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In 2020, the Conference of Chemical Engineering Directors and Deans (CODDIQ) proposed the creation of an observatory to monitor chemical engineering degrees in Spain. This representative radiography of Chemical Engineering studies offers an initial point to observe the future changes when Royal Decree 822/2021 and proposed challenges in the last Ministerial Conference on the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) will be implanted. The survey data from CODDIQ partners allow us to know important data such as (i) the 24 international quality accreditations at Spanish universities, (ii) the high demand and the required marks, an average of 7.25, for the Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s degree, (iii) 9560 undergraduate students in this degree in Spain and their gender profile which is around 43% of women, similar than women lectures, (iv) the difficulty of this Bachelor’s degree through some indicators like duration of studies (5.25 years), graduation rate (41%) and drop-out rate (26%), (v) the employability after obtaining the Bachelor's degree is very high (>70%). In addition, Chemical engineering undergraduate and graduate students indicate their expectations are covered. In this paper, some consequences of the pandemic on students' performance (lower than before COVID-19) are analyzed, despite lectures tried to innovate in their classes and the university provided adequate tools for online teaching.

El desarrollo sostenible nace con la idea de administrar de forma eficiente y racional los recursos con los que cuenta la sociedad, de tal manera que sea posible mejorar el bienestar de la población actual sin comprometer la calidad de vida de las generaciones futuras. Cuyo objetivo fue analizar los fundamentos teóricos y parámetros que involucran el desarrollo sostenible para presentar una propuesta de sensibilización del manejo de residuos sólidos. Metodológicamente, corresponde a una modalidad mixta que deriva en un proyecto factible apoyada en una investigación de campo y junto a una revisión documental. Como resultado se obtuvo que de Gestión Educativa dentro del PlanEducativo Institucional (PEI) en relación a temas de Educación Ambiental, no existen estrategias previstas pero existe la voluntad institucional con apoyo de la comunidad escolar para desarrollar acciones que persigan una mejor calidad de vida relacionada al equilibrio con el ambiente. Finalmente, se pudo concluir que, con la buena disposición de las autoridades y la inclusión de un programa de acciones conjuntas con la comunidad en relación a la recolección y tratamiento de desechos sólidos, se puede mejorar el desarrollo sostenible y la gestión educativa en la Institución objeto de estudio.

Species belonging to the genus Rahnella are dominant members of the core gut bacteriome of Dendroctonus-bark beetles, a group of insects that includes the most destructive agents of pine forest in North and Central America, and Eurasia. From 300 isolates recovered from the gut of these beetles, 10 were selected to describe an ecotype of Rahnella contaminans. The polyphasic approach conducted with these isolates included phenotypic characteristics, fatty acid analysis, 16S rRNA gene, multilocus sequence analyses (gyrB, rpoB, infB, and atpD genes), and complete genome sequencing of two isolates, ChDrAdgB13 and JaDmexAd06, representative of the studied set. Phenotypic characterization, chemotaxonomic analysis, phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene, and multilocus sequence analysis showed that these isolates belonged to Rahnella contaminans. The G + C content of the genome of ChDrAdgB13 (52.8%) and JaDmexAd06 (52.9%) was similar to those from other Rahnella species. The ANI between ChdrAdgB13 and JaDmexAd06 and Rahnella species including R. contaminans, varied from 84.02 to 99.18%. The phylogenomic analysis showed that both strains integrated a consistent and well-defined cluster, together with R. contaminans. A noteworthy observation is the presence of peritrichous flagella and fimbriae in the strains ChDrAdgB13 and JaDmexAd06. The in silico analysis of genes encoding the flagellar system of these strains and Rahnella species showed the presence of flag-1 primary system encoding peritrichous flagella, as well as fimbriae genes from the families type 1, α, β and σ mainly encoding chaperone/usher fimbriae and other uncharacterized families. All this evidence indicates that isolates from the gut of Dendroctonus-bark beetles are an ecotype of R. contaminans, which is dominant and persistent in all developmental stages of these bark beetles and one of the main members of their core gut bacteriome.

Payment for ecosystem services (PES) programmes seek to promote conservation via payments for desired resource-use behaviours. While PES has been found to produce some ecological and livelihood benefits, an understudied concern is what happens when payments stop. We assess how households’ land-use behaviours changed in response to a temporary gap in payments and subsequent payment uncertainty in a programme in Ecuador, which paid communities to reduce their grazing on their communal lands. In 2015, after six years in operation, the programme lost funds and stopped payments. These resumed in 2017, but participants were only partially repaid retroactively, and future payments remained uncertain due to funding instability. Using a difference-in-difference modelling approach, we compare household grazing behaviour between communities in the programme and a set of control communities over ten years before PES payments, during PES payments and after the gap in payments in a period where participants were still owed at least one past payment and future payments were uncertain (n = 871 households). We find that grazing was significantly reduced by almost 20% over the ten-year period and that households continued to refrain from grazing even after experiencing payment loss. Our results demonstrate the importance of aligning programme objectives with community conservation and livelihood goals. Our discussion suggests how these conditions may interact with PES to prompt sustained behavioural change. A long-term analysis of payments to reduce grazing on a threatened ecosystem in Ecuador shows that, despite intermittence of the programme and the resulting uncertainty, grazing behaviour among households diminished consistently

Les ofrecemos una entrevista a Carlos Contreras aka “Caster”, quien nos habló de sus inicios, de la importancia de su encuentro con el maestro Hernán Zúñiga; de los encuentros en Sauces 2, en la ciudad de Guayaquil, de la vida en el barrio, y de cómo surgió todo. Nos habló de la influencia musical y de la necesidad de separar a las pandillas del origen del graffiti en las calles guayaquileñas. Conversamos también sobre su vida en el país del norte, y como se ha mantenido en la cultura hip hop desde los 80. Él nos respondió desde su actual lugar de residencia, los Estados Unidos. Es el relato en perspectiva de una voz migrante, que da cuenta de las primeras voces de la cultura urbana y del graffiti. La conversación tuvo lugar a través de WhatsApp.

La procrastinación académica en los estudiantes de nivel superior toma una vital relevancia al considerar su impacto en el desempeño académico y el bienestar físico y mental. El objetivo fue determinar el nivel de procrastinación académica en estudiantes de enfermería de una universidad de México. Estudio cuantitativo,descriptivo, correlacional y transversal en una muestra de 113 estudiantes, se utilizó la escala Procrastination Assessment Scale-Students y las pruebas U de Mann Whitney y el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman. El 55.8% de los estudiantes presentaron alto nivel de procrastinación académica, las actividades que más se postergan son las de escribir un trabajo de final de curso (X=9.45, DE=2.52) y estudiar para los exámenes (X=9.12, DE=2.77), se observó baja tendencia para dejar de procrastinar (X=20.57, DE=6.48), las principales razones para procrastinar son la falta de energía y autocontrol (X= 22.87, DE=8.11), la falta de asertividad y confianza (X=14.18, DE=5.16), existe relación significativa entre la postergación de estudiar para los exámenes y la falta de asertividad y confianza (rs=.279, p=.01). La procrastinación académica es una conducta presente entre los estudiantes de enfermería y en actividades referentes al final de curso o evaluación de conocimientos, la principal causa es la falta de energía y autocontrol de la conducta, a pesar de esto, los estudiantes muestran poca intención para dejar de procrastinar.

La cuenca del río Ariporo se encuentra localizada al oriente país, en el departamento del Casanare donde se han presentado desastres ecológicos como una alta mortandad de animales, ejemplo de ello, la sucedida en el año 2014 ocasionada por una fuerte sequía registrada en los medios de comunicación. De acuerdo con lo anterior, se ha elaborado un diseño metodológico en tres fases relacionadas a continuación: Diagnóstico hidrológico de la cuenca utilizando data science y sensores remotos, elaboración de un modelo matemático utilizando un balance de materia con la finalidad de visualizar la dinámica entre la lluvia y los datos de caudal de la estación del (IDEAM), y finalmente, recomendar estrategias frente al uso de suelo para la cuenca de acuerdo a la información recolectada. Al obtener en el piloto, se puede notar como el aporte de agua subterránea es indispensable en la temporada de sequía, por lo que se concluye que la infiltración de agua lluvia en la temporada de excesos para los meses de abril, mayo, junio, agosto con el fin de que los acuíferos se recarguen para aportar agua al rio en la temporada de sequía en el periodo correspondiente a noviembre, diciembre, enero, febrero y marzo, donde se hace indispensable el uso del suelo en la planeación de la región, lo cual requiere de la deforestación para establecer pasturas para ganadería a través de estrategias de producción, y de igual modo, el aprovechamiento de los embalses como áreas estratégicas para maximizar la infiltración de agua lluvia en los acuíferos.

Three new species of Lepanthes from Ecuador are described and illustrated. These additions to the Ecuadorean flora were recorded in evergreen montane forest and páramo as part of three different research projects conducted during the last five years (2016–2021). Lepanthes oro-lojaensis was discovered in the southwest of El Oro province and is similar to L. jimburae, differing mainly in the much smaller plants, inflorescences and floral parts. Lepanthes microprosartima from the western slopes of Pichincha volcano in northern Ecuador resembles L. obandoi but differs in the coloration of the leaves, the inflorescence that are shorter than the leaves and the smaller floral appendix. Lepanthes caranqui, found in eastern Pichincha and Imbabura, is most similar to L. pachychila but differs from it in its much larger plants and different shape of the petals and the floral appendix. Preliminary assessments of the conservation status of the three taxonomic novelties are provided, using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

The interest in studying the neural circuits related to mating behavior and mate choice in monogamous species lies in the parallels found between human social structure and sexual behavior and that of other mammals that exhibit social monogamy, potentially expanding our understanding of human neurobiology and its underlying mechanisms. Extensive research has suggested that social monogamy, as opposed to non-monogamy in mammals, is a consequence of the neural encoding of sociosensory information from the sexual partner with an increased reward value. Thus, the reinforced value of the mate outweighs the reward value of mating with any other potential sexual partners. This mechanism reinforces the social relationship of a breeding pair, commonly defined as a pair bond. In addition to accentuated prosocial behaviors toward the partner, other characteristic behaviors may appear, such as territorial and partner guarding, selective aggression toward unfamiliar conspecifics, and biparental care. Concomitantly, social buffering and distress upon partner separation are also observed. The following work intends to overview and compare known neural and functional circuits that are related to mating and sexual behavior in monogamous mammals. We will particularly discuss reports on Cricetid rodents of the Microtus and Peromyscus genus, and New World primates (NWP), such as the Callicebinae subfamily of the titi monkey and the marmoset (Callithrix spp.). In addition, we will mention the main factors that modulate the neural circuits related to social monogamy and how that modulation may reflect phenotypic differences, ultimately creating the widely observed diversity in social behavior.

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most frequent inherited bleeding disorder caused by quantitative or qualitative defects of von Willebrand factor (VWF). This protein far from simplicity constitutes a very complex molecular model, remaining unravelled yet many aspects of it, even though the VWF gene (VWF) was cloned already in 1985 and the structure of VWF well defined. VWD diagnosis is difficult to achieve in a significant proportion of patients due to both disease heterogeneity and limitations in existing test processes. The cornerstone of diagnosis relies on interpretation of VWF test results, the presence of clinical manifestations of bleeding, especially mucocutaneous, and (in most cases) a positive family history. However, even with a significant bleeding history, a family history may not be positive due to factors of incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity that affect genetic changes. The laboratory diagnosis of VWD can be difficult, as the disease is heterogeneous and an array of assays is required to describe the phenotype. Basic classification of quantitative (type 1 and 3) and qualitative (type 2 variants) VWD requires determination of VWF antigenic (VWF:Ag) levels and assaying of VWF ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo) activity. The latter is required for identifying and subtyping VWD, but the assay is poorly standardized. For that reason, novel VWF activity assays have been developed awaiting more extensive comparison data between different methodologies and requiring validation on larger patient series. The qualitative type 2 VWF deficiency can be further divided into four different subtypes (A, B, M and N) using specific assays that measure other activities or the size distribution of VWF multimers. However, frequently, it may be difficult to correctly classify the VWD phenotype, and genetic analysis is through mutation identification may provide a tool to clarify the disorder.

