Dynamics and Synchronization in Neuronal Models

La tesis está principalmente dedicada al modelado y simulación de sistemas neuronales. Entre otros aspectos se investiga el papel del ruido cuando actua sobre neuronas. El fenómeno de resonancia estocástica es caracterizado tanto a nivel teórico como reportado experimentalmente en un conjunto de neuronas del sistema motor. También se estudia el papel que juega la heterogeneidad en un conjunto de neuronas acopladas demostrando que la heterogeneidad en algunos parámetros de las neuronas puede mejorar la respuesta del sistema a una modulación periódica externa. También estudiamos del efecto de la topología y el retraso en las conexiones en una red neuronal. Se explora como las propiedades topológicas y los retrasos en la conducción de diferentes clases de redes afectan la capacidad de las neuronas para establecer una relación temporal bien definida mediante sus potenciales de acción. En particular, el concepto de consistencia se introduce y estudia en una red neuronal cuando plasticidad neuronal es tenida en cuenta entre las conexiones de la re

School dropout in university students from UAEM Temascaltepec center, Mexico: a case study of Psychology degree

La deserción escolar es una problemática que hoy en día afecta a nivel de vida tanto en los jóvenes que dejan de asistir a la escuela como en las instituciones que lo experimentan siendo de las mayores preocupaciones de las instituciones educativas, gobierno y sociedad (Araiza y Marín, 2009). El objetivo fue identificar las causas de la deserción escolar en estudiantes universitarios de psicología del Sur del Estado de México. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transaccional no experimental. Se aplicó el cuestionario Causas de la Deserción Escolar a nivel licenciatura de López (2007) a 147 estudiantes de la licenciatura en psicología. Se encontró como resultado que la principal causa de deserción escolar en universitarios son los problemas económicos familiares, en segundo lugar por no estar en la carrera de su preferencia y por último por un bajo nivel académico previo a su ingreso a la universidad.School dropout is a problem that affects today's living standards in both students that stops attending school and the highest concerns of educational institutions, government and society (Araiza & Marín, 2009). The objective was to identify the causes of dropouts with university psychology students in the South of Mexico State. Base on a descriptive and transactional study not experimental. A questionnaire was applied “Causes of Dropout in University” López (2007) to 147 undergraduate students in psychology. In the result was found that the main causes of students’ dropout are: family economic problems, in second place to not being in their preferential career and finally because of their low background education previous to enter into the University

Strategies to Optimize Strength and Endurance Concurrent Training in Elite Handball

Objetivo: Revisar la literatura existente sobre entrenamiento concurrente de Fuerza y Resistencia en jugadores de Balonmano de élite para definir estrategias válidas de cara a la planificación del entrenamiento. Metodología: Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura en bases de datos como PubMed, SpringerLink, etc., siguiendo las directrices marcadas en la guía PRISMA de Urrutia y Bonfill (2010) y utilizando como criterio de exclusión la participación de deportistas de élite como sujetos de investigación. Resultados y Discusión: los resultados mostraron la necesidad de controlar la combinación de intensidades de entrenamiento de ambas capacidades, la frecuencia de las sesiones y el orden y recuperación mínima que debe existir, si se plantean sesiones de ambas capacidades el mismo día. Conclusiones: se concluyó que la combinación de intensidades para evitar el fenómeno de interferencia no debe ser de intensidades que produzcan adaptaciones a nivel periférico, y dejando un intervalo de 8 horas siempre que se planteen sesiones dobles de entrenamiento. Además, se dedujo que los jugadores con mayor fuerza y potencia parten con ventaja en las acciones del juego debido a las necesidades de fuerza de la disciplina.Aim: To review the existing literature about concurrent strength and endurance training for elite handball players in order to determine valid strategies to plan training programs. Methodology: The literature in databases such as PubMed, SpringerLink, etc. was systematically reviewed following the guidelines established in the PRISMA guide by Urrutia & Bonfill (2010), using the performance of elite athletes—who were the research subjects—as exclusion criterion Results and Discussion: The results showed the need to control the combination of different intensities when training both capacities, the frequency of the sessions, and the order and minimum recuperation that must exist when two sessions of both capacities are scheduled on the same day. Conclusions: The study revealed that when combining different intensities with the objective of avoiding the interference phenomenon, the intensities used should not be those that could produce peripheral adaptations, and that an 8-hour interval must be left in case of having two sessions on the same day. Furthermore, it became clear that players with more strength and power might have a head start in the game actions due to the strength requirements of the sport.peerReviewe

Determinando la relación entre fiscal stress y externalización en tiempos de crisis. Evidencia empírica sobre el servicio de recogida de residuos

Una mala situación financiera es un factor explicativo recurrente en la literatura que estudia el fenómeno de la externalización de servicios públicos. Esta relación puede haberse intensificado en los últimos años debido a la crisis económica y financiera mundial. Para analizar la relación existente entre 'fiscal stress', crisis global y la externalización, junto con otros factores políticos y socioeconómicos, nos centramos en este trabajo en uno de los servicios que mayor coste y complejidad presenta para los ayuntamientos, el servicio de recogida de basuras. Para ello, planteamos un modelo probit de datos de panel para el periodo 2002-2010. Los resultados obtenidos indican que varias variables de la condición financiera influyen en los procesos de externalización del servicio de residuos, junto con las variables políticas y socioeconómicas. Por último, el período de crisis global 2008-2010 influye positiva y significativamente a la hora de externalizar el servicio

Effects of different protocols of post-activation potentiation on performance in the vertical jump, in relation to the F-V profile in female elite handball players

Objetivo: Conocer los efectos de dos protocolos de potenciación post activación (PAP) sobre el rendimiento en un salto con contramovimiento (CMJ) y su relación con el Perfil Fuerza-Velocidad (Perfil F-V). Metodología: Se evaluó la repetición máxima (RM), en el ejercicio de sentadilla, y el Perfil F-V de 9 jugadoras de balonmano de División de Honor Plata (edad, 21,3 ± 3,4 años; altura, 167,9 ± 5,82 cm; y peso, 66,51 ± 9,6 kg). Posteriormente, se realizaron dos protocolos PAP, con diferentes intensidades (3x3 65%RM y 3x3 80%RM), para comprobar efectos sobre el CMJ en diferentes tiempos de recuperación (15s/4/8/16/24 min). Resultados: el protocolo de 3x3 al 65%RM sufrió un descenso a los 15s del 15,03% respecto al PREtest, consiguiendo la mejor marca a los 8min, pero siendo esta un 4,5% inferior al PREtest. Tras el 3x3 al 80%RM, el salto volvió a sufrir un descenso a los 15s, esta vez del 11,61%, consiguiendo la mejor marca a los 4 y 16min, siendo esta un 6,5% inferior al PREtest. La relación entre el salto a los 15s y el desequilibrio en el Perfil F-V (FVimb) con el protocolo de 3x3 al 80%RM, pone en juego un 22% de elementos comunes (rs = 0,467; r2 = 0,22), mientras que con el protocolo de 3x3 al 65%RM solo pone en juego un 8% (rs = 0,283; r2 = 0,08). Conclusión: Los protocolos utilizados como PAP suponen un estímulo excesivo, y pueden estar en relación con el FVimb que presentan.Aim: To know the effects of two protocols of Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP) on the performance in a Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and its relationship with the Force-Velocity Profile (Profile F-V). Methodology: Repetition Maximum (RM) was evaluated in the squat exercise, and the FV Profile of 9 handball players of Silver Honor Division (age, 21.3 ± 3.4 years, height, 167.9 ± 5, 82 cm, and weight, 66.51 ± 9.6 kg). Subsequently, two PAP protocols were performed, with different intensities (3x3 65% RM and 3x3 80%RM), to check effects on the CMJ at different recovery times (15s / 4/8/16/24 min). Results: The protocol of 3x3 to 65% RM suffered a decrease at 15s of 15.03% with respect to the PREtest, achieving the best mark at 8min, but being 4.5% lower than the PREtest. After the 3x3 to 80% RM, the jump again suffered a decline at 15s, this time of 11.61%, getting the best mark at 4 and 16min, this being 6.5% lower than the PREtest. The relationship between the jump to the 15s and the imbalance of the FV Profile (FVimb) with the protocol of 3x3 to 80% RM, puts into play 22% of common elements (rs = 0.467, r2 = 0.22), while that with the protocol of 3x3 to 65% RM only puts at stake 8% (rs = 0.283, r2 = 0.08). Conclusions: The protocols used suppose an excessive stimulus for this type of subjects on the CMJ, which seems to be related to the FVimb that they present.peerReviewe

The occupational role of dental conditions among a consecutive sample of Spanish workers

Objectives: To assess the occupational impact of the mouth in terms of days of work loss in the last year and the perception of the working performance disturbance because of the oral conditions. Study design: A consecutive sample (n=269) of the Regional Government staff of the province of Granada (Spain) was recruited. Participants were asked about work loss related to health problems in the past 12 months, capturing the aetiological entities, the frequency of the work absent and the total days loss. Also subjects reported if they believed that mouth affects their occupational performance, and if they have perceived difficulties for carrying out work because of the mouth. Data on sociodemographic, behavioural and clinical factors were also gathered. Chi-squared test, Odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) of perceived occupational role were used to quantify the effect of the modulating factors. Results: Almost 40% of individuals were absent from work during the last year spending on average 5.4 days for recovering. Colds and musculoskeletal pathology were the major causes of sick leave. Dental disease caused short work absences (4 days on average) only in 2.8% of participants. However most of workers (62.5%) considered mouth to influence their occupational performance, mainly because of the pain-related events (61.7%), but only 4.1% of workers reported difficulties in carrying out their work in the past 12 months. Females (RR=1.3), participants attending regular dental visits (RR=1.4) and denture wearers (RR=2.5) were shown to have significantly higher risk of perceiving an occupational role of the mouth. Those workers reporting that mouth influences their work have significantly poorer oral health than counterparts. Conclusions: Most workers considered that mouth influences their occupational performance but dental disease has demonstrated to be a minor occupational cause of sick leave in terms of prevalence and magnitude of work loss. © Medicina Oral S. L

Carbon-supported statistically distributed polyethyleneimine/palladium (II) complexes as efficient and sustainable Sonogashira catalysts

We thank the Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation, and the Junta de Andalucía for financial support (grants MAT2009-14185-C02-01, P09-FQM-4765 and a fellowship to A. Peñas). To CPL Carbon Link for kind donation of carbon samples. We also thank CICT of University of Jaén for technical facilities.A novel approach toward the obtaining of a Pd (II) carbon-supported catalyst based on a statistical distributed polymer (hyperbranched polyethyleneimine) and its use as a highly efficient and sustainable catalyst for Sonogashira-type coupling reactions is presented. The heterogenous Pd (II)/HBPEI catalyst fabricated through a facile, cost-effective and scalable procedure provides an innovative catalyst structure based on statistical distributed singular catalytic centers with well-defined Pd-Polymer chemical interactions, highly resistant to suffer leaching processes and extensively and homogenously distributed across the whole carbon surface. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic and recycling activity for several cross-coupling reactions between different aryl halides and terminal alkynes, free of any undesired by-product and in excellent yields, under air atmosphere, using water as solvent, at moderate temperatures (65 °C) and avoiding the use of phosphine derivatives, Cu(I) as co-catalyst and excess of any of the reactant. Therefore, the reported Pd(II)-HBPEI carbon-supported material can be considered a truly competitive heterogeneous Pd(II) catalyst for large-scale under green chemistry conditions.Spanish Ministry of Science & InnovationJunta de Andalucía MAT2009-14185-C02-01, P09-FQM-4765University of Jaén, CIC

A systematic review on machine learning approaches in the diagnosis and prognosis of rare genetic diseases

JALE has received funds from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Grant# PI20-1126), CIBERER (Grant# PIT21_GCV21), Andalusian University, Research and Innovation Department (PY20-00303, EPIMEN), Andalusian Health Department (Grant# PI027-2020), Asociación Síndrome de Meniere España (ASMES) and Meniere’s Society, UK. PRNV is supported by PY20-00303 Grant (EPIMEN). AMPP is a PhD student in the Biomedicine Program at Universidad de Granada and his salary was supported by Andalusian University, Research and Innovation Department (Grant# PREDOC2021/00343).Background: The diagnosis of rare genetic diseases is often challenging due to the complexity of the genetic underpinnings of these conditions and the limited availability of diagnostic tools. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have the potential to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis by analyzing large amounts of genomic data and identifying complex multiallelic patterns that may be associated with specific diseases. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify the methodological trends and the ML application areas in rare genetic diseases. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA guidelines to search studies that used ML approaches to enhance the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. Studies that used DNA-based sequencing data and a variety of ML algorithms were included, summarized, and analyzed using bibliometric methods, visualization tools, and a feature co-occurrence analysis. Findings: Our search identified 22 studies that met the inclusion criteria. We found that exome sequencing was the most frequently used sequencing technology (59%), and rare neoplastic diseases were the most prevalent disease scenario (59%). In rare neoplasms, the most frequent applications of ML models were the differential diagnosis or stratification of patients (38.5%) and the identification of somatic mutations (30.8%). In other rare diseases, the most frequent goals were the prioritization of rare variants or genes (55.5%) and the identification of biallelic or digenic inheritance (33.3%). The most employed method was the random forest algorithm (54.5%). In addition, the features of the datasets needed for training these algorithms were distinctive depending on the goal pursued, including the mutational load in each gene for the differential diagnosis of patients, or the combination of genotype features and sequence-derived features (such as GC-content) for the identification of somatic mutations. Conclusions: ML algorithms based on sequencing data are mainly used for the diagnosis of rare neoplastic diseases, with random forest being the most common approach. We identified key features in the datasets used for training these ML models according to the objective pursued. These features can support the development of future ML models in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.Salud Carlos III PI20-1126CIBERER PIT21_GCV21Research and Innovation Department PY20-00303, EPIMENAndalusian Health Department PI027-2020Asociación Síndrome de Meniere España, ASMESMeniere’s Society, UKAndalusian University, Research and Innovation Department PREDOC2021/0034

Oral health-related quality of life of a consecutive sample of Spanish dental patients

Objectives: Assessment of the oral health-related quality of life and the modulating factors of patients deman-- ding dental treatment in the city of Salamanca, through the use of two validated instruments: the OIDP-sp (Oral Impacts on Daily Performance) and OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile). Study design: the study was conducted on a consecutive sample of 200 patients aged 18-65 years visiting an Integral Dental Centre in the city of Salamanca. Two validated instruments (OIDP-sp and OHIP-14) were used to measure the oral health-related quality of life. An analogue visual scale was used to register oral satisfaction. Data on sociodemographic background, behavioural and clinical factors were also gathered. ANOVA, T Student Test, and both Pearson and Spearman correlations coefficients were used for the statistical analysis. Results: according to the OIDP, 68.5% suffered from some kind of impact in their oral quality of life, while impact prevalence with the OHIP was 85%. Some other factors influencing the quality of life and degree of satisfaction were revealed. Conclusions: patients over 45 years, regardless of their gender, from high social class, living in rural areas and with poor hygiene, showed higher impact and lower satisfaction. The study also revealed some clinical conditions closely related to the level of satisfaction. © Medicina Oral S. L

Relative age effect in handball players of Spain

This study analyzes the effect of relative age in the selection process of handball players for licensed club teams in the Murcia region and the Murcia Regional Handball teams. To this end we studied gender, date of birth and player category in a total of 846 handball players (762 of them in licensed clubs from the Murcia Regional Handball Federation, henceforth FBRM and 84 players in Murcia regional teams respectively) in the children’s, junior and youth categories. Comparisons were made and differences were analyzed with χ2 and Z tests and the Bonferroni correction. The analysis of results according to quarter and semester of birth revealed statistically significant differences both for licensed clubs and for Murcia Regional handball team players. The gender and player category analysis showed statistically significant results only in the case of category in regional teams. Thus RAE is confirmed in the samples analyzed, this effect being stronger amongst regional team players