¿La actitud hacia la matemática influye en el rendimiento académico?

Este trabajo tiene por objetivo mostrar los resultados obtenidos en una investigación realizada durante el ciclo lectivo 2008, respecto de la Actitud Hacia la Matemática (AHM) y su influencia en el Rendimiento Académico de los alumnos en el examen de Ingreso a la Facultad Regional Tucumán de la UTN y en la asignatura Álgebra y Geometría Analítica perteneciente al primer año de la Carrera de Ingeniería en Sistemas de Información. La metodología utilizada es la propia de un diseño exploratorio descriptivo y la investigación realizada es no experimental de corte transversal. Se utilizó la escala tipo Thurstone, adaptada al contexto, para medir el grado de AHM de los estudiantes. Estos resultados permitieron concluir que la AHM es relevante para el rendimiento académico de los alumnos. Por lo tanto, es necesario que los docentes evaluemos las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre su desempeño académico para descubrir intereses y realizar innovaciones metodológicas que optimicen el proceso educativo

Effect of small-sided games on football players

El objetivo ha sido analizar cómo influyen los juegos reducidos o SSGs sobre la condición física, técnica y los cambios de dirección (CODA) en jugadoras alevines de fútbol femenino. Participan 12 jugadoras de fútbol femenino. Realizaron 14 sesiones de entrenamiento basado en juegos reducidos de fútbol. La muestra presenta valores normales en la prueba de Saphiro-Wilk, además, en la prueba de t de Student muestra que existen diferencias estadísticamente muy significativas (p ≤0,00) en todas las variables físicas analizadas, menos en el caso de la fuerza explosiva. En las variables de técnica nos muestra que existen diferencias significativas en todas las variables analizadas (p ≤0,00). Por último existen correlaciones positivas y estadísticamente significativas entre las distintas variables analizadas. De esta forma podemos considerar los juegos reducidos son un método adecuado y muy ventajoso para el entrenamiento en las etapas iniciales o de formación en jugadoras de fútbolThe objective has been to analyze how small-sided games or SSGs affect physical, technical and changes of direction (CODA) in U12 female soccer players. 12 female soccer players participate. They conducted 14 training sessions based on reduced soccer games. The sample has normal values in the Saphiro-Wilk test, and in the Student's t test it shows that there are statistically very significant differences (p ≤0,00) in all the analyzed physical variables, less in the case of the explosive force. In the technique variables we show that there are significant differences in all variables analyzed (p ≤0,00). Finally, there are positive and statistically significant correlations between the different variables analyzed. In this way we can consider reduced games are a suitable and very advantageous method for training in the initial stages or training in soccer player

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of flavanol-containing tea, cocoa and apple products on body composition and blood lipids: exploring the factors responsible for variability in their efficacy

Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses support the benefits of flavanols on cardiometabolic health, but the factors affecting variability in the responses to these compounds have not been properly assessed. The objectives of this meta-analysis were to systematically collect the RCTs-based-evidence of the effects of flavanol-containing tea, cocoa and apple products on selected biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk and to explore the influence of various factors on the variability in the responses to the consumption of these products. A total of 120 RCTs were selected. Despite a high heterogeneity, the intake of the flavanol-containing products was associated using a random model with changes (reported as standardized difference in means (SDM)) in body mass index (−0.15, p < 0.001), waist circumference (−0.29, p < 0.001), total-cholesterol (−0.21, p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (−0.23, p < 0.001), and triacylglycerides (−0.11, p = 0.027), and with an increase of HDL-cholesterol (0.15, p = 0.005). Through subgroup analyses, we showed the influence of baseline-BMI, sex, source/form of administration, medication and country of investigation on some of the outcome measures and suggest that flavanols may be more effective in specific subgroups such as those with a BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, non-medicated individuals or by specifically using tea products. This meta-analysis provides the first robust evidence of the effects induced by the consumption of flavanol-containing tea, cocoa and apple products on weight and lipid biomarkers and shows the influence of various factors that can affect their bioefficacy in humans. Of note, some of these effects are quantitatively comparable to those produced by drugs, life-style changes or other natural products. Further, RCTs in well-characterized populations are required to fully comprehend the factors affecting inter-individual responses to flavanol and thereby improve flavanols efficacy in the prevention of cardiometabolic disorders

The relationship between truncation and phosphorylation at the C-terminus of tau protein in the paired helical filaments of Alzheimer's disease

Acknowledgements: Authors want to express their gratitude to Dr. P. Davies (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA) and Lester I. Binder (NorthWestern, Chicago, IL, USA) for the generous gift of mAbs (TG-3, Alz-50, and MC1), and (TauC-3), respectively, and to M. en C. Ivan J. Galván-Mendoza for his support in confocal microscopy, and Ms. Maricarmen De Lorenz for her secretarial assistance. We also want to express our gratitude to the Mexican Families who donate the brain of their loved ones affected with Alzheimer's disease, and made possible our research. This work was financially supported by CONACyT grant, No. 142293 (For R.M).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Investigación y desarrollo de una nueva fórmula del aroma alimentario de mantequilla

Los aromas alimentarios son productos no destinados a ser consumidos como tales, sino incorporados en el proceso de fabricación industrial de alimentos con el fin de aportarles olor o sabor, o modificar ambos. Los compuestos aromáticos empleados en la fabricación de aromas alimentarios pueden ser de origen natural o sintético, pudiéndose emplear indistintamente, en la misma concentración, al no existir diferencias organolépticas entre ellos.Las rutas convencionales de síntesis química son todavía viables, pero la producción biotecnológica compite con ellas al permitir una mayor producción, a menor precio, de compuestos naturales. El cultivo de microorganismos, como bacterias ácido lácticas o levaduras, es uno de los procesos biotecnológicos más empleados. Estos microorganismos pueden sintetizar compuestos aromáticos, por ejemplo el diacetilo, como metabolitos secundarios durante la fermentación.El diacetilo es el principal componente del aroma alimentario de mantequilla que se va a fabricar. El objetivo de este trabajo fue la investigación y el desarrollo de una nueva fórmula del aroma alimentario de mantequilla con notas lácteas para su incorporación en la fabricación de productos de repostería, como una posible aplicación de metabolitos aromáticos derivados de la fermentación en la industria alimentaria. Para ello, se combinó el diacetilo con otros compuestos aromáticos que contribuyeron al perfil aromático propuesto y con disolventes adecuados para facilitar la fabricación y aplicación final. Se realizó un análisis para el control de calidad de las materias primas y del aroma fabricado mediante cromatografía de gases. El proceso de fabricación industrial se llevó a cabo cumpliendo en todo momento la legislación vigente para la industria alimentaria y de aromas. Se obtuvo un aroma de mantequilla de color amarillo, consistencia líquida y notas lácteas, en el que el diacetilo estaba en una proporción en torno al 17% combinado con el resto de componentes, de origen natural o sintético, que contribuían al perfil lácteo deseado (todos ellos en proporción <2%), y los disolventes (propilenglicol, etanol y agua).El uso de compuestos aromáticos en la fabricación de aromas alimentarios está autorizado como seguro para su uso en alimentación por las autoridades pertinentes. Para asegurar un consumo seguro, el aroma debe incorporarse en cantidades diluidas en el alimento

NP7 protects from cell death induced by oxidative stress in neuronal and glial midbrain cultures from parkin null mice

AbstractParkin mutations produce Parkinson’s disease (PD) in humans and nigrostriatal dopamine lesions related to increased free radicals in mice. We examined the effects of NP7, a synthetic, marine derived, free radical scavenger which enters the brain, on H2O2 toxicity in cultured neurons and glia from wild-type (WT) and parkin null mice (PK-KO).NP7, 5–10μM, prevented the H2O2 induced apoptosis and necrosis of midbrain neuronal and glial cultures from WT and PK-KO mice. NP7 suppressed microglial activation and the H2O2 induced drop-out of dopamine neurons. Furthermore, NP7 prevented the increased phosphorylation of ERK and AKT induced by H2O2. NP7 may be a promising neuroprotector against oxidative stress in PD

