Relative efficiency and validity properties of a visual analogue vs a categorical scaled version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index: Spanish versions

AbstractObjective: To compare the performance of visual analogue (VAS) vs categorical (CT) scaled versions of the three subscales (pain, stiffness and difficulty) of the WOMAC Index in patients with knee osteoarthritis.Material and methods: Patients with knee OA (at least grade II of Kellgren & Lawrence classification) were treated for a 6-weeks period with an NSAID. The following measures were applied at baseline and after treatment: VAS and CT WOMAC scales, Lequesne Index, pain on VAS, and global assessment by patient and observer. Construct Validity was determined by correlation of each of the subscale scores with the other outcomes both at baseline and after treatment (Pearson’s test); responsiveness comparing baseline vs final status by Wilcoxon’s test; reliability by analysis of the internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha at baseline and after the treatment period; and test–retest reliability by Kendall’s Tau-c statistics. Finally, correlation and analysis of the relative efficiency (RE) between the subscales of both formats were tested.Results: Seventy-three (8 men and 65 women) patients with a mean disease duration from first diagnosis of 69 months (3 to 254) completed the study. The following were the observed values for the instruments’ psychometric properties: (1) construct validity: correlations ranged from 0.30 to 0.84 for VAS and 0.27 to 0.77 for CT subscales; (2) responsiveness: achieved P values for the pain, stiffness and difficulty scales were P<0.0001, P=0.002 and P<0.0001 in VAS and P=0.003, P<0.0001 and P=0.001 in CT format respectively; (3) internal consistency: the obtained Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.71 to 0.97 for the VAS and 0.64 to 0.95 for the CT subscales; (4) test–retest reliability: correlation coefficients ranged from 0.36 to 0.76 for VAS and 0.34 to 0.52 for CT subscales; and (5) the relative efficiency of the subscales in VAS vs CT format were 2.20, 0.91 and 1.91 for pain, stiffness and difficulty respectively. Significant correlations between subscales in both formats ranging from 0.72 to 0.86 were observed.Conclusion: We have shown that both the VAS version of WOMAC have adequate evaluative and discriminative properties. We found the pain and physical function scales in VAS format and the stiffness scale in CT format to have a slightly better performance in this sample

Inquiry based learning: why buying a car with a tree included? Enhancing science and mathematic learning

International reports reveal a deficient situation in relation to science and mathematics learning, which can be considered as an obstacle for the education of literate and informed citizens and the qualification and the preparation of future scientists and engineers. This situation may be partly attributed to the way science and mathematics are taught at school. Research on effective teaching approaches shows that inquiry based learning (IBL) improves students’ engagement and motivation for science and mathematics learning and promotes the development of process skills, critical thinking and conceptual understanding of some science and mathematics topics. The present work describes the design and implementation of an instructional approach for enhancing science and mathematics learning through IBL. The instructional approach is based on the design of an interdisciplinary task which starts by challenging students through the analysis of an advertisement. The initial scenario engages students in an investigation process to look for evidence and understanding while acquiring meaningful learning of key science topics and mathematical tools. The task also takes advantage of current technological resources to facilitate and support the overall inquiry process. (Orig.

TRATAMIENTO TÉRMICO PARA CONTROL DE ANTRACNOSIS (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz & Sacc) PARA MEJORAR CALIDAD DE FRUTOS DE MANGO (Mangifera indica L.) cv. ATAULFO

Canker (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz &amp; Sacc) is the principal post-harvest disease in mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.) and causes high economic losses. The study consisted in evaluating hot water and benomyl, and combined, for the immersion of fruits in the control of canker and its effects on the physical, biochemical and sanitary quality of the mango fruits Ataulfo cultivar. The treatments were immersion in hot water at 51 °C for 14 min, and benomyl at 1 g i.a L-1 of water, combined and control, under a completely random experimental design. The fruits treated at 51 °C for 14 min maintained the sanitary, biochemical and physical quality, and the shelf life was prolonged up to 13 days, showing control of canker development. The rest of the treatments generated severe damage, and accelerated maturation and senescence of the fruits. Because of this, it can be applied to fruits as a fungistatics treatment, without presenting risks to the consumer.La antracnosis (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz &amp; Sacc) es la enfermedad principal en postcosecha de los frutos de mango (Mangifera indica L.) y ocasiona cuantiosas pérdidas económicas. El estudio consistió en evaluar el agua caliente y benomilo y combinados para la inmersión de los frutos en el control de la antracnosis y su efecto en la calidad física, bioquímica y de sanidad de los frutos de mango cultivar Ataulfo. Los tratamientos fueron la inmersión en agua caliente a 51 °C por 14 min, y benomilo a 1 g i.a L-1 de agua, combinados y el testigo, bajo un diseño experimental de completamente al azar. Los frutos tratados a 51 °C por 14 min mantuvieron la sanidad, calidad bioquímica, física y prolongó la vida de anaquel hasta 13 días, registrando control del desarrollo de la antracnosis. El resto de los tratamientos generaron daños severos, aceleraron la maduración y senescencia de los frutos. Por tal motivo, se puede aplicar a los frutos como un tratamiento físico fungistático, sin presentar riesgos al consumidor

Size-controlled and redox-responsive supramolecular nanoparticles

Control over the assembly and disassembly of nanoparticles is pivotal for their use as drug delivery vehicles. Here, we aim to form supramolecular nanoparticles (SNPs) by combining advantages of the reversible assembly properties of SNPs using host–guest interactions and of a stimulus-responsive moiety. The SNPs are composed of a core of positively charged poly(ethylene imine) grafted with β-cyclodextrin (CD) and a positively charged ferrocene (Fc)-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer, with a monovalent stabilizer at the surface. Fc was chosen for its loss of CD-binding properties when oxidizing it to the ferrocenium cation. The ionic strength was shown to play an important role in controlling the aggregate growth. The attractive supramolecular and repulsive electrostatic interactions constitute a balance of forces in this system at low ionic strengths. At higher ionic strengths, the increased charge screening led to a loss of electrostatic repulsion and therefore to faster aggregate growth. A Job plot showed that a 1:1 stoichiometry of host and guest moieties gave the most efficient aggregate growth. Different stabilizers were used to find the optimal stopper to limit the growth. A weaker guest moiety was shown to be less efficient in stabilizing the SNPs. Also steric repulsion is important for achieving SNP stability. SNPs of controlled particle size and good stability (up to seven days) were prepared by fine-tuning the ratio of multivalent and monovalent interactions. Finally, reversibility of the SNPs was confirmed by oxidizing the Fc guest moieties in the core of the SNPs

Glyph reader app: multisensory stimulation through ICT to intervene literacy disorders in the classroom

This article shows the experience in the implementation of a tool called Glyph Reader, which is an application that has two interfaces, Web and Mobile and that responds to the need for an educational and interactive resource whose main objective is the Multisensory stimulation for literacy training in a population with cognitive disabilities and/specific learning disorder. The design of the activities that this application has is based on the theoretical model of multisensory stimulation Orton Gillingham, which seeks the development of basic skills for decoding isolated words based on a phonetic - graphic analysis of them. The techniques within this model use the basic concepts of intersensory integration of simultaneous visual-auditory-kinesthetic- tactile differentiation (VAKT), to which the Glyph Reader application takes full advantage, by including graphic phonetic recognition and training activities of syllables/words (exercises with symphons and exercises with combinations of consonants or working syllables), which pass from basic levels to complex levels of decoding, necessary for the development of literacy skills. The study sample for software validation is 250 students from the Eustorgio Salgar educational institution, in the municipality of Puerto Colombia, in the department of Atlántico – Colombi

Rhombomere of origin determines autonomous versus environmentally regulated expression of Hoxa3 in the avian embryo

We have investigated the pattern and regulation of Hoxa3 expression in the hindbrain and associated neural crest cells in the chick embryo, using whole mount in situ hybridization in conjunction with DiI labeling of neural crest cells and microsurgical manipulations. Hoxa3 is expressed in the neural plate and later in the neural tube with a rostral border of expression corresponding to the boundary between rhombomeres (r) 4 and 5. Initial expression is diffuse and becomes sharp after boundary formation. Hoxa3 exhibits uniform expression within r5 after formation of rhombomeric borders. Cell marking experiments reveal that neural crest cells migrating caudally, but not rostrally, from r5 and caudally from r6 express Hoxa3 in normal embryo. Results from transposition experiments demonstrate that expression of Hoxa3 in r5 neural crest cells is not strictly cell-autonomous. When r5 is transposed with r4 by rostrocaudal rotation of the rhomobomeres, Hoxa3 is expressed in cells migrating lateral to transposed r5 and for a short time, in condensing ganglia, but not by neural crest within the second branchial arch. Since DiI-labeled cells from transposed r5 are present in the second arch, Hoxa3-expressing neural crest cells from r5 appear to down-regulate their Hoxa3 expression in their new environment. In contrast, when r6 is transposed to the position of r4 after boundary formation, Hoxa3 is maintained in both migrating neural crest cells and those positioned within the second branchial arch and associated ganglia. These results suggest that Hoxa3 expression is cell-autonomous in r6 and its associated neural crest. Our results suggest that neural crest cells expressing the same Hox gene are not eqivalent; they respond differently to environmental signals and exhibit distinct degrees of cell autonomy depending upon their rhombomere of origin

Targeted DNA demethylation in human cells by fusion of a plant 5-methylcytosineDNA glycosylase to a sequence-specific DNA binding domain

DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic mark associated to gene silencing, and its targeted removal is amajor goal of epigenetic editing. In animal cells, DNA demethylation involves iterative 5mC oxidation byTET enzymes followed by replication-dependent dilution and/or replication-independent DNA repair of itsoxidized derivatives. In contrast, plants use specific DNA glycosylases that directly excise 5mC and initiateits substitution for unmethylated C in a base excision repair process. In this work, we have fused thecatalytic domain ofArabidopsisROS1 5mC DNA glycosylase (ROS1_CD) to the DNA binding domain ofyeast GAL4 (GBD). We show that the resultant GBD-ROS1_CD fusion protein binds specifically a GBD-targeted DNA sequencein vitro. We also found that transientin vivoexpression of GBD-ROS1_CD inhuman cells specifically reactivates transcription of a methylation-silenced reporter gene, and that suchreactivation requires both ROS1_CD catalytic activity and GBD binding capacity. Finally, we show thatreactivation induced by GBD-ROS1_CD is accompanied by decreased methylation levels at several CpGsites of the targeted promoter. All together, these results show that plant 5mC DNA glycosylases can beused for targeted active DNA demethylation in human cells

Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton var. chacoensis (Barros) Svenson

San Pedro (Arroyo)publishedVersio

Oenothera indecora Cambess.

Río Segundo, en el Río homónimoAriza Espinar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin

Dyschoriste venturii Leonard

Vipos, lomas áridasFil: Ariza Espinar, L. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin