Sistema CRISPR/Cas: Edición genómica de precisión

La función original de los sistemas CRISPR/Cas es destruir el DNA de virus bacterianos. Este sistema ha evolucionado para identificar y cortar secuencias de diferentes DNA de virus de DNA evitando la infección. En la célula, está compuesto de genes Cas que producen nucleasas guiadas por RNA capaces de cortar el DNA. Si el RNA guía encuentra DNA de un virus con el que se puede emparejar, recluta a la nucleasa Cas9 que lo corta. Este sistema es utilizado in vitro para editar genes basándose en la producción de rupturas de doble cadena y su posterior reparación. Actualmente existen varias plataformas para el diseño de RNAs guía, aunque también es posible realizarlo de forma manual. Los componentes del sistema son entregados a la célula mediante un plásmido o una ribonucleoproteína. En esta revisión nos centraremos en la función original de CRISPR/Cas en procariotas y en cómo los investigadores la han modificado para proporcionar nuevas técnicas de edición de genomas. Discutiremos sobre las ventajas de esta nueva técnica, las formas en que podemos utilizarla y algunas de las limitaciones que aún encontramos en su aplicación

Inhomogeneous cosmologies with Q-matter and varying Λ\Lambda

Starting from the inhomogeneous shear--free Nariai metric we show, by solving the Einstein--Klein--Gordon field equations, how a self--interacting scalar field plus a material fluid, a variable cosmological term and a heat flux can drive the universe to its currently observed state of homogeneous accelerated expansion. A quintessence scenario where power-law inflation takes place for a string-motivated potential in the late--time dominated field regime is proposed.Comment: 11 pages, Revtex. To be published in Physical Review

Aversão à desigualdade e preferências por redistribuição: A percepção de mobilidade econômica as afeta no Brasil?

Resumo A noção de que a redistribuição é dos ricos para os pobres permitiria concluir a priori que os pobres são os principais partidários de medidas redistributivas, ao serem os potenciais beneficiários. Não obstante, estudos realizados principalmente para países desenvolvidos sugerem que a aversão à desigualdade e as preferências por redistribuição são moldadas por fatores que vão além do pecuniário. Neste trabalho, analisa-se o efeito da mobilidade econômica subjetiva na aversão à desigualdade e na demanda por redistribuição dos brasileiros, usando-se uma base de dados única, representativa do país, coletada em 2012. Os resultados sugerem que, em contradição com previsões teóricas e com evidências de países desenvolvidos, mesmo pessoas que aspiram ascender socialmente no futuro incomodam-se com a desigualdade e são favoráveis a políticas redistributivas. Brasileiros que perceberam uma piora na sua situação econômica também mostram-se favoráveis à redistribuição, resultado mais convencional. Ambos os conjuntos de resultados são confirmados por estimações feitas em subamostras definidas por renda familiar. Levantam-se hipóteses para se tentar explicar os resultados inesperados

2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015

Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

Nuevos escenarios para la docencia universitaria : entornos híbridos y pedagogías emergentes.

Memorias del IX Simposio Internacional de Docencia Universitaria (SIDU)Los trabajos reunidos en esta Memoria representan una contribución importante al campo de la educación y de la docencia universitaria, en tanto muestran distintas maneras de responder a las problemáticas educativas cotidianas y presentan propuestas para afrontar los retos emergentes en el campo de la educación superior. Invitamos a los lectores a realizar una lectura atenta y crítica de los trabajos compilados en esta publicación. Estamos seguros de que este acercamiento propiciará la reflexión y el análisis riguroso de los objetos de estudio abordados por los autores, y estimulará la generación de nuevos proyectos de investigación, intervención e innovación educativa que incidan en el desarrollo de mejores prácticas de docencia en educación media superior y superior.Pimera edición digitaldoi.org/10.56019/EDU-CETYS.2024.182

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Piezoresistive response of Pluronic-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotube–epoxy composites

This article reports on the piezoresistive behaviour of polymer-based nanocomposites, which are composed of epoxy resins and Pluronic-wrapped carbon nanotubes. The samples were prepared with carbon nanotube concentrations up to 1 wt.%. Good carbon nanotube dispersion was achieved due to the Pluronic wrapping of the carbon nanotube, as confirmed by electron and atomic force microscopies. The correlation between the electrical resistivity and mechanical strain was obtained for varying mechanical deformation. The electrical response is linear for small strains, and the values of the gauge factor are ∼2.6. The small variations of the signal over 32 cycles, the time response to deformations from 0.1 to 50 mm min−1 and the stable temperature behaviour up to 60°C show the viability of these materials to be used as piezoresistive sensors.Peer reviewe

Piezoresistive response of Pluronic wrapped single wall carbon nanotube : epoxy composites

This paper reports on the piezoresistive behavior of polymer-based nanocomposites, composed of epoxy resins and Pluronic-wrapped carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The samples were prepared with CNT concentrations up to 1 wt.%. Good CNT dispersion was achieved due to the Pluronic wrapping of the CNT, as confirmed by electron and atomic force microscopies. The correlation between the electrical resisitivity and mechanical solicitations was obtained for varying mechanical solicitations. The electrical response is linear over a wide strain range and the values of the gauge factor are ~2.6. The stability of the signal over 32 cycles, the time response to deformatoins from 0.1 to 50 mm min-1 and the stable temperature behavior up to 60 ºC shows the viability of these materials to be used as piezoresistive sensors..This work was funded by FEDER funds through the 'Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE' and by national funds by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, project references PTDC/CTM/69316/2006, PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009 and NANO/NMed-SD/0156/2007, and grants SFRH/BD/69796/2010 (A. F.) and SFRH/BD/41191/2007 (P. C.). This work was also supported by the COST Action MP1003 'European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles' and the COST Action MP0902 'Composites of Inorganic Nanotubes and Polymers (COINAPO)'