Early balding linked to prostate problems

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Men who began balding at a young age may benefit from seeking lab testing to determine the health of their prostates. New research indicates that individuals with early-onset androgenic alopecia tend to have larger prostates.

An enlarged prostate is the primary symptom of a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. This often results in urinary problems and has even been linked to a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

For the present study, researchers from the University of Granada in Spain measured the prostate volumes of 45 men who began balding at a young age. The results showed that the majority of these individuals had enlarged prostates. Furthermore, they exhibited many of the symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. 

The researchers wrote in their report, which was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, that the findings may explain why both an enlarged prostate and early-onset alopecia appear to respond to some of the same medications. Furthermore, the results suggest that balding may provide an early warning sign of potential prostate problems. 
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Liquid Water Diffusion at Molecular Level

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Researchers at the universities of Granada and Barcelona have described for the first time the diffusion of liquid water through nanochannels in molecular terms; nanochannels are extremely tiny channels with a diameter of 1-100 nanometers that scientists use to study the behavior of molecules (nm. a unit of length in the metric system equal to one billionth of a meter that is used in the field of nanotechnology).
This study might have an important impact on water desalinization and filtration methods. Two articles published in Science state that the introduction of graphene membranes and carbon nanolayers will revolutionize water desalinization and filtration processes, as water diffuses rapidly through these materials when their pores are 1nm in diameter.
Liquid water exhibits a range of unusual properties that other chemical compounds do not have: up to 65 abnormalities. Some of these abnormalities have been known for 300 years, such as the fact that water expands below 4ºC.
Many of the abnormalities found in water have a dynamic nature — e.g. water molecules move faster as density increases — as a result of the properties of the hydrogen bond networks that form between water molecules; hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of tetrahedral structures wherein a central atom is located at the center with four molecules located at the corners. However, this geometrical structure changes with pressure and temperature and, until now, changes in the molecular structure and properties of liquid water had not been described.
A Mystery to Solve
Particularly confusing are the results on the diffusion of water confined between two hydrophobic plates. Neither experiments nor computer-based models have clarified whether confinement increases or reduces the mobility of water molecules. However, it seems that the mobility of water molecules relies on ducts having a diameter above or below 1nm.
In a study published in the journal Physical Review, professors Francisco de los Santos Fernández (University of Granada) and Giancarlo Franzese (University of Barcelona) described the behavior of water confined between two hydrophobic plates. In their study, Franzese and Fernandez used models to demonstrate that the diffusion of nanoconfined water is unusually fast, as a result of the competition between the formation and breaking of hydrogen bonds, and the free volume available for cooperative molecule rearrangement.
In nanochannels above 1 nm in diameter, macroscopic diffusion of water only occurs if there is a cooperative rearrangement of molecules, which leads to HB breaking within a cooperative region of 1nm in size. On the other hand, diffusion increases in nanochannels below 1 nm, as fewer HBs need to be broken. Thus, this study proves that the interplay between hydrogen bond breaking and cooperative rearranging within regions of 1-nm determine the macroscopic properties of water.
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Early Balding Linked to an Enlarged Prostate

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Are you losing your hair? You may want to have your prostate examined. A new study suggests that men who begin balding tend to have larger prostates.

Researchers at the University of Granada in Spain measured the prostate size of 45 men who started to bald at an early age and found most of the men had enlarged prostates. An enlarged prostates are associated with urinary problems and has been linked to a greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

According to a separate study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center, about one-half of men begin to bald by the age of 30, and the majority of men will either bald or show balding patterns by the age of 60.

The Granada study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

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A Study Describes Liquid Water Diffusion At Molecular Level

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An article published in Physical Review and conducted by researchers at the universities of Granada and Barcelona might lead to a revolutionary change in water desalination and filtration methods.

 

Researchers at the universities of Granada and Barcelona have described for the first time the diffusion of liquid water through nanochannels in molecular terms; nanochannels are extremely tiny channels with a diameter of 1-100 nanometers that scientists use to study the behavior of molecules (nm. a unit of length in the metric system equal to one billionth of a meter that is used in the field of nanotechnology).

This study might have an important impact on water desalinization and filtration methods. Two articles published in Science state that the introduction of graphene membranes and carbon nanolayers will revolutionize water desalinization and filtration processes, as water diffuses rapidly through these materials when their pores are 1nm in diameter.

Liquid water exhibits a range of unusual properties that other chemical compounds do not have: up to 65 abnormalities. Some of these abnormalities have been known for 300 years, as the fact that water expands below 4ºC.

Many of the abnormalities found in water have a dynamic nature -e.g. water molecules move faster as density increases-, as a result of the properties of the hydrogen bond networks that form between water molecules; hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of tetrahedral structures wherein a central atom is located at the center with four molecules located at the corners. However, this geometrical structure changes with pressure and temperature and, until now, changes in the molecular structure and properties of liquid water had not been described.

A Mystery to Solve
Particularly confusing are the results on the diffusion of water confined between two hydrophobic plates. Neither experiments nor computer-based models have clarified whether confinement increases or reduces the mobility of water molecules. However, it seems that the mobility of water molecules relies on ducts having a diameter above or below 1nm.

In a study published in the prestigious journal Physical Review, professors Francisco de los Santos Fernández (University of Granada) and Giancarlo Franzese (University of Barcelona) described the behavior of water confined between two hydrophobic plates. In their study, Franzese and Fernandez used models to demonstrate that the diffusion of nanoconfined water is unusually fast, as a result of the competition between the formation and breaking of hydrogen bonds, and the free volume available for cooperative molecule rearrangement.

In nanochannels above 1 nm in diameter, macroscopic diffusion of water only occurs if there is a cooperative rearrangement of molecules, which leads to HB breaking within a cooperative region of 1nm in size. On the other hand, diffusion increases in nanochannels below 1 nm, as fewer HBs need to be broken. Thus, this study proves that the interplay between hydrogen bond breaking and cooperative rearranging within regions of 1-nm determine the macroscopic properties of water.

SOURCE: University of Granada

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Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing

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Loss of predatory fish leads to more sea urchins, less coralline algae, and lower recruitment of juvenile corals on Kenyan reefs

SANTA CRUZ, CA–A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. Led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study was published in the journal Coral Reefs (online publication January 28).

The researchers found that the loss of predatory fish leads to a cascade of effects throughout the reef ecosystem, starting with an explosion in sea urchin populations. Excessive grazing by sea urchins damages the reef structure and reduces the extent of a poorly studied but crucially important component of the reefs known as crustose coralline algae. Coralline algae deposit calcium carbonate in their cell walls and form a hard crust on the substrates where they grow, helping to build and stabilize reefs. They also play a crucial role in the life cycle of corals.

«Some coralline algae produce a chemical that induces coral settlement, in which the larval stage in the water settles on the ocean floor to grow into an adult. This settlement must happen for reefs to recover after disturbance,» said lead author Jennifer O’Leary, a research associate with the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

The ability of coralline algae to induce the settlement of coral larvae has been well studied in the laboratory, but few studies have been done to investigate this relationship in the field. O’Leary set out to study the role of coralline algae in reef ecosystems as a UCSC graduate student working with Donald Potts, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and a coauthor of the paper.

In Kenya, O’Leary teamed up with Tim McClanahan, a UCSC alumnus who now heads the Wildlife Conservation Society’s marine programs in Kenya. The researchers compared the types of coralline algae and the number of juvenile corals on Kenyan reefs under three different management conditions: closed, gear-restricted, and open access. On fished reefs (both those open to all fishing and those with gear restrictions), sea urchin populations were much higher than on closed reefs, resulting in lower abundance of crustose coralline algae and lower coral densities.

«Outside the protected areas, we’re seeing the ecosystem collapse,» O’Leary said. «When you look at the effects of fishing, you can’t just think about the species that are being removed. You have to look at how the effects are carried down through the ecosystem.»

Most of the young corals found in the surveys were growing on crustose coralline algae. Juveniles of four common coral families were more abundant on coralline algae than on any other settlement substrate. The results suggest that fishing can indirectly reduce coral recruitment or the success of juvenile corals by reducing the abundance of settlement-inducing coralline algae.

