Cuba y la Reforma Colonial en España

Copia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Cultura. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 201

Programming Skeletal Muscle Metabolic Flexibility in Offspring of Male Rats in Response to Maternal Consumption of Slow Digesting Carbohydrates during Pregnancy

Skeletal muscle plays a relevant role in metabolic flexibility and fuel usage and the associated muscle metabolic inflexibility due to high-fat diets contributing to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Previous research from our group indicates that a high-fat and rapid-digesting carbohydrate diet during pregnancy promotes an excessive adipogenesis and also increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the offspring. This effect can be counteracted by diets containing carbohydrates with similar glycemic load but lower digestion rates. To address the role of the skeletal muscle in these experimental settings, pregnant rats were fed high-fat diets containing carbohydrates with similar glycemic load but different digestion rates, a high fat containing rapid-digesting carbohydrates diet (HF/RD diet) or a high fat containing slow-digesting carbohydrates diet (HF/SD diet). After weaning, male offspring were fed a standard diet for 3 weeks (weaning) or 10 weeks (adolescence) and the impact of the maternal HF/RD and HF/SD diets on the metabolism, signaling pathways and muscle transcriptome was analyzed. The HF/SD offspring displayed better muscle features compared with the HF/RD group, showing a higher muscle mass, myosin content and differentiation markers that translated into a greater grip strength. In the HF/SD group, metabolic changes such as a higher expression of fatty acids (FAT/CD36) and glucose (GLUT4) transporters, an enhanced glycogen content, as well as changes in regulatory enzymes such as muscle pyruvate kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 were found, supporting an increased muscle metabolic flexibility and improved muscle performance. The analysis of signaling pathways was consistent with a better insulin sensitivity in the muscle of the HF/SD group. Furthermore, increased expression of genes involved in pathways leading to muscle differentiation, muscle mass regulation, extracellular matrix content and insulin sensitivity were detected in the HF/SD group when compared with HF/RD animals. In the HF/SD group, the upregulation of the ElaV1/HuR gene could be one of the main regulators in the positive effects of the diet in early programming on the offspring. The long-lasting programming effects of the HF/SD diet during pregnancy may depend on a coordinated gene regulation, modulation of signaling pathways and metabolic flexibility that lead to an improved muscle functionality. The dietary early programming associated to HF/SD diet has synergic and positive crosstalk effects in several tissues, mainly muscle, liver and adipose tissue, contributing to maintain the whole body homeostasis in the offspring.European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013

AhaP, A Quorum Quenching Acylase from Psychrobacter sp. M9-54-1 That Attenuates Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio coralliilyticus Virulence

Although Psychrobacter strain M9-54-1 had been previously isolated from the microbiota of holothurians and shown to degrade quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules C6 and C10-homoserine lactone (HSL), little was known about the gene responsible for this activity. In this study, we determined the whole genome sequence of this strain and found that the full 16S rRNA sequence shares 99.78–99.66% identity with Psychrobacter pulmonis CECT 5989T and P. faecalis ISO-46T. M9-54-1, evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay method, showed high quorum quenching (QQ) activity against a wide range of synthetic N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHLs) at 4, 15, and 28 °C. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry (HPLC-MS) confirmed that QQ activity was due to an AHL-acylase. The gene encoding for QQ activity in strain M9-54-1 was identified from its genome sequence whose gene product was named AhaP. Purified AhaP degraded substituted and unsubstituted AHLs from C4- to C14-HSL. Furthermore, heterologous expression of ahaP in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 reduced the expression of the QS-controlled gene lecA, encoding for a cytotoxic galactophilic lectin and swarming motility protein. Strain M9-54-1 also reduced brine shrimp mortality caused by Vibrio coralliilyticus VibC-Oc-193, showing potential as a biocontrol agent in aquaculture

Modelos de inteligencia empresarial relacionado al Business Intelligent (BI), para el mejoramiento de la toma de decisiones en la Rectoría de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, período 2014

