Transcriptional Regulation of zma-MIR528a by Action of Nitrate and Auxin in Maize

In recent years, miR528, a monocot-specific miRNA, has been assigned multifaceted roles during development and stress response in several plant species. However, the transcription regulation and the molecular mechanisms controlling MIR528 expression in maize are still poorly explored. Here we analyzed the zma-MIR528a promoter region and found conserved transcription factor binding sites related to diverse signaling pathways, including the nitrate (TGA1/4) and auxin (AuxRE) response networks. Accumulation of both pre-miR528a and mature miR528 was up-regulated by exogenous nitrate and auxin treatments during imbibition, germination, and maize seedling establishment. Functional promoter analyses demonstrated that TGA1/4 and AuxRE sites are required for transcriptional induction by both stimuli. Overall, our findings of the nitrogen- and auxin-induced zma-MIR528a expression through cis-regulatory elements in its promoter contribute to the knowledge of miR528 regulome

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad

Acta de congresoLa conmemoración de los cien años de la Reforma Universitaria de 1918 se presentó como una ocasión propicia para debatir el rol de la historia, la teoría y la crítica en la formación y en la práctica profesional de diseñadores, arquitectos y urbanistas. En ese marco el VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad constituyó un espacio de intercambio y reflexión cuya realización ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración entre Facultades de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño de la Universidad Nacional y la Facultad de Arquitectura de la Universidad Católica de Córdoba, contando además con la activa participación de mayoría de las Facultades, Centros e Institutos de Historia de la Arquitectura del país y la región. Orientado en su convocatoria tanto a docentes como a estudiantes de Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial de todos los niveles de la FAUD-UNC promovió el debate de ideas a partir de experiencias concretas en instancias tales como mesas temáticas de carácter interdisciplinario, que adoptaron la modalidad de presentación de ponencias, entre otras actividades. En el ámbito de VIII Encuentro, desarrollado en la sede Ciudad Universitaria de Córdoba, se desplegaron numerosas posiciones sobre la enseñanza, la investigación y la formación en historia, teoría y crítica del diseño, la arquitectura y la ciudad; sumándose el aporte realizado a través de sus respectivas conferencias de Ana Clarisa Agüero, Bibiana Cicutti, Fernando Aliata y Alberto Petrina. El conjunto de ponencias que se publican en este Repositorio de la UNC son el resultado de dos intensas jornadas de exposiciones, cuyos contenidos han posibilitado actualizar viejos dilemas y promover nuevos debates. El evento recibió el apoyo de las autoridades de la FAUD-UNC, en especial de la Secretaría de Investigación y de la Biblioteca de nuestra casa, como así también de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UCC; va para todos ellos un especial agradecimiento

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Movilidad femenina: los reveses de la utopía socio-espacial en las poblaciones de Santiago de Chile

Daily displacement is one of the main activities of women in the poor neighborhoods of Latin American cities. Their female status makes heavy demands of them in connection with household support,, accompaniment, maintenance of family relationships and neighborhood social networks, etc. They are consequently obliged to make countless trips both inside and outside their neighborhoods. Through an analysis of the daily travel routines of women in Santa Julia, a poor neighborhood in Santiago, this article shows how the urban design of the political project of “popular promotion” has turned out to be a double-edged weapon. These women’s habitual pathways are being threatened by public space today, a situation which reignites the old debate on whether urban design by itself can transform society

