Del cómic a la narración transmedia en la formación universitaria. Mapa transmedia de Los Vengadores

Dentro de las nuevas perspectivas educativas, el multimedia y la hipertextualidad son elementos imprescindibles en la formación del alumnado universitario que debe navegar en Internet de una manera efectiva. Entre los múltiples conceptos, el de la narración transmedia (Henry Jenkins 2003; Carlos Scolari 2013) ha asumido una especial relevancia, ya que supone la construcción de un objeto artístico y comercial a través de múltiples medios, digitales y tradicionales, con especial relevancia para distintas áreas de conocimiento. Con el reciente éxito de las adaptaciones cinematográficas del Universo Marvel, el cómic ha resurgido como un elemento vertebrador de muchas de estas obras transmedia. La relación entre texto e imagen, intrínseca en la concepción de la narración gráfica, hace que en los principales ejemplos transmedia se utilice el cómic como un elemento más. Esta investigación es una propuesta para explicar las características principales de la narración transmedia al alumnado universitario a través de los múltiples elementos que nos ofrece la saga de Los Vengadores. Cómic, cine, series, dibujos animados, videojuegos, fanfiction y publicidad son elementos que integran este complejo universo y aportan nuevos significados a la narración, ofreciéndonos nuevas estrategias metodológicas en la difusión del conocimiento

Aplasia of the lacrimal and major salivary glands (ALSG). First case report in spanish population and review of the literature

Aplasia of the lacrimal and the major salivary glands (ALSG) is a rare disorder with scarce cases described in the recent literature. The pattern of genetic inheritance is autosomal dominant with variable expressivity. A 40 years male patient was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Service at the Hospital Universitario de A Coruña diagnosed with complete agenesis of all salivary glands. Our case it is the first of ALSG syndrome in the Spanish literature. Imaging tests are necessary to confirm the lack of formation of salivary glands and alteration of lacrimal system. A mutation of FGF10 has been proposed as the responsible of the syndrome. The management of the lacrimal alteration depends of the clinical findings. Clinical suspicion remains the principal tool to diagnose the syndrome

Algoritmo para la caracterización univoca de metamateriales basados en inclusiones quirales

Electromagnetic characterization is perfomed from the reflection and transmission coefficients by making use of retrieval algorithms. However, it is known the existence of uncertainties in the determination of these electromagnetic parameters. Here, we present a new algorithm that uses some techniques in order to avoid these uncertainities, some based on continuity conditions of physical magnitudes and some others based on causality relations, that is, exploiting Kramers-Kronig relations.Ingeniería, Industria y Construcció

Assessment of snowfall accumulation underestimation by tipping bucket gauges in the Spanish operational network

Within the framework of the World Meteorological Organization Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (WMO-SPICE), the Thies tipping bucket precipitation gauge was assessed against the SPICE reference configuration at the Formigal–Sarrios test site located in the Pyrenees mountain range of Spain. The Thies gauge is the most widely used precipitation gauge by the Spanish Meteorological State Agency (AEMET) for the measurement of all precipitation types including snow. It is therefore critical that its performance is characterized. The first objective of this study is to derive transfer functions based on the relationships between catch ratio and wind speed and temperature. Multiple linear regression was applied to 1 and 3 h accumulation periods, confirming that wind is the most dominant environmental variable affecting the gauge catch efficiency, especially during snowfall events. At wind speeds of 1.5 m s−1 the tipping bucket recorded only 70 % of the reference precipitation. At 3 m s−1, the amount of measured precipitation decreased to 50 % of the reference, was even lower for temperatures colder than −2 °C and decreased to 20 % or less for higher wind speeds

Complications Associated With Initial Clinical Presentation of Cystic Echinococcosis: A 20-year Cohort Analysis

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, complex, and overlooked zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus. In humans, it may result in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations depending on the type of complications, ranging from asymptomatic infection to fatal disease. The primary complications and risk factors associated with CE are not well defined. We performed a retrospective, observational study of inpatients diagnosed with CE from January 1998 to December 2017 in the public health-care system of western Spain. Five hundred and six cases were analyzed. More than half of the patients (302 [59.7%]) were asymptomatic, and the diagnoses were made incidentally. A total of 204 (40.3%) patients had complications associated with CE; 97 (47.5%) were mechanical, 62 (30.4%) were infectious, 15 (7.3%) were immunoallergic, and 30 (14.7%) involved a combination of complications. Mortality was higher in patients with mechanical complications (9.4%) than in patients with infectious complications (5.6%) and in patients with allergic complications (0%) (odds ratio = 19.7, 95% CI, 4.3-89.1, P < 0.001). In summary, CE frequently results in complications, especially in the liver in younger patients and, regardless of other variables, such as size or stage of cyst. Mechanical problems and superinfection are the most frequent complications. CE is an obligatory diagnosis in patients with urticarial or anaphylactoid reactions of unknown cause in endemic areas

