Aplicación de nuevas metodologías de aprendizaje y evaluación a la enseñanza de “operaciones básicas para la industria alimentaria"

En este artículo se expone, y se evalúa, la introducción de nuevas metodologías de aprendizaje activo y cooperativo en la asignatura “Operaciones Básicas para la Industria Alimentaria”, tradicionalmente problemática por su alto índice de suspensos y, en consecuencia, con un elevado número de alumnos matriculados repetidores. Los resultados obtenidos indican, no sólo un aumento del número de aprobados y una mejora de las calificaciones obtenidas, sino también un mayor grado de satisfacción del alumno, como consecuencia del cambio aplicado en el sistema de enseñanzaaprendizaje. Así mismo, al final del Trabajo el profesorado realiza una reflexión personal sobre las dificultades y satisfacciones que ha encontrado en la puesta en práctica de la metodología de innovación docente aplicada

La Evolución del Sector Agroforestal Vista a Través del Museo Rural Virtual de la UPM

La sociedad española fue hasta hace pocas décadas una sociedad rural, con más de la mitad de su población viviendo en el medio rural y del medio rural. La rápida evolución social ha provocado que en un corto espacio de tiempo este tipo de vida haya pasado a ser histórico y, dada la importancia que tuvo, es imprescindible conservarlo. El Museo Rural Virtual de la UPM que se expone en el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo mostrar todos aquellos aspectos del mundo rural que hoy en día ya son historia y para ello emplea como instrumento la creación de una base de datos (página web) que contiene información gráfica y textual de diversos aspectos de las formas de vida y de trabajo en el medio rural. En él pueden consultarse elementos relativos a maquinaria agrícola, herramientas y aperos agrícolas, industrias agroalimentarias, maquinarias y elementos riego, arquitectura rural, unidades y útiles de medida, tractores, agrimensura y etnobotánica, así como una recopilación bibliográfica, videoteca y otros documentos y enlaces de interés en los que se ha incorporado información sobre diversos Museos Etnográficos y de Usos y Costumbres

Elaboración de guías docentes atractivas: Formato Web

La Guía Docente supone una herramienta básica del Sistema Europeo de transferencia de créditos para alcanzar el objetivo de “promover la cooperación europea en garantía de calidad mediante el desarrollo de metodologías y criterios comparables” (Declaración de Bolonia). El profesorado responsable de las asignaturas debe diseñarlas como un instrumento al servicio del estudiante, a quien debe ofrecérsele la suficiente información para que conozca qué es lo que debe aprender, cómo se va a desarrollar el proceso de enseñanza‐aprendizaje y cómo va a ser evaluado. La información que se transmite al alumno debe ser clara y concisa. Por ese motivo el Grupo de Innovación Educativa “TIDAFIA” de la UPM está desarrollando guías docentes en formato web con el fin de conseguir estructuras precisas, atractivas y de fácil navegabilidad, más acorde con el objetivo de las Universidades Españolas de potenciar la incorporación de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) en el Sistema Universitario Español (UNIVERSITIC 2008

Metabolomics analysis of type 2 diabetes remission identifies 12 metabolites with predictive capacity: a CORDIOPREV clinical trial study.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most widely spread diseases, affecting around 90% of the patients with diabetes. Metabolomics has proven useful in diabetes research discovering new biomarkers to assist in therapeutical studies and elucidating pathways of interest. However, this technique has not yet been applied to a cohort of patients that have remitted from T2DM. All patients with a newly diagnosed T2DM at baseline (n = 190) were included. An untargeted metabolomics approach was employed to identify metabolic differences between individuals who remitted (RE), and those who did not (non-RE) from T2DM, during a 5-year study of dietary intervention. The biostatistical pipeline consisted of an orthogonal projection on the latent structure discriminant analysis (O-PLS DA), a generalized linear model (GLM), a receiver operating characteristic (ROC), a DeLong test, a Cox regression, and pathway analyses. The model identified a significant increase in 12 metabolites in the non-RE group compared to the RE group. Cox proportional hazard models, calculated using these 12 metabolites, showed that patients in the high-score tercile had significantly (p-value < 0.001) higher remission probabilities (Hazard Ratio, HR, high versus low = 2.70) than those in the lowest tercile. The predictive power of these metabolites was further studied using GLMs and ROCs. The area under the curve (AUC) of the clinical variables alone is 0.61, but this increases up to 0.72 if the 12 metabolites are considered. A DeLong test shows that this difference is statistically significant (p-value = 0.01). Our study identified 12 endogenous metabolites with the potential to predict T2DM remission following a dietary intervention. These metabolites, combined with clinical variables, can be used to provide, in clinical practice, a more precise therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00924937.The CORDIOPREV study is supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain, under the grants AGL2012/39615, PIE14/00005, and PIE14/00031 associated to J.L.-M.; AGL2015-67896-P to J.L.-M. and A.C.; CP14/00114 to A.C.; PI19/00299 to A.C.; DTS19/00007 to A.C.; FIS PI13/00023 to J.D.-L., PI16/01777 to F.P.-J. and P.P.-M.; Antonio Camargo is supported by an ISCIII research contract (Programa Miguel-Servet CPII19/00007); Marina Mora-Ortiz has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 847468; ‘Fundacion Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero’, Junta de Andalucía (Consejería de Salud, Consejeria de Agricultura y Pesca, Consejería de Innovacion, Ciencia y Empresa), ‘Diputaciones de Jaen y Cordoba’, ‘Centro de Excelencia en Investigación sobre Aceite de Oliva y Salud’ and ‘Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino’, Gobierno de España; ‘Consejeria de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Proyectos de Investigación de Excelencia’, Junta de Andalucía under the grant CVI-7450 obtaiend by J.L.-M.; and we would also like to thank the ‘Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)’.S

Proteasuria: The Link between Physiopathogenesis and Edema Management in Nephrotic Syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome is a pathology characterized by severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, dyslipidemia, and edema. Edema has classically been associated with an alteration of the forces that govern Starling’s principle. However, some proteins eliminated in excess in the urine (proteasuria) can activate the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), favoring sodium retention and edema. The α- and γ-ENaC subunits are activated by releasing inhibitory segments that favor the probability of channel opening. Some proteases that have been investigated include plasmin, prostasin, transmembrane protease serine 4, cathepsin, and neutrophil elastases. Therapeutic strategies include water and sodium restriction in the diet, appropriate dosing of diuretics (loop, thiazides, or acetazolamide), and in severe cases, mechanical ultrafiltration. Due to the continuous activation of ENaC in nephrotic syndrome, amiloride is an attractive diuretic strategy that has been shown to be effective in some patients with an acceptable safety profile

The caveolae‐associated coiled‐coil protein, NECC2, regulates insulin signalling in Adipocytes

Adipocyte dysfunction in obesity is commonly associated with impaired insulin signalling in adipocytes and insulin resistance. Insulin signalling has been associated with caveolae, which are coated by large complexes of caveolin and cavin proteins, along with proteins with membrane‐binding and remodelling properties. Here, we analysed the regulation and function of a component of caveolae involved in growth factor signalling in neuroendocrine cells, neuroendocrine long coiled‐coil protein‐2 (NECC2), in adipocytes. Studies in 3T3‐L1 cells showed that NECC2 expression increased during adipogenesis. Furthermore, NECC2 co‐immunoprecipitated with caveolin‐1 (CAV1) and exhibited a distribution pattern similar to that of the components of adipocyte caveolae, CAV1, Cavin1, the insulin receptor and cortical actin. Interestingly, NECC2 overexpression enhanced insulin‐activated Akt phosphorylation, whereas NECC2 downregulation impaired insulin‐induced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK2. Finally, an up‐regulation of NECC2 in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue was found in association with human obesity and insulin resistance. This effect was also observed in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes exposed to hyperglycaemia/hyperinsulinemia. Overall, the present study identifies NECC2 as a component of adipocyte caveolae that is regulated in response to obesity and associated metabolic complications, and supports the contribution of this protein as a molecular scaffold modulating insulin signal transduction at these membrane microdomains.La disfunción de los adipocitos en la obesidad se asocia comúnmente con la alteración de la señalización de la insulina en los adipocitos y la resistencia a la insulina. La señalización de la insulina se ha asociado con las caveolas, que están recubiertas por grandes complejos de proteínas de caveolina y cavina, junto con proteínas con propiedades de remodelación y unión a la membrana. Aquí, analizamos la regulación y la función de un componente de las caveolas involucrado en la señalización del factor de crecimiento en las células neuroendocrinas, la proteína 2 neuroendocrina de espiral larga (NECC 2 ) , en los adipocitos. Los estudios en células 3T3‐L1 mostraron que la expresión de NECC 2 aumentó durante la adipogénesis. Además, NECC 2 co‐inmunoprecipitado con caveolina‐1 ( CAV1) y mostró un patrón de distribución similar al de los componentes de las caveolas adipocitarias, CAV 1, Cavin1, el receptor de insulina y la actina cortical. Curiosamente, la sobreexpresión de NECC 2 mejoró la fosforilación de Akt activada por insulina, mientras que la regulación negativa de NECC 2 perjudicó la fosforilación de Akt y ERK 2 inducida por insulina . resistencia a la insulina. Este efecto también se observó en adipocitos 3T3‐L1 expuestos a hiperglucemia/hiperinsulinemia. En general, el presente estudio identifica NECC2 como un componente de las caveolas de los adipocitos que se regula en respuesta a la obesidad y las complicaciones metabólicas asociadas, y respalda la contribución de esta proteína como un andamio molecular que modula la transducción de señales de insulina en estos microdominios de membrana

