"Pull-out" de fibras de poliolefina: influencia de la inclinación y la longitud embebida en la resistencia al arrancamiento

En investigaciones previas sobre el comportamiento en fractura de hormigones reforzados con fibras de poliolefina, se comprobó la aptitud estructural del material. Estas fibras, químicamente estables y cuya adherencia se mejora con un tratamiento superficial, cumplen los requisitos exigidos con dosificaciones en peso muy inferiores a las fibras de acero. Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre la respuesta de dichas fibras frente al arrancamiento de la matriz de hormigón. En este estudio se ha diseñado un ensayo de "pull-out" de fibras sincronizando la máquina de ensayos con un sistema de video-extensometría. Se han realizado ensayos de arrancamiento de fibras de poliolefina variando la longitud embebida y el ángulo de inclinación de las fibras, entre 0º y 60º, en probetas fabricadas con el hormigón autocompactante. El ensayo permitió obtener resultados de fuerza máxima y energía de arrancamiento

Living robotic donor nephrectomy. The first case in Latin America

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Introducción: La donación renal en pacientes vivos relacionados es la mejor alternativa de tratamiento para pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica. La cirugía abierta es el procedimiento de elección; sin embargo, la nefrectomía laparoscópica se ha convertido en una opción viable en centros con experiencia. Con el propósito de disminuír los tiempos de la curva de aprendizaje, algunos centros han introducido la nefrectomía robótica del donante vivo como una opción quirúrgica. Objetivo: Presentar la primera nefrectomía robótica del donante vivo realizada en Latinoamérica. Caso clínico: Paciente de 50 años, esposo, donante vivo relacionado, por afinidad (esposo-esposa). La receptora tiene 54 años con antecedente de insuficiencia renal crónica terminal en espera de ingreso a programa de hemodiálisis. Se realizó nefrectomía robótica izquierda del donante utilizando el sistema robótico da Vinci Si® (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale CA.) mediante abordaje transperitoneal. El tiempo quirúrgico total fue de 188 min, con un sangrado estimado de 300 ml., y un tiempo de isquemia de 6 min. El injerto presentó inicio inmediato de la función. Ambos pacientes fueron dados de alta a las 72 h. Conclusión: La nefrectomía robótica del donante vivo para trasplante es una alternativa segura y factible. Comunicaciones con series con mayor número de pacientes, son necesarias para establecer su definitivo rol.Introduction: Living donor nephrectomy is the best alternative of treatment for patients with chronic renal disease. Even though open surgery remains the gold standard for donor nephrectomy, laparoscopic surgery has become a feasible alternative in referral centers. To minimize the long learning curve associated with this procedure, some centers have introduced robotic donor nephrectomy as a surgical option. Aim: To present the first robotic-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in Latin America. Clinical case: The donor is a 50 years old male, living-related to the recipient by affinity (husband/wife). The recipient is a 54 years old female with history of end-stage renal disease waiting to initiate dialysis program. A left transperitoneal robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy employing the da Vinci Si® (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale CA.) is performed. Mean operative time was 188 minutes with an estimated blood loss of 300 ml. Mean ischemia time was 6 minutes. The graft presented immediate function. Both patients were discharged at 72 h. Conclusion: Living donor robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy is a safe and viable procedure. Larger series are needed to establish its role.http://ref.scielo.org/p438d

A non-perturbative approach to the scalar Casimir effect with Lorentz symmetry violation

We determine the effect of Lorentz invariance violation in the vacuum energy and stress between two parallel plates separated by a distance $L$, in the presence of a massive real scalar field. We parametrize the Lorentz-violation in terms of a symmetric tensor $h^{\,\mu\nu}$ that represents a constant background. Through the Green's function method, we obtain the global Casimir energy, the Casimir force between the plates and the energy density in a closed analytical form without resorting to perturbative methods. With regards to the pressure, we find that $\mathcal{F}_c(L)=\mathcal{F}_0(\tilde{L})/\sqrt{-{\rm det}\, h^{\,\mu\nu}}$, where $\mathcal{F}_0$ is the Lorentz-invariant expression, and $\tilde{L}$ is the plate separation rescaled by the component of $h^{\,\mu\nu}$ normal to the plates, $\tilde{L}=L/\sqrt{-h^{nn}}$. We also analyze the Casimir stress including finite-temperature corrections. The local behavior of the Casimir energy density is also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, No figure

Diel pattern of circadian clock and storage protein gene expression in leaves and during seed filling in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Background Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important source of protein supply for animal and human nutrition. The major storage globulins VICILIN and LEGUMIN (LEG) are synthesized from several genes including LEGA, LEGB, LEGJ and CVC (CONVICILIN). The current hypothesis is that the plant circadian core clock genes are conserved in a wide array of species and that primary metabolism is to a large extent controlled by the plant circadian clock. Our aim was to investigate a possible link between gene expression of storage proteins and the circadian clock. Results We identified cowpea orthologues of the core clock genes VunLHY, VunTOC1, VunGI and VunELF3, the protein storage genes VunLEG, VunLEGJ, and VunCVC as well as nine candidate reference genes used in RT-PCR. ELONGATION FACTOR 1-A (ELF1A) resulted the most suitable reference gene. The clock genes VunELF3, VunGI, VunTOC1 and VunLHY showed a rhythmic expression profile in leaves with a typical evening/night and morning/midday phased expression. The diel patterns were not completely robust and only VungGI and VungELF3 retained a rhythmic pattern under free running conditions of darkness. Under field conditions, rhythmicity and phasing apparently faded during early pod and seed development and was regained in ripening pods for VunTOC1 and VunLHY. Mature seeds showed a rhythmic expression of VunGI resembling leaf tissue under controlled growth chamber conditions. Comparing time windows during developmental stages we found that VunCVC and VunLEG were significantly down regulated during the night in mature pods as compared to intermediate ripe pods, while changes in seeds were non-significant due to high variance. The rhythmic expression under field conditions was lost under growth chamber conditions. Conclusions The core clock gene network is conserved in cowpea leaves showing a robust diel expression pattern except VunELF3 under growth chamber conditions. There appears to be a clock transcriptional reprogramming in pods and seeds compared to leaves. Storage protein deposition may be circadian regulated under field conditions but the strong environmental signals are not met under artificial growth conditions. Diel expression pattern in field conditions may result in better usage of energy for protein storage.This work was supported by the 7th Research Framework Programme of the European Union “Eurolegume (Enhancing of Legumes Growing in Europe through Sustainable Cropping for Protein Supply for Food and Feed)” FP7– 613781. The funding body had no role in the experimental design, analysis or results shown in the manuscript

Coleópteros nuevos o interesantes de Andalucía (sur de España) (Insecta: Coleoptera)

New data are provided on the distribution in Andalusia (Southern Spain) of twenty-four species of beetles (Coleoptera) of several families. Five taxa are recorded for the first time from this administrative region: Myrmechixenus picinus (Aubé, 1850), Nacerdes (Xanthochroa) carniolica carniolica (Gistl, 1834), Rutpela maculata (Poda, 1761), Bradybatus (Nothops) elongatulus (Boheman, 1843) and Curculio (Curculio) pellitus (Boheman, 1843). New records are provided for several Andalusian provinces, mainly from Córdoba, Granada and Jaén. Nine species are new for Jaén, seven for Córdoba and two for Granada. A taxonomic list of the Laemophloeidae present in Andalusia is included. The record of Anaglyptus (Anaglyptus) mysticus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Jaén province published by Baena et al. (2017) is corrected and must be attributed to Anaglyptus (Anaglyptus) baeticus Verdugo, Lencina & Baena, 2019 recently describedSe aportan nuevos datos sobre la distribución en Andalucía (sur de España) de veinticuatro especies de coleópteros de diferentes familias. Cinco taxones se citan por primera vez de esta comunidad autónoma: Myrmechixenus picinus (Aubé, 1850), Nacerdes (Xanthochroa) carniolica carniolica (Gistl, 1834), Rutpela maculata (Poda, 1761), Bradybatus (Nothops) elongatulus (Boheman, 1843) y Curculio (Curculio) pellitus (Boheman, 1843). Por otro lado, se aportan nuevos registros de los cuales nueve especies son nuevas para la provincia de Jaén, siete para la de Córdoba y dos para la de Granada. Se adjunta una lista de los Laemophloeidae ibéricos con indicaciones de los conocidos en Andalucía. Se corrige la cita de Anaglyptus (Anaglyptus) mysticus (Linnaeus, 1758) de Jaén publicada en Baena et al. (2017) que en realidad corresponde a la especie recientemente descrita Anaglyptus (Anaglyptus) baeticus Verdugo, Lencina & Baena, 2019

Gingival neurofibroma in a neurofibromatosis type 1 patient : case report

Neurofibroma is a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumour. It is one of the most frequent tumours of neural origin and its presence is one of the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-I). Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease due to an alteration in the long arm of chromosome 17. About 50% of NF-I patients have no family history of the disease. NF-I patients have skin lesions (café au lait spots and neurofibromas) as well as bone malformations and central nervous system tumours. Diagnosis is based on a series of clinical criteria. Gingival neurofibroma in NF-I is uncommon. Treatment of neurofibromas is surgical resection. The aim of this paper is to report a case of NF-I with gingival involvement and to review the literature

Cardiac-Specific Overexpression of ERRγ in Mice Induces Severe Heart Dysfunction and Early Lethality

