Vascular cells derived from Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) inducible pluripotent stem cells

To study the vulnerability of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS)

Development of the CNPP Prices Database

Data are available at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood.htmfood prices, USDA Food Plans, NHANES, CNPP Prices Database, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Predictors of Prevention Failure in College Students Participating in Two Indicated Depression Prevention Programs

The purpose of this study was to identify subgroups of university students with the highest likelihood of remaining at elevated levels of depressive symptoms six months following the receipt of a depressive prevention intervention on the basis of known risk factors and participation in one of two depression prevention programs. Data from a randomized controlled trial evaluating depression prevention among 133 college students with elevated depressive symptoms were analyzed. Participants were randomized to a cognitive-behavioral or relaxation training group preventive intervention. Classification tree analysis showed that older age was the strongest risk factor for persistently elevated depression. Additional risk factors were: (1) for younger students, fewer daily pleasant activities; (2) for those with higher level of pleasant activities, higher level of stressful events; and (3) for those with higher level of stressful events, lower assertiveness. Results offer directions for prevention foci, identify specific subgroups of college students to target for depression prevention efforts, and suggest that research aim to help older, non-traditional students or graduating students manage the transition from college to the work forceThese studies were supported by grant PGIDT05PXIA21101PR from the Directorate General for Research and Development (Counsellery of Innovation, Industry and Trade) of the Xunta de Galicia (Spain)S

Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress and Prevalence of Major Depression and Its Predictors in Female University Students

Depression, anxiety and stress are increasingly concerning phenomena in our society, with serious consequences on physical and mental health. The repercussions may be particularly devastating in particular population subgroups, such as female university students. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and the prevalence of depression and associated factors, in Spanish university women. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 871 students from the Santiago de Compostela University (mean age 20.7 years, SD = 2.8). Information was collected on sociodemographic and academic characteristics; symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; diagnosis of major depression; optimism, resilience, social support, life engagement, and five personality domains, using validated instruments. Of the participants, 18.1%, 22.8% and 13.5% presented with severe/very severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. A total of 12.9% had major depression. Higher life engagement was associated with lower risk of depression (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.98), while higher levels of neuroticism (OR = 1.20, 95% CI, 1.12–1.28) and openness to experience (OR = 1.08, 95% CI, 1.02–1.14) were associated with greater risk. These findings reveal an alarming percentage of female university students who experience major depression and severe/very severe stressThis study was funded by the University of Santiago de Compostela (2019-PU005)S

Brief Psychological Intervention Through Mobile App and Conference Calls for the Prevention of Depression in Non-Professional Caregivers: A Pilot Study

Despite its potential, no intervention aimed at non-professional caregivers administered through a smartphone app has been proven to prevent depression. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of an indicated depression-prevention intervention for non-professional caregivers administered through an app with the addition of conference-call contact. The intervention was administered to 31 caregivers (Mean age = 54.0 years, 93.5% women). An independent evaluation determined the incidence of depression, depressive symptoms, risk of developing depression, and the variables in the theoretical model (positive environmental reinforcement, negative automatic thoughts) at the pre-intervention and post-intervention, as well as the one- and three-month follow-ups. The incidence of depression at 3 months of follow-up was 6.5%. There was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) and in the risk of developing depression (p < 0.001) at the post-intervention and at the one- and three-month follow-ups. The model’s variables improved significantly after the intervention and were associated with post-intervention depressive symptoms. The intervention was more effective in caregivers who had a lower level of depressive symptoms at the pre-intervention. Adherence and satisfaction with the intervention were high. The results encourage future research using a randomized controlled clinical trialWe want to thank the support of non-profit associations related to non-professional family caregivers of the Autonomous Region of Galicia, and the Ministry of Education, University and Professional Training and the Ministry of Economy, Employment and Industry, and the ESF Galicia 2014–2020 operational program (Xunta de Galicia)S

Analyzing the Effectiveness of Influencers on Irish and Mexican Students’ Purchasing Behavior

