Interface discontinuity factors in the modal eigenspace of the multigroup diffusion matrix

Interface discontinuity factors based on the Generalized Equivalence Theory are commonly used in nodal homogenized diffusion calculations so that diffusion average values approximate heterogeneous higher order solutions. In this paper, an additional form of interface correction factors is presented in the frame of the Analytic Coarse Mesh Finite Difference Method (ACMFD), based on a correction of the modal fluxes instead of the physical fluxes. In the ACMFD formulation, implemented in COBAYA3 code, the coupled multigroup diffusion equations inside a homogenized region are reduced to a set of uncoupled modal equations through diagonalization of the multigroup diffusion matrix. Then, physical fluxes are transformed into modal fluxes in the eigenspace of the diffusion matrix. It is possible to introduce interface flux discontinuity jumps as the difference of heterogeneous and homogeneous modal fluxes instead of introducing interface discontinuity factors as the ratio of heterogeneous and homogeneous physical fluxes. The formulation in the modal space has been implemented in COBAYA3 code and assessed by comparison with solutions using classical interface discontinuity factors in the physical space

Training project management complexity in postgraduate and continuing education programs: a learning strategy in the eshe (European Space of Higher Education) framework

The objective of this paper is to address the methodological process of a teaching strategy for training project management complexity in postgraduate programs. The proposal is made up of different methods —intuitive, comparative, deductive, case study, problem-solving Project-Based Learning— and different activities inside and outside the classroom. This integration of methods motivated the current use of the concept of “learning strategy”. The strategy has two phases: firstly, the integration of the competences —technical, behavioral and contextual—in real projects; and secondly, the learning activity was oriented in upper level of knowledge, the evaluating the complexity for projects management in real situations. Both the competences in the learning strategy and the Project Complexity Evaluation are based on the ICB of IPMA. The learning strategy is applied in an international Postgraduate Program —Erasmus Mundus Master of Science— with the participation of five Universities of the European Union. This master program is fruit of a cooperative experience from one Educative Innovation Group of the UPM -GIE-Project-, two Research Groups of the UPM and the collaboration with other external agents to the university. Some reflections on the experience and the main success factors in the learning strategy were presented in the paper

Training project management complexity in postgraduate and continuing education programs: a learning strategy in the eshe (European Space of Higher Education) framework

The objective of this paper is to address the methodological process of a teaching strategy for training project management complexity in postgraduate programs. The proposal is made up of different methods —intuitive, comparative, deductive, case study, problem-solving Project-Based Learning— and different activities inside and outside the classroom. This integration of methods motivated the current use of the concept of ―learning strategy‖. The strategy has two phases: firstly, the integration of the competences —technical, behavioral and contextual—in real projects; and secondly, the learning activity was oriented in upper level of knowledge, the evaluating the complexity for projects management in real situations. Both the competences in the learning strategy and the Project Complexity Evaluation are based on the ICB of IPMA. The learning strategy is applied in an international Postgraduate Program —Erasmus Mundus Master of Science— with the participation of five Universities of the European Union. This master program is fruit of a cooperative experience from one Educative Innovation Group of the UPM -GIE-Project-, two Research Groups of the UPM and the collaboration with other external agents to the university. Some reflections on the experience and the main success factors in the learning strategy were presented in the paper.

Considerations on the success rate in aeronautical engineering studies in Spain

The relationship between different learning evaluation methods and the academic success in an aeronautical engineering degree in Spain is analysed. The study is based on data about the evolution of academic achievement obtained along the last ten year, along which the evaluation and learning’s methods have suffered huge changes.

The family of DOF transcription factors in Brachypodium distachyon: phylogenetic comparison with rice and barley DOFs and expression profiling

ABSTRACT: Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins that have played a central role both in evolution and in domestication, and are major regulators of development in living organisms. Plant genome sequences reveal that approximately 7% of all genes encode putative TFs. The DOF (DNA binding with One Finger) TF family has been associated with vital processes exclusive to higher plants and to their close ancestors (algae, mosses and ferns). These are seed maturation and germination, light-mediated regulation, phytohormone and plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, etc. In Hordeum vulgare and Oryza sativa, 26 and 30 different Dof genes, respectively, have been annotated. Brachypodium distachyon has been the first Pooideae grass to be sequenced and, due to its genomic, morphological and physiological characteristics, has emerged as the model system for temperate cereals, such as wheat and barley. RESULTS: Through searches in the B. distachyon genome, 27 Dof genes have been identified and a phylogenetic comparison with the Oryza sativa and the Hordeum vulgare DOFs has been performed. To explore the evolutionary relationship among these DOF proteins, a combined phylogenetic tree has been constructed with the Brachypodium DOFs and those from rice and barley. This phylogenetic analysis has classified the DOF proteins into four Major Cluster of Orthologous Groups (MCOGs). Using RT-qPCR analysis the expression profiles of the annotated BdDof genes across four organs (leaves, roots, spikes and seeds) has been investigated. These results have led to a classification of the BdDof genes into two groups, according to their expression levels. The genes highly or preferentially expressed in seeds have been subjected to a more detailed expression analysis (maturation, dry stage and germination). CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of the expression profiles of the Brachypodium Dof genes with the published functions of closely related DOF sequences from the cereal species considered here, deduced from the phylogenetic analysis, indicates that although the expression profile has been conserved in many of the putative orthologs, in some cases duplication followed by subsequent divergence may have occurred (neo-functionalization).

Influential factors in determination of biomass termal susceptibility by termal analysis

Las biomasas almacenadas en silos son potencialmente capaces de absorber oxígeno produciendo reacciones exotérmicas de oxidación. Si el calor producido en estas reacciones no se dispersa adecuadamente, provoca un auto-calentamiento de la materia orgánica que puede ser causa de descomposición e inflamación. En el ámbito de la posible auto-combustión en el almacenamiento y manipulación de las biomasas existen diversos factores que influyen en la susceptibilidad térmica de las biomasas, es decir, en su tendencia a la oxidación y posterior inflamación de la materia. Con el fin de analizar este comportamiento se han estudiado diferentes tipos de biomasas. En este estudio se ha trabajado con biomasas de origen agrícola, forestal y residual con distinta composición química. Las muestras de estudio se han acondicionado mediante distintos tratamientos físicos para valorar la influencia de diferentes factores en su auto-combustión.

The family of DOF transcription factors in Brachypodium distachyon: BdDof24 in germinating seeds

The DOF (DNA binding with One Finger) transcription factor (TF) family is characterized by a binding domain of 52 amino acid residues that is structured as a Cys2/Cys2 Zn2+ finger that recognizes the common core 5?-T/AAAAG-3? in the promoter regions of their target genes. DOF TFs have been associated with biological processes exclusive to higher plants and their close ancestors (algae, mosses and ferns).

Factors in the practice of sport and physical excercise in the lifestyles of spanish youth

The paper presents the results of a study on cultural trends in the abandonment of sports and physical activity among the Spanish youth. The study, that is being conducted due to a grant awarded by the Superior Sports Council (CSD) (Ref. 007/UPB10/12), examines how the adoption of this new lifestyle (sedentary) that is gradually taking root among the Spanish youth can influence one way or another the self-perceived health and well-being among this population.

bZIP transcription factors in the regulatory networks controlling seed maturation and germination of Arabidopsis thaliana

Se describe la expresión por RTqPCR de los genes que codifican los factores transcripcionales bZIP44 y bZIP9. Asimismo se establece la interacción entre ambas proteínas en el sistema de 2 híbridos de levadura y in planta por complementación bimolecular fluorescente.

Combinatorial interaction between AtbZIP44 and other bZIP transcription factors in the regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana seed maturation and germination

El gen AtbZIP44 se expresa en el endospermo micropilar y en la radícula de semillas en germinación. El mRNA del gen AtbZIP9 se localiza también en la radícula. Se realizan experimentos de interacción proteína-proteína entre los correspondientes factores transcripcionales.

Factors in the practice of sport and physical excercise in the lifestyles of spanish youth: gender differences

The paper presents the results of a study on cultural trends in the abandonment of sports and physical activity among the spanish youth.

Empowerment Evaluation in Spain: The Critical Friend Role in Working with Rural Communities

Rural communities in Cuenca (Spain) are characterized by a great social dislocation, mostly due to the low population density in these areas. In this way, the existence of groups of citizens able to be active agents of their development process is a critical aspect for any community-based development process in this Spanish region. The Institute of Community Development of Cuenca (IDC) has been working with this type of groups for the last 30 years focusing on the organizational empowerment of the rural communities. Main tools in this process have been the empowerment evaluation approach and the critical friend role when helping the groups to achieve their objectives and reinforcing them. This chapter analyses the empowerment process and how the critical friend role is nourished by the facilitator figure.

