Étude comparative des difficultés linguistiques dans l’apprentissage du français langue étrangère dans les établissements espagnols et allemands.

L’objectif de ce travail est d’analyser les systèmes éducatifs en vigueur actuellement en Espagne et en Allemagne pour pouvoir y déterminer la place du français comme langue étrangère. De plus, nous essayerons de révéler les principales difficultés que les élèves rencontrent dans cette matière et le niveau de maîtrise de maîtrise de cette troisième langue au moyen d’un test élaboré à cet effet.El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los sistemas educativos vigentes actualmente en España y en Alemania, para determinar la posición del francés como lengua extranjera en dichos países. Además de intentar revelar las dificultades que los alumnos encuentran relacionadas con esta asignatura y el de dominio de esta lengua a partir de un test elaborado con este propósito.Grado en Lenguas Modernas y sus Literatura

Androgen receptor immunoreactivity in forebrain axons and dendrites in the rat

As members of the steroid receptor superfamily, androgen receptors (ARs) have been traditionally identified as transcription factors. In the presence of ligand, ARs reside in the nucleus, where, upon ligand binding, the receptors dimerize and bind to specific response elements in the promoter region of hormone-responsive genes. However, in this report, we describe the discovery that ARs are also present in axons and dendrites within the mammalian central nervous system. AR expression in axons was identified in the rat brain at the light microscopic level using two different antibodies directed against the N terminus of the AR protein and nickel intensified 3′-3′-diaminobenzidine, and also using fluorescence methods and confocal microscopy. This distribution was confirmed at the ultrastructural level. In addition, AR immunoreactivity was identified in small dendrites at the ultrastructural level. AR-immunoreactive axons were observed primarily in the cerebral cortex and were rare in regions where nuclear AR expression is abundant. The observation that ARs are present in axons and dendrites highlights the possibility that androgens play an important and novel extranuclear role in neuronal function.Peer Reviewe

Empresaris immigrants en temps de crisi econòmica

El grup d'investigació egolab-GRAFO, del Departament d'Antropologia Social i Cultural, ha conclòs el projecte ITINERE (Perfils d'empresariat ètnic a Espanya CSO2009-07057). Aquesta recerca pretén realitzar un estudi a partir de diferents perfils d'empresariat immigrant o ètnic a Catalunya, així com una anàlisi de les seves xarxes personals de suport als emprenedors, tant locals com transnacionals.El grupo de investigación egolab-GRAFO, del Departamento de Antropología Social y Cultural, ha concluido el proyecto ITINERE (Perfiles de empresariado étnico en España CSO2009-07057). Esta investigación pretende realizar un estudio a partir de diferentes perfiles de empresariado inmigrante o étnico en Cataluña, así como un análisis de sus redes personales de apoyo a los emprendedores, tanto locales como transnacionales

Dispensación de anticonceptivos hormonales en una farmacia comunitaria de Valladolid

Objetivos: Conocer los factores de riesgo de las usuarias de anticonceptivos hormonales (AH), AH usado previamente, motivo del cambio de AH referido por la usuaria, AH dispensado, efectos adversos presentados con el último AH utilizado y si olvidó tomar/utilizar el AH de forma correcta. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, mediante un cuestionario ad hoc administrado a las usuarias de AH que acudieron a una farmacia comunitaria de Valladolid. Resultados: 120 usuarias respondieron al cuestionario. El 43,3% tenía factores de riesgo añadido para sufrir un evento cardiovascular (hipercolesterolemia, tabaquismo, diabetes, etc.) y el 3,3%; al menos una contraindicación relativa para su uso. El AH usado previamente en más ocasiones fue “etinilestradiol 35 μg + ciproterona 2 mg comprimidos”. Las usuarias cambiaron de AH principalmente por la presencia de efectos adversos. Los AH más dispensados fueron aquéllos que tenían drospirenona como progestágeno. Los efectos adversos más frecuentes fueron cefaleas, ganancia de peso, manchados irregulares y cambios de humor. El 36,4 % de las pacientes reconoció haber olvidado tomar/utilizar el AH de forma correcta y el (29,7%) no sabía que tendría que hacer en caso de olvido. Conclusiones: Casi la mitad de las usuarias tenía factores de riesgo añadido para sufrir un evento cardiovascular. La usuaria refirió haber cambiado de AH principalmente por los efectos adversos. Los AH más dispensados contenían drospirenona como progestágeno. El 36,4% de las usuarias olvidó tomar/utilizar el AH de forma correcta. Es necesario impulsar campañas educativas multidisciplinares para mejorar la utilización de estos medicamentos.Aims: To know the risk factors for users of hormonal contraceptives (HC), HC previously used, reason for the change of HC referred by the user, dispensing HC, adverse effects presented with the last used HC and if she forgot to take/use the HC correctly. Material and methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study by means of an administered questionnaire to users who attended a community pharmacy of Valladolid. Results: 120 users responded to the questionnaire. The 43.3 per cent had risk factors added to suffer a cardiovascular event (hypercholesterolemia, smoking, diabetes, etc.) and the 3.3 per cent had at least a relative contraindication for its use. The HC used previously in most occasions was “cyproterone 2 mg + ethinylestradiol 35 μg tablets”. The users changed HC mainly by the presence of adverse effects. The most dispensing HC were those who had as progestin drospirenone. The most common side effects of the HC in use were headaches, weight gain, irregular spots and mood changes. The 36.4 per cent of the patients admitted to having forgotten to take/use the HC correctly and the (29.7 per cent) did not know what they would have to do in case of forgetfulness. Conclusions: Almost half of the users had risk factors added to suffer a cardiovascular event. The user said that she had changed from HC mainly by adverse effects. The most dispensing HC contained as progestin drospirenone. The 36.4 per cent of the users forgot to take/use the HC correctly. It is necessary to promote multidisciplinary educational campaigns to improve the use of these medications

