Mitochondrial DNA in Osteoarthritis Disease

[Abstract] Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic joint disease, and we actually know that the activation of maladaptive responses to injury, including pro-inflammatory pathways, leads to the loss of normal joint function characterized by cartilage degradation, bone remodeling, osteophyte formation, and joint inflammation [1]. Recent insights into the epidemiology and impact of OA on patients have clearly established that OA is a severe disease of the whole joint as an organ, with large unmet medical needs. OA has a complex etiology that comprises the combination of multiple factors, including gender, age, occupation, trauma, body mass index, and genetics. Approximately, between 30 and 65% of the risk of OA is genetically determined [2] with evidence accumulated from different genome-wide association studies (GWAS) [3]. Most of these studies focused on nuclear genetic variants; however, over the last decade, evidence has accumulated for an association between specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic variants, called haplogroups, and different OA-related features, including prevalence, progression, and incidence [4].Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CIBERCB06/01/0040Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RETIC-RIER-RD16/0012/0002Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PRB2-ISCIII-PT17/0019/0014Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI14/01254Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI16/02124Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI17/0021

Mitochondria and Mitophagy: Biosensors for Cartilage Degradation and Osteoarthritis

Editoria

Video design adaptation to youtube advertising formats

Este trabajo en curso analiza cómo diferentes diseños publicitarios en términos de arousal (intensidad emocional) pueden contribuir a mejorar la efectividad de la video publicidad online. La literatura previa sugiere que un final con alto arousal puede incrementar la efectividad publicitaria. Para comprobar esta proposición, nuestra investigación combina diferentes metodologías: neurociencia aplicada al comportamiento del consumidor; un estudio de campo basado en una campaña publicitaria en YouTube y un estudio final. Los primeros resultados sugieren que el diseño publicitario ha de adaptarse a los nuevos formatos de video publicidad interactiva en función de los objetivos de los anunciantes.This work in progress analyzes how different arousal advertising design may enhance online video advertising effectiveness. Previous research suggests that arousing ending designs could increase ad effectiveness. To test this proposition, our research combines different methodologies: a consumer neuroscience pretest is used to identify high and low arousal sequences; a field study based on a YouTube ad campaign is used as an exploratory study which helps to determine the experimental scenarios to be used in the final study with a large sample size. Preliminary results suggest that ad design need to be adapted to new formats of interactive advertising depending on the advertisers’ goals

Nueva doctrina del Tribunal Supremo sobre valoración de experiencia profesional por servicios prestados en mutuas colaboradoras con la Seguridad Social: Sentencia de la sala de lo contencioso administrativo del Tribunal Supremo de 26 de mayo de 2020

Analysis of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court that establishes doctrine about the consideration of mutual collaborators with social security as public health service for the purposes of the evaluation as a merit of the services provided for them in access to public employment. Approach to the complex legal nature of mutuals, the legal regime of their staff, and different judicial pronouncements that have determined the interest of the matter for the establishment of doctrine in cassation.Análisis de la reciente sentencia del Tribunal Supremo que fija doctrina acerca de la consideración de las mutuas colaboradoras con la Seguridad Social como sanidad pública a los efectos de la valoración como mérito de los servicios prestados para las mismas en el acceso al empleo público. Aproximación a la compleja naturaleza jurídica de las mutuas, al régimen jurídico de su personal, y diferentes pronunciamientos judiciales que han determinado el interés de la cuestión para la fijación de doctrina en casación

Laboratory and field performances of grave emulsion manufactured using nanocellulose crystals as an asphalt-emulsion emulsifier

Versión aceptada de: https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2023.2216305[Abstract:] This research examines the feasibility of substituting commercial emulsifiers made by the chemical and petrochemical industries with nanocellulose. To achieve this, various bitumen emulsions are created using nanocellulose fibers and crystals as emulsifying agents. A grave-emulsion type GE-1 manufactured using bitumen emulsion produced with nanocellulose is studied. A control GE-1 is also tested. Modified proctor tests are employed to obtain the optimal fluid content; the optimum bitumen emulsion content is determined using an immersion-compression test. The compactability of GE-1 is analysed using a gyratory compactor. Finally, the moisture damage resistance (tensile strength ratio), stiffness (resilient modulus), and permanent deformation (repeated load axial test) are studied. A trial section constructed on a real scale. The cores are collected after one year and the stiffness is analysed. The results indicate that conventional emulsifying agents can be partially replaced with nanocellulose crystals in the manufacture of cationic slow-setting bituminous emulsions for grave emulsions.The EMULCELL project was co-financed by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-Government of Spain, and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (Ref. IDI-20171097). The authors would also like to thank ‘Repsol’, ‘Química de los Pavimentos’ and ‘Áridos de Astariz’ for providing part of the necessary materials to conduct this research

La Restauració d'instruments de física de la Universitat de Barcelona

According to our archives, in the later years of the 19th century it is on record that classes of Physics, Astronomy and Experimental Physics among others were taking place in the University of Barcelona. For this reason, at that time the University acquired the first instruments for the teaching of Physics which increased notably in number until the end of the century and have continued to do so since then. The Faculty of Physics of the University of Barcelona has collected along his years of existence an important collection of scientific instruments, related both for research and for teaching. A small part has been restored but there is still a lot of work to do

