La importancia de la comprensión lectora: un análisis en alumnado de educación básica en Chile

The aim of this study is to analyze the level of reading comprehension skills in students of a subsidized school in the city of Iquique, Chile. The study was carried out with 79 2nd , 3rd and 4th primary school students, divided into 43 girls and 36 boys. The group was evaluated using reading comprehension tests that consist of literal, inferential and critical levels. Due to the results, the students were classified into three other groups: the insufficient level group , the elementary level group and the achiever level group. The results showed that the level of reading comprehension diminishes while the grade increases. No greater differences were observed in the results by genre, even though there exist a slightly higher result on boys. These findings also show that in relation to girls boys are more disperse in their results the distribution according to the level of reading comprehension skills is similar to approximately 30% of the students in each of the groups that they have been classified.El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el nivel de comprensión lectora en alumnos de un colegio subvencionado de la ciudad de Iquique, Chile. Se trabajó con alumnos de segundo, tercero y cuarto año de educación básica con un total de 79 escolares, de los cuales 43 son niñas y 36 son niños. Se evaluó con pruebas de comprensión lectora el nivel literal, inferencial y crítico; además, según los resultados se clasificaron a los alumnos en tres grupos; nivel insuficiente, nivel elemental y nivel adecuado de comprensión lectora. Los resultados muestran que disminuye el nivel de comprensión lectora a medida que aumenta el grado escolar. No se aprecian mayores diferencias por sexo, siendo levemente superior los logros de los niños, pero a su vez hay mayor dispersión en los resultados de los niños respecto de las niñas. La distribución según el nivel de comprensión lectora es semejante con alrededor de un 30% de estudiantes en cada uno de los grupos clasificados

Sincronización de estros en ovejas mediante protocolo de 6 días con CIDR de primera, segunda y tercera reutilización

Estrus synchronization( is a vital strategy in sheep production and is accomplished most often via controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices. Reuse of CIDR devices can reduce operating costs and ewe exposure to progesterone (P4), but remains controversial. A comparison was made of the effects of new and reused natural progesterone-releasing intravaginal (CIDR) devices in six-day protocols on reproductive performance variables and blood serum progesterone concentrations in multiparous ewes. A total of 172 sheep (average body weight = 59 kg) were randomly distributed into four treatments: CIDR1 (control group, new devices), CIDR2 (second-use), CIDR3 (third-use) and CIDR4 (fourth-use). The variables ewes in estrus, pregnancy rate, fertility rate and parturition type did not differ (P>0.05) between treatments. Estrus onset was later (P≤0.05) in CIDR1 (40 ± 10 h) than in CIDR2 (31 ± 9 h).  Ewes in estrus ranged from 93 to 100 %,  average pregnancy rate was 80.8 %, average fertility  rate was 80.2 % and the prolificacy index was 1.26. The single delivery rate was higher (P≤0.05) than the double delivery rate in all four treatments. Intravaginal CIDR devices can be used in ewes up to four times in six-day estrus synchronization protocols without affecting reproductive variables.El objetivo del estudio fue comparar el efecto de dispositivos intravaginales liberadores de progesterona natural (CIDR) nuevos y reutilizados en protocolos de 6 días sobre el desempeño reproductivo y en las concentraciones de progesterona en suero sanguíneo de ovejas multíparas. Un total de 172 ovejas con peso corporal promedio de 59 kg se distribuyeron al azar en cuatro tratamientos: CIDR1 (grupo testigo con dispositivos nuevos) y CIDR2, CIDR3, CIDR4 (con 6, 12 y 18 días de uso, respectivamente). En cuanto al inicio de estro, hubo diferencia (P≤0.05) únicamente entre el tratamiento con CIDR nuevos (40 ± 10 h) y CIDR de segundo uso (31 ± 9 h). En las variables presencia de estro, porcentaje de gestación, porcentaje de fertilidad y tipo de parto no se obtuvieron diferencias significativas (P>0.05) entre tratamientos. La presencia de estro osciló entre 93 y 100 %, el valor promedio de gestación fue 80.8 %, 80.2 % para fertilidad y 1.26 para el índice de prolificidad. Los porcentajes de partos sencillos fueron mayores (P≤0.05) a los partos dobles en los cuatro tratamientos. Se concluye que el uso de CIDR en protocolos de 6 días permite que los dispositivos sean utilizados hasta por cuatro ocasiones con buenos resultados

Polygenic markers in patients diagnosed of autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia in Catalonia : distribution of weighted LDL-c-raising SNP scores and refinement of variant selection

Altres ajuts: Fundació la Marató de TV3 grant 20152431Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is associated with mutations in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) genes. A pathological variant has not been identified in 30-70% of clinically diagnosed FH patients, and a burden of LDL cholesterol (LDL-c)-raising alleles has been hypothesized as a potential cause of hypercholesterolemia in these patients. Our aim was to study the distribution of weighted LDL-c-raising single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scores (weighted gene scores or wGS) in a population recruited in a clinical setting in Catalonia. The study included 670 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of FH and a prior genetic study involving 250 mutation-positive (FH/M+) and 420 mutation-negative (FH/M−) patients. Three wGSs based on LDL-c-raising variants were calculated to evaluate their distribution among FH patients and compared with 503 European samples from the 1000 Genomes Project. The FH/M− patients had significantly higher wGSs than the FH/M+ and control populations, with sensitivities ranging from 42% to 47%. A wGS based only on the SNPs significantly associated with FH (wGS8) showed a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and higher diagnostic specificity and sensitivity, with 46.4% of the subjects in the top quartile. wGS8 would allow for the assignment of a genetic cause to 66.4% of the patients if those with polygenic FH are added to the 37.3% of patients with monogenic FH. Our data indicate that a score based on 8 SNPs and the75th percentile cutoff point may identify patients with polygenic FH in Catalonia, although with limited diagnostic sensitivity and specificity

Synthesis and evaluation of fluorimetric and colorimetric chemosensors for anions based on (oligo)thienyl-thiosemicarbazones

A family of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone dyes (3a-d) containing thienyl groups has been synthesized, characterized and their chromo-fluorogenic response in acetonitrile in the presence of selected anions studied. Acetonitrile solutions of 3a-d show absorption bands in the 338-425 nm range which are modulated by the groups attached to the thiosemicarbazone moiety. The fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen sulfate, nitrate, acetate and anions were used in the recognition studies. Only sensing features were observed for fluoride, cyanide, acetate and dihydrogen phosphate anions. Two different chromogenic responses were found, (i) a small shift of the absorption band due to coordination of the anions with the thiourea protons and (ii) the appearance of a new red shifted band due to deprotonation of the receptor. For the latter process changes in the color solutions from pale-yellow to orange-red were observed. Fluorescence studies showed a different emission behavior according to the number of thienyl rings in the π-conjugated bridges. Stability constants for the two processes (complex formation + deprotonation) for receptors 3a-d in the presence of fluoride and acetate anions were determined from spectrophotometric titrations using the HypSpec program. The interaction of 3d with fluoride was also studied through 1H NMR titrations. Semiempirical calculations to evaluate the hydrogen-donating ability of the receptors were also performed.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) , Acções Integradas Luso-Espanholas/CRUP, Generalitat Valenci

Biologic Therapy in Refractory Non-Multiple Sclerosis Optic Neuritis Isolated or Associated to Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases. A Multicenter Study

We aimed to assess the e cacy of biologic therapy in refractory non-Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Optic Neuritis (ON), a condition more infrequent, chronic and severe than MS ON. This was an open-label multicenter study of patients with non-MS ON refractory to systemic corticosteroids and at least one conventional immunosuppressive drug. The main outcomes were Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) and both Macular Thickness (MT) and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). These outcome variables were assessed at baseline, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after biologic therapy initiation. Remission was defined as the absence of ON symptoms and signs that lasted longer than 24 h, with or without an associated new lesion on magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium contrast agents for at least 3 months. We studied 19 patients (11 women/8 men; mean age, 34.8 13.9 years). The underlying diseases were Bechet?s disease (n = 5), neuromyelitis optica (n = 3), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 2), sarcoidosis (n = 1), relapsing polychondritis (n = 1) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody -associated vasculitis (n = 1). It was idiopathic in 6 patients. The first biologic agent used in each patient was: adalimumab (n = 6), rituximab (n = 6), infliximab (n = 5) and tocilizumab (n = 2). A second immunosuppressive drug was simultaneously used in 11 patients: methotrexate (n = 11), azathioprine (n = 2), mycophenolate mofetil (n = 1) and hydroxychloroquine (n = 1). Improvement of the main outcomes was observed after 1 year of therapy when compared with baseline data: mean SD BCVA (0.8 0.3 LogMAR vs. 0.6 0.3 LogMAR; p = 0.03), mean SD RNFL (190.5 175.4 m vs. 183.4 139.5 m; p = 0.02), mean SD MT (270.7 23.2 m vs. 369.6 137.4 m; p = 0.03). Besides, the median (IQR) prednisone-dose was also reduced from 40 (10?61.5) mg/day at baseline to. 2.5 (0?5) mg/day after one year of follow-up; p = 0.001. After a mean SD follow-up of 35 months, 15 patients (78.9%) achieved ocular remission, and 2 (10.5%) experienced severe adverse events. Biologic therapy is e ective in patients with refractory non-MS ON

