Literature as a methodology to teach English in Primary School: The Witches by Roald Dahl

The current high requirement for English language skills calls for an educational system that integrates the process of teaching and learning the language, leaving behind the so-called traditional methodologies or those that teach it exclusively based on writing and grammar. This project aims to show English teachers in Primary Education a more recent and practical methodological perspective of teaching the English language. It also seeks to encourage primary students in Spain to read in their second language (SL), i.e. English and to improve their SL in a different and more creative and fun way. In order to do so, a classroom intervention has been proposed based on the children’s fantasy novel The Witches by Roald Dahl (1983) and by practising a combination of three teaching methodologies, namely, Total Physical Response, The Communicative Approach and Project-based Learning.La demanda actual de conocimientos de inglés exige un sistema educativo que integre el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje del idioma, dejando atrás las denominadas metodologías tradicionales o las que lo enseñan exclusivamente basadas en la escritura y la gramática. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar a los profesores de inglés en Educación Primaria una metodología reciente y práctica para la enseñanza de la lengua inglesa. También pretende animar a los alumnos de Educación Primaria a leer en la segunda lengua de una forma diferente, creativa y divertida. Para ello se ha propuesto una intervención en el aula basada en la novela fantástica infantil Las Brujas de Roald Dahl (1983) y en la práctica de una combinación de tres metodologías de enseñanza, como son, la Respuesta Física Total, el Enfoque Comunicativo y el Aprendizaje basado en Proyectos.Grado en Educación Primari

Bioethics for Biotechnologists: From Dolly to CRISPR

Abstract: Bioethics, as a discipline, has developed mainly, but not exclusively, around themes of moral importance for the medical practice, such as abortion and euthanasia, a never ending discussion that has been shaped by social mores and influenced by scientific and technological advance. However, in the past 20 years an important shift has been taking place, one where bioethical issues and their discussion are starting to being driven by the so-called emerging biotechnologies, from cloning to genome sequencing and editing. If Bioethics is concerned with human beings, and their interaction with other living beings and the environment, it makes sense for Biotechnology, by definition the use of living systems or organisms to develop products, to become an important, if not the most important, source of bioethical conflicts in modern era and for future society. As Biotechnology keeps expanding and becomes entangled in everyday life, so does the need for ethical competent biotechnologists, with competencies built not only on ethical principles but also on a realistic grasp of the impact these technologies could have on human society and the world we inhabit. Keywords: Biotechnology, genome editing, animal cloning, ethics, fairness, biothreats, biosafety, biosecurit

Diseño de contenidos en los estudios de turismo: una propuesta para el área de operaciones a partir de la opinión del sector hotelero

El trabajo se encuadra dentro de un amplio estudio cuyo propósito general ha sido conocer el estado de la enseñanza y la investigación en Dirección de Operaciones en los estudios universitarios de Turismo, así como analizar las posibles divergencias existentes entre este ámbito académico y las necesidades reales del sector hotelero. En este trabajo se presentan los objetivos y metodología de la investigación realizada. El gap identificado en lo que respecta a los contenidos impartidos y la problemática particular que afecta a la Dirección de Operaciones en las empresas de sector hotelero, nos ha llevado a realizar en este trabajo algunas propuestas de acercamiento. En concreto se proponen unos contenidos que pueden servir de base en la elaboración de un programa de Dirección de Operaciones en estos estudios. Juzgamos este aspecto de interés en pleno proceso de adaptación de las titulaciones y los contenidos en la construcción del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior.This paper is a part of a wider study which objective has been to know the state of education and research in Operations Management in the university studies of Tourism, as well as to analyze the differences between the academia and the real needs of hotel industry. In this paper we present the aim and methodology of our research. Differences between the course content and the problems in the hotel sector companies have been identified. For this reason, we make some proposals of approach. Specifically, we propose a guide that can be used by universities for the development of a Operations Management program in these studies. In our opinion, it ́s interesting at present, when the current European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is under construction

Late-onset thymidine kinase 2 deficiency: a review of 18 cases

BACKGROUND: TK2 gene encodes for mitochondrial thymidine kinase, which phosphorylates the pyrimidine nucleosides thymidine and deoxycytidine. Recessive mutations in the TK2 gene are responsible for the 'myopathic form' of the mitochondrial depletion/multiple deletions syndrome, with a wide spectrum of severity. METHODS: We describe 18 patients with mitochondrial myopathy due to mutations in the TK2 gene with absence of clinical symptoms until the age of 12. RESULTS: The mean age of onset was 31 years. The first symptom was muscle limb weakness in 10/18, eyelid ptosis in 6/18, and respiratory insufficiency in 2/18. All patients developed variable muscle weakness during the evolution of the disease. Half of patients presented difficulty in swallowing. All patients showed evidence of respiratory muscle weakness, with need for non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation in 12/18. Four patients had deceased, all of them due to respiratory insufficiency. We identified common radiological features in muscle magnetic resonance, where the most severely affected muscles were the gluteus maximus, semitendinosus and sartorius. On muscle biopsies typical signs of mitochondrial dysfunction were associated with dystrophic changes. All mutations identified were previously reported, being the most frequent the in-frame deletion p.Lys202del. All cases showed multiple mtDNA deletions but mtDNA depletion was present only in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: The late-onset is the less frequent form of presentation of the TK2 deficiency and its natural history is not well known. Patients with late onset TK2 deficiency have a consistent and recognizable clinical phenotype and a poor prognosis, due to the high risk of early and progressive respiratory insufficiency.Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI16-01843 PI16/00579 CP09/00011Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria PI16-01843 PI16/00579 CP09/00011 PI 15/00431 PMP15/0002

Cómo actuar de manera eficiente en la comercialización online del sector hotelero andaluz

A pesar de encontrarnos en tiempos de profunda crisis económica, el sector turístico está contribuyendo notablemente a paliar los efectos de la misma en nuestra comunidad, ya que se trata de un sector tractor de otros sectores. El entorno globalizado en el que estas empresas se desenvuelven, hace especialmente importante que las mismas, no sólo las grandes sino también las pymes, despierten a la llamada de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TICs) y estén presentes en los mercados virtuales. La investigación que aquí se plantea pretende conocer las herramientas de comercialización online que están siendo empleadas por las empresas del sector hotelero andaluz y cómo están siendo gestionadas. Asimismo, dada la gran potencialidad del comercio online en las estrategias de venta y captación de mercado, intentamos proponer un decálogo de recomendaciones de forma que estas TICs se empleen de manera eficiente desde su concepción. El trabajo que se presenta forma parte de una investigación mucho más amplia, pero tras los primeros resultados recogidos hemos considerado conveniente presentar algunos avances.In spite of going through times of deep economic crisis, the tourism sector is significantly contributing to mitigate its effects on our community, because tourism is an influential industry in Spain. The global environment in which companies of the sector operate, makes it especially important for them (not only large ones but also SMEs) to take advantage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and to be on virtual marketplaces. The research proposed here, aims to identify online marketing tools which are being employed by hospitality companies in Andalusia and how they are being managed. Due to the potential of e-commerce in sales strategies and in gaining market share, a set of recommendations are proposed so that these ICTS are efficiently employed from their conception. The paper is part of a much broader research, but after collecting the first results, it has been considered appropriate to submit some progress