Con la aparición del Balanced Scorecard la administración de empresas se vio revolucionada ya que mediante esta herramienta de gestión se puede introducir mediciones sobre los indicadores intangibles, es decir tener un conocimiento del valor real en cuanto al desempeño y cumplimiento de la eficiencia y eficacia en una organización dando paso a la capacidad de análisis y redefiniendo estrategias en base a los resultados para que de esta manera se alinee a la organización a cumplir con su misión y visión. La investigación realizada es de carácter macro puesto que se lo llevó a cabo en las siete facultades y cinco subsistemas de la ESPOCH, tomando en consideración que el presente trabajo investigativo tiene como competencia el Subsistema Estratégico mismo que es el más importante ya que tanto las Facultades como el resto de Subsistemas tienen que tributar al mismo, dicho esto el objetivo del presente trabajo es la implementación del Balanced Scorecard como un modelo de inteligencia empresarial relacionado al Business Intelligent (BI), que contribuya en el mejoramiento de la toma de decisiones en la Rectoría de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Finalmente se estructuró el cuadro de mando, mismo que permite visualizar mediante colores semafóricos el estado de cumplimiento tanto de los objetivos tácticos como los indicadores de gestión establecidos, para posteriormente retroalimentarlos de forma constante desde la red a través de la persona responsable, esto con la finalidad de aportar con información redefinida y oportuna, y de esta forma permitir la toma de decisiones acertadas por parte de la Rectoría de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo.With the advent of Balanced Scorecard, the administration of companies was improved because this management tool applies measurements on intangible indicators, which allows to have a knowledge of the real value in terms of an organization leading to the ability to analyze and redefine strategies based on the results so that the organization achieve its mission and vision. The investigation has a macro character since it was conducted in seven schools, and five subsystems at ESPOCH, taking into consideration that this research work has as competence the Strategic Subsystems, which is the most important due to faculties and other subsystem have to check it at the same time. The objective of this work is the implementation of Balanced Scorecard as a business intelligence model related to Business Intelligent (BI), which contributes to the improvement of decision-making at the rectory of Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. Finally it structured the control panel, which allows displaying the status of compliance of tactical objectives and indicators of established management. Later it provides feedback from the network through the responsible person with the purpose to provide redefine and timely information allowing or making right decision by the rectory of Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo

Poly(ethylene-imine)-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles Derivatized with Folic Acid: Heating and Targeting Properties

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) coated by branched poly (ethylene-imine) (PEI) were synthesized in a one-pot. Three molecular weights of PEI were tested, namely, 1.8 kDa (sample MNP-1), 10 kDa (sample MNP-2), and 25 kDa (sample MNP-3). The MNP-1 particles were further functionalized with folic acid (FA) (sample MNP-4). The four types of particles were found to behave magnetically as superparamagnetic, with MNP-1 showing the highest magnetization saturation. The particles were evaluated as possible hyperthermia agents by subjecting them to magnetic fields of 12 kA/m strength and frequencies ranging between 115 and 175 kHz. MNP-1 released the maximum heating power, reaching 330 W/g at the highest frequency, in the high side of reported values for spherical MNPs. In vitro cell viability assays of MNP-1 and MNP-4 against three cell lines expressing different levels of FA receptors (FR), namely, HEK (low expression), and HeLa (high expression), and HepG2 (high expression), demonstrated that they are not cytotoxic. When the cells were incubated in the presence of a 175 kHz magnetic field, a significant reduction in cell viability and clone formation was obtained for the high expressing FR cells incubated with MNP-4, suggesting that MNP-4 particles are good candidates for magnetic field hyperthermia and active targeting.Spanish Institutions: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PGC2018-098770-B-I00 and CTQ2017-86125-P)Junta de Andalucía (ProgramaOperativo FEDER 2014-2020, grants B-FQM-141-UGR18, A1-FQM-341-UGR-18, C-FQM-497-UGR18