Synthesis and evaluation of thiosemicarbazones functionalized with furyl moieties as new chemosensors for anion recognition

A family of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone dyes (3a-f and 4) containing furyl groups were synthesized in good yields, characterized and their response in acetonitrile in the presence of selected anions was studied. Acetonitrile solutions of 3a-f and 4 show absorption bands in the 335-396 nm range which are modulated by the electron donor or acceptor strength of the heterocyclic systems appended to the thiosemicarbazone moiety. Fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen sulphate, nitrate, acetate and cyanide anions, were used in recognition studies. From these anions, only sensing features were seen for fluoride, cyanide, acetate and dihydrogen phosphate. Two clearly different chromo-fluorogenic behaviours were observed, (i) a small shift of the absorption band due to the coordination of the anions with the thiourea protons and (ii) the appearance of a new red shifted band due to deprotonation. For the latter effect, a change in the colour solution from pale yellow to purple was observed. Fluorescence studies were also in agreement with the different effects observed in the UV/Vis titrations. In this case, hydrogen bonding interactions were visible through the enhancement of the emission band, whereas deprotonation induced the appearance of a new red-shifted emission. Logarithms of stability constants for the two processes (complex formation + deprotonation) for receptors 3a-f in the presence of fluoride and acetate anions were determined from spectrophotometric titrations using the HypSpec V1.1.18 program. Semi-empirical calculations to evaluate the hydrogen-donating ability of the receptors and a prospective electrochemical characterization of compound 3b in the presence of fluoride were also performed.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Acções Integradas Luso-espanholas/CRUP, Generalitat Valenciana

De Nueva España a México : El universo musical mexicano entre centenarios (1517-1917)

742 págs. Imágenes color y b/n. Partituras musicales.El fenómeno de las conmemoraciones culturales siempre ha sido un terreno abonado para la producción cultural y artística del que se han valido los Estados para ofrecer interpretaciones legitimadoras e ideologizadas de la historia, articuladas en torno a las ideas de memoria, nación y progreso. El presente volumen, resultado de una triple conmemoración (el centenario de la Revolución Mexicana y la publicación de la primera historia de la música en México de Alba Herrera –1917–, por un lado; y la llegada del militar andaluz Francisco Hernández de Córdoba a la costa de la península del Yucatán –1517–, por otro), presenta una visión retrospectiva de la historia musical mexicana a lo largo de esas cuatro centurias. Frente a la rígida división cronológica impuesta por ciertas narrativas, se ofrece así una noción inclusiva, actual e informada del universo musical mexicano en toda su multiplicidad y riqueza de matices, integrando las épocas colonial e independiente como lo que realmente son: partes constitutivas de la memoria musical, histórica, cultural y política del país, con las luces y las sombras propias de cualquier otro periodo

Novel functionalised imidazo-benzocrown ethers bearing a thiophene spacer as fluorimetric chemosensors for metal ion detection

Novel phenylalanine derivatives bearing benzimidazole and crown ethers as coordinating/reporting units and thiophene as a spacer unit were synthesized for the first time, and their evaluation as fluorimetric chemosensors was carried out in acetonitrile and acetonitrile/water solutions. 15-Crown-5 benzimidazolyl phenylalanine methyl ester, 15-crown-5 thienylbenzimidazolyl phenylalanine methyl ester and 18-crown-6 thienylbenzimidazolyl phenylalanine methyl ester were tested for alkaline, alkaline-earth and transition metal ions (such as Na+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Pd2+ and Zn2+). The different crown ether binding moieties as well as the electronic nature and the length of the π-bridge linked to the benzimidazole heterocycle allowed the fine tuning of the sensory properties as seen by spectrofluorimetric titrations. Therefore, 15-crown-5 benzimidazolyl phenylalanine methyl ester is a fluorimetric chemosensor, being selective and sensitive for Cu2+ and Pd2+ in aqueous solutions (ACN/H2O; 80:20). On the other hand, the metal cation sensing properties displayed by 15-crown-5 thienylbenzimidazolyl phenylalanine methyl ester bearing an arylthienyl spacer showed that this is a promising candidate as fluorimetric chemosensor for Fe3+, Pb2+ and Pd2+ in acetonitrile solution.Thanks are due to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal) for financial support to the Portuguese NMR network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho), FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETEQREN-EU for financial support to the research centre CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037302], a PhD grant to C.I.C. Esteves (SFRH/BD/68360/2010) and a post-doctoral grant to R.M.F. Batista (SFRH/BPD/79333/2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio