Looking for the five continents…and some other one!

RESUMEN: Este Trabajo Fin de Grado utiliza el cine como recurso didáctico significativo en Educación Infantil, para realizar un viaje por los cinco continentes y alguno más. Con este fin, recurriré a la visualización de películas de animación acorde a la edad de los niños. Se parte de una breve introducción y justificación sobre el cine como herramienta de trabajo en el aula. Para entender la importancia de este recurso, he realizado una fundamentación teórica que muestra las múltiples ventajas de su uso desde edades tempranas. Por ende, durante la segunda parte del presente trabajo, se propone una unidad didáctica utilizando el cine, con la meta común de enriquecer el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje del alumnado. De esta manera se presentan una serie de actividades para las cuales se han especificado unos objetivos, una temporalización, recursos y los instrumentos de evaluación con respecto a ella.ABSTRACT: This dissertation uses the cinema as a significant educational resource in pre-school education, in order to travel through the five continents and then some. With this in mind, I will resort to the display of animated films according to the children's ages. It starts off with a brief introduction and a justification for the use of the cinema as a tool in the classroom. In order to understand the importance of this resource, I have conducted a theoretical basis which shows the multiple advantages of its use from very young ages. Therefore, a teaching unit which uses the cinema is suggested throughout the second part, with the shared goal to enrich the students’ teaching-learning process. In this way, a series of activities with specific objectives, timing, resources and assessment tools are presented accordingly.Grado en Magisterio en Educación Infanti

Fitoterapia como coadyuvante en el tratamiento de la obesidad

La obesidad es uno de los problemas de salud más importantes a nivel mundial debido a su relación con numerosas patologías como la diabetes mellitus tipo 2, la hipertensión y el aumento importante en el riesgo cardiovascular. La base del tratamiento es la dieta y el ejercicio físico, pero en muchos casos no es sufi ciente y es necesario combinarlo con tratamiento farmacológico. Recientemente se ha retirado sibutramina del mercado por lo que sólo se dispone de orlistat, que no está exento de contraindicaciones y efectos secundarios. Ante esta situación, se ha vuelto a retomar el tratamiento fi toterápico, aunque, en muchas ocasiones, con numerosas dudas. Esta revisión pretende aportar la información necesaria sobre las principales plantas utilizadas en este tratamiento

An operational model for the optimal operation of the freeze-drying process

[Abstract] In this work an operational mathematical model for the freeze-drying process is derived. The model describes the state variables related to product quality and stability. Computational issues associated to the presence of a moving front are approached by using the Landau transform. Unknown model parameters are estimated using experimental data. The model is used to design optimal operation policies that reduce the process duration ensuring product quality

Cyclophilins A, B, and C Role in Human T Lymphocytes Upon Inflammatory Conditions

Cyclophilins (Cyps) are a group of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases that play crucial roles in regulatory mechanisms of cellular physiology and pathology in several inflammatory conditions. Their receptor, CD147, also participates in the development and progression of the inflammatory response. Nevertheless, the main function of Cyps and their receptor are yet to be deciphered. The release of CypA and the expression of the CD147 receptor in activated T lymphocytes were already described, however, no data are available about other Cyps in these cells. Therefore, in the present work intra and extracellular CypA, B and C levels were measured followed by induced inflammatory conditions. After activation of T lymphocytes by incubation with concanavalin A, both intra and extracellular Cyps levels and the CD147 membrane receptor expression were increased leading to cell migration towards circulating CypA and CypB as chemoattractants. When CypA was modulated by natural and synthetic compounds, the inflammatory cascade was avoided including T cell migration. Our results strengthen the relationship between CypA, B, and C, their receptor, and the inflammatory process in human T lymphocytes, associating CypC with these cells for the first timeThe research leading to these results has received funding from the following FEDER cofunded-grants. From Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia, Spain, 2017 GRC GI-1682 (ED431C 2017/01). From CDTI and Technological Funds, supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spain, ISCIII/PI19/01248, ISCIII/PI19/00879. In European Union, Interreg AlertoxNet EAPA-317-2016, Interreg Agritox EAPA-998-2018, and H2020 778069-EMERTOX. SG was supported by a fellowship from FIDIS, SpainS

Biological Activities of Cyclic and Acyclic B-Type Laxaphycins in SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells

Laxaphycins are a family of non-ribosomal lipopeptides that have been isolated from several cyanobacteria. Some of these compounds have presented cytotoxic activities, but their mechanism of action is poorly understood. In this work, the already described laxaphycins B and B3, and acyclolaxaphycins B and B3 were isolated from the marine cyanobacteria Anabaena torulosa. Moreover, two new acyclic compounds, [des-(Ala4-Hle5)] acyclolaxaphycins B and B3, were purified from the herviborous gastropod Stylocheilus striatus, with this being the first description of biotransformed laxaphycins. The structure of these new compounds was elucidated, together with the absolute configuration of acyclolaxaphycins B and B3. The bioactivities of the six peptides were determined in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Laxaphycins B and B3 were cytotoxic (IC50: 1.8 and 0.8 µM, respectively) through the induction of apoptosis. In comparison, acyclic laxaphycins did not show cytotoxicity but affected mitochondrial functioning, so their effect on autophagy-related protein expression was analyzed, finding that acyclic peptides affected this process by increasing AMPK phosphorylation and inhibiting mTOR. This work confirms the pro-apoptotic properties of cyclic laxaphycins B and is the first report indicating the effects on autophagy of their acyclic analogs. Moreover, gastropod-derived compounds presented ring opening and amino-acids deletion, a biotransformation that had not been previously describedThe research leading to these results has received funding from the following FEDER cofunded-grants. From Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia, 2017 GRC GI-1682 (ED431C 2017/01). From CDTI and Technological Funds, supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, AGL2016-78728-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), ISCIII/PI16/01830 and RTC-2016-5507-2, ITC-20161072. From European Union POCTEP 0161-Nanoeaters -1-E-1, Interreg AlertoxNet EAPA-317-2016, Interreg Agritox EAPA-998-2018, and H2020 778069-EMERTOXS

Animal models of obsessive-compulsive disorder: utility and limitations

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling and common neuropsychiatric condition of poorly known etiology. Many attempts have been made in the last few years to develop animal models of OCD with the aim of clarifying the genetic, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical basis of the disorder, as well as of developing novel pharmacological and neurosurgical treatments that may help to improve the prognosis of the illness. The latter goal is particularly important given that around 40% of patients with OCD do not respond to currently available therapies. This article summarizes strengths and limitations of the leading animal models of OCD including genetic, pharmacologically induced, behavioral manipulation-based, and neurodevelopmental models according to their face, construct, and predictive validity. On the basis of this evaluation, we discuss that currently labeled 'animal models of OCD' should be regarded not as models of OCD but, rather, as animal models of different psychopathological processes, such as compulsivity, stereotypy, or perseverance, that are present not only in OCD but also in other psychiatric or neurological disorders. Animal models might constitute a challenging approach to study the neural and genetic mechanism of these phenomena from a trans-diagnostic perspective. Animal models are also of particular interest as tools for developing new therapeutic options for OCD, with the greatest convergence focusing on the glutamatergic system, the role of ovarian and related hormones, and the exploration of new potential targets for deep brain stimulation. Finally, future research on neurocognitive deficits associated with OCD through the use of analogous animal tasks could also provide a genuine opportunity to disentangle the complex etiology of the disorder

Caniferolide A, a Macrolide from Streptomyces caniferus, Attenuates Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, Amyloid-Beta, and Tau Pathology in Vitro

The macrolide caniferolide A was isolated from extracts of a culture of the marine-derived actinomyceteStreptomyces caniferus, and its ability to ameliorate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hallmarks was determined. The compound reducedneuroinflammatory markers in BV2 microglial cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), being able to block NFκB-p65translocation to the nucleus and to activate the Nrf2 pathway. It also produced a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β,IL-6, and TNF-α), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide release and inhibited iNOS, JNK, and p38 activities.Moreover, the compound blocked BACE1 activity and attenuated Aβ-activation of microglia by drastically diminishing ROSlevels. The phosphorylated state of the tau protein was evaluated in SH-SY5Y tau441 cells. Caniferolide A reduced Thr212 andSer214 phosphorylation by targeting p38 and JNK MAPK kinases. On the other side, the antioxidant properties of themacrolide were determined in an oxidative stress model with SH-SY5Y cells treated with H2O2. The compound diminishedROS levels and increased cell viability and GSH content by activating the nuclear factor Nrf2. Finally, the neuroprotectiveability of the compound was confirmed in two trans-well coculture systems with activated BV2 cells (both with LPS and Aβ)and wild type and transfected SH-SY5Y cells. The addition of caniferolide A to microglial cells produced a significant increase inthe survival of neuroblastoma in both cases. These results indicate that the compound is able to target many pathologicalmarkers of AD, suggesting that caniferolide A could be an interesting drug lead for a polypharmacological approach to theillnessThe research leading to these results has received funding from the following FEDER cofunded-grants, Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria Xunta de Galicia, 2017 GRC GI-1682 (ED431C 2017/01); CDTI and Technological Funds, supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, AGL2014-58210-R, AGL2016-78728-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), ISCIII/PI16/01830, RTC-2016-5507-2, and ITC-20161072; and European Union POCTEP 0161-Nanoeaters-1-E-1, Interreg AlertoxNet EAPA-317-2016, Interreg Agritox EAPA-998-2018, H2020 778069-EMERTOX, and FP7 PharmaSea (Grant Agreement 312184).This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Molecular pharmaceutics, copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher.S

