Effect of the addition of flavan-3-ols on the HPLC-DAD salivary-protein profile

[EN] The interaction between monomeric flavan-3-ols and salivary proteins has been studied using HPLC-DAD. A chromatographic method has been described and seven protein fractions were collected. The peptides and proteins present in each fraction have been identified using nLC-MS-MS analysis. The interaction between saliva and catechin, epicatechin and gallocatechin has been studied. These compounds interact in a discriminated way with salivary proteins: catechin causes a decrease of some fractions, epicatechin causes the decrease or increase of fractions while gallocatechin seems to cause an increase of two fractions. This variable behavior is explained, for the decrease in the chromatographic area, by the precipitation of salivary proteins and, for the increase of the area, by the formation of soluble complexes and/or for the formation of new peaks

Autonomous on-board data processing and instrument calibration software for the SO/PHI

The extension of on-board data processing capabilities is an attractive option to reduce telemetry for scientific instruments on deep space missions. The challenges that this presents, however, require a comprehensive software system, which operates on the limited resources a data processing unit in space allows. We implemented such a system for the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) on-board the Solar Orbiter (SO) spacecraft. It ensures autonomous operation to handle long command-response times, easy changing of the processes after new lessons have been learned and meticulous book-keeping of all operations to ensure scientific accuracy. This contribution presents the requirements and main aspects of the software implementation, followed by an example of a task implemented in the software frame, and results from running it on SO/PHI. The presented example shows that the different parts of the software framework work well together, and that the system processes data as we expect. The flexibility of the framework makes it possible to use it as a baseline for future applications with similar needs and limitations as SO/PHI.Comment: Conference: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentatio, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy

Prescripción de antibióticos en la infección del tracto urinario: adecuación a criterios de calidad en atención primaria

ObjetivoDeterminar la prevalencia de insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) sin tratamiento sustitutivo (TSR), describir el tipo de enfermedades renales primarias y los factores de riesgo asociados que pueden favorecer su evolución hacia la insuficiencia renal terminal.DiseñoEstudio descriptivo, transversal.EmplazamientoPoblación atendida por un centro de atención primaria.ParticipantesMayores de 14 años con historia clínica abierta en el CAP Bon Pastor.ResultadosDurante el período 1-I-1997 hasta 1-XII-1997 se revisaron 12.241 historias clínicas. Se identificaron 64 pacientes que cumplían criterios de IRC sin TSR; prevalencia, 5.228 pacientes por millón de habitantes (pmp) (IC del 95%, 3.950–6.510 pmp). Un 71,9% era varón, la edad media era de 72 años (DE, 13,5). La media de la última creatinina plasmática fue de 2 mg/dl (DE, 0,66). La frecuencia según tipo de nefropatía fue: glomerular, 3 (4,7%); diabética, 5 (7,8%); intersticial, 3 (4,7%); vascular (HTA), 41 (64,1%); indeterminada, 2 (3,1%), e inclasificable, 10 (15,6%). Los factores de riesgo asociados en estos pacientes fueron: hipertensos, 47 (73,4%); diabéticos, 16 (25%); hipercolesterémicos, 26 (40,6%); consumidores crónicos de analgésicos, 20 (31,3%), y 10 (15,6%), fumadores. Un 51,6% de los pacientes presentaba otras enfermedades cardiovasculares.ConclusionesLa prevalencia estimada de IRC sin TRS en la población es de 5.228 pmp, y la hipertensión es el factor de riesgo más frecuente asociado a esta patología.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of chronic renal failure (CRF) without replacement treatment (RT), and to describe the primary renal diseases and associated risk factors that might favour its evolution to terminal renal failure.DesignCross-sectional, descriptive study.SettingPopulation attended at a primary care centre (PCC).ParticipantsOver-14s with a clinical history opened at the Bon Pastor PCC.ResultsBetween the 1st of January 1997 and the 1st of December 1997, 12241 clinical histories were reviewed. 64 patients were identified who satisfied criteria of CRF without RT, a prevalence of 5228 patients per million inhabitants (95% CI, 3,950–6,510). 71.9% were men, and mean age was 72 (SD, 13.5). The most recent plasma creatinine averaged 2 mg/dl (SD, 0.66). Frequency according to kind of nephropathy was: 3 (4.7%) glomerular, 5 (7.8%) diabetic, 3 (4.7%) interstitial, 41 (64.1%) vascular (hypertension), 2 (3.1%) indeterminate and 10 (15.6%) unclassifiable. Associated risk factors in these patients were: 47 (73.4%) with hypertension, 16 (25%) diabetic, 26 (40.6%) with hypercholesterolaemia, 20 (31.3%) chronic consumers of analgesics, and 10 (15.6%) smokers. 51.6% of the patients suffered other cardiovascular illnesses.ConclusionsThe estimated prevalence in the population of CRF without RT is 5,228 per million inhabitants. Hypertension is the risk factor most closely associated with this pathology