GESTÃO DO CONHECIMENTO: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A RELAÇÃO ENTRE A LIDERANÇA TRANSFORMACIONAL, A CONVERSÃO DO CONHECIMENTO E A EFICÁCIA ORGANIZACIONAL

Este estudo teve como objetivo principal analisar a relação entre a Liderança Transformacional, a Conversão do Conhecimento e a Eficácia Organizacional. Foram considerados como pressupostos teóricos conceitos consolidados sobre os temas desta relação, além de recentes pesquisas já realizadas em outros países e contextos organizacionais. Com base nisto identificou-se potencial estudo de um modelo que relacionasse estes três conceitos. Para tal considera-se que as organizações que buscam atingir Vantagem Competitiva e incorporam a Knowledge-Based View possam conquistar diferenciação frente a seus concorrentes. Nesse contexto o conhecimento ganha maior destaque e papel protagonista nestas organizações. Dessa forma criar conhecimento através de seus colaboradores, passa a ser um dos desafios dessas organizações ao passo que sugere melhoria de seus indicadores Econômicos, Sociais, Sistêmicos e Políticos, o que se define por Eficácia Organizacional. Portanto os modos de conversão do conhecimento nas organizações, demonstram relevância, uma vez que se cria e se converte conhecimentos através da interação entre o conhecimento existente de seus colaboradores. Essa conversão do conhecimento ou modelo SECI possui quatro modos que são a Socialização, Externalização, Combinação e Internalização. Nessa perspectiva a liderança nas organizações apresenta-se como um elemento capaz de influenciar seus colaboradores, propiciando maior dinâmica ao modelo SECI de conversão do conhecimento. Se identifica então na liderança do tipo Transformacional, características que possam influenciar colaboradores e entende-se que esta relação entre a Liderança Transformacional e a Conversão do Conhecimento possa ter influência positiva nos indicadores da Eficácia Organizacional. Dessa forma esta pesquisa buscou analisar um modelo que explorasse essa relação entre a liderança do tipo Transformacional, a Conversão do Conhecimento (SECI) e a Eficácia Organizacional. Esta pesquisa teve o caráter quantitativo com coleta de dados através do método survey, obtendo um total de 230 respondentes válidos de diferentes organizações. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi composto por afirmativas relativas ao modelo de relação pesquisado com um total de 44 itens. O perfil de respondentes concentrou-se entre 30 e 39 anos de idade, com a predominância de organizações privadas e de departamentos de TI/Telecom, Docência e Recursos Humanos respectivamente. O tratamento dos dados foi através da Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Modelagem de Equações Estruturais via Partial Least Square Path Modeling (PLS-PM). Como resultado da análise desta pesquisa, as hipóteses puderam ser confirmadas, concluindo que a Liderança Transformacional apresenta influência positiva nos modos de Conversão do Conhecimento e que; a Conversão do Conhecimento influencia positivamente na Eficácia Organizacional. Ainda, concluiu-se que a percepção entre os respondentes não apresenta resultado diferente sobre o modelo desta pesquisa entre quem possui ou não função de liderança.

Maternal death and obstetric care audits in Nigeria : a systematic review of barriers and enabling factors in the provision of emergency care

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Yutaka Osakabe for co-ordinating the retrieval of full text articles. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supported this study, grant number 12-100074-000-INP

A single dose of kainic acid elevates the levels of enkephalins and activator protein-1 transcription factors in the hippocampus for up to 1 year

Neuronal plasticity plays a very important role in brain adaptations to environmental stimuli, disease, and aging processes. The kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy was used to study the long-term anatomical and biochemical changes in the hippocampus after seizures. Using Northern blot analysis, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot analysis, we have found a long-term elevation of the proconvulsive opioid peptide, enkephalin, in the rat hippocampus. We have also demonstrated that an activator protein-1 transcription factor, the 35-kDa fos-related antigen, can be induced and elevated for at least 1 year after kainate treatment. This study demonstrated that a single systemic injection of kainate produces almost permanent increases in the enkephalin and an activator protein-1 transcription factor, the 35-kDa fos-related antigen, in the rat hippocampus, and it is likely that these two events are closely associated with the molecular mechanisms of induction of long-lasting enhanced seizure susceptibility in the kainate-induced seizure model. The long-term expression of the proenkephalin mRNA and its peptides in the kainate-treated rat hippocampus also suggests an important role in the recurrent seizures of temporal lobe epilepsy.