Bisecting Real and Fake Body Parts: Effects of Prism Adaptation After Right Brain Damage

The representation of body parts holds a special status in the brain, due to their prototypical shape and the contribution of multisensory (visual and somatosensory-proprioceptive) information. In a previous study (Sposito et al., 2010), we showed that patients with left unilateral spatial neglect exhibit a rightward bias in setting the midpoint of their left forearm, which becomes larger when bisecting a cylindrical object comparable in size. This body part advantage, found also in control participants, suggests partly different processes for computing the extent of body parts and objects. In this study we tested 16 right-brain-damaged patients, and 10 unimpaired participants, on a manual bisection task of their own (real) left forearm, or a size-matched fake forearm. We then explored the effects of adaptation to rightward displacing prism exposure, which brings about leftward aftereffects. We found that all participants showed prism adaptation (PA) and aftereffects, with right-brain-damaged patients exhibiting a reduction of the rightward bias for both real and fake forearm, with no overall differences between them. Second, correlation analyses highlighted the role of visual and proprioceptive information for the metrics of body parts. Third, single-patient analyses showed dissociations between real and fake forearm bisections, and the effects of PA, as well as a more frequent impairment with fake body parts. In sum, the rightward bias shown by right-brain-damaged patients in bisecting body parts is reduced by prism exposure, as other components of the neglect syndrome; discrete spatial representations for real and fake body parts, for which visual and proprioceptive codes play different roles, are likely to exist. Multisensory information seems to render self bodily segments more resistant to the disruption brought about by right-hemisphere injury

Miski Vida-Te filtrante con stevia y multivitamínico

El trabajo que presentaremos a continuación es parte de nuestra formación universitaria en el curso de Desarrollo de Negocios el cual está elaborado bajo los lineamientos de la Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas – UPC, la idea es presentar la viabilidad comercial, operativa y financiera para la implementación de la elaboración de un Té filtrante con Stevia y multivitamínicos, el cual busca mejorar la salud de sus consumidores, desde regular los niveles de pH del cuerpo, para volverlo más alcalino hasta la prevención de enfermedades crónicas, como la diabetes, entre otros. El Té filtrante con Stevia y multivitamínicos es un producto sanador a través del incremento del pH, entendiendo que el pH de un té normal es neutro a diferencia de un té alcalino, este último ayuda a las personas a neutralizar el ácido en sus cuerpos, de esta manera el cuerpo de las personas que consumen este té se vuelve alcalino. Ahora bien, según un estudio realizado por el Director de Investigación Clínica y Científica de Essentia, Dr. Ralph E. Holsworth, Jr., las bebidas alcalinas resultaron en un 88% de “mejor hidratación” que las bebidas regulares. El estudio también concluyó que la alcalinidad en su conjunto podría beneficiar la salud ósea. El estudio examinó la dieta general de la población y concluyó que una dieta más alcalina podría proteger los huesos. En ese sentido, las investigaciones revelaron que los sujetos que consumían bebidas alcalinas experimentaban menos degradación ósea y una reducción significativa en la pérdida ósea a través de la orina. Entre los beneficios, destaca el hecho de regular la presión arterial. En resumen, este informe no solo indica que las bebidas con un pH más alto, o bebidas alcalinas, pueden mejorar la función cardiovascular y ayudar a las personas a retener más líquidos en el cuerpo, sino que también realizan una rehidratación más eficiente que las bebidas regulares. El diferencial del producto es el uso de complementos naturales dentro del Té filtrante, ya que proporciona a la salud diversos beneficios, convirtiendo a MISKI en un producto innovador para el mercado peruano.The work that we will present below is part of our university training in the Business Development course which is prepared under the guidelines of the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences - UPC, the idea is to present the commercial, operational and financial viability for the implementation of the elaboration of a filter tea with Stevia and multivitamins, which seeks to improve the health of its consumers, from regulating the pH levels of the body, to make it more alkaline to the prevention of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, among others. Filtering Tea with Stevia and multivitamins is a healing product through the increase in pH, understanding that the pH of a normal tea is neutral unlike an alkaline tea, the latter helps people to neutralize the acid in their bodies, this way the body of people who consume this tea becomes alkaline. Now, according to a study by Essentia's Director of Clinical and Scientific Research, Dr. Ralph E. Holsworth, Jr., alkaline drinks resulted in 88% "better hydration" than regular drinks. The study also concluded that alkalinity as a whole could benefit bone health. The study examined the general diet of the population and concluded that a more alkaline diet could protect bones. In that sense, the investigations revealed that the subjects who consumed alkaline beverages experienced less bone degradation and a significant reduction in bone loss through urine. Among the benefits, the fact of regulating blood pressure stands out. In summary, this report not only indicates that beverages with a higher pH, or alkaline beverages, can improve cardiovascular function and help people retain more fluid in the body, but also perform more efficient rehydration than regular beverages. The differential of the product is the use of natural complements within the filter tea, since it provides various health benefits, making MISKI an innovative product for the Peruvian market.Trabajo de investigació

Tecnologias e mapeamento de redes sociais para o estudo da Antiguidade: o Festival das 'Compitalia' e seus atores sociais na Roma augustana

Atualmente, a maior parte dos esforços para compilar e compartilhar documentos relacionados ao Mundo Antigo tem a tecnologia como aliada. Tanto na criação de mapas digitais quanto na inclusão de documentos epigráficos, numismáticos e iconográficos em plataformas de livre acesso, a tecnologia digital é essencial à realização dos trabalhos científicos sobre a Antiguidade. O presente artigo, que busca abordar essa questão, divide-se em duas partes: uma teórica, voltada a compreender de que forma a área Digital Classics sublinha uma das grandes adições atuais às Ciências Humanas, que é a tecnologia digital; e outra, de cunho metodológico, na qual apresentam-se os métodos com suas seleções e escolhas, que possibilitam a criação de um mapa da rede. Como estudo de caso, apresentamos a problemática da rede de conexões construída a partir do contato entre Augusto e os magistri uici e a produção das ações e interações religiosas cotidianas, bem como os resultados parciais da reconstituição do mapa elaborado pelo Digital Augustan Rome, para alcançar nosso objetivo de demarcar uma rede sobre ele

Organizational culture and its relationship with the work environment in a private clinic in Metropolitan Lima 2023

La investigación se enmarca en una institución perteneciente al sector salud. La problemática de este estudio se centra en la cultura organizacional y su relación con el clima laboral y la justicia organizacional en un escenario adverso dentro de una clínica privada de Lima Metropolitana. El propósito de este estudio fue explorar dicha relación y comprender la relevancia de estos conceptos en la gestión de recursos humanos, la afectación en la productividad y los resultados organizacionales. La investigación es de carácter cualitativo-exploratorio. Incluye entrevistas a profundidad a cuatro expertos involucrados en la situación problemática. Se encontró que, el clima y la cultura organizacional generan escenarios positivos y justos que contribuyen a reforzar la motivación, el sentido de pertenencia y el compromiso. Asimismo, que la literatura propone el modelo de Cameron y Quinn, como estrategia frente a situaciones similares al caso de estudio. Se concluye que existen dos alternativas viables para mejorar la cultura organizacional, el clima y la justicia e integridad en esta organización, la primera, afianzar y velar por el cumplimiento de políticas, normas y procedimientos, la segunda, mantener y velar por el cumplimiento de la jornada laboral.The research is framed in an institution belonging to the health sector. The problem of this study focuses on organizational culture and its relationship with the work environment and organizational justice in an adverse scenario within a private clinic in Metropolitan Lima. The purpose of this study was to explore this relationship and understand the relevance of these concepts in human resource management, the impact on productivity and organizational results. The research is qualitative-exploratory in nature. It includes in-depth interviews with four experts involved in the problematic situation. It was found that the organizational climate and culture generate positive and fair scenarios that contribute to reinforcing motivation, the sense of belonging and commitment. Likewise, the literature proposes the Cameron and Quinn model as a strategy in situations similar to the case study. It is concluded that there are two viable alternatives to improve the organizational culture, climate and justice and integrity in this organization, the first, to strengthen and ensure compliance with policies, standards and procedures, the second, to maintain and ensure compliance with the working day.Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesiona

Autologous endothelialized small-caliber vascular grafts engineered from blood-derived induced pluripotent stem cells

An ideal cell source for human therapeutic and disease modeling applications should be easily accessible and possess unlimited differentiation and expansion potential. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) represent a promising source given their ease of harvest and their pluripotent nature. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using PBMC-derived hiPSCs for vascular tissue engineering. However, so far, no endothelialization of hiPSC-derived tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) based on fully biodegradable polymers without xenogenic matrix components has been shown. In this study, we have generated hiPSCs from PBMCs and differentiated them into αSMA- and calponin-positive smooth muscle cells (SMCs) as well as endothelial cells (ECs) positive for CD31, vWF and eNOS. Both cell types were co-seeded on PGA-P4HB starter matrices and cultured under static or dynamic conditions to induce tissue formation in vitro. The resulting small diameter vascular grafts showed abundant amounts of extracellular matrix, containing a thin luminal layer of vWF-positive cells and a subendothelial αSMA-positive layer approximating the architecture of native vessels. Our results demonstrate the successful generation of TEVGs based on SMCs and ECs differentiated from PBMC-derived hiPSC combined with a biodegradable polymer. These results pave the way for developing autologous PBMC-derived hiPSC-based vascular constructs for therapeutic applications or disease modeling. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We report for the first time the possibility to employ human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived iPSCs to generate biodegradable polymer-based tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVG), which mimic the native layered architecture of blood vessels. hiPSCs from PBMCs were differentiated into smooth muscle cells as well as endothelial cells. These cells were co-seeded on a biodegradable PGA/P4HB scaffold and cultured in a bioreactor to induce tissue formation in vitro. The resulting small diameter TEVG showed abundant amounts of extracellular matrix, containing a αSMA-positive layer in the interstitium and a thin luminal layer of vWF-positive endothelial cells approximating the architecture of native vessels. Our findings improving the generation of autologous vascular replacements using blood as an easily accessible cell source

High Frequency of Tumor Propagating Cells in Fusion-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Fusion-positive RMS (FPRMS), expressing the PAX3/7-FOXO1, has a worse prognosis compared to the more common fusion-negative RMS (FNRMS). Although several studies reported hierarchical organization for FNRMS with the identification of cancer stem cells, the cellular organization of FPRMS is not yet clear. In this study we investigated the expression of key stem cell markers, developed a sphere assay, and investigated the seven most common FPRMS cell lines for subpopulations of tumor propagating cancer stem-like cells, also called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, loss- and gain-of-functions of the stem cell genes SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG were investigated in the same cells. Single-cell clonal analysis was performed in vitro as well as in vivo. We found that no stable CSC subpopulation could be enriched in FPRMS. Unlike depletion of PAX3-FOXO1, neither overexpression nor siRNA-mediated downregulation of SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG affected physiology of RMS cells. Every single subclone-derived cell clone initiated tumor growth in mice, despite displaying considerable heterogeneity in gene expression. FPRMS appears to contain a high frequency of tumor propagating stem-like cells, which could explain their higher propensity for metastasis and relapse. Their dependency on PAX3-FOXO1 activity reinforces the importance of the fusion protein as the key therapeutic target

High Frequency of Tumor Propagating Cells in Fusion-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Fusion-positive RMS (FPRMS), expressing the PAX3/7-FOXO1, has a worse prognosis compared to the more common fusion-negative RMS (FNRMS). Although several studies reported hierarchical organization for FNRMS with the identification of cancer stem cells, the cellular organization of FPRMS is not yet clear. In this study we investigated the expression of key stem cell markers, developed a sphere assay, and investigated the seven most common FPRMS cell lines for subpopulations of tumor propagating cancer stem-like cells, also called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, loss- and gain-of-functions of the stem cell genes SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG were investigated in the same cells. Single-cell clonal analysis was performed in vitro as well as in vivo. We found that no stable CSC subpopulation could be enriched in FPRMS. Unlike depletion of PAX3-FOXO1, neither overexpression nor siRNA-mediated downregulation of SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG affected physiology of RMS cells. Every single subclone-derived cell clone initiated tumor growth in mice, despite displaying considerable heterogeneity in gene expression. FPRMS appears to contain a high frequency of tumor propagating stem-like cells, which could explain their higher propensity for metastasis and relapse. Their dependency on PAX3-FOXO1 activity reinforces the importance of the fusion protein as the key therapeutic target