Negative affect, perceived health, and endocrine and immunological levels in caregivers of offspring with schizophrenia.

Negative affect (NA) and chronic stress are separately associated with health imbalances, and the interaction between the two aspects remains unclear. Care of relatives with long-term pathologies could be a likely model in the study of this issue, as caregivers frequently report chronic stress and health complaints. The aim of this study is examine the role of NA on psychophysiological stress-induced response and health in schizophrenia caregivers. Method: Forty-one caregivers were distributed into two groups accordingly to their scores in NA. Thirteen non-caregivers were included as a control group. Participants were exposed to a repeated acute psychosocial stress while salivary cortisol, immunoglobulin A (IgA), and skin conductance level (SCL) were measured before, during, and after stress. Mood, state-anxiety, care conditions and perceived general health were also assessed. Results: Caregivers with higher NA reported negative perceptions, worse health, and greater decreases in cortisol and IgA response than caregivers with low NA and than non-caregivers. Conclusions: NA could reduce the capability to develop adaptive psychophysiological stress responses. From a preventive view, the evaluation of NA could be useful to detect and assist high-risk individuals in potentially chronically stressed population

Análisis de la toma de decisiones en la acción de bloqueo en voleibol : comparación entre jugadoras de élite y amateur

El propósito del presente estudio ha sido analizar la toma de decisiones en una situación de bloqueo en voleibol, basándonos en las acciones de las colocadoras. La muestra estaba compuesta por 40 jugadoras de voleibol (24.0±4.9 años), que competían de manera federada y participaban durante el juego en la acción de bloqueo. se analizó la toma de decisiones en esta acción, utilizando secuencias de video proyectadas a tamaño real. Las participantes, en función de su nivel de juego, se dividieron en grupo élite (n=10), formado por las jugadoras de la selección española absoluta, y en grupo amateur (n=30), compuesto por jugadoras de equipos amateur de segunda y primera división. Las secuencias de colocación que visionaron las participantes estuvieron en consonancia con su nivel competitivo, de modo que cada grupo visionó el mismo número de colocaciones, realizadas por dos jugadoras distintas, de su mismo nivel competitivo. se realizó una comparación entre el porcentaje de acierto de ambos grupos en los diferentes tipos de colocación. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en los aciertos entre los grupos élite y amateur, aunque sí se detectaron diferencias significativas tras ponderar los datos, además de un tamaño del efecto por encima del valor medio. estas diferencias en las medias de las variables de acierto pueden tener importancia a nivel práctico, puesto que traducidas al terreno de juego supondrían un mayor número de decisiones acertadas. Además, había una fuerte correlación positiva entre las variables de acierto, lo que nos indica que hay una tendencia a acertar o fallar independientemente de la zona de colocación. estos resultados pueden ser la base para realizar programas de intervención para la mejora de la toma de decisiones en esta acción concreta.The purpose of this study was to analyze decision making in a volleyball block situation, based on the actions of the setter. The sample was composed by 40 female volleyball players (24.0 ± 4.9 years), that were federated and had a role in blocking actions during the game. decision making in blocks was analyzed, using video sequences projected in a real scale. According to their skill level, the participants were classified into an elite group (n = 10), composed of the players of the spanish national women's volleyball team, and an amateur one (n = 30), with non-professional players from women's First and second spanish division. The setting sequences that the participants watched were in consonance with their skill level, so that every group saw the same number of setting sequences, made by two different players, of the same competitive level. A comparison between success rates in both groups in the different types of settings was performed. No significant differences were found in success between both groups, although significant differences were detected after considering the data, as well as an effect size over the average value. These differences in the means of success variables may be important from a practical point of view, inasmuch as translated to the playing ground would imply a higher success. Besides, a high positive correlation between success variables was found, which points out a trend to failure or success independently of the setting zone. These results can be the basis so as to carry out intervention programs to improve decision making in this specific action.O objectivo do presente estudo foi analisar a tomada de decisões numa situação de bloqueio no voleibol, baseando-nos nas acciones das distribuidoras. A amostra foi composta por 40 jogadoras de voleibol (24.0 ± 4.9 anos), federadas e que participavam durante o jogo na acção de bloqueio. Foi analisada a tomada de decisões nesta acção, utilizando sequências de vídeo projectadas em tamanho real. As participantes, em função do seu nível de jogo, foram divididas em grupo elite (n = 10), formado pelas jogadoras da selecção principal espanhola, e grupo amador (n = 30), composto por jogadoras de equipas amadoras da segunda e primeira divisão. As sequências de distribuição que visionaram as participantes estiveram em consonância com o seu nível competitivo, sendo que cada grupo visionou o mesmo número de distribuições, realizadas por duas jogadoras distintas, do seu nível competitivo. realizou-se uma comparação entre a percentagem de acerto de ambos os grupos nos diferentes níveis de distribuição. Não se verificaram diferenças significativos nos acertos entre os grupos de elite e amador, embora se tenham verificado diferenças significativas após a ponderação dos dados, bem como uma magnitude de efeito acima do valor médio. estas diferenças nas médias das variáveis de acerto pode ser importante a nível prático, uma vez que traduzidas em campo iriam supor um maior número de decisões acertadas. Além disso, verificou-se uma forte correlação positiva entre as variáveis de acerto, o que indica que há uma tendência de acertar ou errar, independentemente da zona de distribuição. estes resultados podem ser a base para delinear programas de intervenção para melhorar a tomada de decisão nesta acção específica