«The loss of crustose coralline algae has huge implications for regeneration of coral reefs,» O’Leary said. «In our surveys, we found no difference between gear-restricted areas and fully fished areas, so gear restrictions are not working to keep urchin populations down. We need to consider ecosystem-wide effects as we develop new management strategies.»

Potts said he hopes the new study will raise awareness of the role that coralline algae play in the health of coral reefs, especially in developing countries. «Most managers and conservationists, and even many scientists, are unaware of the existence, abundance, and importance of coralline algae, so management regimes intended to enhance the health of reefs may actually be detrimental,» he said.

###
The coauthors of the paper include O’Leary, Potts, McClanahan, and Juan Carlos Braga of the University of Granada, Spain. Funding for this research was provided by UC Santa Cruz, Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, ARCS Foundation, Project Aware, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Coral Reef Study Traces Indirect Effects of Overfishing

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A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. Led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study was published in the journal Coral Reefs.

The researchers found that the loss of predatory fish leads to a cascade of effects throughout the reef ecosystem, starting with an explosion in sea urchin populations. Excessive grazing by sea urchins damages the reef structure and reduces the extent of a poorly studied but crucially important component of the reefs known as crustose coralline algae. Coralline algae deposit calcium carbonate in their cell walls and form a hard crust on the substrates where they grow, helping to build and stabilize reefs. They also play a crucial role in the life cycle of corals.
«Some coralline algae produce a chemical that induces coral settlement, in which the larval stage in the water settles on the ocean floor to grow into an adult. This settlement must happen for reefs to recover after disturbance,» said lead author Jennifer O’Leary, a research associate with the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.
The ability of coralline algae to induce the settlement of coral larvae has been well studied in the laboratory, but few studies have been done to investigate this relationship in the field. O’Leary set out to study the role of coralline algae in reef ecosystems as a UCSC graduate student working with Donald Potts, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and a coauthor of the paper.
In Kenya, O’Leary teamed up with Tim McClanahan, a UCSC alumnus who now heads the Wildlife Conservation Society’s marine programs in Kenya. The researchers compared the types of coralline algae and the number of juvenile corals on Kenyan reefs under three different management conditions: closed, gear-restricted, and open access. On fished reefs (both those open to all fishing and those with gear restrictions), sea urchin populations were much higher than on closed reefs, resulting in lower abundance of crustose coralline algae and lower coral densities.
«Outside the protected areas, we’re seeing the ecosystem collapse,» O’Leary said. «When you look at the effects of fishing, you can’t just think about the species that are being removed. You have to look at how the effects are carried down through the ecosystem.»
Most of the young corals found in the surveys were growing on crustose coralline algae. Juveniles of four common coral families were more abundant on coralline algae than on any other settlement substrate. The results suggest that fishing can indirectly reduce coral recruitment or the success of juvenile corals by reducing the abundance of settlement-inducing coralline algae.
«The loss of crustose coralline algae has huge implications for regeneration of coral reefs,» O’Leary said. «In our surveys, we found no difference between gear-restricted areas and fully fished areas, so gear restrictions are not working to keep urchin populations down. We need to consider ecosystem-wide effects as we develop new management strategies.»
Potts said he hopes the new study will raise awareness of the role that coralline algae play in the health of coral reefs, especially in developing countries. «Most managers and conservationists, and even many scientists, are unaware of the existence, abundance, and importance of coralline algae, so management regimes intended to enhance the health of reefs may actually be detrimental,» he said.
The coauthors of the paper include O’Leary, Potts, McClanahan, and Juan Carlos Braga of the University of Granada, Spain. Funding for this research was provided by UC Santa Cruz, Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, ARCS Foundation, Project Aware, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing

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A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. Led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study was published in the journal Coral Reefs. The researchers found that the loss of predatory fish leads to a cascade of effects throughout the reef ecosystem, starting with an explosion in sea urchin populations. Excessive grazing by sea urchins damages the reef structure and reduces the extent of a poorly studied but crucially important component of the reefs known as crustose coralline algae. Coralline algae deposit calcium carbonate in their cell walls and form a hard crust on the substrates where they grow, helping to build and stabilize reefs. They also play a crucial role in the life cycle of corals. 