What did we learn from 'omics' studies in osteoarthritis

Review article[Abstract] Purpose of review: 'Omics' technologies developed for the massive analysis of the major biologically relevant molecules (genes, proteins, metabolites) have been applied to the study of osteoarthritis (OA) for more than a decade. Recent findings: 'Omics' studies have undoubtedly contributed to increase the knowledge on pathogenic processes related with OA and have provided hundreds to thousands of molecules that might have a putative biomarker utility for this disease. Summary: This review describes the most recent 'omics' studies in OA research, their conclusions, and discuss those remaining challenges. Still many validation studies must be performed in large and well-characterized cohorts for the translation of the findings from 'omics' strategies to clinical applications. The development of tools for the intelligent integration of 'omics' data with clinical and imaging information is also mandatory to take full profit of the work that has been already performed.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI14/01707Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI14/01254Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI16/02124Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CIBERCB06/ 01/0040Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RETIC-RIER-RD12/0009/0018Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PT13/000

RECONSTRUCCIÓN DE PINTURA MURAL MEDIANTE IMPRESIÓN DIRECTA CON SISTEMAS INKJET ROBOTIZADOS

En los últimos años hemos vivido la aparición de nuevas tecnologías como la fotografía digital, así como los software y hardware para su tratamiento y reproducción. Estos recursos no han pasado desapercibidos para la disciplina de la restauración, introduciéndose poco a poco en algunas de sus intervenciones. En la actualidad, estas herramientas informáticas han abierto un campo de posibilidades infinitas en la reintegración cromática y están siendo utilizadas para la manipulación y el tratamiento digital de restos originales y de sus referencias históricas. Las ventajas que ofrecen son evidentes, ya que además de poder simular y concretar previamente la reconstrucción en entornos virtuales, permiten materializarla sobre el original de forma exacta, objetiva y sin errores. A pesar de los avances hechos hasta el momento, todavía existen algunas limitaciones en la fase de representación de la imagen impresa sobre el original. Como solución alternativa a los procedimientos actuales, esta tesis propone utilizar de forma directa los sistemas de impresión inkjet. Para conseguir demostrar la viabilidad de la propuesta, se han realizado una serie de prototipos de impresión directa. A partir de estas primeras experiencias de adaptación, se han desarrollado soluciones robotizadas optimizadas que ilustran virtualmente el concepto de lo que se busca conseguir: adaptar los dispositivos de impresión a cualquier tipología de superficie para reconstruir directamente las pérdidas pictóricas de una obra. Además, se han realizado una serie de pruebas de impresión sobre superficies murales que acreditan las ventajas de utilizar directamente los sistemas de impresión inkjet en la reconstrucción de originales.Blanco-Moreno Pérez, FJ. (2014). RECONSTRUCCIÓN DE PINTURA MURAL MEDIANTE IMPRESIÓN DIRECTA CON SISTEMAS INKJET ROBOTIZADOS [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/37985TESI

Gene Polymorphisms and Pharmacogenetics in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic and inflammatory disease of unknown etiology with genetic predisposition. The advent of new biological agents, as well as the more traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, has resulted in highly efficient therapies for reducing the symptoms and signs of RA; however, not all patients show the same level of response in disease progression to these therapies. These variations suggest that RA patients may have different genetic regulatory mechanisms. The extensive polymorphisms revealed in non-coding gene-regulatory regions in the immune system, as well as genetic variations in drug-metabolizing enzymes, suggest that this type of variation is of functional and evolutionary importance and may provide clues for developing new therapeutic strategies. Pharmacogenetics is a rapidly advancing area of research that holds the promise that therapies will soon be tailored to an individual patient’s genetic profile

Els Sismògrafs de l'Observatoria de Cartuja (Granada) : recuperació del «Macrosismògraf Cartuja»

The Cartuja observatory, in Granada, was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1902. Soon it was widespread known for its research in seismology. Special attention should be drawn to the different seismographs designed and built at the centre. This task spread for forty years and more than twenty different models arose from its workshop. They covered all faces of seismic recording: from big earthquakes to ambient noise and industrial vibrations and even pedagogical instruments. Cartuja observatory was the most important institute in Spain dealing with seismograph design and one of the leading centres in Europe. Its designs spread to different seismic observatories in Central and South America and to Italy. Almost all the instruments designed and built at the centre have been lost. But, recently, what is remaining of the last built seismograph in year 1949, the «Cartuja macroseismograph», was found. This instrument has been restored at the restoration workshop of the Tortosa School of Art and Design. Priority in the restoration has been given to didactical insight and some parts of the instrument have been built a new to allow a good understanding of how it was operated. Present work analyzes the importance of the seismographs built at the Cartuja Observatory, its influence in the development of the instrumental seismology and shows the results of the restoration of the «Cartuja macroseimograph»