Plaqueta decorada de la cueva de El Horno (Ramales de la Victoria, Cantabria) en su contexto local y regional

En la actualidad, uno de los retos más relevantes de la investigación sobre el Paleolítico es el de superar definitivamente el paradigma del yacimiento único, abordando el estudio de las sociedades de cazadores desde una perspectiva regional, tal y como demanda el carácter móvil de las mismas. De hecho, la movilidad debería ser considerada siempre en nuestras estrategias de investigación acerca de los grupos paleolíticos, y no sólo al abordar el estudio de materiales más o menos exóticos. El arte mueble, estudiado desde el punto de vista de las cadenas operativas, aporta datos relevantes para la compresión de las sociedades de cazadores en su territorio. Los resultados del análisis de una plaqueta de arenisca procedente del nivel 2 de El Horno (Ramales de la Victoria, Cantabria), atribuido al Magdaleniense superior-final, constituyen un buen ejemplo de lo comentado. La cara A de la plaqueta presenta el grabado de una cabeza de probable cierva, un tema poco común a finales del Magdaleniense, cuyo estudio tecnológico ha revelado que se trata de la obra de un artista inexperto. La cara B está grabada y pintada, y los estigmas identificados sugieren la utilización de la plaqueta como mortero para machacar algún material, quizá el propio ocre. En ese sentido, el material presentado aporta elementos de juicio a la reflexión actual acerca de la tradicional dicotomía establecida en el arte mobiliar entre los soportes utilitarios y no utilitarios

Proper motions in the VVV Survey: Results for more than 15 million stars across NGC 6544

Context: In the last six years, the VVV survey mapped 562 sq. deg. across the bulge and southern disk of the Galaxy. However, a detailed study of these regions, which includes $\sim 36$ globular clusters (GCs) and thousands of open clusters is by no means an easy challenge. High differential reddening and severe crowding along the line of sight makes highly hamper to reliably distinguish stars belonging to different populations and/or systems. Aims: The aim of this study is to separate stars that likely belong to the Galactic GC NGC 6544 from its surrounding field by means of proper motion (PM) techniques. Methods: This work was based upon a new astrometric reduction method optimized for images of the VVV survey. Results: Photometry over the six years baseline of the survey allowed us to obtain a mean precision of $\sim0.51$ mas/yr, in each PM coordinate, for stars with Ks < 15 mag. In the area studied here, cluster stars separate very well from field stars, down to the main sequence turnoff and below, allowing us to derive for the first time the absolute PM of NGC 6544. Isochrone fitting on the clean and differential reddening corrected cluster color magnitude diagram yields an age of $\sim$ 11-13 Gyr, and metallicity [Fe/H] = -1.5 dex, in agreement with previous studies restricted to the cluster core. We were able to derive the cluster orbit assuming an axisymmetric model of the Galaxy and conclude that NGC 6544 is likely a halo GC. We have not detected tidal tail signatures associated to the cluster, but a remarkable elongation in the galactic center direction has been found. The precision achieved in the PM determination also allows us to separate bulge stars from foreground disk stars, enabling the kinematical selection of bona fide bulge stars across the whole survey area. Our results show that VVV data is perfectly suitable for this kind of analysis.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted in A&

Characterization of the Taenia spp HDP2 sequence and development of a novel PCR-based assay for discrimination of Taenia saginata from Taenia asiatica

A previously described Taenia saginata HDP2 DNA sequence, a 4-kb polymorphic fragment, was previously used as the basis for developing PCR diagnostic protocols for the species-specific discrimination of T. saginata from T. solium and for the differentiation of T. saginata from T. asiatica. The latter was shown subsequently to lack the required specificity, so we undertook genetic studies of the HDP2 sequence from T. saginata and T. asiatica to determine why, and to develop a novel HDP2-PCR protocol for the simultaneous unambiguous identification of human taeniids. Sequencing and further analysis of the HDP2 DNA fragments of 19 Asiatic isolates of T. saginata and T. asiatica indicated that the HDP2 sequences of both species exhibited clear genomic variability, due to polymorphic variable fragments, that could correspond to the non-transcribed region of ribosomal DNA. This newly observed polymorphism allowed us to develop a novel, reproducible and reliable HDP2-PCR protocol which permitted the simultaneous discrimination of all T. saginata and T. asiatica isolates examined. This species-specific identification was based on, and facilitated by, the clear size difference in amplicon profiles generated: fragments of 1300 bp, 600 bp and 300 bp were produced for T. asiatica, amplicons of 1300 bp and 300 bp being obtained for T. saginata. Control T. solium samples produced one amplicon of 600 bp with the HDP2-PCR protocol. The assay has the potential to prove useful as a diagnostic tool in areas such as South East Asia where T. saginata, T. asiatica and T. solium coexist