Immunosuppressive treatment and bypassing agents are used to treat acquired haemophilia A (AHA). On the other hand, COVID-19 infection induces a hypercoagulable state. Managing bleeding, risk of thrombosis, bypassing agents, active infection and immunosuppressive treatment can be challenging. A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with acquired hemophilia A. He received steroids, rituximab and recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). He developed severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Due to thrombotic risk, he received low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and developed an iliopsoas hematoma. Because of the risk of thrombosis, treatment with recombinant porcine FVIII (rpFVIII) was requested. Tocilizumab was administered for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and unexpected improvement of FVIII levels was noted. Concluding, rpFVIII treatment was well tolerated and effective, easy to monitor and to administer. Tocilizumab may play a role as immunosuppressive treatment for AHA. The role of LMWH remains to be established in patients with coagulopathies.

The identification of inherited antithrombin deficiency (ATD) is critical to prevent potentially life-threatening thrombotic events. Causal variants in SERPINC1 are identified for up to 70% of cases, the majority being single-nucleotide variants and indels. The detection and characterization of structural variants (SVs) in ATD remain challenging due to the high number of repetitive elements in SERPINC1. Here, we performed long-read whole-genome sequencing on 10 familial and 9 singleton cases with type I ATD proven by functional and antigen assays, who were selected from a cohort of 340 patients with this rare disorder because genetic analyses were either negative, ambiguous, or not fully characterized. We developed an analysis workflow to identify disease-associated SVs. This approach resolved, independently of its size or type, all eight SVs detected by multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification, and identified for the first time a complex rearrangement previously misclassified as a deletion. Remarkably, we identified the mechanism explaining ATD in 2 out of 11 cases with previous unknown defect: the insertion of a novel 2.4 kb SINE-VNTR-Alu retroelement, which was characterized by de novo assembly and verified by specific polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing in the probands and affected relatives. The nucleotide-level resolution achieved for all SVs allowed breakpoint analysis, which revealed repetitive elements and microhomologies supporting a common replication-based mechanism for all the SVs. Our study underscores the utility of long-read sequencing technology as a complementary method to identify, characterize, and unveil the molecular mechanism of disease-causing SVs involved in ATD, and enlarges the catalogue of genetic disorders caused by retrotransposon insertions.

Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 is a dominant member of the gut bacterial core of species of the genus Dendroctonus, which is one of the most destructive pine forest bark beetles. The objectives of this study were identified in Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 genome the glycosyl hydrolase families involved in carbohydrate metabolism and specifically, the genes that participate in xylan hydrolysis, to determine the functionality of a putative endo-1,4-β-D-xylanase, which results to be bifunctional xylanase–ferulic acid esterase called R13 Fae and characterize it biochemically. The carbohydrate-active enzyme prediction revealed 25 glycoside hydrolases, 20 glycosyl transferases, carbohydrate esterases, two auxiliary activities, one polysaccharide lyase, and one carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). The R13 Fae predicted showed high identity to the putative esterases and glycosyl hydrolases from Rahnella species and some members of the Yersiniaceae family. The r13 fae gene encodes 393 amino acids (43.5 kDa), containing a signal peptide, esterase catalytic domain, and CBM48. The R13 Fae modeling showed a higher binding affinity to ferulic acid, α-naphthyl acetate, and arabinoxylan, and a low affinity to starch. The R13 Fae recombinant protein showed activity on α-naphthyl acetate and xylan, but not on starch. This enzyme showed mesophilic characteristics, displaying its optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 25°C. The enzyme was stable at pH from 4.5 to 9.0, retaining nearly 66–71% of its original activity. The half-life of the enzyme was 23 days at 25°C. The enzyme was stable in the presence of metallic ions, except for Hg2+. The products of R13 Fae mediated hydrolysis of beechwood xylan were xylobiose and xylose, manifesting an exo-activity. The results suggest that Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 hydrolyze xylan and its products could be assimilated by its host and other gut microbes as a nutritional source, demonstrating their functional role in the bacterial-insect interaction contributing to their fitness, development, and survival.

In this chapter, the experimental paradigms traditionally used to evaluate perceptual inhibition, and therefore selective attention, were briefly presented: The Stroop, Flanks, and Conjunction Visual Search paradigms. The Conjunction Visual Search paradigm was analyzed in greater detail, and the main studies in recent years that use it as a measure of perceptual inhibition in one or more stages of the life cycle were shown. At the same time, the methodological limitations of these works were raised: the scarcity of studies that address the analysis of the development of the process throughout the life course and the diversity in the use of paradigms to evaluate the same process in different evolutionary stages.

This chapter addresses the inhibitory processing training. The topic is analyzed placing the emphasis on the process-based approach (e.g., predominant in executive functions training). Special emphasis is also placed on inhibitory training during childhood. Reference is made to both theoretical aspects (theoretical model and inhibitory processes addressed) and practical aspects (transfer effects of training). The authors review studies of specific inhibitory training, which meet certain methodological requirements (e.g., random designs with at least two groups and pre- and post-test measurements). The approach of these studies allowed the authors to (1) extract some ideas about the current work in this field (as the taking of a non-unitary perspective of inhibition and the use of computerized experimental tasks); (2) highlight the need for further study, as data on training transfer are not conclusive; and (3) discuss possible fundamental future lines of work.

In the present chapter, the authors analyze of the relations between inhibitory processes, selective attention, and the executive processes responsible for self-regulation. They describe the multidimensional model of inhibition with special emphasis on the unique functional and operative features of perceptual inhibition, in contrast with cognitive and response inhibitions. Likewise, they analyze the role of selective attention and self-regulation processes. Moreover, they describe the procedures and paradigms currently used for each inhibitory process assessment and outline the importance of including them as part of the evaluation and intervention processes in the different scenarios of psychological practice.

Currently, inhibition is considered one of the main executive functions responsible for stopping or attenuating the interference generated by prepotent tendencies linked to emotion, thought, or behavior that can interfere with the achievement of objectives. The study of inhibitory functioning has been focused more on neutral (or also called cold) contexts. However, real-world problems are often completely permeated with emotions or emotional signals that different inhibitory processes must suppress or attenuate. Although some studies have been reported on inhibitory functioning with emotional stimuli, the results are contradictory and have not even analyzed this question from a multidimensional inhibition perspective. For these reasons, this chapter addresses inhibitory control processes from a multidimensional perspective in both neutral and emotional contexts. The main theoretical proposals that provide explanations in this regard, experimental evaluation methods, and new lines of work are discussed.

