The Level of NMDA Receptor in the Membrane Modulates Amyloid-β Association and Perforation

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects mostly the elderly. The main histopathological markers are the senile plaques formed by amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregates that can perforate the plasma membrane of cells, increasing the intracellular calcium levels and releasing synaptic vesicles that finally lead to a delayed synaptic failure. Several membrane proteins and lipids interact with Aβ affecting its toxicity in neurons. Here, we focus on NMDA receptors (NMDARs) as proteins that could be modulating the association and neurotoxic perforation induced by Aβ on the plasma membrane. In fact, our results showed that decreasing NMDARs, using enzymatic or siRNA approaches, increased the association of Aβ to the neurons. Furthermore, overexpression of NMDARs also resulted in an enhanced association between NMDA and Aβ. Functionally, the reduction in membrane NMDARs augmented the process of membrane perforation. On the other hand, overexpressing NMDARs had a protective effect because Aβ was now unable to cause membrane perforation, suggesting a complex relationship between Aβ and NMDARs. Because previous studies have recognized that Aβ oligomers are able to increase membrane permeability and produce amyloid pores, the present study supports the conclusion that NMDARs play a critical protective role on Aβ actions in hippocampal neurons. These results could explain the lack of correlation between brain Aβ burden and clinically observed dementia

Its moderately extended low-density halo and its accretion history

We present results based on Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS) DR8 astrometric and photometric data sets of the Milky Way globular cluster Pal 13. Because of its relatively small size and mass, there is not yet a general consensus on the existence of extra-tidal structures surrounding it. While some previous results suggest the absence of such features, others show that the cluster is under the effects of tidal stripping. We have built a cluster stellar density map from DECaLS g, r magnitudes-previously corrected for interstellar reddening-of stars placed along the cluster main sequence in the color-magnitude diagram. The resulting density map shows nearly smooth contours around Pal 13 out to approximately 1.6 t the most recent estimate of its Jacobi radius, which was derived whilst taking into account the variation along its orbital motion. This outcome favors the presence of stars escaping the cluster, a phenomenon frequently seen in globular clusters that have crossed the Milky Way disk a comparably large number of times. Particularly, the orbital high eccentricity and large inclination angle of this accreted globular cluster could have been responsible for the relatively large amount of lost cluster mass.Fil: Piatti, Andres Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Trincado, José G.. Universidad de Atacama; Chil

Hacia un proceso de migración de la seguridad de sistemas heredados al Cloud

El desarrollo de la computación en la nube es una tendencia fuerte en la industria de las TI que hace que los clientes de este nuevo modelo de prestación de servicios, sobre todo las empresas, se enfrenten a desafíos nuevos en lo que se refiere a la gestión de la seguridad de sus aplicaciones heredadas en el nuevo entorno. La cuestión es en cómo migrar de forma segura los sistemas de información heredados de estas empresas. Este artículo presenta un proceso (SMiLe2Cloud) y un marco de trabajo con el que se puede migrar de forma segura los sistemas corporativos heredados a infraestructuras o entornos en la nube, siguiendo los 14 dominios de seguridad del CSA y utilizando ingeniería inversa.Esta investigación es parte de los siguientes proyectos: GEODAS (TIN2012-37493-C03-01) y SIGMA-CC (TIN2012-36904) financiados por el “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER”, España

Estimating the optimal sampling rate using wavelet transform: an application to optimal turbulence

Sampling rate and frequency content determination for optical quantities related to light propagation through turbulence are paramount experimental topics. Some papers about estimating properties of the optical turbulence seem to use ad hoc assumptions to set the sampling frequency used; this chosen sampling rate is assumed good enough to perform a proper measurement. On the other hand, other authors estimate the optimal sampling rate via fast Fourier transform of data series associated to the experiment. When possible, with the help of analytical models, cut-off frequencies, or frequency content, can be determined; yet, these approaches require prior knowledge of the optical turbulence. The aim of this paper is to propose an alternative, practical, experimental method to estimate a proper sampling rate. By means of the discrete wavelet transform, this approach can prevent any loss of information and, at the same time, avoid oversampling. Moreover, it is independent of the statistical model imposed on the turbulence.Fil: Funes, Gustavo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Angel. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso; Chile. Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa María; ChileFil: Peréz, Darío G.. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso; ChileFil: Zunino, Luciano José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); ArgentinaFil: Serrano, Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentin

La Seguridad como una asignatura indispensable para un Ingeniero del Software

La seguridad informática ha venido cobrando mayor importancia para las organizaciones dado el marcado crecimiento de las nuevas tecnologías de la información, servicios Web, comercio electrónico, etc. Es por ello que existe la necesidad de contar con nuevos profesionales en este entorno. Para ello, es necesario contar con asignaturas de Seguridad en las escuelas universitarias, que doten al futuro profesional de los conocimientos necesarios para afrontar con éxito las necesidades que el mundo empresarial actual demanda. Así, aprovechando el estado actual de implantación del sistema europeo de créditos, en este artículo se resume una propuesta de grado de informática, y se presenta la asignatura de Seguridad de Sistemas Software, ubicada en el perfil de Ingeniería del Software, definiendo el contenido de dicha asignatura de acuerdo a las directrices del sistema ECTS, y a las necesidades reales que cualquier ingeniero del software puede encontrarse en el mundo empresarial actual.Peer Reviewe

Métricas para la medición de las competencias generales y específicas para el Grado en Ingeniería Informática

El proceso de elaboración de las memorias de grado se ha basado en un conjunto de competencias generales y específicas que, en la mayoría de los casos, entrañan un alto nivel de abstracción y ambigüedad. Por otro lado, la aparición de las competencias no ha ayudado a los alumnos a entender mejor en qué medida alcanzan los objetivos de las diferentes asignaturas, ni a tomar mejores decisiones sobre los pasos a seguir en su carrera profesional. En este artículo se pretende mostrar los resultados obtenidos durante la investigación realizada, que ha tenido como objetivo desgranar las competencias generales y específicas del Grado en Ingeniería Informática, de modo que se ofrezca un acercamiento mucho más concreto y detallado con las asignaturas y, consecuentemente, que pueda justificarse adecuadamente la forma en que las asignaturas permiten alcanzar parcial o completamente las competencias para el grado. Este enfoque, y su orientación a obtener métricas sobre las que valorar el grado en que se han alcanzado los objetivos, también permitirá que los alumnos puedan tomar mejores decisiones a la hora de seleccionar las diferentes asignaturas del grado y conocer para qué competencias están mejor cualificados.SUMMARY -- The process of writing honours theses is based on a set of general and specific competences which, in the majority of cases, entail a high level of abstraction and ambiguity. What is more, the apparition of these competences has not helped students towards a better understanding of the extent to which they attain the objectives of their various subjects, or to make better decisions as regards the steps to follow in their professional careers. The intention of this paper is to show the results obtained during research whose objective was to separate the general and specific competences involved in the Computer Engineering Degree in order to provide a much more concrete and detailed approach to the subjects, which will consequently allow the way in which the subjects permit the partial or total attainment of the competences for the degree to be justified. This approach, and its orientation towards obtaining metrics with which to evaluate the degree to which the objectives have been attained, will also allow students to make better decisions when selecting various degree subjects and to discover for which competences they are best qualified.Peer Reviewe

Morphology and histology of the uropygial gland in Antarctic birds: relationship with their contact with the aquatic environment?

Fil: Chiale, María Cecilia. División Zoología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Patricia E.. Cátedra de Patología Genera. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Gimeno, Eduardo J.. Cátedra de Patología General. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Barbeito, Claudio G.. Cátedra de Histología y Embriología. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Montalti, Diego. División Zoología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Analysis of high concentrator photovoltaic modules in outdoor conditions: Influence of direct normal irradiance, air temperature, and air mass

The study of high concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) technology under real conditions is essential to understand its real behavior. The influence of direct normal irradiance (DNI), air temperature (Tair), and air mass (AM) on the maximum power of two HCPV modules was studied for more than three years. Results found are presented in this paper. As expected, the main influence on the maximum power is DNI. Also, Tair has been found to have small influence on the maximum power. Regarding AM, two different behaviors have been found. The maximum power could be considered independent of AM for AM 2, while it decreases with an approximate linear behavior for AM > 2. Also, the maximum power of a HCPV module could be estimated with a linear mathematical fitting based on DNI, Tair, and AMThis work is a part of the project “SIGMPLANTAS: La innovacion en las plantas y modelos de sistemas de Concentracion Fotovoltaica en España,” IPT-2011-1468-920000 supported by the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry and by the European Regional Development Fund/Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (ERDF/FEDER)S

Growth, blood metabolites and hormones in calves fed diets with different amounts of energy and protein during the pre- or post-weaning periods

We investigated the effects of diets differing in energy and protein concentrations given during pre- and post-weaning on hormone and metabolite levels in association to parameters of growth. Sixteen Aberdeen Angus calves four-day-old were allocated in individual pens during 105 days in a randomized complete design. Animals consumed ad libitum various diets differing in proportion of energy and protein (A: 80% of concentrate, 20% alfalfa hay; B: 60% concentrate, 40% of alfalfa hay; C: 40% concentrate, 60% alfalfa hay, and D: 20% concentrate, 80% alfalfa hay). Also, calves consumed milk substitute up to 60-day-old day. Serum growth hormone and cortisol levels were not altered with diet changes (P > 0.05) neither during the pre- nor the post-weaning periods. Plasma insulin concentration average daily intake, glucose and thyroid hormone levels, and concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and propionic acid were greater (P < 0.01) for diets having higher than lower energy and protein levels during the post-weaning but not during the pre-weaning period. These results suggest inclusion of higher amounts of concentrate in the diet of weaned calves.Fil: Fernández, H. T.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Busso, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Laborde, Hugo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Torrea, M. B.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, L. M.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: López, G. H.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Delucchi, F.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: García, B. N.. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentin