Nodal involvement evaluation in advanced cervical cancer: a single institutional experience

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of different imaging techniques in the detection of nodal involvement in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma. Moreover, to analyze the correlation between the presurgical (FIGO) and postsurgical (pTNM) staging classifications. Materials and Methods: All patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (FIGO Stages IIB-IV) from 2005 to 2012 were selected. The medical charts of 51 patients that underwent presurgical assessment with posterior surgical staging by means of paraaortic lymphadenectomy, were reviewed. Nodal status assessment by computed tomography scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and sonography was compared, as well as the size given in imaging techniques compared to the final pathologic report information. Results: Presurgical analysis by CT scan, MRI, PET, and sonography showed pelvic nodal involvement in 51.3% of patients, and para-aortic involvement in 30.8% of cases. CT scan showed positive pelvic nodes in 35% of cases, but pathologic confirmation was observed in just 17.6% of cases. However, MRI resulted in higher rates of up to 48.8% of cases. Concerning para-aortic nodal involvement, CT scan showed positive nodes in 25% of cases, MRI in 3.2% of cases, and the pathologic report in 15.6% of cases. The authors found significant differences between staging groups among both classifications (FIGO vs. pTNM; p < 0.001). Eight cases (15.7%) were understaged by FIGO classification. Conclusions: Despite all imaging techniques available, none has demonstrated to be efficient enough to avoid the systematic study of para-aortic nodal status by means of surgical evaluatio

Variation of the ultraviolet extinction law across the Taurus-Auriga star forming complex. A GALEX based study

The Taurus-Auriga molecular complex (TMC) is the main laboratory for the study of low mass star formation. The density and properties of interstellar dust are expected to vary across the TMC. These variations trace important processes such as dust nucleation or the magnetic field coupling with the cloud. In this article, we show how the combination of near ultraviolet (NUV) and infrared (IR) photometry can be used to derive the strength of the 2175 \AA\ bump and thus any enhancement in the abundance of small dust grains and PAHs in the dust grains size distribution. This technique is applied to the envelope of the TMC, mapped by the GALEX All Sky Survey (AIS). UV and IR photometric data have been retrieved from the GALEX-AIS and the 2MASS catalogues. NUV and K-band star counts have been used to identify the areas in the cloud envelope where the 2175 \AA\ bump is weaker than in the diffuse ISM namely, the low column density extensions of L1495, L1498 and L1524 in Taurus, L1545, L1548, L1519, L1513 in Auriga and L1482-83 in the California region. This finding agrees with previous results on dust evolution derived from Spitzer data and suggests that dust grains begin to decouple from the environmental galactic magnetic field already in the envelope.Comment: Accepted in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Formation of X-ray emitting stationary shocks in magnetized protostellar jets

X-ray observations of protostellar jets show evidence of strong shocks heating the plasma up to temperatures of a few million degrees. In some cases, the shocked features appear to be stationary. They are interpreted as shock diamonds. We aim at investigating the physics that guides the formation of X-ray emitting stationary shocks in protostellar jets, the role of the magnetic field in determining the location, stability, and detectability in X-rays of these shocks, and the physical properties of the shocked plasma. We performed a set of 2.5-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations modelling supersonic jets ramming into a magnetized medium and explored different configurations of the magnetic field. The model takes into account the most relevant physical effects, namely thermal conduction and radiative losses. We compared the model results with observations, via the emission measure and the X-ray luminosity synthesized from the simulations. Our model explains the formation of X-ray emitting stationary shocks in a natural way. The magnetic field collimates the plasma at the base of the jet and forms there a magnetic nozzle. After an initial transient, the nozzle leads to the formation of a shock diamond at its exit which is stationary over the time covered by the simulations (~ 40 - 60 yr; comparable with time scales of the observations). The shock generates a point-like X-ray source located close to the base of the jet with luminosity comparable with that inferred from X-ray observations of protostellar jets. For the range of parameters explored, the evolution of the post-shock plasma is dominated by the radiative cooling, whereas the thermal conduction slightly affects the structure of the shock.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

El incivismo en el ámbito del transporte ferroviario

La deriva de las normas de convivencia fundamentalmente se explica por la falta de reacción ciudadana y, de forma especial, por la de sus elementos socializadores. Entre éstos, prioritariamente, los responsables políticos y las administraciones públicas. La preocupación del sector ferroviario se manifiesta de dos formas: haciendo un esfuerzo superior al que considera le corresponde para mantener cuantitativamente y cualitativamente las conductas incívicas en niveles aceptables o asumidos socialmente, y denunciando que los que tienen que dar soluciones globales y son competentes para ello no lo hacen. Los cambios de tendencia son preocupantes y el operador ferroviario se encuentra demasiado solo para una respuesta que considera no solo le compete a él. Actúa por la obligación que tiene con el cliente usuario de su sistema de transporte y porque considera que la limitación y, si fuese posible, la erradicación de las conductas incívicas, le permitiría tender al equilibrio financiero del sistema e incluso incrementos de tarifa menores. Las tipologías de respuesta no son solo de carácter operativo aplicando técnicas preventivas, de protección y de control. Las denominadas acciones transversales (sensibilización, acciones de convivencia social, formación y compromiso, comunicación, diseño, estudio de equipamientos y materiales, agente cívico (voluntario o no), adecuaciones legislativas, etc., requieren la participación o implicación de todas las áreas del operador ferroviario

The effects of teacher talk on students' oral productions

The present study is a brief personal enquiry into the teaching and learning of EFL in the classroom with an orientation to action and personal professional development. It focuses on teacher talk, making special emphasis on questions, as well as on students' resulting oral productions. The research contains samples of empirical data, which include their interpretations in the light of relevant research literature, and a more personal overall reflection of the teaching practice. Both the analysis and the reflections derive to a large extent from the self-observation paper 1 (SO1) and the Practicum portfolio (PP) developed within the TED Masters Degree practicum stagesL'objectiu d'aquest estudi és elaborar una petita reflexió personal sobre la manera d'ensenyar i aprendre l'anglès a les aules, amb la finalitat principal d'assolir una millora d'aptituds pedagògiques i un major desenvolupament professional. Per fer-ho, s'analitza el discurs docent, fent especial èmfasi en les preguntes, i la producció oral dels alumnes que en deriva. L'estudi inclou dades empíriques interpretades segons la literatura corresponent i una reflexió més personal sobre la pròpia pràctica docent. Bona part de l'anàlisi i les reflexions s'han extret del Self-observation Paper 1 (SO1) i el Practicum Portfolio (PP) elaborats al final dels dos períodes de pràctiques del màster de formació de professorat de secundàri

La Enseñanza del ciberperiodismo en las licenciaturas de periodismo en España

Consultable des del TDXTítol obtingut de la portada digitalitzadaLa tesis doctoral El estudio del ciberperiodismo en las licenciaturas de Periodismo de España tiene como meta realizar un estudio detallado de la presencia actual del periodismo digital(1) en los planes de estudio de las licenciaturas de Periodismo que se imparten en España y obtener criterios que permitan establecer sugerencias y recomendaciones para su correcta inclusión curricular en los mismos. La investigación analiza la presencia del periodismo digital en los planes de estudio de las licenciaturas de Periodismo de las universidades españolas correspondientes al curso académico 2004-05, estudia los objetivos pedagógicos que persiguen las asignaturas que trabajan el tema del ciberperiodismo y describe las características del temario de las asignaturas que trabajan, directa o indirectamente, el tema del periodismo digital. A partir del análisis de los planteamientos y reflexiones teóricas de docentes e investigadores que se dedican a la enseñanza del ciberperiodismo en las licenciaturas de periodismo de España y de las demandas que desde el terreno profesional existen con relación a la formación de los futuros profesionales del ciberperiodismo, se presentan un conjunto de recomendaciones para la inclusión del periodismo digital en los planes de estudio de las licenciaturas de Periodismo. (1) En el marco del presente trabajo de investigación, se ha considerado oportuno utilizar diferentes formas de referirse al periodismo en Internet, como: periodismo en la web, periodismo electrónico, periodismo digital o ciberperiodismo, entre otras. De este modo, se evita abrir el debate (que sigue vigente) en torno a la denominación más apropiada para hacer referencia a este tipo de periodismo.This doctoral thesis «The study of Cyberjournalism in the journalism degrees in Spain» empirically examines the present presence of digital journalism in the Spanish universities curriculum. Our primary objective is making suggestions and recommendations in order to promote and elaborate patterns for a correct inclusion of cyberjournalism in the journalism courses. Our research analyzes in a systematic way the presence of digital journalism in the Spanish universities during the 2004-5 academic term. We examine the pedagogical objectives, the formatting skills and the list of topics of the subjects which explain the many kinds of digital journalism in a directed or undirected way. Specifically, our research in this doctoral thesis has led us to carefully scrutinize the theoretical arguments and approaches from professors and researches that include cyberjournalism in their courses. Also, we explored and identified the professional demands in this area. Our empirical findings have contributed to provide recommendations for the effective introduction of digital journalism in the journalistic curriculum