Análisis de vulnerabilidad a la contaminación en los acuíferos de la unidad hidrogeológica Huaquillas

El análisis de vulnerabilidad de contaminación en un acuífero es una estimación del grado de exposición del manto de agua subterránea frente a un potencial contaminante (independientemente de su naturaleza o composición), en función de las propiedades intrínsecas del subsuelo. La vulnerabilidad de contaminación en la Unidad Hidrogeológica Huaquillas fue evaluada mediante dos métodos cualitativos: GOD y DRASTIC. Los mapas de vulnerabilidad generados han permitido catalogar a la llanura costera como la zona menos apta para tolerar una potencial dispersión contaminante. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos en el método DRASTIC, el acuífero Q2 y las zonas de los acuíferos Q1 y Ng que se ubican en la cuenca baja, presentan vulnerabilidad de contaminación media, mientras que, el método GOD cataloga a estas zonas con alto grado de vulnerabilidad. En la cuenca alta, la vulnerabilidad de los acuíferos Q1 y Ng varía entre baja a muy baja. Por lo tanto, los resultados de vulnerabilidad a la contaminación sugieren que la cuenca alta es la zona con menor grado de exposición ante un posible evento de contaminación, donde se podrían desarrollar actividades antrópicas sin poner en riesgo la calidad del recurso hídrico subterráneo

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies: molecular biology, diagnosis and therapeutic approaches

Las encefalopatías espongiformes transmisibles constituyen un grupo de enfermedades neurodegenerativas que están asociadas a la presencia en el tejido nervioso de agregados insolubles constituidos por una isoforma anómala de una proteína denominada prión. Esta isoforma se produce por un cambio conformacional en una molécula que puede transmitirse a otras proteínas priónicas normales. Las proteínas modificadas pierden su actividad biológica, desencadenándose la muerte de las neuronas por apoptosis. Los cambios conformacionales de los priones que derivan en enfermedad pueden deberse a la existencia de mutaciones que disminuyan la estabilidad de las formas celulares. Existe susceptibilidad genética, por tanto, a padecer tipos hereditarios de la enfermedad o adquiridos por infección con isoformas priónicas anormales. En la actualidad se están perfeccionando métodos sensibles de diagnóstico basados en la detección de las isoformas anormales de la proteína priónica. Todavía no existen tratamientos curativos para estas enfermedades aunque se están diseñando métodos terapéuticos que bloqueen los cambios conformacionales que conducen a la precipitación de la proteína priónica.Transmissible spongiform encephalopaties constitute a group of neurodegenerative diseases associated to the presence in nervous tissue of insoluble aggregates originated by an anomalous isoform of a protein called prion. This isoform is produced by a conformational change in a molecule which is transmitted to normal prion proteins. Modified proteins loose their biological activity, provoking apoptotic death of neurons. Conformational changes of prions occasioning the illness can be due to the existence of mutations diminishing the stability of cellular forms. There is genetic susceptibility for suffering any type of the illness, either hereditary or acquired by infection with abnormal prion isoforms. New sensitive diagnostic methods are presently being developed, based on detection of abnormal isoforms of prion protein. There are no curative treatments for these illnesses, although new therapeutic strategies based on the blockage of conformational changes driving to protein precipitation are being designed

Amphiphilic-like carbon dots as antitumoral drug vehicles and phototherapeutical agents

The work was financially supported by the Spanish institutions Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (PGC2018-098770-B-I00 and CTQ2017-86125-P) and Junta de Andalucia (ProgramaOperativo FEDER 2014-2020, grants B-FQM-141-UGR18, A1-FQM-341-UGR-18, C-FQM-497-UGR18).Water-insoluble carbon dots are recognized as promising materials, although their applications in nanomedicine are rarely explored, despite their lipophilic character and foreseen compatibility with biological membranes. In this article, we exploit the anhydride functionalization of carbon dots obtained by thermolysis of citric acid to synthesize amphiphilic-like carbon dots (LCDs) by reaction with alkyl amines. A differential feature of this approach is that the hydrophobicity of LCDs is a balance between the ionization of the carboxylic groups resulting from the reaction and the hydrophobicity from the grafted amines. The alkyl chains allow LCDs to entrap hydrophobic molecules and the ionization of the carboxylic groups increases the hydrosolubility, permitting the transfer between organic and aqueous phases. The biomedical interest of these features is illustrated by analyzing the application of LCDs as carriers of the drug campothecin and their evaluation on a battery of cancer cell lines, as well as the transformation of LCDs into a phototherapeutic agent by the formation of a complex with IR780 dye. Results demonstrate that LCDs behave as nanocarriers in a manner that resembles other supramolecular hosts with two differential features: (i) the length of the alkyl chains determines the size of the hosted guest, and (ii) the hydrosolubility of the complex can be modulated by pH.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades PGC2018-098770-B-I00 CTQ2017-86125-PJunta de Andalucia B-FQM-141-UGR18 A1-FQM-341-UGR-18 C-FQM-497-UGR1

Dynamic Excimer (DYNEX) Imaging of Lipid Droplets

This work was funded by grants CTQ2017-85658-R (MICIU/AEI/ERDF), FQM-337 (Junta de Andalucía), and PIUJA 2019-20 (Universidad de Jaén). We acknowledge the Universidad de Granada (Spain) microscopy central facilities (CIC-UGR) and computing time from CSIRC-UGR. M.C.G.-G. thanks MICIU/AEI for a predoctoral fellowship. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. We are indebted to Prof. Reinhard Jahn for his generous support.Unraveling cellular physiological processes via luminescent probes that target specific cellular microenvironments is quite challenging due to the uneven distribution of probes. Herein, we designed a new dynamic excimer (DYNEX) imaging method that involves the sensitive detection of nanosecond-scale dynamic molecular contacts of a fluorescent acridone derivative and reveals the cell microenvironment polarity. Using our method, we specifically tracked cell lipid droplets in fibroblast colon carcinoma cells. These organelles play a central role in metabolic pathways, acting as energy reservoirs in regulatory processes. DYNEX imaging provides the inner polarity of cell lipid droplets, which can be related to lipid contents and metabolic dysfunctions. This new methodology will inspire development of novel multidimensional fluorescent sensors that are able to provide target-specific and orthogonal information at the nanosecond scale.CBUAMICIUUniversidad de GranadaUniversidad de JaénAgencia Estatal de InvestigaciónEuropean Regional Development Fund FQM-337Junta de Andalucía PIUJA 2019-2

In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Novel Cross-Linked Saccharide Based Polymers as Bile Acid Sequestrants

Bile acid sequestrants (BAS) represent a therapeutic approach for the management of hypercholesterolemia that relies on the cationic polymeric nature of BAS to selectively bind negatively charged bile acids. We hypothesized that the cross-linking of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and saccharides such as starch or dextrin with divinyl sulfone (DVS) yields homo- and hetero-polymeric materials with the ability to trap sterols. Our hypothesis was put to test by synthesizing a library of 22 polymers that were screened to evaluate their capability to sequester both cholesterol (CHOL) and cholic and deoxycholic acids (CA and DCA). Three polymers synthesized in high yield were identified as promising. Two were neutral hetero-polymers of β-CD and starch or dextrin and the third was a weakly cationic homo-polymer of starch, highlighting the importance of the cavity effect. They were tested in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats and their ability to regulate hypercholesterolemia was similar to that for the reference BAS cholestyramine, but with two additional advantages: (i) they normalized the TG level and (ii) they did not increase the creatinine level. Neither hepatotoxicity nor kidney injury was detected, further supporting them as therapeutical candidates to manage hypercholesterolemia.Financial Support was provided by Universidad de Granada in the frame of the Granada Research of Excellence Initiative on BioHealth (GREIB)