Evaluación de impactos del cambio climático en especies bioindicadoras o de interés forestal en España

El Cambio Climático es un proceso que ya está afectando a España. Uno de sus efectos más notables es la alteración del paisaje debido a cambios estructurales en la vegetación. La expresión de este Cambio se produce a través de procesos de decaimiento y muerte, por causas bióticas y abióticas, de las formaciones forestales más significativas. En este contexto, es previsible un desplazamiento de los cinturones de vegetación al alterarse los pisos bioclimáticos de vegetación. Existen metodologías para estimar la dirección e intensidad de estos procesos; una de ellas se expondrá en este artículo

The structure of the R2TP complex defines a platform for recruiting diverse client proteins to the HSP90 molecular chaperone system

The R2TP complex, comprising the Rvb1p-Rvb2p AAA-ATPases, Tah1p, and Pih1p in yeast, is a special- ized Hsp90 co-chaperone required for the assembly and maturation of multi-subunit complexes. These include the small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins, RNA polymerase II, and complexes containing phosphati- dylinositol-3-kinase-like kinases. The structure and stoichiometry of yeast R2TP and how it couples to Hsp90 are currently unknown. Here, we determine the 3D organization of yeast R2TP using sedimenta- tion velocity analysis and cryo-electron microscopy. The 359-kDa complex comprises one Rvb1p/Rvb2p hetero-hexamer with domains II (DIIs) forming an open basket that accommodates a single copy of Tah1p-Pih1p. Tah1p-Pih1p binding to multiple DII do- mains regulates Rvb1p/Rvb2p ATPase activity. Using domain dissection and cross-linking mass spectro- metry, we identified a unique region of Pih1p that is essential for interaction with Rvb1p/Rvb2p. These data provide a structural basis for understanding how R2TP couples an Hsp90 dimer to a diverse set of client proteins and complexes

Hydrogen-ion driven molecular motions in Cu2+-complexes of a ditopic phenanthrolinophane ligand

One of the first kinetic evaluations of a metal ion interchange between the two coordination sites of a ditopic macrocycle is presented.Garcia-España Monsonis, Enrique, [email protected] ; Soriano Soto, Concepción, [email protected] ; Verdejo Viu, Begoña, [email protected]

Sex differences in placental protein expression and efficiency in a rat model of fetal programming induced by maternal undernutrition

Fetal undernutrition programs cardiometabolic diseases, with higher susceptibility in males. The mechanisms implicated are not fully understood and may be related to sex differences in placental adaptation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we investigated placental oxidative balance, vascularization, glucocorticoid barrier, and fetal growth in rats exposed to 50% global nutrient re-striction from gestation day 11 (MUN, n = 8) and controls (n = 8). At gestation day 20 (G20), we analyzed maternal, placental, and fetal weights; oxidative damage, antioxidants, corticosterone, and PlGF (placental growth factor, spectrophotometry); and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), 11β-HSD2, p22phox, XO, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, catalase, and UCP2 expression (Western blot). Compared with controls, MUN dams exhibited lower weight and plasma proteins and higher corticosterone and catalase without oxidative damage. Control male fetuses were larger than female fetuses. MUN males had higher plasma corticosterone and were smaller than control males, but had similar weight than MUN females. MUN male placenta showed higher XO and lower 11β-HSD2, VEGF, SOD2, catalase, UCP2, and feto-placental ratio than controls. MUN females had similar feto-placental ratio and plasma corticosterone than controls. Female placenta expressed lower XO, 11β-HSD2, and SOD3; similar VEGF, SOD1, SOD2, and UCP2; and higher catalase than controls, being 11β-HSD2 and VEGF higher compared to MUN males. Male placenta has worse adaptation to un-dernutrition with lower efficiency, associated with oxidative disbalance and reduced vasculariza-tion and glucocorticoid barrier. Glucocorticoids and low nutrients may both contribute to programming in MUN malesThis research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain), grant number RTI2018-097504-B-I00, cofinanced with FEDER funds and by the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (Thailand), grant number KKU:0514.7.I.12-194

