Noticia de un posible santuario rupestre vettón en Las Hurdes (Cáceres)

Is presented a new pre-Roman “sacred stone”, in association to a petroglyph, in the Las Hurdes shire (Cáceres, Western Spain).A continuación se presenta una nueva “peña sacra” prerromana, asociada a un petroglifo, en la comarca de Las Hurdes (Cáceres)

Metal-free organocatalysts for high hydrolytic stability single component polyurethane adhesives and their application in decorative insulation facades manufacturing

We focused on developing polyurethane (PU) adhesives with superior ambient thermal and hydrolytic stability, a crucial factor for industrial productivity. Our approach involved creating PU prepolymers that can withstand varying temperatures in ambient conditions. These prepolymers consist of conventional isocyanate-terminated polyurethane and metal-free acid:base organic catalysts, with the stability of the adhesive relying on the organocatalyst employed. We tested a series of 11 latent organocatalysts derived from the reaction between 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and various acids. Among these, the catalyst based on 1-naphthoic acid exhibited exceptional stability, lasting at least 3 h at 60 ◦C and an average relative humidity of 65% under vigorous stirring. We assessed this stability using a fan-based stirrer and analyzed the curing conditions kinetically through DSC. Furthermore, our adhesive formulation is environmentally friendly as it is free of metals, specifically tin (typically present in catalysts such as dibutyltin dilaurate). This quality enhances its sustainability. To validate the practical applicability of the adhesives, we conducted tests using decorative facade models composed of siliciclastic sandstone extracted from a quarry in Vilviestre del Pinar (Burgos, Spain. Latitude: 41.951024◦N, longitude: 3.078283◦W) and extruded polystyrene (XPS). The results demonstrated the excellent hydrolytic and thermal stability of the adhesives, highlighting their significant potential for panel manufacturing in this context.This work was supported by the Regional Government of Castilla y León (Junta de Castilla y León) and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation MICIN and the European Union NextGeneration EU PRTR. Author José Miguel García received grant PID2020-113264RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. Author Miriam Trigo-López received grant PID2019-108583RJ-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Author Saul Vallejos received grant BG22/00086 funded by Spanish Ministerio de Universidades

Hot but Not Dry: Modest Changes in Water Relations for an Epiphytic Bromeliad in a Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest

Premise of research. Epiphytic bromeliads endure intense seasonal environmental changes in the canopy of dry tropical deciduous forests. The analysis of the physiological responses of these epiphytes to environmental changes can be useful in assessing their plasticity, vulnerability, and adaptations to such extreme habitats. Methodology. We measured microenvironmental variables and water relations for plants of the epiphytic bromeliad Tillandsia brachycaulos in three microhabitats within the canopy of a dry tropical forest. We measured individual plants for seasonal and spatial differences in light, leaf temperature, osmotic potential, cell wall elasticity, and relative capacitance as indications of their physiological responses to the changing environment. Pivotal results. We detected greater physiological differences for leaves of T. brachycaulos among seasons than among microhabitats. Osmotic potential decreased in the early dry season, especially in the low and middle strata within the canopy, and leaf relative capacitance increased. Conclusions. Individuals of T. brachycaulos displayed modest leaf physiological responses to the strong seasonal environmental changes within the canopy of this tropical forest. Such responses are in agreement with the observation that when water is available, it has high water potential, and thus water storage is the main strategy for surviving in such extreme conditions

Mechanomyographic Measures of Muscle Contractile Properties are Infuenced by Electrode Size and Stimulation Pulse Duration

The aim was to determine the efects of changing pulse duration and electrode size on muscle contractile properties. Thirty-six healthy young male participated in the study (age 24.8±5.8 years; height 178.2±0.6cm; body mass 71.8±7.3kg; self-reported weekly moderate intensity activity 3.5±1.2h·week−1). Tensiomyography was used to assess rectus femoris (RF) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles neuromuscular properties of the dominant leg according to the electrode size (3.2–5cm) and the stimulus length (0.2, 0.5, and 1ms). Maximal radial displacement (Dm); Contraction time (Tc); Delay time (Td); Sustained time (Ts) and Half relaxation time (Tr) were measured. Relative and absolute reliability was quantifed. To analyze the efects of the electrode and the stimulus length, a repeated-measures analysis of variance was used. Dm and Tc parameters showed for both muscles an excellent relative (0.95–0.99) and absolute reliability (1.6–4.2%). However, Ts and Tr showed low values of absolute reliability (4.4–40.9%). The duration of the stimulus length applied to the RF and VM and electrode size signifcantly infuences muscle’s contractile properties (p<0.05; η2 p=0.09–0.60). The Dm increases substantially as the duration of the stimulus increases and with the use of the larger electrode in both muscles. However, Tc and Td are less afected by both conditions and not entirely clear. Practically, our study suggests that a stimulus pulse duration of 1ms together with a 5 × 5cm electrode is necessary to reach a reliable and reproducible assessment of both RF and VM muscles contractile properties.Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deport