Estudios de cómic en la Universidad de Alicante. De Unicómic a una red de investigación

Con el fin de continuar con la labor de difusión de la historieta como arte, objeto de estudio académico y herramienta didáctica que desde 1999 realiza la asociación Unicómic, coordinadora de las Jornadas del Cómic de la Universidad de Alicante de idéntico nombre, y a partir de un curso sobre la relación del noveno arte con la Literatura y la Historia celebrado en noviembre de 2013, buena parte del profesorado de este último junto a otros investigadores con inquietudes similares acaban conformando una red de investigación centrada en las posibilidades del cómic como instrumento docente, de nombre Cómic como elemento didáctico. Posibilidades de la narración gráfica en disciplinas académicas y tramos de preparación a la universidad. Dicha red articula una serie de investigaciones que pasa por la realización y tutorización de Trabajos de Fin de Grado, la participación de sus miembros en cursos académicos de diversa índole y la labor continuista de coordinación de las propias jornadas de Unicómic

EFHB is a novel cytosolic Ca²+ sensor that modulates STIM1-SARAF interaction

FUNDAMENTOS/OBJETIVOS: STIM1 y Orai1 son los componentes clave de la entrada de Ca2+ en la tienda (SOCE). Entre las proteínas que participan en la regulación de la SOCE, la SARAF previene la activación espontánea de la SOCE y modula la función de STIM1. MÉTODOS: Se estimó la movilización de Ca2+ citosólico en células cargadas de fura-2 usando un microscopio invertido de epifluorescencia. La interacción de STIM1 con Orai1, EFHB (miembro de la familia B del dominio de la mano EF, también conocido como CFAP21) y SARAF se detectó mediante inmunoprecipitación seguida de Western blotting utilizando anticuerpos específicos. La participación de EFHB en la translocación de NFAT al núcleo se detectó mediante microscopía confocal. RESULTADOS: Aquí reportamos la identificación del EFHB como un nuevo regulador SOCE. El EFHB interactúa con el STIM1 al agotarse el almacenamiento y se disocia a través de un mecanismo dependiente de Ca2+-. El silenciamiento mediado por el ARNi así como los estudios de sobreexpresión revelaron que el EFHB juega un papel relevante en la interacción de STIM1 y Orai1 al agotarse las reservas, la activación de la translocación de SOCE y NFAT del citosol al núcleo. El silenciamiento de la expresión de la EFHB suprimió la disociación de la SARAF de la STIM1, lo que indica que la EFHB podría desempeñar un papel importante en la interacción dinámica entre ambas proteínas, lo que es pertinente para la activación de los canales de Orai1 al agotarse el almacenamiento de Ca2+ y su posterior modulación mediante la inactivación lenta dependiente del Ca2+. CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestros resultados indican que el EFHB es un nuevo regulador SOCE que modula la interacción STIM1-SARAF.BACKGROUND/AIMS: STIM1 and Orai1 are the key components of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Among the proteins involved in the regulation of SOCE, SARAF prevents spontaneous activation of SOCE and modulates STIM1 function. METHODS: Cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization was estimated in fura-2-loaded cells using an epifluorescence inverted microscope. STIM1 interaction with Orai1, EFHB (EF-hand domain family member B, also known as CFAP21) and SARAF was detected by immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting using specific antibodies. The involvement of EFHB in the translocation of NFAT to the nucleus was detected by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Here, we report the identification of EFHB as a new SOCE regulator. EFHB interacts with STIM1 upon store depletion and dissociates through a Ca2+- dependent mechanism. RNAi-mediated silencing as well as overexpression studies revealed that EFHB plays a relevant role in the interaction of STIM1 and Orai1 upon store depletion, the activation of SOCE and NFAT translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Silencing EFHB expression abolished the dissociation of SARAF from STIM1, which indicates that EFHB might play an important role in the dynamic interaction between both proteins, which is relevant for the activation of Orai1 channels upon Ca2+ store depletion and their subsequent modulation via slow Ca2+-dependent inactivation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that EFHB is a new SOCE regulator that modulates STIM1-SARAF interaction.• Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Contrato Juan de la Cierva IJCI-2015-25665, para Isaac Jardín Polo • Junta de Extremadura y Fondos FEDER. Contrato IB16046, para José Javier López Barba • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Subvención BFU2016-74932-C2-1-P, para Letizia Albarrán Alonso • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Subvenciones Subvenciones BFU2013-45564-C2-1-P/2-P y BFU2016-74932-C2-1-P/2-P • Junta de Extremadura y Fondos FEDER. Subvenciones IB16046 y GR18061peerReviewe

Portal hypertension as a complication of cystic echinococcosis: a 20-year cohort analysis

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease caused by the larval forms of species of the tapeworm Echinococcus. The most common location is the liver. To assess the frequency and clinical characteristics of portal hypertension (PH) and the risk factors for PH development, we performed a retrospective observational study of inpatients diagnosed with hepatic CE and PH from January 1998 to December 2018, at Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Spain. Of 362 patients analyzed with hepatic CE, 15 inpatients (4.1%) had a portal vein diameter ≥ 14 mm, and the mean diameter of the portal vein was 16.9 (standard deviation [SD] ±2.1) mm. Twelve patients were men. The mean age was 59.5 years (SD ± 17.8 years). Four patients had ascites (26.6%), four had collateral circulation (26.6%), 14 had hepatosplenomegaly (93.3%), five had esophageal varices (33.3%), four had hematemesis, and three had jaundice. Other causes of PH included hepatitis B virus (1 patient) and hepatitis C virus (1 patient) infections and alcohol abuse (1 patient). The host variables associated with PH development were male sex (odds ratio, 4.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-20.9; P = 0.030) and larger cyst size (10.8 ± 6.3 versus 7.6 ± 4.1; P = 0.004). Hepatic CE is an infrequent cause of PH that usually occurs without indications of liver failure. Larger cyst size and male sex were the main risk factors associated with this complication. Mortality was higher for patients with hepatic CE with PH than for patients with hepatic CE without PH

Reference measurements for WMO/CIMO SPICE and on-going projects at the Formigal-Sarrios field site

Comunicación presentada en: TECO-2016 (Technical Conference on Meteorological and Environmental Instruments and Methods of Observation) celebrada en Madrid, del 27 al 30 de septiembre de 2016.A WMO-SPICE (Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment) site has been set up by AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency) at Formigal-Sarrios in the Pyrenees range in 2013. The field site is located at 1800 m asl in a flat area in a subalpine environment with no vegetation, except for small amounts of grass. A DFIR (Double Fence Intercomparison Reference) was installed in 2014. Thanks to this infrastructure, unique in Spain and in the Pyrenees range, AEMET can participate in international solid precipitation intercomparisons. This experimental site represents the efforts of AEMET to contribute to improve the accuracy of the measurement of solid precipitation and to analyze the performance of observation devices in extreme conditions such as mountainous environments. The site will be also used as a long-term reference to monitor the changes in precipitation and to test and to compare new instruments in close collaboration with national and international partners. The site is at present equipped with numerous automatic devices measuring snow depth, snow water equivalent, total precipitation, air temperature, wind, air pressure, visibility, type of precipitation and radiation. This work gives an overview of the on-going projects and some preliminary results of interest for WMO-SPICE as well as for national interests such as hydrology, climatology and nowcasting

Analysis of Arabidopsis SYT1 mutants and chimeras reveal insights about its dynamic and function on ER-PM MCS.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) extends throughout the cell and forms Membrane Contact Sites (MCS) with other organelles. MCS are essential for lipid transport, calcium signaling and organelle communication. In plants, ER-Plasma Membrane (ER-PM) MCS contain some proteins which, while being anchored to the ER, can attach with the PM through electrostatic interactions. Arabidopsis thaliana SYT1 is one of the most studied ER-PM tethers in plants, as it contributes to both biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. To study SYT1 dynamics and function, our group has generated Arabidopsis stable lines expressing mutant versions of SYT1, to remove SYT1 Ca2+ binding site (SYT1MutC2), and to cause a blockage of the SMP hydrophobic channel (SYT1MutSMP). Additionally, we generated chimeric versions of SYT1, switching the SMP domain by its analogue of human E-Syt1 and TMEM24 proteins (SYT1ESYT1 and SYT1TMEM24 respectively). Our results demonstrate that both SYT1MutC2 and SYT1MutSMP lines complement the cold and salt stress phenotypes of the syt1 mutant. On the other side, SYT1ESYT1 and SYTTMEM24 chimeras do not complement such phenotypes, which confirms the essential role of SYT1 SMP domain in cold and salt stress tolerance, as well as the functional differences of SYT1 SMP domain compared to E-Syt1 and TMEM24 SMP domains. Moreover, confocal analysis of SYT1MutC2 line evidenced an altered dynamic of SYT1 in terms of cortical ER relocalization upon prolonged salt stress treatment. Altogether, these findings indicate that SYT1 Ca2+ binding site is not essential for SYT1 salt stress tolerance, but influences SYT1 dynamics on salt-induced ER-PM MCS expansion