Fotopletismografía laparoscópica: Nueva técnica mínimamente invasiva y estudios experimentales iniciales

In the endoscopic procedures there is not possible to use the sense of touch for the detection of weak palpitations as in open surgery, neither to directly evaluate the oxygenation and perfusion of intra-corporeal organs and tissues. Here, we present the initial results after the application of laparoscopic photoplethysmography, a novel technique developed by our group, which allows obtaining specific clinical parameters and overcome the cited drawbacks. From the photoplethysmograpic signals of different wavelengths recorded in intra-abdominal organs and territories of animal models, their pulse values and oxygenation related quotients have been derived. © Sociedad Española de Óptica.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto PI 04/0715 del Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias. Agradecemos la colaboración prestada durante el estudio experimental por Dr. José Carlos Manuel Palazuelos, Dr. Juan Carlos González Cueli y las diplomadas en Enfermería del CENDOS. Parte de los resultados aquí expuestos han sido presentados oralmente en el Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Laparoscopia (SECLA 2009) celebrado en Santander en mayo de 2009. SMLS está contratada por el Programa I3P con financiación del Fondo Social Europeo.Peer Reviewe

The link between selfing and greater dispersibility in a heterocarpic Asteraceae

Premise of the Study: Although an evolutionary link between breeding system and dispersibility has been proposed, to date empirical data and theoretical models of plants show contrasting trends. Methods: We tested two competing hypotheses for the association between breeding systems and dispersibility in the heterocarpic Hypochaeris salzmanniana (Asteraceae) by using both an experimental approach and surveys over 2 years of five natural populations along an environmental cline with a gradient of pollinator availability. Key Results: Hypochaeris salzmanniana produced two types of fruits, beaked (BF) and nonbeaked (NBF), which differ in their dispersal ability. The BF were lighter and had a lower dropping velocity and higher dispersal distance than the NBF. Potential for long-distance dispersal, measured as BF ratio per head, had high narrow-sense heritability. Greater dispersibility and selfing ability were linked at all the scales studied. Both selfed BF and NBF fruits had longer plumes and lower plume loading than outcrossed fruits, characteristics that promote farther dispersal. Natural populations with a higher percentage of self-compatible plants showed a higher BF ratio. Moreover, selfing led to a higher BF ratio than outcrossing. Conclusions: The avoidance of inbreeding depression seems to be the most plausible selective pressure for the greater dispersibility traits of selfed seeds. Furthermore, the ability to modulate the BF ratio and thus the potential for long-distance dispersal of offspring based on its selfed or outcrossed origin could be advantageous, and therefore selected, under unpredictable pollination environments that favor higher dispersive selfers, which overcome both pollen limitation and inbreeding avoidance.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2012- 33270, CGL2015- 63827, CGL2015- 66161-

Functional recovery in patients with schizophrenia: recommendations from a panel of experts

emission and encompasses multiple aspects of the patient's life, making it difficult to settle on a definition and to develop reliable assessment criteria. In this consensus process based on a panel of experts in schizophrenia, we aimed to provide useful insights on functional recovery and its involvement in clinical practice and clinical research. Methods: After a literature review of functional recovery in schizophrenia, a scientific committee of 8 members prepared a 75-item questionnaire, including 6 sections: (I) the concept of functional recovery (9 items), (II) assessment of functional recovery (23 items), (III) factors influencing functional recovery (16 items), (IV) psychosocial interventions and functional recovery (8 items), (V) pharmacological treatment and functional recovery (14 items), and (VI) the perspective of patients and their relatives on functional recovery (5 items). The questionnaire was sent to a panel of 53 experts, who rated each item on a 9-point Liken scale. Consensus was achieved in a 2-round Delphi dynamics, using the median (interquartile range) scores to consider consensus in either agreement (scores 7-9) or disagreement (scores 1-3). Items not achieving consensus in the first round were sent back to the experts for a second consideration. Results: After the two recursive rounds, consensus was achieved in 64 items (85.3%): 61 items (81.3%) in agreement and 3 (4.0%) in disagreement all of them from section II (assessment of functional recovery). Items not reaching consensus were related to the concepts of functional recovery (1 item, 13%), functional assessment (5 items, 6.7%), factors influencing functional recovery (3 items, 4.0%), and psychosocial interventions (2 items, 5.6%). Conclusions: Despite the lack of a well-defined concept of functional recovery, we identified a trend towards a common archetype of the definition and factors associated with functional recovery, as well as its applicability in clinical practice and clinical research.This project was funded by Janssen. The funding body participated in study design and data interpretation

Diagnosis and report of Coccus moestus De Lotto, 1959 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae), a new record from Cuba.

La escama blanda Coccus moestus De Lotto, 1959 (Hemiptera: Coccidae) se registra por primera vez para Cuba. Los ejemplares fueron recolectados en la Ciénaga de Majaguillar, al noreste de la provincia de Matanzas, Cuba, sobre Calophyllum antillanum Britton (Calophyllaceae). La especie se diagnostica e ilustra con base en material colectado en este estudio. Se provee una clave taxonómica para separar las especies del género Coccus Linnaeus registradas en Cuba

UCP2 Regulates the Glucagon Response to Fasting and Starvation

Glucagon is important for maintaining euglycemia during fasting/starvation, and abnormal glucagon secretion is associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes; however, the mechanisms of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion are poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that global deletion of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2−/−) in mice impaired glucagon secretion from isolated islets. Therefore, UCP2 may contribute to the regulation of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon secretion, which is supported by our current finding that UCP2 expression is increased in nutrient-deprived murine and human islets. Further to this, we created α-cell–specific UCP2 knockout (UCP2AKO) mice, which we used to demonstrate that blood glucose recovery in response to hypoglycemia is impaired owing to attenuated glucagon secretion. UCP2-deleted α-cells have higher levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to enhanced mitochondrial coupling, which translated into defective stimulus/secretion coupling. The effects of UCP2 deletion were mimicked by the UCP2 inhibitor genipin on both murine and human islets and also by application of exogenous ROS, confirming that changes in oxidative status and electrical activity directly reduce glucagon secretion. Therefore, α-cell UCP2 deletion perturbs the fasting/hypoglycemic glucagon response and shows that UCP2 is necessary for normal α-cell glucose sensing and the maintenance of euglycemia

Effect of Grazing Management on Herbage Accumulation of Lucerne-Orchard Grass Sward

Throughout most of México, lucerne (Medicago sativa) is the primary forage legume used in the dairy industry. Unfortunately, lucerne does not grow in late autumn and winter due to adverse weather. Recent studies with lucerne have suggested that the inclusion of a companion grass will invariably increase the seasonal distribution and total annual yield of swards (Laidlaw & Teuber, 2001). However the management of mixed swards containing lucerne is difficult as a grazing frequency or intensity which suits one species may be detrimental to the other. Changes in balance between grass and legume, especially in grazed swards, have been observed. In México mixtures of lucerne-orchard grass have a good persistence and productivity. However the explanation for this is unclear. This study examined the effects of different grazing management practices on lucerne-orchard grass production and seasonal distribution

Startup facilitador de procesos de atenci?n, pago de cuentas y marketing de fidelizaci?n para aumentar el tr?fico de consumidores a los disco bares

En la actualidad, los startups que pertenecen al modelo de negocio del tipo orquestadores de redes son utilizados en diferentes sectores de negocio, facilitando sus operaciones y mejorando el servicio al cliente a trav?s de la tecnolog?a. Es as? que, teniendo conocimiento de un sector desatendido, se opta por el desarrollo de una soluci?n orientada al segmento de bares, donde estos puedan utilizar el modelo de negocio mencionado en sus locales. La idea de negocio que se ha planteado en el siguiente trabajo es la de ser intermediadores entre los bares y los consumidores, en la cual los consumidores puedan seleccionar el bar, realizar reservas de mesas en cualquiera de los diferentes bares afiliados, elegir piqueos y tragos, pagar la cuenta de manera individual, en conjunto o dividirla de acuerdo a la conveniencia de los consumidores. Por parte del bar, podr?n tener mayor informaci?n de sus clientes, presentar la carta del local, enviar promociones al aplicativo y brindar una soluci?n de pago r?pida y eficaz para sus clientes. El objetivo del presente proyecto de negocio es evaluar la viabilidad operativa, econ?mica y comercial para que el aplicativo sea atractivo y utilizado en los bares del distrito de Miraflores y Barranco

Tachyonic Universes in Patch Cosmologies with Ω>1\Omega>1

In this article we study closed inflationary universe models by means of a tachyonic field. We described a general treatment for created a universe with $\Omega>1$ in patch cosmology, which is able to represent General Relativity, Gauss-Bonnet or Randall-Sundrum patches. We use recent data from astronomical observations to constrain the parameters appearing in our model.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by Modern Physics Letters