A prospective cohort study to assess seroprevalence, incidence, knowledge, attitudes and practices, willingness to pay for vaccine and related risk factors in dengue in a high incidence setting

Abstract Background Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in the world, causing significant morbidity and economic impact. In Colombia, dengue is a major public health problem. Departments of La Guajira, Cesar and Magdalena are dengue endemic areas. The objective of this research is to determine the seroprevalence and the incidence of dengue virus infection in the participating municipalities from these Departments, and also establish the association between individual and housing factors and vector indices with seroprevalence and incidence. We will also assess knowledge, attitudes and practices, and willingness-to-pay for dengue vaccine. Methods A cohort study will be assembled with a clustered multistage sampling in 11 endemic municipalities. Approximately 1000 homes will be visited to enroll people older than one year who living in these areas, who will be followed for 1 year. Dengue virus infections will be evaluated using IgG indirect ELISA and IgM and IgG capture ELISA. Additionally, vector indices will be measured, and adult mosquitoes will be captured with aspirators. Ovitraps will be used for continuous estimation of vector density. Discussion This research will generate necessary knowledge to design and implement strategies with a multidimensional approach that reduce dengue morbidity and mortality in La Guajira and other departments from Colombian Caribbean

CUBES: a UV spectrograph for the future

In spite of the advent of extremely large telescopes in the UV/optical/NIR range, the current generation of 8-10m facilities is likely to remain competitive at ground-UV wavelengths for the foreseeable future. The Cassegrain U-Band Efficient Spectrograph (CUBES) has been designed to provide high-efficiency (>40%) observations in the near UV (305-400 nm requirement, 300-420 nm goal) at a spectral resolving power of R>20,000, although a lower-resolution, sky-limited mode of R ~ 7,000 is also planned. CUBES will offer new possibilities in many fields of astrophysics, providing access to key lines of stellar spectra: a tremendous diversity of iron-peak and heavy elements, lighter elements (in particular Beryllium) and light-element molecules (CO, CN, OH), as well as Balmer lines and the Balmer jump (particularly important for young stellar objects). The UV range is also critical in extragalactic studies: the circumgalactic medium of distant galaxies, the contribution of different types of sources to the cosmic UV background, the measurement of H2 and primordial Deuterium in a regime of relatively transparent intergalactic medium, and follow-up of explosive transients. The CUBES project completed a Phase A conceptual design in June 2021 and has now entered the Phase B dedicated to detailed design and construction. First science operations are planned for 2028. In this paper, we briefly describe the CUBES project development and goals, the main science cases, the instrument design and the project organization and management

The Thomsen-Friedenreich Antigen-Binding Lectin Jacalin Interacts with Desmoglein-1 and Abrogates the Pathogenicity of Pemphigus Foliaceus Autoantibodies In Vivo

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune skin blistering disease mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies against the desmosomal core glycoprotein desmoglein 1 (Dsg1). This study demonstrated that the O-glycan-specific plant lectin jacalin binds Dsg1 and inhibits the interaction of Dsg1/PF IgG. N-glycosylation is not involved in the interaction of Dsg1/jacalin or Dsg1/PF IgG. Subcutaneous injection of jacalin into neonatal mice drastically reduced PF IgG deposition at the epidermal cell surface and blocked PF IgG-induced skin blisters, both clinically and histologically. Interestingly, another plant lectin peanut agglutinin (PNA), which shares the same carbohydrate specificity toward the O-linked carbohydrate structure known as Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF antigen, Galβ1-3GalNAcα-O-Ser/Thr), also bound Dsg1 and blocked the skin blistering. In contrast, the plant lectin vicia villosa-B4 (VVL-B4), which shares the carbohydrate specificity toward the O-linked monosaccharide known as Thomsennouveau antigen (Tn antigen, GalNAc-α1-O-Ser/Thr) did not bind Dsg1 and did not show a protective effect against the disease induced by the autoantibodies. Collectively, these results suggest that the binding of jacalin to O-linked TF carbohydrate motifs on Dsg1 impairs the Dsg1/PF autoantibody interactions and abrogates its pathogenicity in vivo. TF-specific binding ligands may have a potential therapeutic value for PF