Geomorphic signature of segmented relief rejuvenation in the Sierra Morena, Betic forebulge, Spain

The foreland relief of alpine orogenic belts is often rejuvenated due to the intraplate propagation of orogenic deformation. Thus, in these long-lived areas, the localisation of relief rejuvenation may be largely controlled by the reactivation of previous mechanical discontinuities. In this regard, we explored the relationship between the relief rejuvenation pattern and the distribution, geometry, and kinematics of faults in a wide segment of the Betic foreland (Sierra Morena, southern Spain). Specifically, we focused on the forebulge, a WSW–ENE flexural relief that formed, paired to the Betic foreland basin, in response to orogenic load. For this purpose, we applied both qualitative and quantitative geomorphological tools, including geomorphic indices and knickpoint pattern modelling in χ space. We found that the pattern of relief rejuvenation responds to large-scale flexural uplift coupled with the tectonic activity of two groups of faults that often show evidence of reactivation, namely overall WSW–ENE faults contributing to both regional NNW–SSE relief segmentation and vertical extrusion of the forebulge, and NW–SE reverse faults associated with an outstanding WSW–ENE topographic segmentation in the west of the study area. In addition, our knickpoint modelling suggests that the faults related to the southernmost Sierra Morena mountain front have been particularly active in recent times, although their activity span and the relative uplift that they accommodate differ along the Sierra Morena/foreland basin limit. The knickpoint pattern also suggests a significant reorganisation of the analysed drainage basins. The strain partitioning accommodated by the structures involved in relief rejuvenation suggests the intraplate propagation of the transpressional deformation reported from the Betic external fold and thrust belt.</p

Shortwave radiative forcing and efficiency of key aerosol types using AERONET data

The shortwave radiative forcing (&amp;Delta;&lt;i&gt;F&lt;/i&gt;) and the radiative forcing efficiency (&amp;Delta;&lt;i&gt;F&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;eff&lt;/sup&gt;) of natural and anthropogenic aerosols have been analyzed using estimates of radiation both at the Top (TOA) and at the Bottom Of Atmosphere (BOA) modeled based on AERONET aerosol retrievals. Six main types of atmospheric aerosols have been compared (desert mineral dust, biomass burning, urban-industrial, continental background, oceanic and free troposphere) in similar observational conditions (i.e., for solar zenith angles between 55&amp;deg; and 65&amp;deg;) in order to compare the nearly same solar geometry. The instantaneous &amp;Delta;&lt;i&gt;F&lt;/i&gt; averages obtained vary from −122 ± 37 Wm&lt;sup&gt;−2&lt;/sup&gt; (aerosol optical depth, AOD, at 0.55 μm, 0.85 ± 0.45) at the BOA for the mixture of desert mineral dust and biomass burning aerosols in West Africa and −42 ± 22 Wm&lt;sup&gt;−2&lt;/sup&gt; (AOD = 0.9 ± 0.5) at the TOA for the pure mineral dust also in this region up to −6 ± 3 Wm&lt;sup&gt;−2&lt;/sup&gt; and −4 ± 2 Wm&lt;sup&gt;−2&lt;/sup&gt; (AOD = 0.03 ± 0.02) at the BOA and the TOA, respectively, for free troposphere conditions. This last result may be taken as reference on a global scale. Furthermore, we observe that the more absorbing aerosols are overall more efficient at the BOA in contrast to at the TOA, where they backscatter less solar energy into the space. The analysis of the radiative balance at the TOA shows that, together with the amount of aerosols and their absorptive capacity, it is essential to consider the surface albedo of the region on which they are. Thus, we document that in regions with high surface reflectivity (deserts and snow conditions) atmospheric aerosols lead to a warming of the Earth-atmosphere system

