Interaction of Cocoa Powder with Intestinal Microbiota

Cocoa is the fully fermented and dried seed of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao L.) which has prebiotic properties, due to their high concentration of polyphenols. Therefore, the ingestion of cocoa could cause changes in the proportions of the intestinal microbiota that can influence the intestinal immune response. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of alkalization process of the cocoa bean in the diversity of the gut microbiota. The samples were “lavado” unprocessed cocoa powder, “natural” unprocessed cocoa powder, “D-11-S” as alkalized cocoa powder, “D-11-B” heavily alkalized cocoa powder, and raw cocoa “shells” and a control of fecal matter. The cocoa powders are rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins that are pH sensitive exhibiting different colors as their structure changes. Analyses of pH and color correlated to microbial diversity can help understanding for which forms of polyphenols and anthocyanins will be more active. To analyze the samples a digestion was conducted by simulating the human digestion system in vitro, with five samples and one control (fecal samples without cocoa). Microbial diversity and composition were analyzed with Illumina HiSeq with methods via bTEFAP® DNA analysis. Segments of the bacterial genome were amplified with the 515F and 806R primers specific for the universal Eubacterial 16S rRNA gene. Final operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were taxonomically classified using BLASTn against a database derived from GreenGenes/RDP/NCBI. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to detect features with significant differences. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the most predominant phyla in samples comprising \u3e96% of all sequences (pBacteriodetes (F:B) by natural cocoa and D-11-B affected the diversity of the gut microbiota promoting a normal stable variety of OTUs. These data suggest that cocoa powder consumption aids in the prevalence of a beneficial microbiota in the human gut

Producción, circulación y reproducción académicas en el campo de la comunicación en México

Libro que contribuye a disminuir la brecha que separa a los distintos trabajos de investigación sobre la comunicación en México, para propiciar un trabajo reflexivo e incluyente en el campo académico de la materia. Se repasa la historia epistemológica de la investigación de comunicación y se proponen líneas de discución y acción en el campo de la enseñanza. En el texto también se perfilan las características generales de la investigación y su enseñanza a partir del análisis de tres revistas académicas mexicanas y las tesis de maestría de las tres universidades más importantes del país.ITESO, A.C

Importancia del DNC en el Diseño de Programas de Formación Docente

Desde los 90, las reformas del sistema educativo mexicano contienen estrategias que exigen la formación continua de los profesores, para mejorar el desempeño de los estudiantes y sus calificaciones en evaluaciones de organismos internacionales. Pero, se ha olvidado que los docentes actúan cotidianamente en ambientes que influyen en su práctica docente y educativa. La capacitación de los maestros debe atender las áreas de desarrollo personal y derivarse de un diagnóstico que identifique necesidades reales. El objetivo fue realizar un diagnóstico de necesidades de capacitación en profesores de secundaria en sus tres modalidades sobre sus intereses en diversas áreas de la labor educativa, para diseñar una propuesta de formación continua para la región IV-SEG del estado de Guanajuato. Participaron 924 profesores (400 mujeres y 524 varones); 295 activos en secundaria general, 200 en secundaria técnica y 429 en telesecundaria. La información acopiada produjo 851 unidades semánticas que se clasificaron de acuerdo con las áreas de desarrollo personal. Los profesores solicitaron más formación relacionada con la adquisición de conocimientos (68%), que de habilidades (24%) y actitudes (8%). En función de la modalidad atendida, el interés sobre los conocimientos fue mayor para los profesores de secundaria general (76%) que de secundaria técnica (65%) y telesecundaria (63%). En cambio, la inclinación para desarrollar habilidades fue mayor para los de telesecundaria (32%) que para los de secundaria técnica (23%) y general (14%). La evidencia de que las necesidades de capacitación difieren en relación con la modalidad la secundaria atendida hace impensable el diseño de un programa único, pero recomendable el diseño de programas que consideren las particularidades del centro educativo. La respuesta de los docentes mostró compromiso con su desarrollo personal y su quehacer de educadores tanto dentro del aula como en el entorno de su centro de trabajo

A dispersion-engineered multi-pass cell for single-stage post compression of an Ytterbium laser

Post-compression methods for ultrafast laser pulses typically face challenging limitations including saturation effects and temporal pulse break-up when large compression factors and broad bandwidths are targeted. To overcome these limitations, we exploit direct dispersion control in a gas-filled multi-pass cell, enabling for the first time single-stage post-compression of 150 fs pulses and up to 250 uJ pulse energy from an Ytterbium (Yb) fiber laser down to sub-20 fs. Dispersion-engineered dielectric cavity mirrors are used to achieve nonlinear spectral broadening dominated by self-phase-modulation over large compression factors and bandwidths at 98% throughput. Our method opens a route towards single-stage post-compression of Yb lasers into the few-cycle regime

Las redes sociales en la industria cinematográfica española: ¿existe relación entre la posición en la red y el reconocimiento social obtenido?