We provide new insights on land use and climate change in human–environment dynamics of the equatorial Andes. We focused on two provinces (Cotopaxi and Napo) and three communities of Ecuador charac...

Objectives This study estimated the cost of prophylaxis with activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) and recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in surgical patients with haemophilia A and inhibitors in Spain. Methods A decision‐analytic model was developed to estimate the cost to the Spanish National Health System of providing haemostatic coverage in this haemophilia population, with age distribution and average weight derived from the literature, and the annual number of surgeries (0.33 per patient) from local data. Drug costs were calculated from official ex‐factory prices with a 7.5% mandatory deduction and recommended dosing regimens. Results The estimated average costs per patient were €10 100.73 (aPCC) and €14 265.89 (rFVIIa) for dental extraction, €24 043.88 (aPCC) and €62 301.08 (rFVIIa) for minor surgery and €126 595.81 (aPCC) and €347 731.09 (rFVIIa) for major surgery. Assuming an estimated 23 annual surgeries in this population (N = 69), distributed as 19% dental extraction, 50% minor surgery and 31% major surgery, the total annual cost of prophylaxis was €1 209 682.35 with aPCC and €3 221 929.28 with rFVIIa. Conclusions aPCC costs were 62.5% lower than rFVIIa. Assuming potential clinical equivalence, aPCC is a potentially cost‐saving option for surgical patients with haemophilia A and inhibitors.

Para contrastar longitudinalmente los efectos de factores estructurales, poblacionales y políticos que en la literatura se han asociado a la alternancia política, el presente artículo analiza el caso de Zacatecas, una entidad que, además de describir patrones cambiantes en el porcentaje de alternancias municipales, muestra variaciones temporales importan-tes en sus índices de migración, sus niveles de des-igualdad económica y las relaciones políticas en su interior. Se revisan las consideraciones teóricas con respecto de la alternancia política, se realiza una re-visión histórica de la sucesión partidista en el poder en dicha entidad, y se examina el caso zacatecano mediante un modelo estadístico a partir de las variables estructurales, poblaciones y políticas sobre una base de datos con los 58 municipios del estado, en las elecciones de entre 2010 y 2018. Al final, se obtuvieron 232 observaciones que permitieron periodizar distintos momen-tos políticos en la historia de Zacatecas, y se concluye que la alternancia está altamente determinada por el contexto estatal en que ésta se efectúa. / The substitution of citizen representation structured through elector-al means has drawn the attention of specialists in democracy for many years. However, electoral studies still lack robust evidence to ascertain the causes associated to alternations understood as dynamic events that occur throughout time. In order to longitudinally contrast the effects of structural, population and political factors, which the literature has related such events to, this research analyzes alternation processes in Zacatecas, a state in which the percentage of municipal alternations have experienced changing patterns, which also reflects important temporary variations regarding migration, economic inequality and political relationships.

Very few data exist on when a particular thrombopoietin-receptor agonist (TPO-RA) is favored in clinical practice for the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), about novel risk factors for vascular events (VE) with these drugs, nor about predictive factors for therapy free responses (TFR). We conducted an observational, retrospective, long-term follow-up multicenter study from November 2016 to January 2018 of 121 adult ITP patients initiating TPO-RA between January 2012 to December 2014. Data reflected that a platelet count ≤25 × 109/l at the time when the TPO-RA was initiated was associated with a 2.8 higher probability of receiving romiplostim vs. eltrombopag (P = 0.010). VE on TPO-RA was related to previous neoplasia in patients over 65 years (50% vs. 2.2%, P vs. 33%, P = 0.001). Receiving romiplostim as first TPO-RA with no subsequent TPO-RA switching was associated with a 50% likelihood of TFR after 2.9 years of therapy (3.3 years in chronic ITP patients). These real-world data help deciphering some areas of uncertainty, and offer insight into some of the most relevant challenges of ITP which may help clinicians make appropriate treatment decisions in the management of adult ITP patients with TPO-RA.

Dendroctonus-bark beetles are natural agents contributing to vital processes in coniferous forests, such as regeneration, succession, and material recycling, as they colonize and kill damaged, stressed, or old pine trees. These beetles spend most of their life cycle under stem and roots bark where they breed, develop, and feed on phloem. This tissue is rich in essential nutrients and complex molecules such as starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which apparently are not available for these beetles. We evaluated the digestive capacity of Dendroctonusrhizophagus to hydrolyze starch. Our aim was to identify &alpha, amylases and characterize them both molecularly and biochemically. The findings showed that D. rhizophagus has an &alpha, amylase gene (AmyDr) with a single isoform, and ORF of 1452 bp encoding a 483-amino acid protein (53.15 kDa) with a predicted signal peptide of 16 amino acids. AmyDr has a mutation in the chlorine-binding site, present in other phytophagous insects and in a marine bacterium. Docking analysis showed that AmyDr presents a higher binding affinity to amylopectin compared to amylose, and an affinity binding equally stable to calcium, chlorine, and nitrate ions. AmyDr native protein showed amylolytic activity in the head-pronotum and gut, and its recombinant protein, a polypeptide of ~53 kDa, showed conformational stability, and its activity is maintained both in the presence and absence of chlorine and nitrate ions. The AmyDr gene showed a differential expression significantly higher in the gut than the head-pronotum, indicating that starch hydrolysis occurs mainly in the midgut. An overview of the AmyDr gene expression suggests that the amylolytic activity is regulated through the developmental stages of this bark beetle and associated with starch availability in the host tree.

En esta investigación se determinó la relación entre la afiliación institucional de estudiantes de bachillerato con el abandono escolar y el entorno familiar. El estudio fue longitudinal, se aplicó una encuesta a 1786 estudiantes de primer ingreso. El porcentaje de abandono escolar fue del 17,5 %. Un análisis que comparó las medias obtenidas entre quienes abandonaron y permanecieron, en las dimensiones de estudio, mostró autoapreciaciones más bajas en los aspectos evaluados. Los estudiantes que permanecen otorgan mayor importancia a la educación media superior, tienen mayor visión de futuro, mejor desempeño académico, y habilidades para el estudio y autoaprendizaje. La percepción negativa de su ambiente familiar y la presencia de violencia física y verbal tuvieron un efecto negativo en las dimensiones de estudio analizadas.