Down-regulation of a pectin acetylesterase gene modifies strawberry fruit cell wall pectin stracture and increases fruit firmness

Antisense-mediated down-regulation of several fruit-specific genes has previously demonstrated how the cell wall disassembly in strawberry fruit is mediated by a series of enzymes that act sequentially (Posé et al. 2011). An interesting example, the silencing of the polygalacturonase gene FaPG1, was also related with a significant increase of the post-harvest strawberry fruit firmness (Posé et al. 2013). Our research group has isolated a pectin acetylesterase gene, FaPAE1, which expression is enhanced during strawberry ripening. The main goal of this work was to elucidate the role of the degree of acetylation in cell wall integrity and fruit firmness through the antisense-mediated down-regulation of FaPAE1 in strawberry plants. Several transgenics lines were generated and 5 of them produced fruits 5-15% firmer than controls. Cell wall from ripe fruits was isolated from two independent transgenic lines and a control line, and sequentially extracted with different solvents (PAW, H2O, CDTA, Na2CO3). Modifications in fraction yield, its sugar composition and the degree of acetylation in each fraction were determined. Higher amounts of CDTA and Na2CO3 fractions were obtained in transgenic fruits, suggesting a decreased pectin solubilization as results of FaPAE1 silencing. Accordingly, the degree of acetylation of the Na2CO3-soluble pectins was greater in the transgenic lines than the control, but the opposite result was found in pectins from the CDTA fraction. These results suggest that PAE is preferentially active in pectis that are tightly bound to the cellulose-hemicellulose network and its activity could reduce the complexity of the cell wall structure, allowing that other hydrolytic enzymes could access the pectin chains. Thus, the increased fruit firmness observed in the transgenic FaPAE1 lines could be attributed to the direct effect of the silencing of the PAE enzyme and also to the indirect effect that the increase of the degree of acetylation of pectins has on the activity of other enzymes involved in the cell wall degradation. * Posé et al. (2011). Genes, Genomes and Genomics, 5 (Special Issue 1):40-48 * Posé et al. (2013). Plant Physiology, 150: 1022-1032 We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and competitivity and Feder EU Funds (grant reference AGL2011-24814), FPI fellowships support for SP (BES-2006-13626) and CP (BES-2009027985), and grant "Ramón y Cajal" support for AJMA (RYC-2011-08839).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Counteracting gradients of light and soil nutrients in the understorey of Mediterranean oak forests.

The forest canopy modifies the availability of resources (light, water, and soil nutrients) in the understorey. In this paper we analyze the relationships between woody canopy density, litter accumulation, and topsoil N and P availability in the understorey of two oak forests: one in southern Portugal and the other in southern Spain. Both forests persist on low-nutrient soils, particularly poor in P. We hypothesize that direct and indirect effects of the canopy overstorey cause opposite gradients in the availability of essential resources (light and key soil nutrients) in the understorey. In both studied forests we found significant relationships between the overall canopy density, light availability, topsoil litter accumulation, and the availability of N and P, which frequently limit plant growth. Path analysis (by Shipley’s d-sep method) showed that the available data were consistent with the proposed causal model. The average values of soil variables at the end quartiles of the light-availability gradient were compared. Results showed large differences in litter accumulation (~30×) and available-N and -P topsoil concentrations (~3×) in the Spanish forest (with the wider environmental gradient). Furthermore, P increased from the ‘very low’ range to the ‘low’ or even the ‘optimum’ range of availability (according to standard plant growth criteria), which suggests potential effects on the growth of the understorey plant species. We conclude that the counteracting gradients of the essential resources -light and nutrients- in the forest understorey resulted from direct and indirect effects of the canopy overstorey, respectively. We suggest that these counteracting effects of the woody canopy on essential resources of different nature must be considered when interpreting the patterns of understorey plant populations and communities.The spanish MEC (CGL2005-05830-C03-01-BOS, DINAMED project) and the Portuguese FCT(SFRH/BD/8322/2002 grant to SMM)supported the research.Peer reviewe