Metric analysis of the information visibility and diffusion about the European Higher Education Area on Spanish University websites

The purpose of the study proposed in this paper is to evaluate the Spanish public university websites dedicated to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). To do so, the quality of these resources has been analysed in the light of data provided by a series of indicators grouped in seven criteria, most of which were used to determine what information is made available and in what way. The criteria used in our analysis are: visibility, authority, updatedness, accesibility, correctness and completeness, quality assessment and navigability. All in all, the results allow us to carry out an overall diagnosis of the situation and also provide us with information about the situation at each university, thus revealing their main strengths, namely authority and navegability, and also their chief shortcomings: updatedness, accessibility and quality assessment. In this way it is possible to detect the best practices in each of the aspects evaluated so that they can serve as an example and guide for universities with greater deficiencies and thus help them to improve their EHEA websites.     

Unconventional Charge Density Wave Arising from Electron–Phonon Interaction

We report of a theoretical study on quasi-one dimensional unconventional charge density wave (UCDW) driven by electron–phonon interaction. Within mean field theory, we find that the wavevector dependence of the coupling leads to a momentum dependent single particle gap on the Fermi surface. The presence of small energy single particle excitations around the gap nodes significantly changes the optical conductivity compared to the conventional CDW result. In addition to that, the collective phase excitation arising from fluctuation of the order parameter leads to further qualitative changes of the conductivity and results in an effective mass that is nonmonotonic in temperature.      

Soluble and conductive polypyrrole copolymers containing silicone tegomers

Soluble and processable conductive copolymers of silicone tegomers and pyrrole were developed. This was easily accomplished by the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole monomer by Ce(IV) salt in the presence of silicone tegomers with hydroxyl chain ends. The resulting copolymers were soluble in dimethylformamide. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐NMR, and four‐point probe conductivity, and their surface properties were investigated with contact‐angle measurements. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2896–2901, 2003     

Is it opened or closed? Colombian science on the move

Using recent original data from three different sources, the article exhibits some strengths and weaknesses of science in Colombia. It shows that research in this country is in a process of growth although recent results of this positive trend are still to be confirmed. Comparing the evolution of science in Colombia with that of Latin America as a whole, describing and explaining its geographical and institutional concentration as well as its thematic distribution, it also reveals the interdependance between science production dynamics and international cooperation programmes. A basic argument is that the development of science in this country, even though it is fragile and erratic, does not lack sound bases. The indicators used suggest indeed an autonomous scientific motion and inspiration which does not contradict the internationalization process of Colombian science but rectifies the picture of an excessively isolated or dependent community that used to be portrayed.     

Neuropsychological and psychosocial effects of the FMR-1 full mutation: Case report of monozygotic twins discordant for the fragile X syndrome.

An extensive evaluation was conducted with 16-yr-old monozygotic twins concordant for the fragile X full mutation but discordant for mental retardation. The clearly affected twin had an IQ score of 47; 77% of her neuropsychological z scores were at least 2 SDs below average. Her sister had an IQ score of 105 and average neuropsychological performance. However, each girl demonstrated relative verbal strengths and visual-spatial weaknesses. Their parents rated each girl as having significant problems with attention, conduct, anxiety-withdrawal, and hyperactivity. The girls did not rate themselves as having significant anxiety. These findings are consistent with group data on females with fragile X and demonstrate the wide range of effects associated with the fragile X full mutation. This case report implicates the importance of a psychosocial phenotype of fragile X independent of cognitive ability level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Les qualités psychométriques de l'échelle de comportements d'adaptation Loranger-Pépin.

Presents results of 3 studies on the psychometric properties of the LP-ABC (M. Loranger and M. Pépin, 1993), a French-language instrument for assessing general functioning in adults with mental retardation. The studies involved a total of 299 male and female Canadian adults with mental retardation. Results confirm the internal consistency, construct validity, criterion validity, discriminant validity, interrater reliability, and test–retest reliability of the LP-ABC. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of benfluorex metabolites on membrane fluidity and insulin-related processes

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for the maturation of hepatocytes in vitro which plays a role in liver regeneration in vivo. In addition, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is also a potent regulator of liver regeneration. In attempting to clarify the mechanisms related to liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, we investigated the expression of HGF and TGF-beta 1 in rats with liver cirrhosis (LC). A rat model of LC was prepared using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The expression of HGF mRNA in both the LC and control groups showed a similar time-course with the highest expression seen at 18h after a 70% hepatectomy. The expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA peaked at 18h after partial hepatectomy in the LC group and at 48h in the control group. The 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index for the LC group at 24, 48, and 72 h after partial hepatectomy was 9.2%, 5.9%, and 1.8%, while for the control group it was 7.0%, 11.7%, and 6.8%, respectively. The BrdU labeling index in the LC group was thus suppressed earlier than that in the control group. We therefore postulate that regeneration of the remnant liver in the presence of LC accelerates immediately after partial hepatectomy, but the extent of regeneration is insufficient because of an early cessation due to an early expression of TGF-beta 1.     

Lexically scoped distribution: what you see is what you get

We define a lexically scoped, asynchronous and distributed π-calculus, with local communication and process migration. This calculus adopts the network-awareness principle for distributed programming and follows a simple model of distribution for mobile calculi: a lexical scope discipline combines static scoping with dynamic linking, associating channels to a fixed site throughout computation. This discipline provides for both remote invocation and process migration. A simple type system is a straightforward extension of that of the π-calculus, adapted to take into account the lexical scope of channels. An equivalence law captures the essence of this model: a process behavior depends on the channels it uses, not on where it runs.     

Effect of naftidrofuryl (LS129) on axonal growth

Wistar rats, eight days old, were subjected to permanent bilateral forebrain ischemia, followed by hypoxia for 15 minutes. A cerebral infarct, mainly involving the cerebral neocortex, hippocampus, amygdala, striatum and subcortical white matter was produced. Neurons and glia showing punctate chromatin condensation and karyorrhectic cells were observed 12 hours after hypoxia-ischemia. Their number increased during the first two days and recruitment of cells with degenerating nuclei occurred until day five. In situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation stained many normal-appearing nuclei, as well as punctate chromatin condensations and nuclear fragments in karyorrhectic cells. Delayed neuronal death in the CA1 area of the hippocampus was observed after 20 minutes of transient forebrain ischemia in the adult gerbil. In situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation demonstrated stained punctate chromatin condensation in a few degenerating cells at 48 hours post-ischemia. Substantial labeling of CA1 neurons occurred in the fourth day. Agarose gel electrophoresis of extracted brain DNA from ischemic infant rats and adult gerbils showed a ladder-type pattern which is typical of nuclear DNA fragmentation into oligonucleosomal fragments (internucleosomal cleavage). These findings suggest that endonuclease(s) activation may play a role in cell death induced by different forms of hypoxia-ischemia.