Establishing the nature of X-ray binaries through infrared spectroscopy

European Space Agency's INTEGRAL (International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) satellite have discovered new X-ray sources due to its sensitivity above 20 keV. Most of these sources suffer from high absorption and the classical blue band spectral classification region is normally not accessible. This can be overcome, however, through infrared spectroscopy. The characterisation of these systems can influence the population synthesis models currently in use. In this work, we present the first H and K band spectra for three INTEGRAL sources using the NICS instrument mounted on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) 3.5-m telescope. This study was complemented with infrared photometry from UKIDSS, 2MASS, WISE and NEOWISE databases. Our spectra show all the significant features in emission and are, thus, consistent with a Be nature of the companions. Owing to their X-ray characteristics, these systems were classified as Be X-ray binaries. This allowed us to refine its distances to the sources using suitable calibrations that take into account the contamination by the circumstellar disk.This work was supported partially by the project ESP2017-85691-P AM acknowledges the support by the VIDI de la UA under visiting programme INV17-26

Oral lichen planus and dental implants: protocol and systematic review

A systematic review was conducted to answer the following PICO question: 'Can patients diagnosed with oral lichen planus (OLP) be rehabilitated with dental implants as successfully as patients without OLP?'. A systematic review of the literature was done following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements to gather available and current evidence of oral lichen planus and its relationship with dental implants. The synthesis of results was performed using a Binary Random-E ects Model meta-analysis. Summary measures were odds ratios (ORs), frequencies, and percentages comparing the survival rate of dental implants placed in patients with OLP vs. those in patients without OLP. The electronic search yielded 25 articles, after removing the duplicated ones, 24 articles were selected. Out of the 24 articles, only 15 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. According to the results of the meta-analysis, with a total sample of 48 patients with OLP and 49 patients without OLP, an odds ratio of 2.48 (95% CI 0.34-18.1) was established, with an I2 value of 0%. According to the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) criteria, level A can be established to conclude that patients with OLP can be rehabilitated with dental implants

Glucose Restriction Promotes Osteocyte Specification by Activating a PGC-1α-Dependent Transcriptional Program

Molecular mechanism of behavior; Molecular physiology; Specialized functions of cellsMecanismo molecular del comportamiento; Fisiología molecular; Funciones especializadas de las célulasMecanisme molecular del comportament; Fisiologia molecular; Funcions especialitzades de les cèl·lulesOsteocytes, the most abundant of bone cells, differentiate while they remain buried within the bone matrix. This encasement limits their access to nutrients and likely affects their differentiation, a process that remains poorly defined. Here, we show that restriction in glucose supply promotes the osteocyte transcriptional program while also being associated with increased mitochondrial DNA levels. Glucose deprivation triggered the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1 pathway. AMPK and SIRT1 activators or PGC-1α overexpression are sufficient to enhance osteocyte gene expression in IDG-SW3 cells, murine primary osteoblasts, osteocytes, and organotypic/ex vivo bone cultures. Conversely, osteoblasts and osteocytes deficient in Ppargc1a and b were refractory to the effects of glucose restriction. Finally, conditional ablation of both genes in osteoblasts and osteocytes generate osteopenia and reduce osteocytic gene expression in mice. Altogether, we uncovered a role for PGC-1 in the regulation of osteocyte gene expressio

IGR J19294+1816: a new Be-X-ray binary revealed through infrared spectroscopy

The aim of this work is to characterize the counterpart to the INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory high-mass X-ray binary candidate IGR J19294+1816 so as to establish its true nature. We obtained H-band spectra of the selected counterpart acquired with the Near Infrared Camera and Spectrograph instrument mounted on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo 3.5-m telescope which represents the first infrared spectrum ever taken of this source. We complement the spectral analysis with infrared photometry from UKIDSS, 2MASS, WISE, and NEOWISE data bases. We classify the mass donor as a Be star. Subsequently, we compute its distance by properly taking into account the contamination produced by the circumstellar envelope. The findings indicate that IGR J19294+1816 is a transient source with a B1Ve donor at a distance of d = 11 ± 1 kpc, and luminosities of the order of 1036–37 erg s−1, displaying the typical behaviour of a Be-X-ray binary.Part of this work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad project number ESP2014-53672-C3-3-P. JJRR acknowledges financial support from the Generalitat Valenciana and University of Alicante projects GV/2014/088 and GRE12-35, respectively. AM acknowledges the support by the grant by the Vicerectorat d’Investigació, Desenvolupament i Innovació de la Universitat d’Alacant under visiting researcher programme INV15-10

Timing variability of Vela X-1 during a bright flare

The X-ray Universe 2014, edited by Jan-Uwe Ness. Online at http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/2014-symposium/, id.130We present an in-depth analysis of the temporal behaviour of the HMXB Vela X-1 which exhibited strongly varying flux levels during an observation by XMM-Newton. During the 100 ks observation the source went from being in a highly absorbed initial state, to one of increased activity which was followed by a giant X-ray flare, before finally reaching a settled state with low absorption. The lower absorption state allows the normally absorbed pulse profile below 1 keV to be studied. Vela X-1 also showed multiple changes in the structure of the pulse profile including a phase lag with the harder photons leading the softer ones. A change in the pulse period, significant at approximately the 2σ level, was observed at the beginning of the powerful flare and is likely related to the large accreted mass. For comparison purposes, an earlier XMM-Newton observation in a lower active state is used to put the variations in pulse profile and phase lag in context

Glucose Restriction Promotes Osteocyte Specification by Activating a PGC-1α-Dependent Transcriptional Program

Osteocytes, the most abundant of bone cells, differentiate while they remain buried within the bone matrix. This encasement limits their access to nutrients and likely affects their differentiation, a process that remains poorly defined. Here, we show that restriction in glucose supply promotes the osteocyte transcriptional program while also being associated with increased mitochondrial DNA levels. Glucose deprivation triggered the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1 pathway. AMPK and SIRT1 activators or PGC-1α overexpression are sufficient to enhance osteocyte gene expression in IDG-SW3 cells, murine primary osteoblasts, osteocytes, and organotypic/ ex vivo bone cultures. Conversely, osteoblasts and osteocytes deficient in Ppargc1a and b were refractory to the effects of glucose restriction. Finally, conditional ablation of both genes in osteoblasts and osteocytes generate osteopenia and reduce osteocytic gene expression in mice. Altogether, we uncovered a role for PGC-1 in the regulation of osteocyte gene expression. Molecular Mechanism of Behavior; Molecular Physiology; Specialized Functions of Cell

El proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje de la física para la ingeniería/arquitectura

Cuando finalice el curso 2013-14 se producirá la salida de la primera promoción de graduados en la Escuela Politécnica Superior (EPS). Teniendo en cuenta que antes de que transcurran seis años se debe renovar la acreditación de los títulos oficiales de Grado, consideramos adecuado efectuar un análisis crítico del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados del seguimiento realizado en el contexto educativo de los fundamentos físicos en los títulos de grado de la EPS. Estos resultados muestran la necesidad de abordar los cambios necesarios para corregir las deficiencias detectadas y mejorar la calidad del aprendizaje. Conviene recordar que el cambio que se pretendía realizar en la enseñanza universitaria era para centrarse en el aprendizaje del alumnado. Además incluimos un estudio de la evolución del aprendizaje de la física analizando las calificaciones de acceso en física y matemáticas y comparándolas con las obtenidas en los fundamentos físicos de los diferentes grados impartidos en la EPS. También presentaremos buena parte de las actividades realizadas para facilitar el aprendizaje continuo de nuestro alumnado mediante el uso de nuevas herramientas informáticas, como blogs, OpenCourseWare, materiales audiovisuales (pUAs), etc

Materiales para el autoaprendizaje y análisis de resultados académicos en dos grupos de física

La preparación previa del alumnado que cursa la asignatura de Fundamentos Físicos en primer curso de grado implantado en la Escuela Politécnica Superior de la Universidad de Alicante, es muy heterogénea. Además, se da la circunstancia que en los últimos cursos alrededor de un 50% del alumnado no ha cursado nunca una asignatura de física anteriormente, aunque esta situación depende del grado concreto. En este trabajo presentamos un análisis de los resultados obtenidos en el curso 14-15 en dos grupos teóricos de Fundamentos Físicos de la Informática a lo largo del curso. Nuestro objetivo es mejorar la metodología de la asignatura en actividades como cursos de iniciación, distribución homogénea del alumnado en los grupos teóricos, o adaptación de la guía docente al contexto particular de cada grupo. Otro aspecto que trabaja la red es el desarrollo de materiales para el autoaprendizaje de la física. Nuestro objetivo es facilitar que el alumnado pueda prepararse la asignatura de Fundamentos Físicos utilizando estos materiales. Entre ellos destacamos la elaboración de libros de resolución de problemas y la elaboración de blogs educativos

Coordinación y evaluación de la implantación del primer curso de Ingeniería Robótica

En el curso 2015-16 se ha implantado la nueva titulación de grado en Ingeniería Robótica en la Universidad de Alicante. Este grado es el primero en el territorio nacional de estas características. El perfil de los estudiantes es una combinación entre un ingeniero industrial y uno informático, perfil muy demandado por las empresas. La principal cuestión que nos planteamos en este estudio es la implantación del primer curso de este novedoso grado. Al ser el primer grado de estas características, es necesario una vigilancia de los contenidos para su adecuación al perfil del estudiante. Por otro lado, se hace necesario una coordinación de los contenidos de las asignaturas para evitar posibles solapes o carencias

Destrezas matemáticas previas de los estudiantes de Grado en Ingenierías y Arquitectura (II)

Muchos profesores de asignaturas de física y de matemáticas que imparten docencia en el primer curso de las titulaciones técnicas de Grado detectan un empeoramiento de las destrezas matemáticas básicas de los alumnos de nuevo ingreso. Esta situación dificulta el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje y lastra negativamente las posibilidades de éxito de muchos estudiantes de primer curso. Esta clara sensación, sin embargo necesita de una definición cuantitativa. En este proyecto, nos planteamos continuar y completar el análisis cuantitativo realizado en el curso 2014/15, de las destrezas en matemáticas básicas de los nuevos matriculados en las titulaciones de Grado de la Escuela Politécnica Superior (EPS), extendiéndolo a todas las titulaciones de Grado de la misma, para impulsar un debate en la comunidad universitaria y pre-universitaria que lleve a proponer medidas concretas dirigidas a mejorar las habilidades matemáticas previas en nuestros estudiantes