The impact of oral communicative strategies through cooperative work

114 Páginas.Este estudio de investigación examina la implementación de estrategias comunicativas (estrategias comunicativas compensatorias) a través de actividades de trabajo cooperativo para mejorar y potenciar la comunicación de la lengua extranjera de un grupo de 12 estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Educacion Basica con Enfasis en Humanidades – y 18 estudiantes del programa de Licenciatura en Matematicas de la Universidad de Córdoba. En este estudio, se llevó a cabo una investigación-acción. El estudio fue realizado por dos investigadores que reunieron los datos en dos etapas o fases. En la primera etapa tuvo lugar la identificación del problema y la aplicación de algunos instrumentos de recolección de datos con el fin de tomar decisiones para la aplicación de las actividades y para tener en cuenta las preferencias de los participantes in términos de aprendizaje. La segunda etapa consistió en la aplicación de estrategias de compensación comunicativas dentro de un grupo de actividades y el diseño de diferentes herramientas de recopilación de datos. Los datos recogidos fueron analizados y categorizados basados en la teoría de Grounded en donde un proceso de triangulación cualitativa de todos los instrumentos aplicados fue llevado a cabo. Al final de este proceso, los hallazgos y resultados sugirieron que la implementación de estrategias de compensación comunicativas y la realización de actividades de trabajo cooperativo y/o en grupo tuvieron una mejoría significativa en el desempeño y producción oral de los estudiantes

Effect of Phenylephrine on the Accommodative System.

Accommodation is controlled by the action of the ciliary muscle and mediated primarily by parasympathetic input through postganglionic fibers that originate from neurons in the ciliary and pterygopalatine ganglia. During accommodation the pupil constricts to increase the depth of focus of the eye and improve retinal image quality. Researchers have traditionally faced the challenge of measuring the accommodative properties of the eye through a small pupil and thus have relied on pharmacological agents to dilate the pupil. Achieving pupil dilation (mydriasis) without affecting the accommodative ability of the eye (cycloplegia) could be useful in many clinical and research contexts. Phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHCl) is a sympathomimetic agent that is used clinically to dilate the pupil. Nevertheless, first investigations suggested some loss of functional accommodation in the human eye after PHCl instillation. Subsequent studies, based on different measurement procedures, obtained contradictory conclusions, causing therefore an unexpected controversy that has been spread almost to the present days. This manuscript reviews and summarizes the main research studies that have been performed to analyze the effect of PHCl on the accommodative system and provides clear conclusions that could help clinicians know the real effects of PHCl on the accommodative system of the human eye

Primer registro de dos especies invasoras de Crypticerya (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) causantes de brotes poblacionales en áreas verdes urbanas de la provincia de Guayas, Ecuador

The scale insect genus Crypticerya Cockerell, 1895 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) is mainly distributed in the New World and includes numerous pest species despite being a relatively small group. Ovisacs have longitudinal flutes or grooves in those species that produce them, hence their common name “fluted scales”.” In the present study, Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo & Unruh and Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) are reported for the first time from Ecuador. The two species of fluted scales were found to cause outbreaks in urban green areas in Guayas province on the Ecuadorian coast, attacking native and alien plants. Eighty-five and eleven new host plant species were recorded for C. multicicatrices and C. genistae, respectively. Both invasive fluted scales prefer hosts in the family Fabaceae. No significant differences in the infestation levels of C. multicicatrices and C. genistae were found between native and alien host-plant species. In general, C. multicicatrices prefers trees as hosts, whereas C. genistae prefers herbaceous plants and shrubs. Both species are considered  serious pests in urban green areas, associated with sooty molds, yellowing of leaves, and, in some cases, tree dieback. Management strategies to control the fluted scales are discussed briefly.El género de insectos escama Crypticerya Cockerell, 1895 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Monophlebidae: Iceryini), se distribuye principalmente en el Nuevo Mundo e incluye numerosas especies de plagas a pesar de ser un grupo relativamente pequeño. Los ovisacos, en las especies que los producen, tienen canales o surcos longitudinales, de ahí su nombre común “cochinillas acanaladas”. En el presente estudio, Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo & Unruh y Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Monophlebidae) se reportan por primera vez en Ecuador. Las dos especies se encontraron causando brotes poblacionales en áreas verdes urbanas de la provincia de Guayas en la costa ecuatoriana, donde atacan plantas nativas y exóticas. Se identificaron 85 y 11 nuevos registros de plantas hospedantes para C. multicicatrices y C. genistae, respectivamente. Las especies de plantas hospedadoras preferidas para ambas escamas acanaladas invasoras pertenecen a la familia Fabaceae. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el nivel de infestación por C. multicicatrices y C. genistae entre especies de plantas hospedantes nativas y exóticas. En general, C. multicicatrices prefiere los árboles como hospedantes, mientras que C. genistae prefiere las plantas arvenses y los arbustos. Ambas especies se consideran plagas importantes en las áreas verdes urbanas, asociadas con fumagina, el amarillamiento de las hojas e incluso la muerte regresiva de los árboles. Por último, se discuten brevemente las estrategias de manejo para controlar las escamas acanaladas