This report compares the findings obtained by analyzing the effectiveness of influencers on student purchasing behavior. The aim of this study is to understand the thinking and purchasing habits differences between the students of two countries: Ireland (Europe) and Mexico (Latin America). The comparison was made with the results obtained by applying the questionnaire in the Waterford Institute of Technology (Ireland) and in FACPyA (Mexico). The importance of doing this report is that it gives us a multicultural perspective about the purchasing habits of the students of both schools. From a managerial perspective, this paper offers some recommendations that can be made when selecting a social media influencer to endorse their product or service, targeting college students in both countries.Este informe compara los resultados obtenidos al analizar la efectividad de los influencers en el comportamiento de compra de los estudiantes. El objetivo de este estudio es comprender las diferencias de hábitos de pensamiento y compra entre los estudiantes de dos países: Irlanda (Europa) y México (América Latina). La comparación se realizó con los resultados obtenidos aplicando el cuestionario en el Instituto de Tecnología de Waterford (Irlanda) y en FACPyA (México). La importancia de hacer este informe es que nos brinda una perspectiva multicultural sobre los hábitos de compra de los estudiantes de ambas escuelas. Desde una perspectiva gerencial, este documento ofrece algunas recomendaciones que se pueden hacer al seleccionar un influencer de redes sociales para respaldar su producto o servicio, dirigido a estudiantes universitarios en ambos países

The contribution of connectivism in learning by competencies to improve meaningful learning

Currently, technology influences the evolution of cultural, social, and educational changes is no exception, there is an evolution in the ways of learning and teaching, which has become a challenge, especially in social spheres where technology was unlikely to be used as an educational means since there was no access to it. That is why this article seeks to expose the role that connectivism has as a learning theory of the digital age and highlight its contribution in the formation of competences to achieve meaningful learning, based on the results obtained through a desk study. o Desk Research which allowed a critical and reflective review of previous research on the subject. Finding that technology plays a fundamental role in the integration of connectivism where students will discover knowledge using strategies and skills to act or apply solutions to simulated or real cases, discovering, transforming, creating, or applying competences

Turismo funerario: caso cementerio de Miraflores, parte antigua, Trujillo - Perú 2017

RESUMEN En la última década, el turismo se ha incrementado sustancialmente adquiriendo nuevas tendencias que permiten la diversificación de la oferta turística. Asimismo, se observa un notable interés por visitar cementerios y conocer la historia y cultura del lugar a través de las representaciones y costumbres mortuorias de épocas pasadas. Además, se puede apreciar la impresionante arquitectura funeraria que albergan los camposantos. En la ciudad de Trujillo el 2 de diciembre de 1831, se inauguró un cementerio extramuros. Desde su construcción, inauguración y expansión, el cementerio de Miraflores ha sido marcado por acontecimientos históricos, que manifiestan las expresiones culturales de los ciudadanos del siglo XIX que imitaban patrones europeos. El cementerio es una fuente de cultura y conocimiento, cargado de valor antropológico, artístico, religioso e histórico, esto se ve reflejado entre sus pabellones, nichos y mausoleos. Para acercar el valor cultural y patrimonial al ciudadano local y al turista se necesita promover el turismo funerario como tipología del turismo cultural para fomentar recorridos y eventos culturales. La presente tesis titulada Turismo Funerario: Caso cementerio de Miraflores, parte antigua, Trujillo- Perú 2017, tiene como propósito determinar la aceptación de la población trujillana para realizar turismo en la parte antigua del cementerio de Miraflores. Por tal motivo se realizaron encuestas que fueron dirigidas para turistas potenciales y operadores turísticos del distrito de Trujillo. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos de los instrumentos, podemos afirmar que la aceptación para realizar turismo funerario en Trujillo es alta. Finalmente, con esta investigación queremos generar conocimiento e interés de esta modalidad de turismo que recién está teniendo acogida en la ciudad de Trujillo. PALABRAS CLAVE: turismo funerario, patrimonio y eventos.ABSTRACT In the last decade, tourism has increased a lot, acquiring new tendencies that allow the diversification of the tourist offer. Additionally, it is observed a prominent interest for visiting museums and for knowing the history and culture of a place through the representations and mortuary customs of past ages. Besides, it is possible to appreciate the impressive funerary architecture that the cemetery has. In the city of Trujillo, on November the 30th of 1831, an outside cemetery is opened, since their construction, opening and expansion, the cemetery of Miraflores has been marked by historical events that manifest the cultural expressions of the nineteenth-century citizens that imitated the European patterns. The cemetery is a source of culture and knowledge, full of anthropological, artistic, religious and historical value, this is reflected among its pavilions, niches and mausoleums. To bring cultural and heritage value to the local citizens and the tourists, it is necessary to foster funerary tourism as a typology of cultural tourism to promote cultural tours and events. The following thesis titled Funerary: Case cemetery of Miraflores, Old part, Trujillo-Peru 2017, has as a purpose to determine the acceptance of the population of Trujillo to carry out tourism in the old part of the cemetery of Miraflores. For this reason, surveys were conducted that were aimed at potential tourists and travel and touristic operator in the district of Trujillo. According to the results obtained from the instruments, we can affirm that the acceptance for tourism in funeral in Trujillo is quite high. At last, with this research we want to generate knowledge and interest of this modality of tourism that is just taking place in the city of Trujillo. KEYWORDS: funerary tourism, heritage, events