Circulating Cell-Free DNA-Based Liquid Biopsy Markers for the Non-Invasive Prognosis and Monitoring of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Liquid biopsy may assist in the management of cancer patients, which can be particularly applicable in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this study, we investigated the utility of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based markers as prognostic tools in metastatic PDAC. Plasma was obtained from 61 metastatic PDAC patients, and cfDNA levels and fragmentation were determined. BEAMing technique was used for quantitative determination of RAS mutation allele fraction (MAF) in cfDNA. We found that the prognosis was more accurately predicted by RAS mutation detection in plasma than in tissue. RAS mutation status in plasma was a strong independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Moreover, RAS MAF in cfDNA was also an independent risk factor for poor OS, and was strongly associated with primary tumours in the body/tail of the pancreas and liver metastases. Higher cfDNA levels and fragmentation were also associated with poorer OS and shorter PFS, body/tail tumors, and hepatic metastases, whereas cfDNA fragmentation positively correlated with RAS MAF. Remarkably, the combination of CA19-9 with MAF, cfDNA levels and fragmentation improved the prognostic stratification of patients. Furthermore, dynamics of RAS MAF better correlated with patients’ outcome than standard CA19-9 marker. In conclusion, our study supports the use of cfDNA-based liquid biopsy markers as clinical tools for the non-invasive prognosis and monitoring of metastatic PDAC patients

Basal VEGF-A and ACE Plasma Levels of Metastatic Colorectal-Cancer Patients Have Prognostic Value for First-Line Treatment with Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab

The identification of factors that respond to anti-angiogenic therapy would represent a significant advance in the therapeutic management of metastatic-colorectal-cancer (mCRC) patients. We previously reported the relevance of VEGF-A and some components of the renin–angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the response to anti-angiogenic therapy in cancer patients. Therefore, this prospective study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of basal plasma levels of VEGF-A and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in 73 mCRC patients who were to receive bevacizumab-based therapies as a first-line treatment. We found that high basal VEGF-A plasma levels were significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (FPS). On the other hand, low ACE levels were significantly associated with poor OS. Importantly, a simple scoring system combining the basal plasma levels of VEGF-A and ACE efficiently stratified mCRC patients, according to OS, into high-risk or low-risk groups, prior to their treatment with bevacizumab. In conclusion, our study supports that VEGF-A and ACE may be potential biomarkers for selecting those mCRC patients who will most benefit from receiving chemotherapy plus bevacizumab treatment in first-line therapy. Additionally, our data reinforce the notion of a close association between the RAAS and the anti-angiogenic response in cancer

The Combination of Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet–Lymphocyte Ratio with Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers Improves Prognosis Prediction in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a highly inflammatory microenvironment and liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising tool for the noninvasive analysis of this tumor. In this study, plasma was obtained from 58 metastatic PDAC patients, and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration, and circulating RAS mutation were determined. We found that NLR was significantly associated with both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival. Remarkably, NLR was an independent risk factor for poor OS. Moreover, NLR and PLR positively correlated, and combination of both inflammatory markers significantly improved the prognostic stratification of metastatic PDAC patients. NLR also showed a positive correlation with cfDNA levels and RAS mutant allelic fraction (MAF). Besides, we found that neutrophil activation contributed to cfDNA content in the plasma of metastatic PDAC patients. Finally, a multi-parameter prognosis model was designed by combining NLR, PLR, cfDNA levels, RAS mutation, RAS MAF, and CA19-9, which performs as a promising tool to predict the prognosis of metastatic PDAC patients. In conclusion, our study supports the idea that the use of systemic inflammatory markers along with circulating tumor-specific markers may constitute a valuable tool for the clinical management of metastatic PDAC patients