Lateral absorption measurements of InAs/GaAs quantum dots stacks: Potential as intermediate band material for high efficiency solar cells

Prototypes based on InAs/GaAs QDs have been manufactured in order to realize the theoretically predicted high efficiency intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs). Unfortunately, until now, these prototypes have not yet demonstrated the expected increase in efficiency when compared with reference samples without IB material. One of the main arguments explaining this performance is the weak photon absorption in the QD-IB material, arising from a low density of QDs. In this work, we have analyzed the absorption coefficient of the IB material by developing a sample in an optical wave-guided configuration. This configuration allows us to illuminate the QDs laterally, increasing the path length for photon absorption. Using a multi-section metal contact device design, we were able to measure an absorption coefficient of ∼100 cm−1 around the band edge (∼1 eV ) defined by the transition in InAs/GaAs QD-IB materials. This figure, and its influence on the IBSC concept, is analyzed for this system

Elevation Effects on Air Temperature in a Topographically Complex Mountain Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees

© 2020 by the authors.Air temperature changes as a function of elevation were analyzed in a valley of the Spanish Pyrenees. We analyzed insolation, topography and meteorological conditions in order to understand how complex topoclimatic environments develop. Clustering techniques were used to define vertical patterns of air temperature covering more than 1000 m of vertical elevation change. Ten locations from the bottom of the valley to the summits were monitored from September 2016 to June 2019. The results show that (i) night-time lapse rates were between −4 and −2 °C km−1, while in the daytime they were from −6 to −4 °C km−1, due to temperature inversions and topography. Daily maximum temperature lapse rates were steeper from March to July, and daily minimum temperatures were weaker from June to August, and in December. (ii) Different insolation exposure within and between the two analyzed slopes strongly influenced diurnal air temperatures, creating deviations from the general lapse rates. (iii) Usually, two cluster patterns were found (i.e., weak and steep), which were associated with stable and unstable weather conditions, respectively, in addition to high-low atmospheric pressure and low-high relative humidity. The results will have direct applications in disciplines that depend on air temperature estimations (e.g., snow studies, water resources and sky tourism, among others).This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness project CGL2017-82216-R (HIDROIBERNIEVE). Navarro-Serrano, F. is the recipient of a pre-doctoral FPU grant (Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, FPU15/00742). Revuelto, J. is supported by the INDECIS project, which is part of ERA4CS, and by ERA-NET, initiated by JPI Climate, and funded by FORMAS (SE), DLR (DE), BMWFW (AT), IFD (DK), MINECO (SP), ANR (FR) with co-funding by the European Union (Grant 690462). Alonso-González, E. and Aznárez-Balta, M. are beneficiaries of a pre-doctoral FPI grant (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, BES-2015-071466 and PRE2018-084295), and Azorin-Molina, C. of the Ramon y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2017-22830).Peer reviewe

Morbidity, outcomes and cost-benefit analysis of wildlife rehabilitation in Catalonia (Spain)

Background There are few studies of careful examination of wildlife casualties in Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers. These studies are essential for detecting menaces to wild species and providing objective criteria about cost-benefit of treatments in those centers. The release rate is considered the main outcome indicator, but other parameters such as length of stay at the center and a cost-benefit index expressed as number of released animals per euro and day, could be used as reliable estimators of the rehabilitation costs. Methodology A retrospective study based on 54772 admissions recorded from 1995-2013 in the database of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Torreferrussa (Catalonia, NW Spain) assessed the morbidity, outcomes and cost-benefits of the rehabilitation practices. Results Three hundred and two species were included: 232 birds (n = 48633), 37 mammals (n = 3293), 20 reptiles (n = 2705) and 13 amphibians (n = 141). The most frequent causes of admission were: 39.8% confiscation of protected species (89.4% passerines), 31.8% orphaned young animals (35.3% swifts, 21.7% diurnal raptors and owls) and 17.4% trauma casualties (46.7% raptors and owls). The highest proportion of releases was found in the captivity confiscation category [87.4% passerines (median time of stay: 12 days)], followed by the orphaned category [78% owls (66 days), 76.5% diurnal birds of prey (43 days), 75.6% hedgehogs (49 days), 52.7% swifts (19 days) and 52% bats (55 days)]. For the trauma group, 46.8% of releases were hedgehogs (44 days) and 25.6% owls (103 days). As regards the cost-benefit index, the trauma casualties and infectious diseases had the worse values with 1.3 and 1.4 released animals/euro/day respectively, and were particularly low in raptors, waders, marine birds and chiroptera. On the contrary, captivity (4.6) and misplacement (4.1) had the best index, particulary in amphibian, reptiles and passerines. Conclusions/significance Cost-benefit studies including the release rate, the time of stay at the center and the costbenefit index should be implemented for improving management efficiency of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers

La denominación de origen Cariñena como sistema productivo local: redes de empresas, cultura y gobernanza

Cariñena and its environs are a territory that can be considered as a local productive system, since there is a network of enterprises linked by trading relations –specially the integration of vine growing and wine production into cooperatives- and by cooperation relationships, being the Guarantee of Origin and Quality of Wine the clearest outcome. The analysis of a set of indicators calculated from official statistics and of a set of semi-structured interviews to the main agents has led to the knowledge of certain cognitive and organisational components of the system. Those identified are a low level of technical culture, a high level of entrepreneurial culture and a low institutional density, reflected in weak outcomes of network governance.Cariñena y su entorno es un territorio que puede calificarse como sistema productivo local, pues cuenta con una red de empresas vinculadas entre sí por relaciones de mercado -especialmente la integración de viticultura y vinicultura por medio de las cooperativas- y por relaciones de cooperación, de las que la denominación de origen es el resultado más patente. El análisis de un conjunto de indicadores calculados a partir de estadísticas oficiales y de una serie de entrevistas semiestructuradas a los principales agentes ha permitido aproximarse al conocimiento de determinados elementos cognitivos y de organización del sistema. Así, se han detectado un bajo nivel de cultura técnica, un alto nivel de cultura empresarial y una baja densidad institucional, que se refleja en unas débiles manifestaciones de gobernanza en red

The success of Quercus ilex plantations in agricultural fields in eastern Spain

Twenty-five years after planting, we measured the survival, growth and reproduction of 153 Quercus ilex plantations promoted by the afforestation programme of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy in agricultural fields in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, as a function of climatic aridity and stand characteristics related to water supply and competition among trees for water. Using field sampling, we found that, on average, 80% of the trees in plantations survived, more than 55% had already produced acorns and the tallest tree in each field exceeded 4 m, which are all higher values than those reported for forest plantations of this species in the same area and which represent the overcoming of the limitations imposed by climatic aridity on the natural regeneration of the species. A small proportion of the variation in all success variables was explained by water-related plantation characteristics, such as planting density, drought intensity in the year after planting, and soil permeability. However, climatic aridity only influenced the proportion of reproductive trees, but not the other variables of plantation success. However, most of the variation in planting success variables was linked to who owned the field, which nursery produced the seedlings, and the year of planting. Our results support the idea that the deep soils of agricultural fields counteract the negative effect of climatic aridity on plant performance, but that it is necessary to standardise nursery and planting practices, adapt planting density to the environmental characteristics of the site and provide irrigation supply in the early years to ensure the success of future plantations

Metodología de diseño, observación y cálculo de redes geodésicas interiores en túneles de ferrocarril de alta velocidad

The guiding of TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) along their advance must be based on points placed immediately behind them. Achieving good accuracies results would present some difficulties for normal exterior conditions, but inside a tunnel certain factors clouding the outlook arise. The most important and difficult factor to deal with, has to do with lateral refraction. Internal geodetic networks design is one of the more challenging problems from the geodetic and topographic point of view, as the bibliographical review dealing with this subject, advises to avoid this practice. This network allows only guiding the TBM, so that it is not used for further checking or quality control. As the network progresses, the reached coordinate accuracies deteriorate exponentially. This work establishes a methodology for the design of internal horizontal networks.El guiado de las Tuneladoras durante su avance debe apoyarse en los puntos determinados inmediatamente detrás de ellas. Conseguir las precisiones requeridas presentaría algunas dificultades en condiciones normales con respecto al exterior, pero en el interior de un túnel se plantean ciertos factores que ensombrecen el panorama. El más importante y difícil de tratar es el de la refracción lateral. El diseño de redes interiores es uno de los principales problemas, desde el punto de vista geodésico y topográfico, el cual tiene unas características tales que todos los textos de topografía de precisión aconsejan evitar. Con estas redes se va guiando la tuneladora y en ningún momento dicha red vuelve a tener comprobación sobre otros puntos de control. A medida que la red va avanzando, las precisiones obtenidas de sus coordenadas van empeorando de forma exponencial. Este trabajo establece una metodología para el diseño de redes planimétricas interiores

Competing endogenous rna networks as biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases

Protein aggregation is classically considered the main cause of neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). However, increasing evidence suggests that alteration of RNA metabolism is a key factor in the etiopathogenesis of these complex disorders. Non-coding RNAs are the major contributor to the human transcriptome and are particularly abundant in the central nervous system, where they have been proposed to be involved in the onset and development of NDDs. Interestingly, some ncRNAs (such as lncRNAs, circRNAs and pseudogenes) share a common functionality in their ability to regulate gene expression by modulating miRNAs in a phenomenon known as the competing endogenous RNA mechanism. Moreover, ncRNAs are found in body fluids where their presence and concentration could serve as potential non-invasive biomarkers of NDDs. In this review, we summarize the ceRNA networks described in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinocerebellar ataxia type 7, and discuss their potential as biomarkers of these NDDs. Although numerous studies have been carried out, further research is needed to validate these complex interactions between RNAs and the alterations in RNA editing that could provide specific ceRNET profiles for neurodegenerative disorders, paving the way to a better understanding of these diseases