Genética y Arqueología : Análisis molecular de ADN procedente de restos esqueléticos.

La recuperación de moléculas de ADN mitocondrial (ADNmt) de   muestras esqueléticas de diversa antigüedad, permite estudiar la   variabilidad genética de los grupos humanos del pasado. El análisis del ADNmt en tejido antiguo presenta una ventaja fundamental frente al nuclear, debido a su alto número de copias por célula. Los principales problemas metodológicos descritos en este tipo de   análisis, han podido resolverse en aquellos casos en que las   muestras presentaban buenas condiciones de preservación. Estos han sido fundamentalmente : 1.- inhibición de la amplificación,2.- autentificación de los resultados y 3.- detección y   eliminación de la contaminación. La variabilidad en el éxito de la amplificación entre individuos de un mismo yacimiento, indica que las condiciones individuales de cada inhumación son más importantes que la antigüedad. Por otro lado, las piezas dentarias han demostrado ser el material más adecuado para el estudio del ADNmt antiguo. La interpretación de los datos a nivel poblacional sólo es posible en aquellos yacimientos que presentan un amplio número de individuos, dado el relativamente bajo rendimiento de la metodología

Polymeric foams as the matrix of voltammetric sensors for the detection of catechol, hydroquinone, and their mixtures

Producción CientíficaPorous electrodes based on polymethylmethacrylate and graphite foams (PMMA_G_F) have been developed and characterized. Such devices have been successfully used as voltammetric sensors to analyze catechol, hydroquinone, and their mixtures. The presence of pores induces important changes in the oxidation/reduction mechanism of catechol and hydroquinone with respect to the sensing properties observed in nonfoamed PMMA_graphite electrodes (PMMA_G). The electropolymerization processes of catechol or hydroquinone at the electrode surface observed using PMMA_G do not occur at the surface of the foamed PMM_G_F. In addition, the limits of detection observed in foamed electrodes are one order of magnitude lower than the observed in the nonfoamed electrodes. Moreover, foamed electrodes can be used to detect simultaneously both isomers and a remarkable increase in the electrocatalytic properties shown by the foamed samples, produces a decrease in the oxidation potential peak of catechol in presence of hydroquinone, from +0.7 V to +0.3 V. Peak currents increased linearly with concentration of catechol in presence of hydroquinone over the range of 0.37·10−3 M to 1.69·10−3 M with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.27 mM. These effects demonstrate the advantages obtained by increasing the active surface by means of porous structures.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project AGL2015-67482-R)Junta de Castilla y Leon - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project VA-011U16

Community Health: A Patient Satisfaction Inquiry at Puentes de Salud, a Health and Wellness Clinic Centering the Latinx Community in Philadelphia, PA

Free healthcare clinic models contribute the health and wellness of a community providing essential preventative and acute healthcare screening and diagnosis, mitigating negative health outcomes and higher healthcare costs for the individual. Current research supports optimizing community health through knowledge gained from frequent assessment of patient satisfaction and perceived barriers to healthcare. This study examined the level of patient satisfaction at Puentes de Salud (Puentes), a nonprofit healthcare clinic serving Philadelphia’s Latinx migrant community. Utilizing a validated and reliable survey instrument that captures patient satisfaction with healthcare, Spanish or English- speaking patients (n= 79) 18-89 years of age completed a self-administered survey. In addition, a demographic questionnaire with open ended clinic inquiry questions was developed to assesses healthcare access barriers. Participants reported a higher level of satisfaction with higher number of clinic visits but did not report higher scores with more years associated with the clinic. Appointment reminders, improving communication/ answering phone calls, and access to specialty services were suggested to optimize participant health. Improving patient satisfaction and identifying perceived barriers to healthcare presents a unique opportunity to incorporate community needs at Puentes to ensure future growth and utilization of the clinic

Effective dynamics using conditional expectations

The question of coarse-graining is ubiquitous in molecular dynamics. In this article, we are interested in deriving effective properties for the dynamics of a coarse-grained variable $\xi(x)$, where $x$ describes the configuration of the system in a high-dimensional space $\R^n$, and $\xi$ is a smooth function with value in $\R$ (typically a reaction coordinate). It is well known that, given a Boltzmann-Gibbs distribution on $x \in \R^n$, the equilibrium properties on $\xi(x)$ are completely determined by the free energy. On the other hand, the question of the effective dynamics on $\xi(x)$ is much more difficult to address. Starting from an overdamped Langevin equation on $x \in \R^n$, we propose an effective dynamics for $\xi(x) \in \R$ using conditional expectations. Using entropy methods, we give sufficient conditions for the time marginals of the effective dynamics to be close to the original ones. We check numerically on some toy examples that these sufficient conditions yield an effective dynamics which accurately reproduces the residence times in the potential energy wells. We also discuss the accuracy of the effective dynamics in a pathwise sense, and the relevance of the free energy to build a coarse-grained dynamics

Comentarios sobre el pensamiento de Fidel, la educación ambiental y el papel de la universidad en la tarea vida

La protección de la naturaleza y de los recursos naturales, a partir de un modelo de desarrollo sostenible, sería una fuerte preocupación del líder histórico de la Revolución cubana, Fidel Castro, quien constantemente expresaría su inquietud sobre el futuro de la humanidad, ante un modelo consumista que cada vez daña más el planeta. Fidel fue sin dudas, un precursor en la lucha por el cuidado del entorno. En discursos, escritos en la prensa y en su diario accionar estuvo presente el llamado a la protección de la naturaleza. Para el Líder de la Revolución Cubana el intercambio desigual y la deuda externa agreden la ecología y favorecen la destrucción del medio ambiente

Independent responses to ultraviolet radiation and herbivore attack in broccoli

The plant responses to ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) and to insect herbivory are believed to be partially similar. In this study, responses to these factors were investigated in the crop species broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. convar. botrytis, Brassicaceae). Plants were first grown under three UV-B regimes (80%, 23%, and 4% transmittance of ambient UV-B) in greenhouses covered with either innovative materials (high and medium transmittance) or conventional glass (low transmittance). Half of the plants then remained under these conditions, but the other half were transferred to the field with ambient light and herbivore access for up to 3 d. The plant responses to distinct environmental conditions were examined by analysing the morphological and chemical parameters of plants kept inside and plants exposed in the field. Furthermore, suitability of field-exposed plants to naturally occurring insects was investigated in relation to UV-B pretreatment. High levels of UV-B radiation led to increased flavonoid concentrations, but to a lower biomass accumulation in broccoli. These patterns remained after outdoor exposure. However, UV-induced changes of plant traits did not alter attractiveness to herbivorous insects: thrips, whiteflies, and aphids attacked plants independently of UV-B pretreatment. A 3-fold increase of indolyl glucosinolate concentrations occurred in above-ground tissue of all the plants, most likely due to massive herbivore attack after 3 d of field exposure. The results show that plants respond with high specificity to different abiotic and biotic impacts, demonstrating the separate perception and processing of stress factors

Es cosa suya: Entanglements of border externalization and African transit migration in northern Costa Rica

Starting from the idea that border externalization – understood as the spatial and institutional stretching of borders – is enmeshed with the highly contextual humanitarian and securitarian dynamics of migrant trajectories, this article addresses the reach of border externalization tentacles in Costa Rica. Although Costa Rica does not formally engage in border externalization agreements, it is located in a region characterized by transit migration and transnational securitization pressures. Moreover, externalization efforts across the Atlantic have contributed to a relatively new presence of so-called extra-continental migrants. Given these circumstances, we aim to interrogate the ways in which border externalization plays a role in Costa Rica’s discourses, policies and practices of migration management. We do so by analysing a migrant reception centre in the northern Costa Rica border region, and by focusing on African transit migration. Our analysis is based on exploratory field research at the centre as well as on long-term migration research in Central America. Building on these empirical explorations and the theoretical notions of mobility regimes, transit and arterial borders, the article finds that Costa Rica’s identity as a ‘humanitarian transit country’ – as enacted in the migrant reception centre – both reproduces and challenges border externalization. While moving towards increased securitization of migration and an internalization of its border, Costa Rica also distinguishes itself from neighbouring countries by emphasizing the care it extends to African migrants, in practice enabling these migrants to move further north. Based on these findings, the article argues for a deeper appreciation of the role of localregional histories, perceptions, rivalries, linkages and strategies of migration management. This allows for a better grip of the scope and shape of border externalization across a diversity of migration landscapes

LA ENSEÑANZA-APRENDIZAJE DE LA HISTORIA DE CUBA EN LAS CIENCIAS MÉDICAS

  En el artículo se realiza un análisis de la evolución que ha experimentado las diversas interpretaciones por cuales puede ser sumida la enseñanza de la historia. Se sostiene como la asignatura Historia de Cuba es un arreglo didáctico de la ciencia histórica y se destaca el papel del contenido de la ciencia en el que se incluyen el desarrollo de los conocimientos, habilidades, hábitos y valores en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Se fundamenta la importancia formativa de la disciplina la Historia de Cuba para la escuela cubana, a partir del rol que tiene el profesor en este proceso. Se particulariza para las ciencias médicas al valorar como la inclusión de la Historia de Cuba dentro del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en las ciencias médicas responde a la necesidad de contribuir a la formación de una cultura histórica en los profesionales de este sector como parte de la formación humanística que deben poseer

Toxicity to sea urchin embryos of crude and bunker oils weathered under ice alone and mixed with dispersant

[EN] A multi-index approach (larval lenghthening and malformations, developmental disruption, and genotoxicity) was applied using sea-urchin embryos as test-organisms. PAH levels measured in the under-ice weathered aqueous fraction (UIWAF) were lower than in the low-energy water accommodated fraction (LEWAF) and similar amongst UIWAFs of different oils. UIWAFs and LEWAFs caused toxic effects, more markedly in UIWAFs, that could not be attributed to measured individual PAHs or to their mixture. Conversely, UIWAF was less genotoxic than LEWAF, most likely because naphthalene concentrations were also lower. In agreement, NAN LEWAF, the most genotoxic, exhibited the highest naphthalene levels. Dispersant addition produced less consistent changes in PAH levels and embryo toxicity in UIWAFs than in LEWAFs, and did not modify LEWAF genotoxicity. Overall, under ice weathering resulted in lowered waterborne PAHs and genotoxicity but augmented embryo toxicity, not modified by dispersant application.The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge financial support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program EU H2020-BG-2005-2 under grant agreement No 679266 (project GRACE), from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through pre-doctoral fellowship FPU15/05517, and from the Basque Government through Consolidated Research Group GIC IT81013 & IT1302-19. The authors acknowledge Total Spain for kindly providing the dispersant