Resolution of inflammation in obesity-induced liver disease

Low-grade inflammation in adipose tissue is recognized as a critical event in the development of obesity-related co-morbidities. This chronic inflammation is powerfully augmented through the infiltration of macrophages, which together with adipocytes, perpetuate a vicious cycle of inflammatory cell recruitment and secretion of free fatty acids and deleterious adipokines that predispose to greater incidence of metabolic complications. In the last decade, many factors have been identified to contribute to mounting unresolved inflammation in obese adipose tissue. Among them, pro-inflammatory lipid mediators (i.e., leukotrienes) derived from the omega-6 polyunsaturated arachidonic acid have been shown to play a prominent role. Of note, the same lipid mediators that initially trigger the inflammatory response also signal its termination by stimulating the formation of anti-inflammatory signals. Resolvins and protectins derived from the omega-3 polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids have emerged as a representative family of this novel class of autacoids with dual anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties that act as “stop-signals” of the inflammatory response. This review discusses the participation of these endogenous autacoids in the resolution of adipose tissue inflammation, with a special emphasis in the amelioration of obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions, namely insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Streptocyclinones A and B ameliorate Alzheimer's disease pathological processes in vitro

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a pathology characterized by the abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are also strongly related to this disease. The ability of two new glycosylated angucyclinones, streptocyclinones A and B (1 and 2), isolated from Streptomyces sp to improve AD hallmarks was evaluated. Compounds were able to protect SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from H2O2-induced oxidative injury by activating the nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2). Their capacity to modulate neuroinflammation was tested in lipopolysaccharide-activated BV2 microglial cells. Compounds reduced the release of pro-inflammatory factors, inhibited the activation of NFκB and mitogen activated kinases (MAPK), and induced the translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus of microglial cells. A trans-well co-culture was established to determine the effect of microglia treated with streptocyclinones on the survival of SH-SY5Y cells. The cell viability of neuroblastoma cells increased when the compounds were added to BV2 cells. SH-SY5Y-TMHT441 cells were used to determine the effect of compounds on tau phosphorylation. Both compounds reduced tau hyperphophorylation by targeting MAPK kinases. Moreover, streptocyclinone B (2) was able to inhibit the activity of β-secretase 1 and decrease the release of reactive oxygen species in BV2 cells stimulated with Aβ. With the same co-culture trans-well system, the treatment of Aβ-stimulated microglia with compound 2 augmented the viability of SH-SY5Y-TMHT441 cells. The results presented in this work provide evidences of the multitarget activities displayed by these new Streptomyces compounds, making them good candidates for further studies in the treatment of ADThe research leading to these results has received funding from the following FEDER cofunded-grants. From Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia, 2017 GRC GI-1682 (ED431C 2017/01). From CDTI and Technological Funds, supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, AGL2014-58210-R, AGL2016-78728-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), ISCIII/PI16/01830 and RTC-2016-5507-2, ITC-20161072. From European Union POCTEP 0161-Nanoeaters -1-E-1, Interreg AlertoxNet EAPA-317-2016, H2020 778069-EMERTOX and FP7 PharmaSea (Grant Agreement 312184).S

Las prácticas académicas en el contexto universitario digital: diseño de APP para la gestión e interacción entre estudiantes, empresa/institución y universidad

Este estudio se enfoca en el papel de la tecnología en la gestión de las prácticas académicas, considerando las interacciones entre estudiantes, empresas/instituciones y la universidad, con el objetivo de proporcionar una solución tecnológica para abordar las dificultades que conlleva este proceso. Para ello, se utiliza una metodología mixta, que incluye un panel de expertos y una encuesta dirigida a estudiantes de prácticas en comunicación. Los resultados del análisis temático identifican cuatro bloques temáticos (Utilidad a lo largo del tiempo, Comunicación directa e inmediata, Contenido específico y utilidades prácticas, Agilidad y simplificación de procesos) y revelan un alto consenso entre los expertos y estudiantes respecto a la necesidad de una aplicación para la gestión de prácticas académicas. En base a estos análisis, se propone una aplicación que se estructura en torno a los bloques temáticos identificados, incluyendo funciones de registro, búsqueda, evaluación, comunicación y gestión de ofertas y currículos. En conclusión, la aplicación propuesta es una solución tecnológica eficaz para mejorar la interacción y la gestión de las prácticas académicas. Su implementación fortalecerá los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje al promover una comunicación fluida y simplificar la administración de las prácticas