Localization of Muscle Edema and Changes on Muscle Contractility After Dry Needling of Latent Trigger Points in the Gastrocnemius Muscle

Background. Myofascial trigger points (TrPs) are hyperirritable spots within taut bands of skeletal muscles that elicit local and referred pain when stimulated. Among the variety of techniques used for treating TrPs, dry needling (DN) is the most commonly applied intervention. The physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of DN remain to be elucidated. Objective. To examine changes in skeletal muscle after DN in the area where the TrP is located. Methods. We measured in vivo changes that occur in human skeletal muscle one hour after DN over a TrP with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tensiomyography. The study included 18 asymptomatic subjects with a latent TrP in one medial gastrocnemius muscle, and the contralateral leg was used as control. Results. The results showed that MRI signal intensity significantly increased one hour after the DN intervention, suggesting the presence of intramuscular edema. Tensiomyographic parameters showed higher muscle stiffness with an improvement in contraction time after DN. Conclusions. This is the first study showing intramuscular edema after TrP DN in human skeletal muscle. Future research should focus on using DN therapy in patients with active TrPs and on monitoring changes occurring at longer follow-up with imaging techniques.Fisioterapi

TRAMPAS EXPERIMENTALES PARA LA CAPTURA DE DECÁPODOS DE AGUA DULCE EN COLOMBIA

Se describe el diseño de cuatro trampas evaluando su actividad para la captura de decápodos con especial énfasis en cangrejos, camarones y langostas de agua dulce, con el fin de comprobar su efectividad y estandarizar el método de colecta indirecta en Colombia. Se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica, en la cual se encontraron aspectos relacionados a las trampas que en la actualidad se utilizaban para la recolección de todo tipo de crustáceos dulceacuícolas, en estos se generó un enfoque acerca de los diversos estudios realizados en pesca experimental retomando algunos aspectos metodológicos para llevar a cabo la construcción de las trampas, las cuales fueron: Trampa de cilindro modificada; Trampa tipo mochila-Martin; Trampa tipo canasta y Trampa tipo cono, estas se crearon y modificaron en el presente estudio. Para evaluar su efectividad, se realizaron diferentes pruebas en campo, como es, la eficiencia de recolección de cada trampa en una zona del cuerpo de agua, bien sea lentica o lotica, la ubicación de estas, y la recolecta final; estas se realizaron tanto en las horas de la mañana, tarde y noche en diferentes escenarios. Proponiendo así, una estandarización respecto a los métodos de colecta indirectos en decápodos dulceacuícolas que contribuyen a estudios taxonómicos, biológicos, ambientales y distribucionales de cangrejos, camarones y langostas. Descripciones, fotos, y diseños son presentados. Los resultados de este trabajo contribuyen a posteriores estudios acerca de la biodiversidad y biología de cangrejos, camarones y langostas, con énfasis en los de hábitos dulceacuícolas. Respecto a la utilización de trampas, todas poseen una efectividad evidente, siendo importante tener en cuenta los tipos de cuerpos de agua donde se utilicen

Cervical spine chordoma

[ES] Los cordomas son neoplasias que derivan de restos embrionarios de la notocorda, siendo su principal asiento en la región sacrococcigea; los de localización cervical son poco frecuentes, suponen menos del 10% de todos los cordomas. Su diagnóstico se ve retrasado hasta que alcanzan un gran tamaño debido a su lento crecimiento, pese a lo cual son tumores localmente agresivos por su relación con estructuras neurovasculares críticas, presentando una alta tasa de recurrencia local. El tratamiento de elección es la cirugía radical y la radioterapia con protones se emplea para la persistencia tumoral y las recidivas. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con cordoma cervical, dada la rareza de esta entidad. [EN] Chordomas are neoplasms that arise from notochord embryonic remnants, been the sacrococcygeal spine the main site of involvement; the cervical spine site is uncommon and it account for less than 10% of chordomas. Because of their slow growth, the diagnosis is delayed until they reach a large size, despite which they are locally aggressive tumours due to their relation to critical neurovascular structures and present a high rate of local recurrence. Radical surgery is the elective treatment and proton radiotherapy is used when residual tumour tissue and recurrences. Because of the uncommonness of this pathology, we report a case of a patient with cervical chordoma

Aula itinerante de Patrimonio Cultural II

Memoria final del PIMCD UCM 2020/2021 número 31

La ciudad como experiencia de conocimiento: nuevas metodologías de aprendizaje, iniciación a la investigación y extensión universitaria a partir de la historia urbana

El proyecto de innovación docente "La ciudad como experiencia de conocimiento: nuevas metodologías de aprendizaje, iniciación a la investigación y extensión universitaria a partir de la historia urbana" es una iniciativa de varios profesores, investigadores y estudiantes de los grados de Historia e Historia del Arte, que pretende aprovechar todas las posibilidades que proporciona el estudio de la ciudad en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje, la iniciación a la investigación, el fomento de la interdisciplinariedad y el desarrollo de actividades de extensión universitaria

Autologous patient-derived exhausted nano T-cells exploit tumor immune evasion to engage an effective cancer therapy

Background Active targeting by surface-modified nanoplatforms enables a more precise and elevated accumulation of nanoparticles within the tumor, thereby enhancing drug delivery and efficacy for a successful cancer treatment. However, surface functionalization involves complex procedures that increase costs and timelines, presenting challenges for clinical implementation. Biomimetic nanoparticles (BNPs) have emerged as unique drug delivery platforms that overcome the limitations of actively targeted nanoparticles. Nevertheless, BNPs coated with unmodified cells show reduced functionalities such as specific tumor targeting, decreasing the therapeutic efficacy. Those challenges can be overcome by engineering non-patient-derived cells for BNP coating, but these are complex and cost-effective approaches that hinder their wider clinical application. Here we present an immune-driven strategy to improve nanotherapeutic delivery to tumors. Our unique perspective harnesses T-cell exhaustion and tumor immune evasion to develop a groundbreaking new class of BNPs crafted from exhausted T-cells (NExT) of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients by specific culture methods without sophisticated engineering. Methods NExT were generated by coating PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) nanoparticles with TNBC-derived T-cells exhausted in vitro by acute activation. Physicochemical characterization of NExT was made by dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, and preservation and orientation of immune checkpoint receptors by flow cytometry. The efficacy of chemotherapy-loaded NExT was assessed in TNBC cell lines in vitro. In vivo toxicity was made in CD1 mice. Biodistribution and therapeutic activity of NExT were determined in cell-line- and autologous patient-derived xenografts in immunodeficient mice. Results We report a cost-effective approach with a good performance that provides NExT naturally endowed with immune checkpoint receptors (PD1, LAG3, TIM3), augmenting specific tumor targeting by engaging cognate ligands, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy, and disrupting the PD1/PDL1 axis in an immunotherapy-like way. Autologous patient-derived NExT revealed exceptional intratumor accumulation, heightened chemotherapeutic index and efficiency, and targeted the tumor stroma in a PDL1+ patient-derived xenograft model of triple-negative breast cancer. Conclusions These advantages underline the potential of autologous patient-derived NExT to revolutionize tailored adoptive cancer nanotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy, which endorses their widespread clinical application of autologous patient-derived NExT.This work was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grants PI19/01533, CP19/00029 to S.G.-P.), Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía (grant P29/22/02 to S.G.-P.), by MCIN/AE (grant RTI2018.101309B-C22 and PID2022-140151OB-C22 funded by MCIN/AEI https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR to J.A.M.), the Chair “Doctors Galera-Requena in cancer stem cell research” (CMC-CTS963 to J.A.M.), the European Regional Development Fund (European Union), Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, Junta Provincial de Jaén (AECC) (grant PRDJA19001BLAY to J.L.B.-C.,), Proyectos Intramurales ibs.GRANADA (grant INTRAIBS-2021-09 to C.G.-L.), Junta de Andalucía, Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (grant POSTDOC_21_638 to C.G.-L.), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (grant FPU19/04450 to A.L.-T.), Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades (grant DOC_01686 to J.C.).Peer reviewe