«Some coralline algae produce a chemical that induces coral settlement, in which the larval stage in the water settles on the ocean floor to grow into an adult. This settlement must happen for reefs to recover after disturbance,» said lead author Jennifer O’Leary, a research associate with the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

The ability of coralline algae to induce the settlement of coral larvae has been well studied in the laboratory, but few studies have been done to investigate this relationship in the field. O’Leary set out to study the role of coralline algae in reef ecosystems as a UCSC graduate student working with Donald Potts, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and a coauthor of the paper.

In Kenya, O’Leary teamed up with Tim McClanahan, a UCSC alumnus who now heads the Wildlife Conservation Society’s marine programs in Kenya. The researchers compared the types of coralline algae and the number of juvenile corals on Kenyan reefs under three different management conditions: closed, gear-restricted, and open access. On fished reefs (both those open to all fishing and those with gear restrictions), sea urchin populations were much higher than on closed reefs, resulting in lower abundance of crustose coralline algae and lower coral densities.

«Outside the protected areas, we’re seeing the ecosystem collapse,» O’Leary said. «When you look at the effects of fishing, you can’t just think about the species that are being removed. You have to look at how the effects are carried down through the ecosystem.»

Most of the young corals found in the surveys were growing on crustose coralline algae. Juveniles of four common coral families were more abundant on coralline algae than on any other settlement substrate. The results suggest that fishing can indirectly reduce coral recruitment or the success of juvenile corals by reducing the abundance of settlement-inducing coralline algae.

«The loss of crustose coralline algae has huge implications for regeneration of coral reefs,» O’Leary said. «In our surveys, we found no difference between gear-restricted areas and fully fished areas, so gear restrictions are not working to keep urchin populations down. We need to consider ecosystem-wide effects as we develop new management strategies.»

Potts said he hopes the new study will raise awareness of the role that coralline algae play in the health of coral reefs, especially in developing countries. «Most managers and conservationists, and even many scientists, are unaware of the existence, abundance, and importance of coralline algae, so management regimes intended to enhance the health of reefs may actually be detrimental,» he said.

The coauthors of the paper include O’Leary, Potts, McClanahan, and Juan Carlos Braga of the University of Granada, Spain. Funding for this research was provided by UC Santa Cruz, Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, ARCS Foundation, Project Aware, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Researchers Describe Impact of Nanochannels on Water Diffusion

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the universities of Granada and Barcelona researchers have explained the theory behind the molecular liquid water diffusion through nanochannels for the first time. These nanochannels are very small channels with 1-100 nm of thickness which have been used to analyze the molecule behaviour.
The studies published in Science informed that the desalination and filtration processes of water will be transformed to a higher extent when carbon nanolayers and graphene membranes are used. With a pore size of 1 nm in these substances, rapid water diffusion occurs. 

It has been observed over 300 years that water has about 65 abnormal characteristics including water expansion below 4ºC. One of the important features has been the rapid movement of water molecules with an increase in density. This results in the formation of hydrogen bond network within water molecules. A tetrahedral structure will be formed with a central atom surrounded by four molecules from the corners. In fact, the geometrical structures alter with temperature and pressure variations which have not yet been explained clearly.

Professor Francisco de los Santos Fernández from the University of Granada and Giancarlo Franzese from the University of Barcelona have conducted researches on water behaviour limited in between two hydrophobic plates. The researchers observed that the hydrogen bonds compete for their formation and breakage. Hence, molecules may be rearranged cooperatively due to the availability of free molecules, resulting in rapid water diffusion.

Water diffuses macroscopically when nanochannels above 1 nm were used. This is due to the cooperative molecular rearrangement, which results in the breakage of hydrogen bonds within the 1 nm region, whereas when nanochannels below 1 nm were used, the water diffusion improved due to lesser breakage of hydrogen bonds. Hence, these observations state that breakage of hydrogen bonds and cooperative rearrangement within 1 nm regions will have an impact on the macroscopic water properties.

The study was published in Physical Review.

Source: http://www.ugr.es/

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New radiotherapy technique for oral cancer less invasive

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Researchers at the University of Granada and Virgen de las Nieves hospital have developed a new radiotherapy technique they say is less toxic than other approaches used to treat cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx.

More than 70% of oral and pharynx cancers treated with surgery require supplementary treatment with radiotherapy occasionally associated with chemotherapy, due to the high risk for recurrence and spread through the lymph nodes, said the researchers in a press release. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are highly toxic, mainly due to the ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the oral cavity; this toxicity leads many patients to stop the treatment, which significantly reduces the chances for cure.

By using a risk map obtained with the collaboration of the surgeon and the pathologist, an individualized treatment plan was designed and adapted to the specific risk level of recurrence in each neck area. The volume of tissue irradiated was significantly smaller than that usually irradiated with traditional techniques.

A clinical trial conducted between 2005 and 2008 included 80 patients diagnosed with epidermoid cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx who had undergone lymph node removal. The affected nodes were located by the surgeon during the intervention and classified into different risk levels. This classification approach allowed physicians to target the areas at a higher risk of recurrence so that neck areas at a lower risk of containing residual cancer cells were not irradiated.

According to a three-year follow up, this new technique was found to reduce the volume of irradiated tissue in 44% of patients. A total of 95% of patients completed radiotherapy and presented significantly lower toxicity than patients treated with the traditional technique, and recurrence rates did not increase, according to the researchers.

This new protocol provides a less invasive but equally efficient cancer postoperative treatment for cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, they concluded.

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Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing

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A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. Led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study was published in the journal Coral Reefs (online publication January 28).
A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. Led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study was published in the journal Coral Reefs (online publication January 28).

 

The researchers found that the loss of predatory fish leads to a cascade of effects throughout the reef ecosystem, starting with an explosion in sea urchin populations. Excessive grazing by sea urchins damages the reef structure and reduces the extent of a poorly studied but crucially important component of the reefs known as crustose coralline algae. Coralline algae deposit calcium carbonate in their cell walls and form a hard crust on the substrates where they grow, helping to build and stabilize reefs. They also play a crucial role in the life cycle of corals.

«Some coralline algae produce a chemical that induces coral settlement, in which the larval stage in the water settles on the ocean floor to grow into an adult. This settlement must happen for reefs to recover after disturbance,» said lead author Jennifer O’Leary, a research associate with the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

The ability of coralline algae to induce the settlement of coral larvae has been well studied in the laboratory, but few studies have been done to investigate this relationship in the field. O’Leary set out to study the role of coralline algae in reef ecosystems as a UCSC graduate student working with Donald Potts, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and a coauthor of the paper.

In Kenya, O’Leary teamed up with Tim McClanahan, a UCSC alumnus who now heads the Wildlife Conservation Society’s marine programs in Kenya. The researchers compared the types of coralline algae and the number of juvenile corals on Kenyan reefs under three different management conditions: closed, gear-restricted, and open access. On fished reefs (both those open to all fishing and those with gear restrictions), sea urchin populations were much higher than on closed reefs, resulting in lower abundance of crustose coralline algae and lower coral densities.

«Outside the protected areas, we’re seeing the ecosystem collapse,» O’Leary said. «When you look at the effects of fishing, you can’t just think about the species that are being removed. You have to look at how the effects are carried down through the ecosystem.»

Most of the young corals found in the surveys were growing on crustose coralline algae. Juveniles of four common coral families were more abundant on coralline algae than on any other settlement substrate. The results suggest that fishing can indirectly reduce coral recruitment or the success of juvenile corals by reducing the abundance of settlement-inducing coralline algae.

«The loss of crustose coralline algae has huge implications for regeneration of coral reefs,» O’Leary said. «In our surveys, we found no difference between gear-restricted areas and fully fished areas, so gear restrictions are not working to keep urchin populations down. We need to consider ecosystem-wide effects as we develop new management strategies.»

Potts said he hopes the new study will raise awareness of the role that coralline algae play in the health of coral reefs, especially in developing countries. «Most managers and conservationists, and even many scientists, are unaware of the existence, abundance, and importance of coralline algae, so management regimes intended to enhance the health of reefs may actually be detrimental,» he said.

The coauthors of the paper include O’Leary, Potts, McClanahan, and Juan Carlos Braga of the University of Granada, Spain. Funding for this research was provided by UC Santa Cruz, Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, ARCS Foundation, Project Aware, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Expertos mundiales debatirán sobre cómo evitar catástrofes en sectores críticos como la energía, el transporte aéreo y los hospitales

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  • La Universidad de Granada acogerá en el mes de mayo el seminario científico Safetygranada 2012, que analizará los factores humanos de la seguridad en los sistemas complejos de alto riesgo
  • El plazo de inscripción se encuentra ya abierto

La Universidad de Granada acogerá el próximo mes de mayo un seminario científico de alto nivel en el que se abordará la seguridad en sistemas complejos de alto riesgo como el tráfico aéreo, la medicina o la energía. Estas jornadas tendrán como protagonistas a expertos mundiales en seguridad operacional, factores humanos y ergonomía en los sectores de ‘Aviación y transporte’, ‘Industria de energía’ y ‘Medicina y seguridad del paciente’, que expondrán su experiencia práctica y sus reflexiones científico-técnicas.

Las lecciones magistrales serán seguidas por exposiciones de los organismos reguladores españoles (Agencia Española de Seguridad Aérea, Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear y Ministerio de Sanidad) que servirán de apoyo para debatir sobre el estado actual y las perspectivas de futuro de la seguridad de dichos sectores en nuestro país. De este encuentro se esperan conclusiones importantes para la identificación precoz de las causas que pueden provocar accidentes severos en las industrias de alto riesgo.

Las jornadas, bajo el título ‘Factores Humanos de la Seguridad Operacional en los Sistemas Complejos de Alto Riesgo’, están organizadas por el Grupo de Ergonomía Cognitiva de la Universidad de Granada, en colaboración con la empresa Ergotec y la Editorial Modus Laborandi.

Seguridad Operacional

Una idea fundamental que subyace a este encuentro es que la Seguridad Operacional tiene muchos aspectos en común en diferentes sectores. Por ejemplo, hoy en día es generalmente asumido que los sistemas de gestión implantados en los hospitales para asegurar la seguridad del paciente se han beneficiado enormemente de los sistemas de gestión de la seguridad operacional aéreos y de la industria nuclear.

Safetygranada 2012, que es como se llama el encuentro, será una oportunidad única para el encuentro de los profesionales, administraciones y empresas de los sectores de alto riesgo con expertos en factores humanos y ergonomía que desarrollan su actividad profesional y científica en estos ámbitos. La Seguridad Operacional es un objetivo prioritario y estratégico de cualquier sociedad moderna independientemente de los avatares económicos.

Las jornadas estarán dirigidas por José Juan Cañas, catedrático de Ergonomía Cognitiva de la Universidad de Granada, y Jesús Villena, Director de Ergotec y de la Editorial Modus Laborandi, y contarán con la presencia de:

James Reason

Fue catedrático de psicología de la Manchester University. Es internacionalmente reconocido como el gran especialista en error humano y cultura de seguridad.

René Amalberti

Doctor en Medicina aeroespacial y Psicología, experto en Factores Humanos en aviación, es ahora Consejero en Seguridad del Paciente de la Haute Autorité de Santé (Francia).

Erik Hollnagel

Es catedrático en MINES ParisTech y en universidades europeas de los países nórdicos. Experto mundial en ingeniería de la resiliencia y en el análisis de la fiabilidad humana.

Daniel Mauriño

Antiguo comandante de aerolínea, fue coordinador del Programa de Seguridad de Vuelo y Factores Humanos de la Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional ?(OACI -Montreal).

François Daniellou

Catedrático de Ergonomía en la École Nationale Supérieure de Cognetique del Instituto Polytechnique de Bordeaux. Experto en la actividad humana en industrias de alto riesgo.

Ivan Boissières

Director de Desarrollo del Institut pour une Culture de Sécurité Industrielle (ICSI), donde coordina las actividades de consultoría, investigación y formación.

Y la participación de:

  • Pablo Hernandez-Coronado, Agencia Española de Seguridad Aérea
  • Yolanda Agra, Ministerio de Sanidad
  • Benito Gil Montes, Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear

El plazo de inscripción para participar en este seminario, que se celebrará en el Parque de las Ciencias de Granada durante los días 16, 17 y 18 de mayo, se encuentra ya abierto. Los interesados en inscribirse pueden hacerlo a través de la dirección de correo electrónico safetygranada2012@ugr.es
 

Toda la información del seminario Safetygranada puede consultarse en la web: http://www.ugr.es/local/safetygranada2012

Descargue el programa del seminario.

Contacto: José Juan Cañas Delgado. Director del Grupo de Ergonomía Cognitiva de la Universidad de Granada. Teléfono: 958 243 767. Correo electrónico: delagado@ugr.es

Gabinete de Comunicación – Secretaría General
UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA
Acera de San Ildefonso, s/n. 18071. Granada (España)
Tel. 958 243063 – 958244278
Correo e. gabcomunicacion@ugr.es
Web: http://canal.ugr.es

 

Científicos de la Universidad de Granada revelan que los niños están mejor alimentados y son menos obesos cuando cocina la madre

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Un nuevo trabajo, publicado recientemente en la revista Nutrición hospitalaria, revela que la cuestión de quién elabora el menú familiar a diario es «muy importante». Así, los científicos han observado que, a medida que el menú familiar es elaborado por personas diferentes a la madre, el estado nutricional de los hijos empeora considerablemente.

Y es que en la actualidad «continúa siendo la madre la figura familiar que mejor conoce las necesidades alimentarias de sus hijos y la mejor preparada, en términos de conocimientos alimentarios, para la elaboración y el mantenimiento de una óptima alimentación familiar», advierten los autores de la UGR.

En esta investigación, los científicos emplearon una muestra constituida por 718 niños y adolescentes escolares de entre 9 y 17 años de edad, pertenecientes a trece centros educativos públicos y privados de la ciudad de Granada y de su provincia. Mediante el uso de técnicas de antropometría, se valoraron las variables de peso y talla de los sujetos y, con ello, el índice de masa corporal.

También fueron valorados seis pliegues cutáneos (pliegue tricipital, bicipital, subescapular, suprailíaco, pliegue del muslo y de la pantorrilla), así como cuatro perímetros corporales, esto es, de la cintura, de la cadera, del brazo y del muslo.

Por otra parte, y con objeto de analizar la influencia del entorno familiar en el desarrollo del sobrepeso y la obesidad entre la población de alumnos, los científicos de la UGR emplearon un cuestionario específicamente elaborado por el equipo investigador, en el que no sólo se recogía información relativa a aspectos de su entorno familiar, sino también a la frecuencia de consumo de determinados alimentos y a la práctica de alguna actividad física.

El peligro del ocio sedentario

Los investigadores han encontrado asimismo una relación entre la práctica del ocio sedentario y los valores de índice de masa corporal (IMC), encontrando diferencias estadísticamente significativas para IMC de aquellos individuos con actitudes ociosas eminentemente sedentarias, frente a aquellos otros que no las mantenían. Así pues, a medida que aumenta el número de horas que los alumnos ven la televisión, juegan con los videojuegos o simplemente están conectados a internet, sus puntuaciones en el índice de masa corporal se incrementan exponencialmente.

A la luz de los resultados de este trabajo, los científicos han concluido que existe «una imperiosa necesidad» de fomentar prácticas y estilos de vida saludables entre las familias, además de recomendar la práctica de ejercicio físico a través de «juegos clásicos». Se trata de la mejor herramienta para mantener un adecuado estado nutricional y, en definitiva, un óptimo estado de salud, máxime cuando los principales implicados son sujetos de corta edad, en este caso población en edad escolar.

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