The COVID-19 pandemic had imposed a variety of containment measures on the general population for prolonged periods. Confinement has had, and still has, social, economic, educational, health, and psychological consequences on the entire population. Objective: In this article, a systematic search has been performed based on studies carried out since the beginning of the pandemic, regarding the impact of these containment measures on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population and their caregivers. Method: We consulted six databases (i.e., PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct) and selected ten studies that met the inclusion criteria. The chosen studies have been classified according to their theoretical focus, methodology, and target population. Results: We found an increase in stress and a decrease in psychological well-being among individuals diagnosed with ASD (i.e., parents and caregivers). Additionally, in studies focused on children, youth, and adults with ASD diagnosis, the results are contradictory depending on variables such as age, ASD severity, or type of family structure. Conclusions: The results show that the consequences of quarantine and social confinement are quite contradictory and depend on variables such as age, ASD severity, and family features.

Presently, no data on the molecular basis of hereditary protein C (PC) deficiency in Spain is available. We analyzed the PC gene (PROC) in 109 patients with symptomatic PC deficiency and in 342 relatives by sequencing the 9 PROC exons and their flanking intron regions. In 93 probands, we found 58 different mutations (26 novel). Thirty-seven consisted of a nucleotide change, mainly missense mutations, 1 was a 6-nucleotide insertion causing the duplication of 2 amino acids, and 4 were deletions of 1, 3, 4, and 16 nucleotides. Nine mutations caused type II deficiencies, with the presence of normal antigen levels but reduced anticoagulant activity. Using a PC level of 70% as lowest normal limit, we found no mutations in 16 probands and 25 relatives with PC levels ≤ 70%. On the contrary, 4 probands and 12 relatives with PC levels > 70% carried the mutation identified in the proband. The spectrum of recurrent mutations in Spain is different from that found in the Netherlands, where the most frequent mutations were p.Gln174* and p.Arg272Cys, and is more similar to that found in France, where the most frequent were p.Arg220Gln and p.Pro210Leu. In our study, p.Val339Met (9 families), p.Tyr166Cys (7), p.Arg220Gln (6), and p.Glu58Lys (5) were the most prevalent. This study confirms the considerable heterogeneity of the genetic abnormality in PC deficiencies, and allowed genetic counseling to those individuals whose PC levels were close to the lower limit of the normal reference range.

The aim of this commentary is to discuss and promote discussion on some linguistic and pedagogical issues around the use of gender inclusive language, particularly the -e morpheme in plural forms, in Spanish. Its speakers are experiencing and becoming aware of language change in real time concerning the use of morphosyntactic choices that seek embrace gender equality, diversity, representation, and diversity. This language change impacts directly on formal education and educational administrators who are under pressure not only from different social actors but also from their own beliefs on whether they should promote, ignore, or mitigate the linguistic changes that society is producing through their situated practices. Against this background, to what extent are educational authorities professionally prepared to encourage academic discussions on inclusive language in education? How can applied linguists help? Having these questions as our Southern Cross, our commentary lies at the intersection of language change and educational authorities’ professional knowledge.

La calidad en la atención de salud es la propiedad o conjunto de atenciones para contribuir al paciente en un servicio integral para el Buen Vivir. Como parte de la calidad de atención tenemos varios componentes como el buen trato, la buena práctica, la identificación del paciente, el mantenimiento de equipos, la utilización de abreviaturas, identificación y manejo de medicamentos, entre otros. En el Hospital de Especialidades ¨José Carrasco Arteaga¨, se mantiene un continuo mejoramiento para la atención del paciente tomando en cuenta las seis áreas analizadas. Para la mejora del sistema calidad en Hospital de Especialidades ¨José Carrasco Arteaga¨, Instituto de Seguridad Social Cuenca- Azuay vamos a plantear diferentes procedimientos los cuales son parte de la reforma en el plan de Seguridad del Paciente; por medio de un análisis aleatorio de varias especialidades. Los nuevos lineamientos del Plan de Seguridad del Paciente aprobado en el 2018, en su tercera medición tomada según los informes trimestrales de seguridad del Paciente del Hospital de Especialidades ¨José Carrasco Arteaga¨, nos da como resultados que el 63% de Pràcticas Seguras superan el 70% de cumplimieto en los servicios evaluados, sobrepasando la línea de base para un mejor desarrollo. Como conclusión de los servicios evaluados, tanto en el valor mínimo aceptable del cumplimiento de Prácticas Organizacionales requeridas refleja un incremento con respecto al desempeño de los servicios de mayor nivel y servicio de menor puntaje de cumplimiento.

The general framework of the Chemical Engineering studies in Spain includes the Bachelor's Degree (4 years), Master's Degree (the most common duration is 1.5 years) and Doctorate (3-4 years). In 2008, the Conference of Directors and Deans of Chemical Engineering (CODDIQ) was constituted with the main objective of promoting and improving the quality of Chemical Engineering studies in Spain. Currently, Faculties and Schools of 29 Spanish universities are members of CODDIQ. An analysis of the most characteristic indicators provides a representative radiography of the Chemical Engineering Studies in Spain, whose most outstanding data are: (i) 7,396 undergraduate students, 1,014 Master students and 556 PhD students, (ii) according to the gender profile of undergraduates and graduates, the percentage of women is similar to that of men, while for faculty staff, the percentage of women is 43% and 46% for Associate and Assistant Professor (respectively) and 23% for the category of Full Professor category; (iii) after completing the Bachelor studies, most of them continue their training in the MSc in Chemical Engineering, (iv) the employability after obtaining the Master's degree is very high (>75%), which in the case of PhDs is close to 100%. The studies of Chemical Engineering in Spain have a very direct relationship with society, especially in the chemical, environmental, biotechnological and energy fields. The companies that collaborate in the training of future professionals are distributed throughout the national territory, which allows a strong connection with the socioeconomic environment.

El artículo introduce una perspectiva geográfica para el estudio de la relación entre economía y territorios rurales latinoamericanos, a través de los conceptos de Milton Santos de horizontalidades y verticalidades. Se discuten dos aristas de esa relación: las dinámicas económicas que se materializan en los territorios, en el contexto de los impulsos espacio-temporales globales y la producción de escalas geográficas que resulta de esa materialización, a través de la relación entre actores y economías de base territorial. El análisis se organiza en cuatro líneas: 1) las políticas estatales y la reconfiguración económico-productiva territorial, 2) el extractivismo y las inequidades territoriales, 3) las nuevas formas espaciales de la fuerza de trabajo rural y 4) la espacialidad de la agricultura familiar. Se argumenta que las dinámicas económicas en los territorios rurales no están limitadas exclusivamente a la esfera de la producción, sino que abarcan procesos de reproducción y cuidado de la vida, en su sentido más amplio. Adicionalmente, en un contexto donde la movilidad, los ensambles y las redes son elementos distintivos de la nueva geografía rural, aparecen escalas híbridas con mayor flexibilidad, maleabilidad y vínculos amorfos entre espacios y lugares diversos. Abstract Through Milton Santos' concepts of horizontalities and verticalities, this article introduces a geographical perspective for studying the relationship between economy and rural territories in Latin America. Two dimensions of that relationship are approached: the spatio-temporal global impulses that take a material grounding at particular locations, and the production of scales of that grounding through the relationship between agents and localized economies. The analysis is organized into four themes: 1) state policies and economic-productive territorial restructuring, 2) extractivism and territorial inequities, 3) new spatial dynamics of the rural labor force, 4) spatiality of family farming. We argue that rural dynamics are not limited exclusively to the sphere of production, but encompass processes of reproduction and care of life, in its broadest sense. In addition, mobility, assemblages and networks are distinctive elements of current territorial dynamics, creating hybrid scales with greater flexibility, malleability and amorphous linkages between spaces and places.

This study aims to develop a clinical trial to test the efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and self-compassion (SC) program on self-reported values of anxiety, depression, and stress in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in primary school, in order to assess their integration into the framework of community intervention programs in Spain. Methods: A brief 8-week training program using mindfulness-based intervention (MBSR) and self-compassion (SC) has been applied to twelve Valencian ASD parents, ten of whom completed the program. Participants were assigned to two groups, both groups received the same treatment but at two different measurement moments. Depression, anxiety, stress, satisfaction with life and mindful attention awareness measurements were performed, in all participants, in three testing stages. Results: Analysis of variance results suggested that MBSR and SC training reduces stress and anxiety and increases mindful attention awareness. No significant changes were found in life satisfaction measurements. Conclusions: The small number of participants prevents us from generalizing the results found. More MBSR and SC clinical trials are needed in parents of ASD with results on anxiety, depression and stress in order to demonstrate the relevance of the inclusion of these programs in community-based early intervention services.

Recent studies suggest that the developmental curves in adolescence, related to the development of executive functions, could be fitted to a non-linear trajectory of development with progressions and retrogressions. Therefore, the present study proposes to analyze the pattern of development in Perceptual Inhibition (PI), considering all stages of adolescence (early, middle, and late) in intervals of one year. To this aim, we worked with a sample of 275 participants between 10 and 25 years, who performed a joint visual and search task (to measure PI). We have fitted ex-Gaussian functions to the probability distributions of the mean response time across the sample and performed a covariance analysis (ANCOVA). The results showed that the 10- to 13-year-old groups performed similarly in the task and differ from the 14- to 19-year-old participants. We found significant differences between the older group and all the rest of the groups. We discuss the important changes that can be observed in relation to the nonlinear trajectory of development that would show the PI during adolescence.

Recent studies suggest that the developmental curves in adolescence, related to the development of executive functions, could be fitted to a non-linear trajectory of development with progressions and retrogressions. Therefore, the present study proposes to analyze the pattern of development in Perceptual Inhibition (PI), considering all stages of adolescence (early, middle, and late) in intervals of one year. To this aim, we worked with a sample of 275 participants between 10 and 25 years, who performed a joint visual and search task (to measure PI). We have fitted exGaussian functions to the probability distributions of the mean response time across the sample and performed a covariance analysis (ANCOVA). The results showed that the 10- to 13-year-old groups performed similarly in the task and differ from the 14- to 19-year-old participants. We found significant differences between the older group and all the rest of the groups. We discuss the important changes that can be observed in relation to the nonlinear trajectory of development that would show the PI during adolescence.

The rapid development of genetic studies, not only in haemophilia but also in other congenital coagulopathies and platelet-related alterations, has been made possible by massive sequencing (e.g. next-generation sequencing or NGS), which allows a rapid and automatic analysis of the whole gene, simultaneous study of several genes and multiple individuals, detection of genetic variants and the possibility to create personalized panels [16]. The new technologies have also changed the way results are evaluated. Currently, our interest goes beyond the study of carriers, extending to the relationship between the mutation and the risk of developing an inhibitor and the latter's role in the classification of diseases [17]. There is also great interest in understanding the genotype/phenotype relationship, analytical discrepancies and variations in the response to treatment [18].

Key Points In 9 unrelated families, we found 6 different TUBB1 variants, 1 of which novel, expanding the genetic spectrum of TUBB1-RT.TUBB1 variants alter β1-tubulin localization and proplatelet formation, although they show high heterogeneity in clinical presentation., Visual Abstract, β1-Tubulin plays a major role in proplatelet formation and platelet shape maintenance, and pathogenic variants in TUBB1 lead to thrombocytopenia and platelet anisocytosis (TUBB1-RT). To date, the reported number of pedigrees with TUBB1-RT and of rare TUBB1 variants with experimental demonstration of pathogenicity is limited. Here, we report 9 unrelated families presenting with thrombocytopenia carrying 6 β1-tubulin variants, p.Cys12LeufsTer12, p.Thr107Pro, p.Gln423*, p.Arg359Trp, p.Gly109Glu, and p.Gly269Asp, the last of which novel. Segregation studies showed incomplete penetrance of these variants for platelet traits. Indeed, most carriers showed macrothrombocytopenia, some only increased platelet size, and a minority had no abnormalities. Moreover, only homozygous carriers of the p.Gly109Glu variant displayed macrothrombocytopenia, highlighting the importance of allele burden in the phenotypic expression of TUBB1-RT. The p.Arg359Trp, p.Gly269Asp, and p.Gly109Glu variants deranged β1-tubulin incorporation into the microtubular marginal ring in platelets but had a negligible effect on platelet activation, secretion, or spreading, suggesting that β1-tubulin is dispensable for these processes. Transfection of TUBB1 missense variants in CHO cells altered β1-tubulin incorporation into the microtubular network. In addition, TUBB1 variants markedly impaired proplatelet formation from peripheral blood CD34+ cell-derived megakaryocytes. Our study, using in vitro modeling, molecular characterization, and clinical investigations provides a deeper insight into the pathogenicity of rare TUBB1 variants. These novel data expand the genetic spectrum of TUBB1-RT and highlight a remarkable heterogeneity in its clinical presentation, indicating that allelic burden or combination with other genetic or environmental factors modulate the phenotypic impact of rare TUBB1 variants.

“Callus” is defined as massive growth of cells or disorganized plant cell masses (calli) produced from a single differentiated cell, totipotent and able to regenerate a whole plant; where the principal characteristic of differentiation is their plasticity. The use of in vitro systems allows the analysis of stress factors that affect metabolism and biochemical responses involved in plants. In vitro coculture of tissue explants with beneficial microbes defined as “biotization” enhances the response of them because plant growth-promoting bacteria induces developmental and metabolic changes that also favored a positive response against contaminants. This chapter reviews a particularly biotization process, analyzing the effect to cadmium by the response on growth and development of the desert plant Fouquieria splendens callus cocultivated with endophyte bacteria.

Introduction Type 2N von Willebrand disease (VWD) is characterized by a decreased affinity of von Willebrand factor (VWF) for factor VIII (FVIII). Abnormal binding of FVIII to VWF (VWF:FVIIIB), results in low FVIII plasma levels, which can lead to a misdiagnosis of mild haemophilia A. Accurate diagnosis of type 2N VWD is essential for appropriate genetic counselling and therapy. This disease can be distinguished from haemophilia A by in vitro assays (measurement VWF:FVIIIB activity) and/or genetic analysis. Aim To identify the current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of this type of VWD and provide an in-depth description of the phenotypes and mutations identified. Results Twenty-eight patients had at least one type 2N mutation, and 13 of these had a type 2N mutation combined with other variations. Three type 2N mutations were detected: p.Arg816Trp, p.Arg854Gln, and p.Arg763Ser. Two of these are the most frequently described mutations worldwide. This mutational spectrum differs from the broad spectrum seen in neighbouring France, where at least eight distinct 2N mutations have been found. In the PCM-EVW-ES cohort, 11 asymptomatic type 2N carriers with borderline FVIII plasma levels would probably have been excluded if the evaluation had been based on clinical and laboratory data only. Likewise, three patients with a severe phenotype would have been classified as homozygous for a 2N mutation if only the phenotype study had been performed. Conclusion The high detection yield and affordability of next-generation sequencing support the use of this technology as a first-line diagnostic tool in this setting.

Dendroctonus-bark beetles are natural agents contributing to vital processes in coniferous forests, such as regeneration, succession, and material recycling, as they colonize and kill damaged, stressed, or old pine trees. These beetles spend most of their life cycle under stem and roots bark where they breed, develop, and feed on phloem. This tissue is rich in essential nutrients and complex molecules such as starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which apparently are not available for these beetles. We evaluated the digestive capacity of Dendroctonus rhizophagus to hydrolyze starch. Our aim was to identify α-amylases and characterize them both molecularly and biochemically. The findings showed that D. rhizophagus has an α-amylase gene (AmyDr) with a single isoform, and ORF of 1452 bp encoding a 483-amino acid protein (53.15 kDa) with a predicted signal peptide of 16 amino acids. AmyDr has a mutation in the chlorine-binding site, present in other phytophagous insects and in a marine bacterium. Docking analysis showed that AmyDr presents a higher binding affinity to amylopectin compared to amylose, and an affinity binding equally stable to calcium, chlorine, and nitrate ions. AmyDr native protein showed amylolytic activity in the head-pronotum and gut, and its recombinant protein, a polypeptide of ~53 kDa, showed conformational stability, and its activity is maintained both in the presence and absence of chlorine and nitrate ions. The AmyDr gene showed a differential expression significantly higher in the gut than the head-pronotum, indicating that starch hydrolysis occurs mainly in the midgut. An overview of the AmyDr gene expression suggests that the amylolytic activity is regulated through the developmental stages of this bark beetle and associated with starch availability in the host tree.

[Background]: Ten years after their availability, thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) have heralded a paradigm shift in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This study was aimed to analyze the implementation of current recommendations in the standard practice of adult ITP patients, and how age may influence those changes., [Methods]: We included 121 adult patients (> 65 years, n = 54; younger individuals, n = 67) who initiated treatment with TPO-RA between January 2012 and December 2014., [Results]: Patients older than 65 years treated with TPO-RA presented at diagnosis with significantly higher platelet counts, less bleeding, and a more prothrombotic profile than younger ones. The high efficacy rates of TPO-RA, preferentially used during the last decade in non-chronic phases, precluded from further therapies in the majority of ITP patients. Their administration was associated with a sharp decline in the last decade in the use of splenectomy and intravenous immunoglobulin, especially in younger ITP individuals., [Conclusion]: These results confirm (1) that there is a preferential use of TPO-RAs in elderly ITP patients with fewer bleeding complications but more unfavorable prothrombotic conditions than in younger individuals, and (2) that early use of these agents has been established as an effective therapeutic alternative to other second line therapies., This work was supported by Amgen S.A. Spain.

The identification and characterization of structural variants (SVs) in clinical genetics have remained historically challenging as routine genetic diagnostic techniques have limited ability to evaluate repetitive regions and SVs. Long-read whole-genome sequencing (LR-WGS) has emerged as a powerful approach to resolve SVs. Here, we used LR-WGS to study 19 unrelated cases with type I Antithrombin Deficiency (ATD), the most severe thrombophilia, where routine molecular tests were either negative, ambiguous, or not fully characterized. We developed an analysis workflow to identify disease-associated SVs and resolved 10 cases. For the first time, we identified a germline complex rearrangement involved in ATD previously misclassified as a deletion. Additionally, we provided molecular diagnoses for two unresolved individuals that harbored a novel SINE-VNTR-Alu retroelement insertion that we fully characterized by de novo assembly and confirmed by PCR amplification in all affected relatives. Finally, the nucleotide-level resolution achieved for all the SVs allowed breakpoint analysis, which revealed a replication-based mechanism for most of the cases. Our study underscores the utility of LR-WGS as a complementary diagnostic method to identify, characterize, and unveil the molecular mechanism of formation of disease-causing SVs, and facilitates decision making about long-term thromboprophylaxis in ATD patients.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging pollutant of global concern. Viviparous fish

The clinical diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD), particularly type 1, can be complex because several genetic and environmental factors affect von Willebrand factor (VWF) plasma levels. An estimated 60% of the phenotypic variation is attributable to hereditary factors, with the ABO blood group locus being the most influential. However, recent studies provide strong evidence that nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (SNVs) contribute to VWF and factor VIII phenotypic variability in healthy individuals. This study aims to investigate the role of common VWF SNVs on VWD phenotype by analyzing data from 219 unrelated patients included in the “Molecular and Clinical Profile of von Willebrand Disease in Spain project.” To that end, generalized linear mixed-effects regression models were fitted, and additive and epistatic analyses, and haplotype studies were performed, considering five VWD-related measures (bleeding score, VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo, factor VIII:C, and VWF:CB). According to these analyses, homozygotes: for p.Thr789Ala(C) would be expected to show 39% higher VWF:Ag levels; p.Thr1381Ala(C), 27% lower VWF:Ag levels; and p.Gln852Arg(C), 52% lower VWF:RCo levels. Homozygotes for both p.Thr789Ala(C) and p.Gln852Arg(T) were predicted to show 185% higher VWF:CB activity, and carriers of two copies of the p.Thr1381Ala(T)/p.Gln852Arg(T) haplotype would present a 100% increase in VWF:RCo activity. These results indicate a substantial effect of common VWF variation on VWD phenotype. Although additional studies are needed to determine the true magnitude of the effects of SNVs on VWF, these findings provide new evidence regarding the contribution of common variants to VWD, which should be taken into account to enhance the accuracy of the diagnosis and classification of this condition. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02869074.

According to the All or None Hypothesis (Diamond, 2009), the cognitive system can operate in a global manner that is not very discriminate or in a more discriminate mode that demands greater precision, control, and cognitive effort. There are five corollaries to this hypothesis that describe, in an operative way, the conditions under which the controlled mode of functioning in the cognitive domain can be activated and thus tested. Given the impact this theory has generated and the absence of studies analyzing the corollaries in a collective and systematic way at different stages of development, this study was proposed, first of all, to test three of these corollaries in children, adolescents and adults and, secondly, to analyze the changes in the controlled mode of functioning during these three stages of development. To this end, the Fingers Task, a modified version of Arrows Task (with two rules: response ipsilateral where the stimulus is presented, symmetry, and response contralateral, asymmetry), was administered to a sample of 123 participants (43 children, 44 adolescents, and 36 adults). In general, the results verify the corollaries and identify the changes that the controlled mode of functioning experiences at different stages of development.

Introduction: Adherence is a cornerstone of factor VIII prophylactic treatment. Information regarding the factors with potential influence on adherence is limited, particularly in adult patients. Aim: To assess adherence in adult patients with severe haemophilia A receiving prophylactic treatment in a real-life setting, and investigate the factors influencing adherence. Methods: Observational, prospective study including adult patients receiving factor VIII therapy in 15 Spanish centres. Patients recorded infusion doses on a logbook and answered various questionnaires to assess their health beliefs. Adherence rate was the percentage of infused doses over the prescribed ones. Self-perceived adherence was assessed using the VERITAS-Pro questionnaire, the psychometric properties of which were validated in the Spanish population. The relationship between adherence rate and treatment, clinical and demographic characteristics, health beliefs and perceived self-efficacy was investigated. Results: A total of 66 patients were followed up for 12 months. Mean adherence rate at the end of follow-up was 82.5%. Most of the study patients (n = 53, 80.3%) showed a moderate-to-high adherence rate (>70%). The VERITAS-Pro revealed a high perception of adherence. Multivariate analyses to predict treatment adherence identified the knee as a target joint and longer treatment duration as variables with significant (negative) influence on adherence. Adherence rate was not influenced by the patient's health beliefs or perceived self-efficacy. Conclusion: Most adult patients receiving factor VIII prophylactic treatment in Spain have moderate-to-high treatment adherence. Treatment duration and the knee as a target joint are factors with a moderate negative influence on treatment adherence.

The death of trees is an ecological process that promotes regeneration, organic matter recycling, and the structure of communities. However, diverse biotic and abiotic factors can disturb this process. Dendroctonus bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are natural inhabitants of pine forests, some of which produce periodic outbreaks, killing thousands of trees in the process. These insects spend almost their entire life cycle under tree bark, where they reproduce and feed on phloem. Tunneling and feeding of the beetles result in the death of the tree and an alteration of the resident microbiota as well as the introduction of microbes that the beetles vector. To understand how microbial communities in subcortical tissues of pines change after they are colonized by the bark beetle Dendroctonus rhizophagus, we compare both the bacterial and fungal community structures in two colonization stages of Pinus arizonica (Arizona pine) employing Illumina MiSeq. Our findings showed significant differences in diversity and the dominance of bacterial community in the two colonization stages with Shannon (P = 0.004) and Simpson (P = 0.0006) indices, respectively, but not in species richness with Chao1 (P = 0.19). In contrast, fungal communities in both stages showed significant differences in species richness with Chao1 (P = 0.0003) and a diversity with Shannon index (P = 0.038), but not in the dominance with the Simpson index (P = 0.12). The β-diversity also showed significant changes in the structure of bacterial and fungal communities along the colonization stages, maintaining the dominant members in both cases. Our results suggest that microbial communities present in the Arizona pine at the tree early colonization stage by bark beetle change predictably over time.