[FR] Dans ce travail nous nous demandons comment sont en rapport estatus et reconnaissance sociale dans l'industrie cinématographique espagnole des dernières 25 années, en comprenant estatus comme une position favorable dans le réseau et en utilisant l'obtention de prix cinématographiques comme indicateur de prestige et reconnaissance sociale. De même nous nous interrogeons s'il existe des différences entre les prix nationaux et les prix étrangers. On considère l'industrie cinématographique comme un cadre de relations qui sont établie à travers la coparticipation dans des films. Dans le cas de l'industrie cinématographique d'un pays cet environnement social partage une langue, une tradition artistique, un système de financement assez homogène et une reconnaissance sociale établie à travers des convocations de prix stables et périodiques qu'ils supposent, comme dans tout cadre, l'objectivation de la reconnaissance sociale. Cette réputation est due au le bien faire individuel, et aussi, aux avantages d'un bon enchâssement dans le système. Il existe des différences dans les effets endogènes des réseaux entre les prix nationaux et les internationaux. Et enfin, il existe des inégalités entre les sexes en termes de postes occupés dans le réseau.[EN] In this paper, the relationship between status and social recognition in the Spanish film industry of the past 25 years, is researched, meaning status as a favored position in the network and using the film awards as an indicator of prestige and social recognition. Whether there are differences between national awards and foreign awards exist is also investigated. The film industry is considered as a network of relationships established through the sharing of movies. In the case of the film industry of a country, a language, a social environment, an artistic tradition, a fairly homogeneous financing system is shared. it is also shared social recognition achievement process through stable and periodic awards calls which are, as in any field, the objectification of social recognition. This reputation is due to both, to doing it well but also to the benefits of a good embedding in the system. There are differences in the endogenous effects of nets among national and international awards. And finally, there are gender inequalities in terms of the positions occupied in the network.[ES] En este trabajo nos preguntamos cómo están relacionados estatus y reconocimiento social en la industria cinematográfica española de los últimos 24 años, entendiendo estatus como una posición favorable en la red y utilizando la obtención de premios cinematográficos como indicador de prestigio y reconocimiento social. Asimismo nos cuestionamos si existen diferencias entre los premios nacionales y los premios extranjeros. Se considera la industria cinematográfica como un entramado de relaciones que se establecen a través de la coparticipación en películas. En el caso de la industria cinematográfica de un país este entorno social comparte una lengua, una tradición artística, un sistema de financiación bastante homogéneo y un reconocimiento social establecido a través de convocatorias de premios estables y periódicas que suponen, como en cualquier ámbito la objetivación del reconocimiento social. Este prestigio se debe tanto al buen hacer individual como a los beneficios propios de un buen incrustamiento en el sistema. Se observan diferencias en los efectos endógenos de red entre los premios nacionales y los internacionales. Y, por último, se observan desigualdades de género en cuanto a las posiciones ocupadas en la redLópez Ferrer, MT.; Perruchas ., FDX.; Sánchez-Barrioluengo, M.; Escoto Simó, N. (2014). Las redes sociales en la industria cinematográfica española: ¿existe relación entre la posición en la red y el reconocimiento social obtenido?. Redes: Revista hispana para el análisis de redes sociales. 25(2):61-85. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/102101S618525

Influence of patient global assessment on the disease activity assessment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meteor cross-sectional study

Background Disease activity indices (DAI) are used to guide immunosuppressive therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The inclusion of patient global assessment (PGA) in these indices has been questioned as it conveys mainly disease impact rather than disease activity.ObjectivesTo determine the influence of PGA on patient disease states and to determine PGA correlations with inflammatory parameters, disease impact, demographic, clinical and contextual factors

Immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on farming systems in Central America and Mexico

In this article we present a first attempt to understand the immediate impact of COVID-19 and the sanitary measures taken by governments on farming systems in Central America and Mexico (CAM). Through a review of information generated in these initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic (webinars, blogs, electronic publications, media) and 44 interviews with key informants across the region, we have identified the main impacts felt by different types of farming systems in the region. The results presented focus only in the immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the mechanisms implemented by farmers in the first months. Whether these impacts and response mechanisms will result in a transformation of the farming systems towards greater resilience and sustainability is still an open question

Body mass index and treatment survival in patients with RA starting treatment with TNF alpha-inhibitors: long-term follow-up in the real-life METEOR registry

Objectives To study whether there is an association between body mass index (BMI) category and survival of various tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in a real-life longitudinal international registry.Methods Data from 5230 patients with RA starting treatment with any TNFi were selected from the METEOR registry. Patients were divided into six BMI categories: 3.7% underweight, BMI40 kg/m(2). Time on treatment in the different BMI categories was compared for all TNFi combined and for the infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept separately, using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses. Cox regression analyses were adjusted for potential confounders, with follow-up censored at 5000 days.Results Patients in obesity class II (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.54) and III (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.18) and underweight patients (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.58) showed statistically significantly shorter TNFi survival than normal weight patients. The effect in underweight patients was strongest for infliximab (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.76), the effect in overweight patients was strongest for infliximab (category II (HR 1.49, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.26); category III (HR 1.46, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.71)) and etanercept (category II (HR 1.27 95% CI 0.98 to 1.65); category III (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.55)). No significant effect modification from reported pain was found.Conclusion Both underweight and overweight patients discontinued TNFi treatment earlier than normal weight patients, without evidence of reported pain as the main determinant. It remains uncertain what determines TNFi survival in individual patients.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Transcriptome analyses throughout chili pepper fruit development reveal novel insights into the domestication process

Chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) is an important crop, as well as a model for fruit development studies and domestication. Here, we performed a time-course experiment to estimate standardized gene expression profiles with respect to fruit development for six domesticated and four wild chili pepper ancestors. We sampled the transcriptomes every 10 days from flowering to fruit maturity, and found that the mean standardized expression profiles for domesticated and wild accessions significantly differed. The mean standardized expression was higher and peaked earlier for domesticated vs. wild genotypes, particularly for genes involved in the cell cycle that ultimately control fruit size. We postulate that these gene expression changes are driven by selection pressures during domestication and show a robust network of cell cycle genes with a time shift in expression, which explains some of the differences between domesticated and wild phenotypes