Disfunció cardíaca; Receptors relacionats amb estrògens; Ratolins transgènicsDisfunción cardíaca; Receptores relacionados con el estrógeno; Ratones transgénicosCardiac dysfunction; Estrogen-related receptors; Transgenic miceProper cardiac function depends on the coordinated expression of multiple gene networks related to fuel utilization and mitochondrial ATP production, heart contraction, and ion transport. Key transcriptional regulators that regulate these gene networks have been identified. Among them, estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) have emerged as crucial modulators of cardiac function by regulating cellular metabolism and contraction machinery. Consistent with this role, lack of ERRα or ERRγ results in cardiac derangements that lead to functional maladaptation in response to increased workload. Interestingly, metabolic inflexibility associated with diabetic cardiomyopathy has been recently associated with increased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and expression of ERRγ, suggesting that sustained expression of this nuclear receptor could result in a cardiac pathogenic outcome. Here, we describe the generation of mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of ERRγ, which die at young ages due to heart failure. ERRγ transgenic mice show signs of dilated cardiomyopathy associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, increased cell death, and fibrosis. Our results suggest that ERRγ could play a role in mediating cardiac pathogenic responses.Research was funded by “Fundació la Marató de TV3” (# 082610 to JAV) and by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI19/00167 to MZ, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund -FEDER- “A way to make Europe”)

Evolución de la cohesión interna y el desarrollo socioeconómico: un análisis comparativo a escala de país en la Unión Europea

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las trayectorias de cohesión interna en la Unión Europea, a escala de país, para el periodo 2000-2015. Al mismo tiempo la información generada ha permitido identificar agrupaciones de países, a través de un análisis clúster, en cuanto a su comportamiento conjunto en crecimiento, convergencia, desarrollo y cohesión. Concretamente, la trayectoria de cada país se compara con su clúster más próximo. Estas agrupaciones servirán para proponer, plantear o diseñar políticas generales y específicas, por grandes áreas, encaminadas al cumplimiento de los objetivos de la actual Estrategia 2014-2020 y futura Estrategia 2021-2027

CA88, a nuclear repetitive DNA sequence identified in Schistosoma mansoni, aids in the genotyping of nine Schistosoma species of medical and veterinary importance

CA88 is the first long nuclear repetitive DNA sequence identified in the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. The assembled S. mansoni sequence, which contains the CA88 repeat, has 8,887 nucleotides and at least three repeat units of approximately 360 bp. In addition, CA88 also possesses an internal CA microsatellite, identified as SmBr18. Both PCR and BLAST analysis have been used to analyse and confirm the CA88 sequence in other S. mansoni sequences in the public database. PCR-acquired nuclear repetitive DNA sequence profiles from nine Schistosoma species were used to classify this organism into four genotypes. Included among the nine species analysed were five sequences of both African and Asian lineages that are known to infect humans. Within these genotypes, three of them refer to recognised species groups. A panel of four microsatellite loci, including SmBr18 and three previously published loci, has been used to characterise the nine Schistosoma species. Each species has been identified and classified based on its CA88 DNA fingerprint profile. Furthermore, microsatellite sequences and intra-specific variation have also been observed within the nine Schistosoma species sequences. Taken together, these results support the use of these markers in studying the population dynamics of Schistosoma isolates from endemic areas and also provide new methods for investigating the relationships between different populations of parasites. In addition, these data also indicate that Schistosoma magrebowiei is not a sister taxon to Schistosoma mattheei, prompting a new designation to a basal clade.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Imunologia e ParasitologiaInstituto de Pesquisas René Rachou-FiocruzThe Natural History Museum Department of ZoologySanta Casa de Belo Horizonte Programa de Pós-Graduação e PesquisaUniversidade Federal de Ouro Preto Escola de Farmácia Laboratório de Pesquisas ClínicasUNIFESP, EPM, Imunologia e ParasitologiaSciEL

Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Jumping, Sprinting and Force-Velocity Profiling in Resistance-Trained Women: A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the menstrual cycle on vertical jumping, sprint performance and force-velocity profiling in resistance-trained women. A group of resistancetrained eumenorrheic women (n = 9) were tested in three phases over the menstrual cycle: bleeding phase, follicular phase, and luteal phase (i.e., days 1–3, 7–10, and 19–21 of the cycle, respectively). Each testing phase consisted of a battery of jumping tests (i.e., squat jump [SJ], countermovement jump [CMJ], drop jump from a 30 cm box [DJ30], and the reactive strength index) and 30 m sprint running test. Two different applications for smartphone (My Jump 2 and My Sprint) were used to record the jumping and sprinting trials, respectively, at high speed (240 fps). The repeated measures ANOVA reported no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05, ES < 0.25) in CMJ, DJ30, reactive strength index and sprint times between the different phases of the menstrual cycle. A greater SJ height performance was observed during the follicular phase compared to the bleeding phase (p = 0.033, ES = −0.22). No differences (p ≥ 0.05, ES < 0.45) were found in the CMJ and sprint force-velocity profile over the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Vertical jump, sprint performance and the force-velocity profiling remain constant in trained women, regardless of the phase of the menstrual cycle.Pre-competitive Projects for Early Stage Researchers Programme from the University of Granada (ref: PPJIA2020.03