IV Congreso internacional 2019: memorias II

La Red de Dirección Estratégica en la Educación Superior (RED-DEES) celebró hace poco tiempo su 10mo Aniversario de constitución. Por ello, con mucho orgullo este libro permite crear un puente en el tiempo y la emoción para Ias 54 Instituciones de Educación Superior que hoy tienen el honor de ser parte de sus miembros. Hace unos 10 años pocos podrían soñar con que la Red hubiera recorrido el camino que nos ha traído hasta aquí; era una idea inicial, tan solo una semilla, que abriría las puertas a un futuro prometedor; se convirtió en un camino hacia la ilusión, ya que en los primeros años nos movíamos entre el deseo y la incertidumbre. Hoy no dejamos de reconocer que fue una decisión riesgosa, pero estábamos dispuestos a asumirla con muchos esfuerzos entre todos. (Apartes del texto)Contiene: 1. La Planificación Estratégica en la Educación Superior: Monitoreo y Seguimiento a la planificación operativa: Herramienta de apoyo para la toma de decisiones / Isaías Hernández Sánchez, María Catalina Tapia López -- La Planificación y su vinculación con los modelos para la calidad, caso UNAH / Javier Alexis Martínez Moncada -- Resultados de un trabajo planificado en la facultad de medicina de la UNNE- Argentina / Erika Sánchez, Silvia García, Patricia Demuth -- Rediseño estratégico y prospectivo de la arquitectura organizacional: experiencia en la Universidad de Managua. Nicaragua / Fernando Valle Meza, Mario Valle Dávila, Dora María Meza Cornavaca -- Factores que favorecen y dificultan la aplicación de la dirección estratégica en la educación superior / Jorge Juan Domínguez Menéndez -- La evaluación de la práctica de la planificación estratégica en instituciones de educación superior de Cuba. Metodología aplicada y principales resultados / José Luis Almuiñas Rivero, Judith Galarza López -- Modelo para el control de la estrategia institucional en la Universidad de Cienfuegos / Katia Rivero Alonso, Judith Galarza López -- Reconstrucción de la senda que se recorrió en los procesos de planificación y evaluación institucional de comunitaria intercultural / Adrián Puerta Ch., Julia Arguello M. -- 2. Evaluación Institucional y gestión de la calidad en las IES: Hacia la instauración de una cultura de mejora continua: Modelo de evaluación del desempeño en la UNAN -Managua / Isaías Hernández Sánchez, Saira del Rosario Figueroa Aguirre -- Estrategias para mejorar la gestión del proceso de autoevaluación institucional con fines de acreditación en la Universidad San Gregorio de Portoviejo / Ximena Guillén Vivas, José Luis Almuiñas Rivero, Judith Galarza López -- Visita de condiciones iniciales para la acreditación institucional en tiempos de pandemia y sus impactos. Relato de una experiencia. Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores - Colombia / Patricia Martínez Barrios, Orlando Salinas Gómez, Luz Mercedes Flechas Mendoza -- 3. La formación profesional y la calidad de los procesos universitarios: La formación profesional y la calidad de los procesos universitarios / Observal - Honduras, Celeo Emilio Arias -- Describir la satisfacción estudiantil delos egresados del instituto tecnológico superior de tela, ubicado en la ciudad de tela, Atlantida, Honduras / Gustavo Adolfo Rodríguez, Espinoza Carlos Agurcia, Jairo Núñez -- La cadena valor percibido, satisfacción y lealtad para los egresados de la universidad / Katty Johanna Loor Avila, José Antonio Pedraza Rodríguez, Leonor Pérez Naranjo -- El avance del seguimiento a graduados en la universidad nacional de ingeniería / Melvis Daviel Martínez Cano -- Programa de seguimiento de egresados: estudio preliminar de tres servicios universitarios / Rodrigo Horjales -- La formación de valores éticos en los estudiantes de la carrera de derecho con un enfoque RSU: propuesta de una estrategia / Roger Martínez Isaac, Odette Martínez Pérez, Noemí Delgado Álvarez -- El seguimiento de graduados; oferta y demanda de profesionales veterinarios en el Uruguay / José Passarini, Paola Cabral, Brasiliano Rodríguez, Claudia Borlido -- 4. Vinculación con medio y responsabilidad social universitaria: Responsabilidad social y aprendizaje: ideas preliminares / Odette Martínez Pérez, Roxana Chiquito Chillán, Víctor Gómez Rodríguez -- Transversalización de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible en la Planeación Institucional de la UNAN-León / Marcos Vinicio Sandino Montes -- La Universidad de Pinar del Río del conocimiento y la innovación en función del desarrollo local sostenible / Maricela González Pérez, Carlos Cesar Torres Paez, Saray Nuñez González -- Educación superior socialmente responsable: propuesta de una metodología para su evaluación e implementación en la educación superior ecuatoriana / Odette Martínez Pérez, Luis Alberto Alzate Peralta, Rudy García Cobas -- 5. La Gestión de la Internacionalización de la educación superior: La gestión del proceso de internacionalización: experiencias en la movilidad académica, la formación doctoral del docente / Bernal Álava AF, Borroto Leal OE, Campozano Pluas, Vanessa Daniela -- La gestión de la internacionalización desde la perspectiva de la formación tecnológica: la experiencia del Instituto Superior Tecnológico Bolivariano de Tecnología ITB / Luis Alberto Alzate Peralta, Odette Martínez Pérez Elena Tolozano Benites -- 6.Las TIC y las Redes Sociales en la formación de los estudiantes / Las Redes sociales como gestoras de conocimiento formal en los participantes / Esteban de Jesús Gutiérrez Ortiz, Andrés Ernesto Manrique de la Cruz, Sheyla Monsait Valero Estrada, Carlos Jesús Rodríguez Saucedo -- Las NTIC como plataformas de nuevas habilidades digitales y cocreadoras de ecosistemas virtuales educomunicativos / Martín Hernández Oseguera, Oscar Ricardo Castillo BribiescaFundación Universitaria Los Libertadore

Contemporary use of cefazolin for MSSA infective endocarditis: analysis of a national prospective cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P <0.01) and previous renal failure (57.9%, P <0.01). Patients treated with cloxacillin presented higher rates of septic shock (25%, P = 0.033) and new-onset or worsening renal failure (47.3%, P = 0.024) with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (38.5%, P = 0.017). One-year IE-related mortality and rate of relapses were similar between treatment groups. None of the treatments were identified as risk or protective factors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cefazolin is a valuable option for the treatment of MSSA IE, without differences in 1-year mortality or relapses compared with cloxacillin, and might be considered equally effective