Los valores y el compromiso laboral en el empleo público

El presente estudio tiene como finalidad analizar el perfil axiológico de empleados públicos en relación con los niveles de compromiso laboral que presenta el sector. Se trabajó con un muestreo intencional conformado por 147 empleados de un organismo estatal de Mendoza, Argentina. La metodología utilizada es cuantitativa. En este artículo, se muestran los datos obtenidos a partir de la aplicación del Cuestionario de Valores en el Trabajo EVAT 30 y los indicadores de compromiso laboral medidos según el UWES. Los resultados indican asociaciones entre ambos instrumentos, lo que sugiere la importancia de recuperar la centralidad de los valores personales y organizacionales como un modo de incentivar la motivación y la dedicación al trabajo, en pro de la construcción de organizaciones saludables.This paper discusses the axiological profile of public employees in relation with the levels of engagement existing in the sector. A purposive sampling of 147 employees from a government agency in Mendoza, Argentina was used; the methodology applied, quantitative. The article includes data gathered through the EVAT 30 Questionnaire on Values at Work and engagement indicators measured by the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale–UWES. The results show a connection between both instruments, which, in turn, signals the importance of recovering the central role that both personal and organizational values have, as an incentive to motivation and dedication to work, in order to create healthy organizations

Molecular analysis of menadione-induced resistance against biotic stress in Arabidopsis

19 páginas, 6 figuras, 2 tablas.Menadione sodium bisulphite (MSB) is a water-soluble derivative of vitamin K3, or menadione, and has been previously demonstrated to function as a plant defence activator against several pathogens in several plant species. However, there are no reports of the role of this vitamin in the induction of resistance in the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana. In the current study, we demonstrate that MSB induces resistance by priming in Arabidopsis against the virulent strain Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pto) without inducing necrosis or visible damage. Changes in gene expression in response to 0.2 mm MSB were analysed in Arabidopsis at 3, 6 and 24 h post-treatment using microarray technology. In general, the treatment with MSB does not correlate with other publicly available data, thus MSB produces a unique molecular footprint. We observed 158 differentially regulated genes among all the possible trends. More up-regulated genes are included in categories such as 'response to stress' than the background, and the behaviour of these genes in different treatments confirms their role in response to biotic and abiotic stress. In addition, there is an over-representation of the G-box in their promoters. Some interesting functions are represented among the individual up-regulated genes, such as glutathione S-transferases, transcription factors (including putative regulators of the G-box) and cytochrome P450s. This work provides a wide insight into the molecular cues underlying the effect of MSB as a plant resistance inducer.This work was partially funded by an INVESCAN, S.L. grant (No.OTT2001438) to the CSIC and by a BIO2006-02168 grant of MICINN to PT. The microarrays were funded in part by the “Genome España” Foundation. MER was supported by a research contract (ID-TF-06/002) from the Consejería de Industria, Comercio y Nuevas Tecnologías (Gobierno de Canarias). The authors thank CajaCanarias for their research support. We also thank Lorena Perales for her help in performing the bacterial growth curves, Dr. Héctor Cabrera for his useful advice on writing the manuscript, the English translation service of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and Mrs. Pauline Agnew whose endeavoured to edit the English translation of this paper.Peer reviewe