Molecular cloning and characterisation of the RESA gene, a marker of genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum

To identity immunodiagnostic antigen genes, a Plasmodium falciparum (Dd2 clone) expression library was screened using human immune sera. The ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) was isolated: this antigen of the resistant clone presents repeat tandem sequences like the 3D7 clone, albeit in different numbers. RESA has been studied as a marker of genetic diversity, with different sizes being observed in different isolates and clones of Plasmodium falciparum. The native protein was localised in cultures by western-blot and immuno-transmission electron microscopy. The antigenicity of RESA was evaluated by ELISA, using the carboxy-terminal repeat region as antigen. The assay’s sensitivity and specificity were 78.2 and 94% respectively

Unravelling Hominin Activities in the Zooarchaeological Assemblage of Barranco León (Orce, Granada, Spain)

Little is known about the subsistence practices of the first European settlers, mainly due to the shortage of archaeological sites in Europe older than a million years. This article contributes to the knowledge of the subsistence of the first Europeans with new zooarchaeology and taphonomic data from the Palaeolithic site of Barranco León (Orce, Granada, Spain). We present the results of the analysis of the faunal assemblages retrieved in the context of new excavations undertaken between 2016 and 2020. We have followed a standard methodology for the identification and quantification of species, mortality profiles, skeletal representation and taphonomic analysis. With regard to the taphonomic evidence, we have documented the extent of rounding, abrasion and other alterations. Finally, we examined traces from the activities of carnivores and hominins that led to the accumulation and alteration of the bone assemblages. Results indicate that the archaeo-paleontological deposits from Barranco León present a dual-patterned mixed taphonomic origin. The first phase primarily involved waterborne processes (BL-D1), which led to the accumulation of lithic raw materials, a few archaeological stone tools, and some faunal remains with percussion and cutmarks. The second phase (BL-D2) contains several stone tools associated with faunal remains with more anthropogenic alterations, such as cutmarks and percussion marks. After analysing the Barranco León zooarchaeological assemblage, the present study concludes that hominins had access to the meat and within-bone nutrients of animals of diverse sizes. However, the specific carcass acquisition mechanisms that hominins followed are less certain because the presence of tooth marks suggests that carnivores also played a role in the accumulation and modification of the Barranco León faunal assemblage.CRUE-CSIC agreement Springer NatureJunta de Andalucia, Consejeria de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte: Orce Research Project `Primeras ocupaciones humanas y contexto paleoecologico a partir de los depositos pliopleistocenos de la cuenca Guadix-Baza: zona arqueologica de la Cuenca de Orce (Grana BC.03.032/17Spanish Government PRE2019-089411 RTI2018-099850-B-I00University of SalamancaArts and Humanities Research Council through a Baillie Gifford AHRC Scholarship (OOC-DTP program) at the University of Oxford AH/R012709/1National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia PRE2020-094482European Union-NextGenerationEU 2021URV-MS-03Ministry of Universities and Recovery, Transformation and Resilience PlanGeneralitat de Catalunya 2017SGR-859 2017SGR-1666Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the `Maria de Maeztu' program for Units of Excellence CEX2019-000945-MSpanish Government CEX2019-000945-M-20-

Urocortin induces positive inotropic effect in rat heart

9 páginas, 6 figuras.Aims The aim of this study is to evaluate the positive inotropic effect of urocortin (Ucn) and to characterize its signalling pathways. Methods and results Contractility was measured in ex vivo Langendorff-perfused hearts isolated from Wistar rats. Isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes were used to analyse intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients evoked by electrical stimulation and L-type Ca2+ current by confocal microscopy and whole-cell patch-clamping, respectively. The application of Ucn to perfused hearts induced progressive, sustained, and potent inotropic and lusitropic effects that were dose-dependent with an EC50 of approximately 8 nM. Ucn effects were independent of protein kinase A (PKA) activation but were significantly reduced by protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors and by brefeldin A, an antagonist of guanine nucleotide exchange factor, suggested to be an inhibitor of exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac). These whole-organ effects were correlated with the inotropic effects observed in isolated cells: Ucn increased ICaL density, [Ca2+]i transients, cell shortening and Ca2+ content of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Conclusion Our results show that Ucn evokes potent positive inotropic and lusitropic effects mediated, at least in part, by an increase in ICaL and [Ca2+]i transient amplitude. These effects may involve the activation of Epac, PKC, and MAPK signalling pathways.This study was supported by ‘Red Cardiovascular RECAVA’ of Instituto Carlos III (grant number: RD06-0014-0020, RD06-0014-0007, PI06-0133), Consejerías de Salud, de Innovación Ciencia y Empresa de la Junta de Andalucía (grant numbers: 174/2006, P06-CTS-01711), Inserm, and by Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (grant: Physio2006Epac). T.S is a ‘Ramon y Cajal’ Researcher and E.C is a fellow student from RECAVA.Peer reviewe

Relación de las calificaciones en la prueba ECOE de la administración catalana con el expediente académico y los resultados en la prueba MIR en estudiantes de Medicina de la UPF-UAB

In the Medicine studies of the Campus Mar in Barcelona (UPF-UAB) the OSCE test recommended by the Conference of Deans of Spain has not yet been implemented, but all the students take an OSCE designed by the Catalan health administration during their final year. We plan to carry out a study to establish the possible relationship between the results in the external ECOE test and those obtained in our Medical School. We also tried to establish the relationship between the results in the ECOE and in the MIR test. The study was carried out with all the graduates of the first four promotions of the UPF-UAB degree in Medicine who had taken the ECOE test and the MIR test. No differences between sexes were found in the OSCE achievement. In both men and women, there was a positive and significant relationship between the results of the OSCE and those of the final score and those of the MIR test. The results are positively valued since the final score is in line with the performance in a test where presumably the most relevant competencies that graduates in Medicine should have are adequately evaluated. The positive relationship between OSCE and MIR allows some peace of mind until at some point an exam can be implemented that assesses clinical and communication skills for access to specialized training.En los estudios de Medicina del Campus Mar de Barcelona (UPF-UAB, aunque todavía no se ha implementado la prueba ECOE recomendada por la Conferencia Nacional de Decanos de Facultades de Medicina (CNDFM), todos los estudiantes realizan durante su último año una ECOE diseñada por la administración sanitaria catalana. Nos planteamos realizar un estudio para establecer la posible concordancia entre los resultados en la prueba ECOE externa y los obtenidos en nuestro centro. También se pretendió establecer la relación entre los resultados en la ECOE y en la prueba MIR. El estudio se realizó con todos los graduados de las cuatro primeras promociones del grado en Medicina de la UPF-UAB que habían realizado la prueba ECOE y la prueba MIR. No se encontraron diferencias entre sexos en los resultados de la ECOE. Tanto en hombres como en mujeres, existió una relación positiva y significativa entre los resultados de la ECOE y los del expediente final y los de la prueba MIR.  Los resultados son valorados positivamente  ya que el expediente final está en consonancia con el rendimiento en una prueba donde presuntamente se evalúan de forma adecuada las competencias más relevantes que tendrían que tener los  graduados en Medicina. La relación positiva entre ECOE y MIR permite cierta tranquilidad hasta que en algún momento pueda implementarse una prueba no exclusivamente cognitiva para el acceso a la formación especializada

Mobile application for recommending courses in University Studies

Los Grados Universitarios en sus planes de estudios tienen asignados una serie de créditos optativos, en los que el estudiante tiene libertad para elegir las asignaturas que más le interesen. Esta elección suele ser bastante complicada para los estudiantes, que si bien cuentan con una guía docente de cada asignatura, que les permite conocer los contenidos teóricos y prácticos, los profesores que la imparten, la metodología y los criterios de evaluación, no suele ser suficiente para decidirse. En este contexto, los estudiantes están interesados en las valoraciones que le pueden ofrecer otros compañeros o compañeras que las cursaron, siendo una práctica habitual que los estudiantes recurran a los estudiantes de otros cursos para que les orienten en el proceso. No obstante, se debe tener cierta precaución con esta práctica, porque no todas las valoraciones que se reciban deberían tener la misma consideración. Por un lado, los intereses y propósitos del estudiante que pide opinión y los del estudiante que la proporciona puede que sean diferentes, y por otro lado, puede que la información se encuentre distorsionada por haber pasado por varios intermediarios. En este escenario, los sistemas de recomendación aparecen como herramientas para ayudar a la toma de decisiones generando recomendaciones a los estudiantes sobre un determinado objeto de estudio, a partir de preferencias y opiniones dadas por otros estudiantes que tienen unos intereses o preferencias similares a los suyos. En este proyecto se ha diseñado e implementado una aplicación móvil, fácil de manejar por los estudiantes y que permite que cualquier estudiante registrado en un determinado Grado pueda obtener una recomendación sobre las asignaturas que más le pueden interesar.University studies contain several optional subjects that can be chosen by students according to their preferences. To make this decision, student has a teaching guide of each subject which contains information about theoretical and practical contents, professors, methodology and assessment process. Despite being useful, in many cases this information is insufficient to make the best decision. In this context, students ask other peer students who have already studied the subject for advice. However, this process should be carried out cautiously. On one hand, the interests and goals of consulted students could be different to those of the student that requires the information, and on the other hand, the information could present a distorted vision of reality due to the intervention of many intermediaries. This project intends to offer recommendations that help students to choose the subjects that could be more interesting for him or her from opinions given by other peers. With this purpose, we design and develop a mobile application that allows students to obtain a recommendation about the more convenient subjects according to his/her preferences

Guía de Prácticas de Laboratorio y seminarios de Toxicología de los Alimentos

Sección Deptal. de Farmacología y Toxicología (Veterinaria)Fac. de Veterinariapu

Guía de Prácticas de Laboratorio y seminarios de Toxicología Veterinaria

Sección Deptal. de Farmacología y Toxicología (Veterinaria)Fac. de Veterinariapu

Guía de prácticas y seminarios de Fundamentos de Toxicología

Sección Deptal. de Farmacología y Toxicología (Veterinaria)Fac. de Veterinariapu

Use of meat resources in the Early Pleistocene assemblages from Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Granada, Spain) (vol 13, 213, 2021)

Correction to: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2021) 13: 213Peer reviewe

Unravelling Hominin Activities in the Zooarchaeological Assemblage of Barranco Leon (Orce, Granada, Spain)

Little is known about the subsistence practices of the first European settlers, mainly due to the shortage of archaeological sites in Europe older than a million years. This article contributes to the knowledge of the subsistence of the first Europeans with new zooarchaeology and taphonomic data from the Palaeolithic site of Barranco Leon (Orce, Granada, Spain). We present the results of the analysis of the faunal assemblages retrieved in the context of new excavations undertaken between 2016 and 2020. We have followed a standard methodology for the identification and quantification of species, mortality profiles, skeletal representation and taphonomic analysis. With regard to the taphonomic evidence, we have documented the extent of rounding, abrasion and other alterations. Finally, we examined traces from the activities of carnivores and hominins that led to the accumulation and alteration of the bone assemblages. Results indicate that the archaeo-paleontological deposits from Barranco Leon present a dual-patterned mixed taphonomic origin. The first phase primarily involved waterborne processes (BL-D1), which led to the accumulation of lithic raw materials, a few archaeological stone tools, and some faunal remains with percussion and cutmarks. The second phase (BL-D2) contains several stone tools associated with faunal remains with more anthropogenic alterations, such as cutmarks and percussion marks. After analysing the Barranco Leon zooarchaeological assemblage, the present study concludes that hominins had access to the meat and within-bone nutrients of animals of diverse sizes. However, the specific carcass acquisition mechanisms that hominins followed are less certain because the presence of tooth marks suggests that carnivores also played a role in the accumulation and modification of the Barranco Leon faunal assemblage.Peer reviewe