Evaluación de las exposiciones orales por alumnos y profesorado: experiencia en ¿Obtención, Selección, Procesado y Utilización de los Materiales¿

[EN] The aim of the educational innovation proposed is the application of teaching-learning methodologies based in oral expositions, so that more active learning of the student is gotten and permit to the lecturer to apply alternative tools of evaluation. The educational innovation has been applied since 2009/2010 to 2012/2013 course in the subject of ¿Obtaining, Selection, Processing, and Use of Materials¿, imparted in the Material Engineer degree in the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering. Such educational innovation consists in the realization of an oral exposition in group, which is evaluated with a 10 % of the global score of the subject. The oral exposition is evaluated both the lecturer and the others companions (evaluation between equals) using a rubric. The evaluation of the educational innovation proposed is realized by the scores of the students, the polls of the students, and the autoevaluation of the lecturer. The results show the high scores obtained by the students in the oral expositions and the high grade of satisfaction of the students after applying the educational innovation. Besides, the oral expositions permit that the students acquire new learning strategies, and develop linguistic competences.[ES] El objetivo de la innovación educativa propuesta es la aplicación de metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje basadas en las exposiciones orales, de forma que se consiga un aprendizaje más activo del alumno y permita al profesorado aplicar herramientas alternativas de evaluación. La innovación educativa se ha aplicado desde el curso 2009/2010 hasta el curso 2012/2013 en la asignatura de ¿Obtención, Selección, Procesado y Utilización de los Materiales¿, impartida en la titulación de Ingeniero de Materiales en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales. Dicha innovación educativa consiste en la realización de una exposición oral en grupo, que es evaluada con un 10 % de la nota final de la asignatura. La exposición oral es evaluada tanto por la profesora como por el resto de compañeros (evaluación entre iguales) utilizando una rúbrica. La valoración de la innovación educativa propuesta se realiza mediante las calificaciones de los alumnos, las encuestas de los alumnos y la autoevaluación de la profesora. Los resultados muestran las altas calificaciones obtenidas por los alumnos en las exposiciones orales y el alto grado de satisfacción de los alumnos tras aplicar la innovación educativa. Además, las exposiciones orales permiten que el alumno adquiera nuevas estrategias de aprendizaje y desarrolle competencias lingüísticas.Muñoz-Portero, M. (2014). Evaluación de las exposiciones orales por alumnos y profesorado: experiencia en ¿Obtención, Selección, Procesado y Utilización de los Materiales¿. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1176-1190. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/144716S1176119

Factors associated with maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: an ecological study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maternal health is one of the major worldwide health challenges. Currently, the unacceptably high levels of maternal mortality are a common subject in global health and development discussions. Although some countries have made remarkable progress, half of the maternal deaths in the world still take place in Sub-Saharan Africa where little or no progress has been made. There is no single simple, straightforward intervention that will significantly decrease maternal mortality alone; however, there is a consensus on the importance of a strong health system, skilled delivery attendants, and women's rights for maternal health. Our objective was to describe and determine different factors associated with the maternal mortality ratio in Sub-Saharan countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An ecological multi-group study compared variables between many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa using data collected between 1997 and 2006. The dependent variable was the maternal mortality ratio, and Health care system-related, educational and economic indicators were the independent variables. Information sources included the WHO, World Bank, UNICEF and UNDP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Maternal mortality ratio values in Sub-Saharan Africa were demonstrated to be high and vary enormously among countries. A relationship between the maternal mortality ratio and some educational, sanitary and economic factors was observed. There was an inverse and significant correlation of the maternal mortality ratio with prenatal care coverage, births assisted by skilled health personnel, access to an improved water source, adult literacy rate, primary female enrolment rate, education index, the Gross National Income per capita and the per-capita government expenditure on health.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Education and an effective and efficient health system, especially during pregnancy and delivery, are strongly related to maternal death. Also, macro-economic factors are related and could be influencing the others.</p

Physicochemical Properties of Lipoproteins Assessed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as a Predictor of Premature Cardiovascular Disease. PRESARV-SEA Study

