La paradoja de la creatividad en empresas y escuelas

Es la intención de este estudio acercarse a la potencial contradicción entre la proclamación de la importancia d contar con personal creativo y que éste luego encuentra que sus conductores suelen rechazar sus procesos creativos y más aún sus productos creativos

Cardiovascular risk biomarkers and metabolically unhealthy status in prepubertal children: Comparison of definitions

Background and aims: The early onset of cardio-metabolic abnormalities, known as metabolically unhealthy (MU) status, is highly associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as with increased morbidity and mortality later in life. Given the lack of a consensus MU classification for prepubertal children, we aimed to compare available MU definitions in terms of their association with CVD risk biomarkers. Methods and results: A total of 930 prepubertal children (622 with overweight/obesity, 462 males) aged 5–10.9 years were recruited, anthropometric measures were taken and biomarkers were analyzed. Children were classified using eight MU definitions based on different cut-offs for blood pressure, triacylglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). MU prevalence in children with overweight/obesity ranged between 30% and 60% across definitions. Plasma concentrations of resistin, leptin, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and total plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (tPAI-1) were higher, and those of adiponectin were lower, in MU compared to MH children with overweight/obesity. Linear regression analyses confirmed the contribution of MPO and tPAI-1 concentrations to MU status, with most significant results derived from definitions that use age and sex-specific criteria and that account for HOMA-IR. Conclusion: Plasma concentrations of MPO and tPAI-1 are increased in prepubertal MU children irrespective of having normal-weight or overweight/obesity. Inclusion of age and sex-specific cut-offs for cardio-metabolic components as well as insulin resistance criteria increases the quality of MU definitions as seen by their stronger association with CVD biomarkers concentrations

Different Citrus rootstocks present high dissimilarities in their antioxidant activity and vitamins content according to the ripening stage

“Lane Late” sweet orange grafted on six different citrus rootstocks and grown in the Guadalquivir valley (Seville, Spain) were picked at different ripening stages in two consecutive seasons to characterize their antioxidant activity (free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition) and quantify their main antioxidant compounds (vitamin E and vitamin C). Linear discriminant analysis and 2-way ANOVA were applied to compare the effects induced by citrus rootstock and ripening stage. The results showed that differences in antioxidant activity and related compounds are mainly dependent on the citrus rootstock, despite ripening stage had also some particular effects. Changes observed in 2012 showed less marked differences among the citrus rootstock. Nevertheless, Cleopatra rootstock showed the highest antioxidant activity in both years, indicating that an increase in its cultivation might be a good solution to sweet orange farmers. Concerning the ripening stage, samples collected in January presented higher vitamin contents, while those collected in April showed higher antioxidant activity. This result allows deciding the harvesting period according to the desired effect.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the research center CIMO (strategic project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011), J.C.M. Barreira grant (SFRH/BPD/72802/2010) and L. Barros researcher contract under “Programa Compromisso com Ciência - 2008”. And Vanessa Cardeñosa is grateful to IFAPA for the fellowship obtained for the development of her PhD thesis

Interactive effects of iron and light limitation on the molecular physiology of the Southern Ocean diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis

The polar diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis is ubiquitous in Southern Ocean waters and is a major responder to iron fertilization, encountering large gradients in iron concentrations and light availability. We performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of F. kerguelensis grown under varying iron and light conditions in order to investigate the molecular underpinnings that may explain its physiological response to iron and light limitation. Low iron reduced growth rates more than low light, but there was not an additive effect of low iron and low light on growth rate. Low iron treatments (saturating and low light) had the largest transcriptomic response; however, expression patterns were more similar in low light treatments (high and low iron). Under iron and light limitation, carbon fixation and amino acid, ribosome, and sulfur metabolisms were overrepresented relative to the control (iron replete, saturating light). Transcripts of genes encoding for the proteins aquaporin, proteorhodopsin, plastocyanin, and flavodoxin were overrepresented to the greatest extent in the low iron/low light treatment, indicating there may be an additive effect of iron/light colimitation at the molecular level. Iron and light replete cells demonstrated increased expression of genes encoding for the proteins ferritin, carbonic anhydrase, and numerous iron-dependent proteins relative to the growth-limiting treatments. This transcriptome analysis reveals mechanisms that may underpin the ecological success of this diatom in low iron and light environments, highlighting the important role of diversified photosynthetic isoforms, iron acquisition, unique detoxification mechanisms of reactive oxygen species, and metabolic shifts in amino acid recycling and carbon metabolism

Onset and Evolution of Southern Annular Mode-Like Changes at Centennial Timescale

The Southern Westerly Winds (SWW) are the surface expression of geostrophic winds that encircle the southern mid-latitudes. In conjunction with the Southern Ocean, they establish a coupled system that not only controls climate in the southern third of the world, but is also closely connected to the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and CO2 degassing from the deep ocean. Paradoxically, little is known about their behavior since the last ice age and relationships with mid-latitude glacier history and tropical climate variability. Here we present a lake sediment record from Chilean Patagonia (51°S) that reveals fluctuations of the low-level SWW at mid-latitudes, including strong westerlies during the Antarctic Cold Reversal, anomalously low intensity during the early Holocene, which was unfavorable for glacier growth, and strong SWW since ∼7.5 ka. We detect nine positive Southern Annular Mode-like events at centennial timescale since ∼5.8 ka that alternate with cold/wet intervals favorable for glacier expansions (Neoglaciations) in southern Patagonia. The correspondence of key features of mid-latitude atmospheric circulation with shifts in tropical climate since ∼10 ka suggests that coherent climatic shifts in these regions have driven climate change in vast sectors of the Southern Hemisphere at centennial and millennial timescales.Fil: Moreno, P.I.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Vilanova, Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Villa-Martínez, R.. Universidad de Magallanes; ChileFil: Dunbar, R.B.. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Mucciarone, D.A.. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Kaplan, M.R.. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Garreaud, R.D.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Rojas, M.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Moy, C.M.. University of Otago; Nueva ZelandaFil: De Pol-Holz, R.. Universidad de Magallanes; ChileFil: Lambert, F.. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chil

Evaluation of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Levels Using Different Accelerometry Protocols in Children from the GENOBOX Study

Background Physical activity (PA) has acquired a significant relevance due to the health benefits associated with its practice. Accelerometers are an effective tool to assess PA; however, the diversity of cut-off points used to define different PA intensities through accelerometry could interfere in the interpretation of the findings among studies. Objectives The present study aimed to examine the sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) levels in children using six selected accelerometry protocols based on diverse cut-off points. Methods Clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, and PA evaluation by accelerometry were assessed in 543 selected children (10 +/- 2.4 years old) from the Spanish GENOBOX study. The ActiLife data scoring program was used to determine daily min spent in SB, and light, moderate, vigorous and moderate-vigorous PA using six validated accelerometry protocols differing in their cut-off points. Results Very different estimations for SB and PA intensity levels were found in children, independently of the non-wear-time algorithm selected, and considering puberty stages, age and body mass index. The time spent in daily SB varied from 471 to 663.7 min, PA ranged from 141 to 301.6 min, and the moderate-vigorous PA was reported between 20.7 and 180.2 min. Conclusion The choice of a particular accelerometry protocol considering these factors is important to evaluate SB or PA intensities to suit the characteristics of the sample researched. It seems necessary to establish future lines of research that include different analytical approaches to measure SB and PA by accelerometry based on standardized and validated methodology

Examination of gene repertoires and physiological responses to iron and light limitation in Southern Ocean diatoms

Diatoms play a fundamental role at the base of the polar marine food web. In the Southern Ocean, low iron concentrations and light levels control diatom abundance and distribution. Diatoms must therefore employ strategies that allow them to cope when iron and/or light availability is growth limiting. Through a combination of physiological and molecular-based approaches, we have investigated the physiological response to variable iron concentrations and light levels along with the expressed gene repertoires of nine newly isolated diatoms from the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region of the Southern Ocean. The diatoms ranged across five orders of magnitude in biovolume and displayed various degrees of susceptibility to low iron and light availability. Under the performed laboratory culture conditions, the growth rates of most diatoms decreased more due to low light level rather than low iron concentrations. Additionally, most diatoms were not subject to further reductions in growth rates when grown under combined low-light and iron-limiting conditions, indicating they are less likely to be co-limited by an additive effect. By sequencing the transcriptomes of these diatoms, we identified genes that likely facilitate their growth under variable iron and light conditions commonly present in the Southern Ocean. Specifically, we investigated the presence of 20 key genes involved in iron acquisition and homeostasis, iron usage in photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation, and protection from reactive oxygen species. When comparing gene repertoires of recently sequenced transcriptomes of diatoms isolated from around the globe, the prevalence of certain genes exhibited biogeographical patterns that clearly distinguish Southern Ocean diatoms from those isolated from other regions

Evolución legislativa posterior a la sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional sobre el aborto (STC 53/1985, de 11 de abril)

Con posterioridad a que la Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional de 11 de abril de 1985 declarase contraria a la Constitución Española el Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de "reforma" del art. 417 bis del Código Penal, se produce por Ley Orgánica 9/1985 de 5 de julio, la incorporación del mencionado precepto al texto del Código Penal, que establece tres supuestos de aborto no punible. Al igual que en el Proyecto rechazado, la regulación propuesta por esta Ley Orgánica 9/1985 sigue el denominado "sistema de indicaciones". Las tres excepciones a la punibilidad del aborto, que sigue siendo la regla general, pueden considerarse causas de justificación específicas que excluyen la responsabilidad penal en los concretos supuestos previstos

The vitamin D decrease in children with obesity is associated with the development of insulin resistance during puberty: The PUBMEP study

Obesity and cardiometabolic risk have been associated with vitamin D levels even in children. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between insulin resistance (IR), cardiometabolic risk factors, and vitamin D in children from prepubertal to pubertal stages. A total of 76 children from the PUBMEP study, aged 4–12 years at baseline, were included. Children were evaluated in prepubertal and pubertal stages. Anthropometric measurements and selected cardiometabolic risk biomarkers, such as plasma glucose, blood lipids, insulin, adiponectin, leptin, and blood pressure, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were determined. Children were categorized by obesity degree and IR status combined before and after puberty. Paired t-test and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted. During puberty, the increase in triacylglycerols, insulin, and HOMA-IR and the decrease in QUICKI were significantly associated with the reduction in 25(OH)D (B = -0.274, p = 0.032; B = -0.219, p = 0.019; B = -0.250, p = 0.013; B = 1.574, p = 0.013, respectively) after adjustment by BMI-z, sex, and pubertal stage. Otherwise, prepubertal non-IR children with overweight/obesity that became IR during puberty showed a significant decrease in 25(OH)D and HDL-c, and an increase in waist circumference and triacylglycerol concentrations (p < 0.05 for all) over time. These results suggest that changes in IR seem to be associated with an effect on 25(OH)D levels during puberty, especially in children with overweight. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Dietary patterns and their association with body composition and cardiometabolic markers in children and adolescents: Genobox cohort

Diet is a key factor for obesity development; however, limited data are available on dietary cluster analysis in children with obesity. We aimed to assess the associations between dietary patterns and obesity and several cardiometabolic markers. Anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, blood pressure and plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial damage were determined in 674 Caucasian children, aged 5–16, with normal or excess weight. Using a food frequency questionnaire and cluster analysis, two consistent dietary patterns were shown, labeled as health conscious (HC) and sweet and processed (SP). The HC pattern included a greater proportion of participants with overweight/obesity than the SP cluster (80.1% vs. 63.8%). However, children with obesity within the HC cluster, showed less abdominal fat, through waist to hip (0.93 vs. 0.94) and waist to height (0.61 vs. 0.63) indexes (p < 0.01). Univariate general models showed several additional differences in cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in the global and stratified analyses, with a healthier profile being observed mainly in the HC cluster. However, multivariate models questioned these findings and pointed out the need for further studies in this field. Anyhow, our findings support the benefits of a healthy diet and highlight the importance of dietary patterns in the cardiometabolic risk assessment of children with overweight/obesity, beyond weight control