wires show a clear metallic behavior. Electrical resistivities of ∼ 3×10−7 Ω m and current densities of up to 5×1011 A m−2 are reported.This work was supported by the Dirección General de Enseñanza Superior e Investigación (PB98-0471) and the European Commission (MONA-LISA, GRD1-2000-25592). One of the authors (M.C.) acknowledges financial support from the Comunidad de Madrid.Peer reviewe

Interpreting the near infrared region of explosives

The NIR spectra from 1000 to 2500 nm of 18 different explosives, propellant powders and energetic salts were collected and interpreted. NIR spectroscopy is known to provide information about the combination bands and overtones of highly anharmonic vibrations as those occurring in XH bonds (CH, NH and OH). Particularly intense and complex were the bands corresponding to the first combination region (2500&#-1900&;8239#nm) and first overtone stretching mode (2nu) of CH and NH bonds (1750&#-1450&;8239#nm). Inorganic oxidizing salts including sodium/potassium nitrate, sodium/potassium chlorate, and sodium/potassium perchlorate displayed low intense or no NIR bands

Participation in contests as teaching methodology for project-based learning in Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering

Comunicación presentada en XXI Congreso Internacional de Dirección e Ingeniería de Proyectos, celebrado en Cádiz del 12 al 14 de julio de 2017 / Proceedings from the 21st International Congress on Project Management and Engineering (Cádiz, July 2017)El aprendizaje basado en proyectos es una metodología docente muy empleada hoy en día en la enseñanza en ingeniería por su capacidad para facilitar la adquisición de competencias, tales como la capacidad de investigación, toma de decisiones, trabajo en equipo, autodesarrollo, etc. Para ello, la elección de un proyecto que sea capaz de motivar suficientemente al alumnado se convierte en un punto clave, puesto que cuanto mayor sea la motivación del alumno para realizar bien un proyecto, mayor será su implicación y, por tanto, su aprendizaje. En el grado de Ingeniería en Diseño Industrial y Desarrollo de Producto de la Universitat Jaume I de Castellón se lleva empleando, en varias asignaturas y desde hace unos años, la participación en concursos como metodología docente para la enseñanza basada en proyectos. El presente artículo muestra un estudio basado en la experiencia en estas asignaturas sobre las ventajas que presenta este tipo de recurso docente.Project-based learning is a teaching methodology used today in enginnering education for its capacity to facilitate the acquisition of competences, such as the ability to research, decisionmaking, teamwork, self-development, etc. To do this, choosing a project that is able to sufficiently motivate students becomes a key point, since the higher the student's motivation to perform well a project, the greater their involvement and, therefore, their learning will be. The Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering of the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón is using, in several subjects and from a few years ago, the participation in contests as teaching methodology for the project based learning. This paper shows a study based on the experience in these subjects on the advantages of this type of teaching resourc

Sexo y amor: cuando la forma de entender el amor se convierte en un riesgo para la salud sexual de los jóvenes

III Jornadas de Investigación para el Alumnado de SaludIntroducción: Los mitos del amor romántico abordan maneras estereotipadas de sentir y comportarnos en las relaciones afectivo-sexuales. Las investigaciones demuestran cómo puntuaciones superiores en romanticismo parecen relacionarse con un mayor rechazo al uso del preservativo y a otros métodos anticonceptivos. Por este motivo, sería necesario estudiar cómo influyen estos mitos en el comportamiento sexual de los jóvenes para diseñar intervenciones preventivas eficaces. Metodología: Se evaluó a 654 jóvenes (M=20,63; DT=2,267), mediante el Cuestionario sobre Mitos del Amor Romántico (Ferrer y cols., 2010). Los participantes fueron distribuidos en 2grupos: GR-Grupo de Riesgo (no siempre usan preservativo) y GNR-Grupo de No Riesgo (siempre usan preservativo). Resultados: Los análisis diferenciales indican que los jóvenes que realizan conductas sexuales de riesgo muestran mayor acuerdo en casi todos los mitos del amor romántico, siendo significativos a nivel estadístico, el mito de la pasión intensa (p=0,006) y el de la justificación de la violencia (p=0,049).Conclusiones: Los jóvenes presentan creencias distorsionadas sobre el amor y la pareja, lo que influye en sus primeras relaciones. Estos mitos y, principalmente aquellos relacionados con la visión de las emociones, podrían actuar como factores de riesgo en el desarrollo sexual y en la propia salud, puesto que se observan diferencias entre el grupo que realiza prácticas sexuales desprotegidas y el que refiere tener sexo seguro. Sería necesario incorporar estos resultados en los programas de promoción salud sexual.Introduction: The myths of romantic love describe stereotypical ways of feeling and acting in affective-sexual relations. Researches show a relation between a higher score for romanticism and a minor use of condoms and other contraception methods. Studying how those myths affect the individual’s sexual behaviour is needed, in order to create an effective prevention. Method: 654 young people were evaluated by the Myths of Romantic Love Questionnaire (Ferrer y cols., 2010). These participants were divided into two groups: RG-Risk Group (they do not use a condom systematically) and NRGNo Risk Group (they always use a condom). Results: The differential analyses revealed that young people who are involved in risky sexual behaviours show concordance for most of the myths of romantic love; the myth of intense passion (p=0,006) and the justification of violence (p=0,049) reveal statistical significant differences. Conclusion:Young people show distorted believes of love and partner, which affects their first relationships. Those myths and the ones related to a vision of emotions, may facilitate risky factors in sexual development and health. There are differences between a group that practices unprotected sex and the one that practices safe sex. Including these results into the sexual health programmes is required