Enginnering cardiac tissue using human induced pluripotent stem cell derivatives: Proteomic characterization of co-cultures of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells

Prediction of cardiac toxicity effect is extremely relevant in the development of new drugs for different medical applications. In this way, it is important to develop more predictable human cell-based models which physiologically better mimic the human heart and allow the prediction of this toxic effect as well as establish the tools that enable the characterization of these complex cell models. To recreate engineered cardiac tissue, it is essential to reproduce the complexity of the heart by resorting to different cell types. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) are functional contractile units of the heart, and it is known that their communication with endothelial cells (ECs) is crucial for cardiac homeostasis. The aim of this study is to recreate a human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)-based cardiac tissue model and evaluate the impact of communication between both cell types on the phenotype of CMs. Co-cultures of hiPSC-CM and hiPSC-EC were established and maintained for 12 days as confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Quantitative whole-proteome analysis was performed using SWATH Mass Spectrometry tools to compare the conditions of hiPSC-CM mono-culture and the co-culture of hiPSC-CM and hiPSC-EC. Our data showed relative increase of expression ratios of morphological maturation-related cardiac proteins in hiPSC-CM co-cultures. In particular, the expression ratios of MYH7/MYH6, MYL2/MYL7, TNNI3/TNNI1 increased 2.4-, 5.1-, and 5-fold, respectively, when compared to the mono-culture condition, indicating that in the presence of hiPSC-EC, hPSC-CM display a more adult- and ventricular- like phenotype. Changes in the extracellular matrix composition were also observed, especially related with the increased expression of ECM proteins in co-culture condition namely, collagens I and III (8.6-fold and 6-fold, respectively), fibronectin (3.5-fold) and thrombospondin-4 (2.5-fold). Other growth factors attributed to the extracellular space (e.g. CTGF, PAI1, CRTAP, IGFBP7, and NPPB) that may be responsible for the communication between both cell types have also shown to be up-regulated in the co-culture condition. The presence of a SMA+ (myofibroblast-like) population in the co-culture condition was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy images, which is in agreement with the more complex and fibrotic extracellular matrix found by whole proteome analysis. Ultrastructure characterization of CMs was carried out by transmission electron microscopy. In both conditions, hiPSC-CM displayed aligned myofibrils composed by sarcomeres with organized Z-disks, A- and I-bands, intercalated discs between adjacent cells as well as abundant mitochondria. Noteworthy, sarcomere length was higher in hiPSC-CM cultured with hiPSC-EC, suggesting structural changes associated with cardiomyocyte maturation. Calcium imaging is being performed to evaluate calcium handling of hiPSC-CMs and their response to drugs. All together our data revealed that promoting the communication of hiPSC-CM and hiPSC-EC induced structural changes in hiPSC-CM associated with maturation. This study provides important insights towards the development of more complex cardiac tissues and establishes potent analytical tools for the characterization of these models. This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)-funded project CARDIOSTEM (MITP-TB/ECE/0013/2013); and iNOVA4Health UID/Multi/04462/2013, a program supported by FCT/Ministério da Educação e Ciência, through national funds and cofounded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. BA. was supported by FCT Grant SFRH/BD/52475/201

Caregiver Burden and Sleep Quality in Dependent People’s Family Caregivers

This study examined the relationship between caregiver burden and sleep quality in dependent people’s family caregivers. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 201 dependent people’s family caregivers and 92 non-caregivers controls. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), and an ad-hoc questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data. Based on CBI scores, subjects were categorized into three groups: family caregivers with high levels of perceived burden, family caregivers with low and medium levels of perceived burden and non-caregiver controls. There were significant differences among the groups in the PSQI total (F = 40.39; p < 0.001), subjective sleep quality (F = 25.55; p < 0.001), sleep latency (F = 16.99; p < 0.001), sleep disturbances (F = 14.90; p < 0.001), use of sleep medications (F = 6.94; p < 0.01) and daytime dysfunction (F = 20.12; p < 0.001). These differences were found only between the caregivers with high levels of perceived burden and the other two groups (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences between the groups in sleep duration (F = 18.34; p < 0.001) and habitual sleep efficiency (F = 24.24; p < 0.001). In these dependent measures, the differences were found in all the pairs examined (p < 0.05). These results suggest that caregiver burden is related to sleep quality, so that caregivers with greater perceived burden have a worse sleep qualitySpin-off of the University of Santiago de Compostela “Xuntos. Psychological and Psychiatric Care” (2013-CE081-4)S