Some lipoprotein disorders related to the residual risk of premature cardiovascular disease (PCVD) are not detected by the conventional lipid profile. In this case-control study, the predictive power of PCVD of serum sdLDL-C, measured using a lipoprotein precipitation method, and of the physicochemical properties of serum lipoproteins, analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, were evaluated. We studied a group of patients with a first PCVD event (n = 125) and a group of control subjects (n = 190). Conventional lipid profile, the size and number of Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL), Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) particles, and the number of particles of their subclasses (large, medium, and small) were measured. Compared to controls, PCVD patients had lower concentrations of all LDL particles, and smaller and larger diameter of LDL and HDL particles, respectively. PCVD patients also showed higher concentrations of small dense LDL-cholesterol (sdLDL), and triglycerides (Tg) in LDL and HDL particles (HDL-Tg), and higher concentrations of large VLDL particles. Multivariate logistic regression showed that sdLDL-C, HDL-Tg, and large concentrations of LDL particles were the most powerful predictors of PCVD. A strong relationship was observed between increased HDL-Tg concentrations and PCVD. This study demonstrates that beyond the conventional lipid profile, PCVD patients have other atherogenic lipoprotein alterations that are detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis

The business model evaluation tool for smart cities: application to SmartSantander use cases

New technologies open up the door to multiple business models applied to public services in smart cities. However, there is not a commonly adopted methodology for evaluating business models in smart cities that can help both practitioners and researchers to choose the best option. This paper addresses this gap introducing the Business Model Evaluation Tool for Smart Cities. This methodology is a simple, organized, flexible and the transparent system that facilitates the work of the evaluators of potential business models. It is useful to compare two or more business models and take strategic decisions promptly. The method is part of a previous process of content analysis and it is based on the widely utilized Business Model Canvas. The evaluation method has been assessed by 11 experts and, subsequently it has been validated applying it to the case studies of Santander’s waste management and street lighting systems, which take advantage of innovative technologies commonly used in smart cities.We thank to the European Commission’s H2020 Program, Organicity, GA-645198, for partially funding the research work carried out in this paper

Intermittent Hypoxia Is Associated With High Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α but Not High Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Cell Expression in Tumors of Cutaneous Melanoma Patients

Epidemiological associations linking between obstructive sleep apnea and poorer solid malignant tumor outcomes have recently emerged. Putative pathways proposed to explain that these associations have included enhanced hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) cell expression in the tumor and altered immune functions via intermittent hypoxia (IH). Here, we examined relationships between HIF-1α and VEGF expression and nocturnal IH in cutaneous melanoma (CM) tumor samples. Prospectively recruited patients with CM tumor samples were included and underwent overnight polygraphy. General clinical features, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), desaturation index (DI4%), and CM characteristics were recorded. Histochemical assessments of VEGF and HIF-1α were performed, and the percentage of positive cells (0, 75%) was blindly tabulated for VEGF expression, and as 0, 0-5.9, 6.0-10.0, >10.0% for HIF-1α expression, respectively. Cases with HIF-1α expression >6% (high expression) were compared with those 75% of cells was compared with those with <75%. 376 patients were included. High expression of VEGF and HIF-1α were seen in 88.8 and 4.2% of samples, respectively. High expression of VEGF was only associated with increasing age. However, high expression of HIF-1α was significantly associated with age, Breslow index, AHI, and DI4%. Logistic regression showed that DI4% [OR 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01-1.06)] and Breslow index [OR 1.28 (95% CI: 1.18-1.46)], but not AHI, remained independently associated with the presence of high HIF-1α expression. Thus, IH emerges as an independent risk factor for higher HIF-1α expression in CM tumors and is inferentially linked to worse clinical CM prognostic indicators.IA is supported by SEPAR (086/2014 and 595/2017). MM-G is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/01772) and cofinanced by the European Development Regional Find “A way to achieve Europe” (ERDF) and SEPAR (211/2012). ER-F is the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from “Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer” and supported by FMM-2013/0075 of “Fundación Mutua Madrileña.” JR-P is supported by FIS 2014/1737 from the Spanish Ministry of Health. RF is supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness—Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS-PI14/00004); DG is supported by National Institutes of Health grant 1R01HL130984 and by the Herbert T. Abelson Chair in Pediatrics