Positive outcomes: validity, reliability and responsiveness of a novel person-centred outcome measure for people with HIV

Objectives Despite successful treatment, people living with HIV experience persisting and burdensome multidimensional problems. We aimed to assess the validity, reliability and responsiveness of Positive Outcomes, a patient-reported outcome measure for use in clinical practice. Methods In all, 1392 outpatients in five European countries self-completed Positive Outcomes, PAM-13 (patient empowerment), PROQOL-HIV (quality of life) and FRAIL (frailty) at baseline and 12 months. Analysis assessed: (a) validity (structural, convergent and divergent, discriminant); (b) reliability (internal consistency, test-retest); and (c) responsiveness. Results An interpretable four-factor structure was identified: ‘emotional wellbeing’, ‘interpersonal and sexual wellbeing’, ‘socioeconomic wellbeing’ and ‘physical wellbeing’. Moderate to strong convergent validity was found for three subscales of Positive Outcomes and PROQOL (ρ = −0.481 to −0.618, all p < 0.001). Divergent validity was found for total scores with weak ρ (−0.295, p < 0.001). Discriminant validity was confirmed with worse Positive Outcomes score associated with increasing odds of worse FRAIL group (4.81-fold, p < 0.001) and PAM-13 level (2.28-fold, p < 0.001). Internal consistency for total Positive Outcomes and its factors exceeded the conservative α threshold of 0.6. Test-retest reliability was established: those with stable PAM-13 and FRAIL scores also reported median Positive Outcomes change of 0. Improved PROQOL-HIV score baseline to 12 months was associated with improved Positive Outcomes score (r = −0.44, p < 0.001). Conclusions Positive Outcomes face and content validity was previously established, and the remaining validity, reliability and responsiveness properties are now demonstrated. The items within the brief 22-item tool are designed to be actionable by health and social care professionals to facilitate the goal of person-centred care

Preneoplastic somatic mutations including MYD88(L265P) in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma

Normal cell counterparts of solid and myeloid tumors accumulate mutations years before disease onset; whether this occurs in B lymphocytes before lymphoma remains uncertain. We sequenced multiple stages of the B lineage in elderly individuals and patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, a singular disease for studying lymphomagenesis because of the high prevalence of mutated MYD88. We observed similar accumulation of random mutations in B lineages from both cohorts and unexpectedly found MYD88(L265P) in normal precursor and mature B lymphocytes from patients with lymphoma. We uncovered genetic and transcriptional pathways driving malignant transformation and leveraged these to model lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in mice, based on mutated MYD88 in B cell precursors and BCL2 overexpression. Thus, MYD88(L265P) is a preneoplastic event, which challenges the current understanding of lymphomagenesis and may have implications for early detection of B cell lymphomas

Desarrollo tecnológico en ingeniería automotriz

El proceso de investigación y desarrollo tecnológico está directamente relacionado con una adecuada metodología de procesos industriales, que cada vez son más exigentes en competitividad, eficiencia energética y de normativas ambientales. Este libro contempla resultados de un proceso de investigación y desarrollo de nuevas técnicas aplicadas en el campo de la Ingeniería Automotriz desde cuatro aristas: eficiencia energética y contaminación ambiental, planificación del transporte, ingeniería del mantenimiento aplicada al transporte y desagregación tecnológica. Este libro conmemora 20 años de formación universitaria salesiana en el sector de transporte y recoge las experiencias y resultados obtenidos asociados con el desarrollo tecnológico en ingeniería automotriz. Para lograr este objetivo, se ha convocado a la comunidad científica, académica y profesionales de la industria automotriz a participar en la publicación. Cada capítulo fue sometido a revisión, evaluación y aprobación por un comité científico altamente calificado, proveniente de seis países: Colombia, Ecuador, España, Guinea Ecuatorial, México y Venezuela. Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias al gran apoyo de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS sede Cuenca), Ecuador y Universidad de Los Andes (ULA)