Una especie nueva de avispa gallícola para México: Andricus sphaericus Pujade-Villar n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini)

Se describe una nueva especie de cinípido gallícola de México, Andricus sphaericus Pujade-Villar n. sp., solo conocida por su forma sexual. Induce agallas en las hojas de Quercus rugosa Née. Representa la segunda colecta de una generación sexual del género Andricus para México. Se proporcionan datos referidos a la diagnosis, distribución y biología de esta nueva especie

Efecto de un programa de capacitación en competencias de investigación en estudiantes de ciencias de la salud

The European Higher Education Area implies a change to the Health Science education in Spain. Spanish university system must promote the acquisition of competences in research habits, such as the information management or scientific dissemination. This article presents the findings of a study to evaluate the level of effectiveness and satisfaction of an educational training program on research skills geared towards Health Science students. A hundred and eight students of Physical Therapy degree, Occupational Therapy degree and Nursing degree were participated into a quasi-experimental study. Educational needs were first detected by a questionnaire based on different research skills. A semi-distance educational training program was designed and implemented after defining the above-mentioned needs. This program significantly improved the perception of knowledge and skills in research competences. As well as the level of theory and practical content assimilated by the students significantly increased after the program. These findings suggest that incorporation of specific training that allow for students to come in contact with research, are effective at improving research competences for Health Sciences students.El Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior implica un cambio en la formación universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud en España. El sistema universitario debe promover desde el grado la adquisición de competencias básicas en investigación, como la gestión de información y la comunicación científica. Este artículo presenta los hallazgos de un estudio cuyo objetivo fue evaluar el nivel de eficacia y satisfacción de un programa de capacitación educativa en competencias de investigación dirigido a estudiantes de Ciencias de  la Salud. Se diseñó un estudio cuasiexperimental en el que participaron ciento ocho estudiantes de grado de Fisioterapia, Terapia ocupacional y Enfermería. En una primera fase se detectaron las necesidades educativas en competencias de investigación a través de un cuestionario; a continuación se implementó un programa de capacitación semipresencial y se evaluó el efecto alcanzado en las necesidades antes detectadas.  Este programa mejoró significativamente la percepción de los participantes en relación a su conocimiento y habilidad en competencias de investigación. Del mismo modo, las destrezas cognitivas y prácticas mejoraron considerablemente tras el programa. Estos hallazgos evidencian que la puesta en marcha de programas específicos de capacitación en investigación es efectiva para mejorar la adquisición de competencias a este respecto en estudiantes de Ciencias de la Salud

Influence of the temperature and the genotype of the HSP90AA1 gene over sperm chromatin stability in Manchega rams

The present study addresses the effect of heat stress on males' reproduction ability. For that, we have evaluated the sperm DNA fragmentation (DFI) by SCSA of ejaculates incubated at 37°C during 0, 24 and 48 hours after its collection, as a way to mimic the temperature circumstances to which spermatozoa will be subject to in the ewe uterus. The effects of temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) from day 60 prior collection to the date of semen collection on DFI were examined. To better understand the causes determining the sensitivity of spermatozoa to heat, this study was conducted in 60 males with alternative genotypes for the SNP G/C-660 of the HSP90AA1 promoter, which encode for the Hsp90α protein. The Hsp90α protein predominates in the brain and testis, and its role in spermatogenesis has been described in several species. Ridge regression analyses showed that days 29 to 35 and 7 to 14 before sperm collection (bsc) were the most critical regarding the effect of heat stress over DFI values. Mixed model analyses revealed that DFI increases over a threshold of 30°C for maximum temperature and 22 for THI at days 29 to 35 and 7 to 14 bsc only in animals carrying the GG-660 genotype. The period 29-35 bsc coincide with the meiosis I process for which the effect of the Hsp90α has been described in mice. The period 7-14 bsc may correspond with later stages of the meiosis II and early stages of epididymal maturation in which the replacement of histones by protamines occurs. Because of GG-660 genotype has been associated to lower levels of HSP90AA1 expression, suboptimal amounts of HSP90AA1 mRNA in GG-660 animals under heat stress conditions make spermatozoa DNA more susceptible to be fragmented. Thus, selecting against the GG-660 genotype could decrease the DNA fragmentation and spermatozoa thermal susceptibility in the heat season, and its putative subsequent fertility gains.This work was supported by RTA2009-00098-00-00 INIA project (Subprograma de Investigación Fundamental orientada a los Recursos y Tecnologías Agrarias).Peer Reviewe

A K band survey in the Groth Strip Flanking Fields

As a part of our collaboration in the COSMOS Project, devoted to the characterization of galaxies during the ep o c h of maximum star formation in the history of the Universe, we have carried out a deep photometric survey covering about 380 arcmin^(2) in the so-called Groth Strip Flanking Fields. The observations were obtained in the K´ band with the OMEGA-PRIME infrared camera at the 3.5 m telescope at the Hispano–German Calar Alto Observatory . Galaxy counts and photometric redshifts will be computed in order to prepare future observations with EMIR

Quantifying Li-content for compositional tailoring of lithium ferrite ceramics

Owing to their multiple applications, lithium ferrites are relevant materials for several emerging technologies. For instance, LiFeO2 has been spotted as an alternative cathode material in Li-ion batteries, while LiFe5O8 is the lowest damping ferrite, holding promise in the field of spintronics. The Li-content in lithium ferrites has been shown to greatly affect the physical properties, and in turn, the performance of functional devices based on these materials. Despite this, lithium content is rarely accurately quantified, as a result of the low number of electrons in Li hindering its identification by means of routine materials characterization methods. In the present work, magnetic lithium ferrite powders with Li:Fe ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 have been synthesized, successfully obtaining phase-pure materials (LiFeO2 and LiFe5O8), as well as a controlled mixture of both phases. The powders have been compacted and subsequently sintered by thermal treatment (Tmax = 1100 {\deg}C) to fabricate dense pellets which preserve the original Li:Fe ratios. Li-content on both powders and pellets has been determined by two independent methods: (i) Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy combined with nuclear reaction analysis and (ii) Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. With good agreement between both techniques, it has been confirmed that the Li:Fe ratios employed in the synthesis are maintained in the sintered ceramics. The same conclusion is drawn from spatially-resolved confocal Raman microscopy experiments on regions of a few microns. Field emission scanning electron microscopy has evidenced the substantial grain growth taking place during the sintering process - mean particle sizes rise from about 600 nm in the powders up to 3.8(6) um for dense LiFeO2 and 10(2) um for LiFe5O8 ceramics

Kinetics of antibodies in sera, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue 3 virus infections

SummaryObjectivesThe kinetics of three serological markers (IgM, IgA, and IgG) in serum, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue infection were studied.DesignSerum, saliva, and urine samples were collected from 22 patients with clinical and confirmed dengue 3 virus infection during the outbreak in Havana City in 2001. They were tested by capture IgM (MAC-ELISA), IgA (AAC-ELISA), and IgE (EAC-ELISA) and IgG ELISA inhibition method (EIM) to detect specific dengue antibodies.ResultsSimilar kinetics were observed in IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies in saliva and IgA and IgG in urine samples from secondary cases compared with kinetics in serum samples, although the values were lower. No IgG antibody was detected in saliva and urine samples in primary cases and IgM antibody was not detected in urine samples from either primary or secondary infection. All secondary cases were positive for IgG in saliva and urine samples at day 7. The kinetics of specific IgE antibodies in primary and secondary cases were different.ConclusionsThe kinetics of three serological markers (IgM, IgA, and IgG) in serum, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue 3 virus infection were studied for the first time, showing its behavior and usefulness in dengue virus diagnosis. The specific IgE could play a role as a serological marker in secondary infections

The influence of the carrier molecule on amoxicillin recognition by specific IgE in patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to betalactams