Pasado, presente y futuro de los estudios de turismo en la universidad española

La nueva Universidad Española (esa del Plan Bolonia) de la que llevamos hablando hace ya algunos años, es cada vez más realidad del presente y menos proyecto del futuro. En muy pocos meses, todos los planes de estudio actuales y, por tanto, también el que posibilita la obtención del Título de Diplomado en Turismo, dejarán paso a los nuevos Títulos de Grado. Por su parte, los postgrados son ya una realidad que viven a diario muchos alumnos de nuestras universidades. En este escenario de cambio real de enfoque, en el que habrá que diseñar forzosamente nuevas estrategias y tácticas para conseguir la formación adecuada de los graduados y postgraduados en turismo, los autores de este trabajo quieren ser fieles a las enseñanzas que recibieron en aquella universidad que ahora estamos dejando atrás; y, de esta forma, mirar al pasado y analizar el presente, como receta necesaria para diseñar una correcta estrategia de futuro. Es por ello que nos ha parecido interesante presentar en este trabajo cuál ha sido la evolución de los estudios de turismo en nuestro país. El recuerdo del pasado comenzará con los orígenes de estos estudios en las instituciones privadas, y el largo proceso que los llevó a estar incluidos en el catálogo de enseñanzas universitarias oficiales. Posteriormente analizaremos el presente de la Diplomatura en Turismo en la universidad española, y, por último, aportaremos todos aquellos indicios que poseemos, más o menos certeros, sobre ese nuevo horizonte que se abrirá de forma general, más allá de las lógicas avanzadillas, con los nuevos estudios de Grado, Máster y Doctorado en Turismo.The new Spanish University (referred to the Bologna Plan), which we have been speaking for a few years ago, is becoming more and more a reality and less a future project. In very few months, all current curriculums in the Spanish University and, therefore, that one which makes possible to obtain the degree of Bachelor in Tourism, it will give way the new degree. Meanwhile, postgraduates are now a reality that many students live daily from our universities. In this scenario of real change, in which would be necessary design new strategies and tactics to get the proper training of graduates and postgraduates in tourism, the authors of this paper want to be faithful in relation with the teachings they received at the university, and thus look at to the past and analyze the present look, like a neccesary prescription for drawing a correct strategy for the future. That is why we have been interested in presenting the evolution of studies of tourism in our country. The memory of the past will start with the origins of these studies in private institutions, and the long process that led them to be included in the list of official university educations. Later, we will analyze the present of the degree of Bachelor in Tourism in the Spanish University, and finally we will contribute with the whole evidence that we possess, more or less accurate, on this new horizon that will be opened in general with new degrees, Master and Doctorate in Tourism

Characterization and Validation of a‑Si Magnetron-Sputtered Thin Films as Solid He Targets with High Stability for Nuclear Reactions

In this work, we present our magnetron sputtering based methodology to produce amorphous silicon coatings with closed porosity, as a strategy to fabricate solid helium targets, in the form of supported or self-supported thin films, for nuclear reactions. We show how by changing the He working pressure it is possible to obtain highly porous homogeneous structures incorporating different He amounts. These porous coatings (a- Si:He) are very reproducible from run to run, and the high He amount incorporated makes them excellent candidates for solid He targets. The possibility of producing self-supported films is illustrated here, and its potential use in inverse kinematics experiments with radioactive beams is shown through the dispersion in forward geometry of a stable 6Li beam. Also the elastic scattering cross-sections for proton from helium were determined using an a-Si:He coating. The results agree well with the ones reported in the literature. These two examples validate our coatings as good candidates to be used as solid He targets in nuclear reactions. The stability of He inside the coatings, fundamental for its use as solid He targets, was investigated, both over time and after irradiation. The coatings proved to be very stable, and the amount of He inside the pores remains unaltered at least 2 years after deposition and after high irradiation fluence (5 × 1017 particles/cm2; with a dose rate of 5 × 1012 particles/(cm2 s)).Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad FPA2013-47327-C2-1-R, MAT2015-69035- REDCConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 201460E018European Union CT-REGPOT-2011-28589

Regulación neuroendocrina del sistema inmune

El sistema inmune recibe señales del sistema nervioso central (cerebro) vía el sistema nervioso autónomo y el sistema endocrino. El sistema inmune, a su vez, envía información al cerebro vía citocinas. Este sistema de retroalimentación es vital para el funcionamiento adecuado del organismo en situaciones normales, y en aquellas en las que la homeostasis se ve perturbada, como en casos de estrés, consumo de drogas (terapéuticas o de abuso), enfermedades infecciosas y cáncer