10 p.-4 fig.-1 tab.The optimal recognition of penicillin determinants, including amoxicillin (AX), by specific IgE antibodies is widely believed to require covalent binding to a carrier molecule. The nature of the carrier and its contribution to the antigenic determinant is not well known. Here we aimed to evaluate the specific-IgE recognition of different AX-derived structures. We studied patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to AX, classified as selective or cross-reactors to penicillins. Competitive immunoassays were performed using AX itself, amoxicilloic acid, AX bound to butylamine (AXO-BA) or to human serum albumin (AXO-HSA) in the fluid phase, as inhibitors, and amoxicilloyl-poli-L-lysine (AXO-PLL) in the solid-phase. Two distinct patterns of AX recognition by IgE were found: Group A showed a higher recognition of AX itself and AX-modified components of low molecular weights, whilst Group B showed similar recognition of both unconjugated and conjugated AX. Amoxicilloic acid was poorly recognized in both groups, which reinforces the need for AX conjugation to a carrier for optimal recognition. Remarkably, IgE recognition in Group A (selective responders to AX) is influenced by the mode of binding and/or the nature of the carrier; whereas IgE in Group B (cross-responders to penicillins) recognizes AX independently of the nature of the carrier.The present study has been supported by Institute of Health “Carlos III” of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants cofunded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): PI12/02529, PI15/01206, CP15/00103,Red de Reacciones Adversas a Alergenos y Farmacos RD12/0013/0001, RD12/0013/0003 and RD12/0013/0008,RD09/0076/00112 for the Biobank network and PT13/0010/0006 for the Biobank platform) and by State Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants cofunded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): MINECO SAF2012-36519, SAF2015-68590-R/FEDER and CTQ2013-41339-P). Andalusian Regional Ministry of Economy and Knowledge (grants cofunded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): CTS-06603); Andalusian Regional Ministry Health (grants:PI-0699-2011, PI-0159-2013 and PI-0179-2014) and Merck-Serono Research Grant from Fundación Salud 2000. CM holds a ‘Nicolas Monardes’ research contract by Andalusian Regional Ministry Health: C-0044-2012 SAS 2013. MIM holds a ‘Miguel Servet I’ research contract by Institute of Health “Carlos III” of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants cofunded by European Social Fund (ESF)): CP15/00103. AA thanks “pFIS fellowship” (FI08/00385) from ISCIII and Andalucia “Talent Hub Fellowship” (TAHUB/II-004) cofunded by the Junta de Andalucia and the European Union, VII Framework Programme of the European Commission (grant agreement No. 291780).Peer reviewe

Himenópteros asociados a las agallas de Andricus quercuslanigera (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Chalcidoidea) de Sierra de Guadalupe, estado de México.

Las agallas en Quercus se consideran un microecosistema, debido a que en ellas se asocian diferentes grupos de avispas: los Cynipini (Cynipidae) como inductores, los Synergini y Ceroptresini (Cynipidae) como inquilinos y los Chalcidoidea como parasitoides o hiperparasitoides. En México se han descrito 184 especies de cinípidos, sin embargo, se conoce poco acerca de la fauna asociada (inquilinos y calcidoídea) y de su ecología. En este estudio se da a conocer la fauna asociada a agallas inducidas por Andricus quercuslanigera (= A. linaria) en Quercus rugosa. Se recolectaron 1.096 agallas emergieron 367 especímenes: 108 A. quercuslanigera (Cynipini), 130 Synergus (Synergini), 6 Eupelmus (Eupelmidae), 10 Eurytoma (Eurytomidae), 96 Acaenacis (Pteromalidae), 13 Ormyrus (Ormyridae) y 4 Torymus (Torymidae). El género Acaenacis se cita por primera vez para la fauna mexicana

Psicología y Legislatura: Relación prometedora.

In previous studies, psychologists have identified the perception they believe legislators have of their discipline as a barrier to their participation in public policy processes. In this study we explored legislators’ perception and the experience on which it is based. We surveyed legislators and their aides for the 2004-2008 electoral period in Puerto Rico. Results showed that legislators and their staff had limited experience with psychologists, their perception of their roles and tasks is adequate, and they believe psychologists should participate in public policy processes. We discuss the implications of these results so as to promote psychologists’ participation in the legislative setting.En estudios previos sobre la participación de los psicólogos/as en procesos de política pública, se ha informado que la percepción que estos/as creen que existe en la Legislatura sobre la psicología es una barrera a su participación. En este estudio exploramos esta percepción y la experiencia en la cual se fundamenta. Para esto encuestamos a un grupo de legisladores/as y asesores/as del cuatrienio del 2004-2008 en Puerto Rico. Encontramos que estas personas han tenido poca experiencia con los psicólogos/as, tienen una percepción acertada de los roles y tareas de la profesión, y entienden que los psicólogos/ as deben participar en procesos de política pública. Discutimos las implicaciones de estos hallazgos para fomentar la participación de los psicólogos/as en el escenario legislativo