Niveles de glucosa y triglicéridos en plasma seminal y motilidad espermática en COBAYOS alimentadas con 10% más en energÍa digestible

The objective the study was to determine the levels of glucose and triglycerides in seminal plasma of 10 guinea pigs, which were fed for a period of 2 months with a diet containing 10% more ED. The level of glucose found in seminal plasma was 11.59 ± 0.5 mg/dL and triglyceride value was 55.95 ± 3.2 mg/dL, while the motility was 97% on average. We conclude that in guinea pigs the levels both glucose and triglycerides were increased by major level of ED in feed, but the spermatic motility was not.El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar los niveles de los componentes energéticos (glucosa y triglicéridos) en el plasma seminal y la motilidad espermática de 10 cobayos, los cuales fueron alimentados por un período de 2 meses con una dieta 10% mayor en energía digestible (ED). El nivel de glucosa encontrado en plasma seminal fue de 11.59 ± 0.5 mg/dL y el valor de triglicéridos fue de 55.95 ± 3.2 mg/dL, mientras que la motilidad promedio fue de 95%. Concluimos que en cobayos los niveles de glucosa y triglicéridos se incrementan al aumentar el nivel de ED en dieta sin producir alteraciones en la motilidad espermática

Surgery technique for ovine ruminal cannulation

The study of the ruminants' digestive system is of great interest to improve their productive efficiency. From 1928, in which Schalk and Amadon described the technique of cannulation in one stage for bovine and ovine, are developed numerous modifications of that technique as well as new others. A common problem is that can appear complications as movements of the cannula, increases in size of the fistula by necrosis of the tissue or ruminal fluid leak. The developed technique provides a simplification to the surgery, minimizes the complications and lengthens functional life of the cannula.El estudio del sistema digestivo de los rumiantes es de gran interés para conseguir mejorar su eficiencia productiva. Desde 1928, año en el que Schalk y Amadon describieron la técnica de canulación en una fase para su utilización en bovino y ovino, se desarrollan numerosas modificaciones de esta técnica así como otras nuevas. Un problema común es que pueden aparecer complicaciones como movimientos de la cánula, aumentos de tamaño de la fístula por necrosis o fugas de líquido ruminal. La técnica desarrollada aporta una simplificación a la cirugía, minimiza las complicaciones y alarga vida funcional de la cánula

Eficacia de los criterios de identificación del hormigón en la normativa europea (EN 206) y la reglamentación española (EHE-08)

European and Spanish regulations establish a series of conformity and acceptance criteria for concrete, as well as identity testing. The effectiveness of the first ones has been sufficiently studied by means of Operative Control Curves that provide the probability of acceptance or rejection of conforming concrete. However, it is not possible to find similar studies in the literature about the effectiveness of the identity criteria, despite their relevance in the decision making process for the manufacturer, the authorities and the consumer. In this paper the authors, using Monte Carlo simulation, have investigated the effectiveness of the European and Spanish identity criteria by obtaining curves with the probability of identifying unsolicited concrete and the probability of rejecting a conforming concrete when applying the criteria.La normativa europea y la reglamentación española establecen una serie de criterios de conformidad y aceptación para el hormigón, así como para la identificación del producto servido. La eficacia de los primeros ha sido suficientemente estudiada mediante el análisis de las Curvas Operativas de Control, que proporcionan la probabilidad de aceptación o rechazo de hormigones conformes. Sin embargo no es posible encontrar en la bibliografía trabajos similares sobre la eficacia de los criterios de identificación, a pesar de la importancia que tienen en la toma de decisiones para el fabricante, el legislador y el consumidor. En este trabajo los autores, empleando la simulación de Monte Carlo, han investigado la eficacia de los criterios de identificación europeos y españoles trazando las curvas de probabilidad de identificación de un hormigón no conforme con lo solicitado, y de la probabilidad de rechazo de un hormigón conforme al aplicar estos criterios

Correlaciones entre la infección por microquistes de S. lamacanis y CK-MB, Ast y LDH alpacas

El presente estudio tuvo objetivo determinar la correlación entre el número de microquistes de S. lamacanis en miocardio (N°Mq) y los niveles en sangre de las enzimas CK-MB, AST y LDH en alpacas, a fin de usarlos como predictores de salud o grado de infección por sarcocystiosis. Se utilizaron 41 alpacas de 3-5 años de edad del matadero Municipal Ninacaca, Pasco-Perú, las muestras de sangre se colectaron ante-mortem y las de miocardio post-mortem. El 100 % de los animales presentaron microquistes de S. Lamacanis, y los coeficientes de correlación entre el N°Mq y CK-MB fue de 0.17, AST 0.04 y para LDH 0.06. Se concluye que la correlación es muy baja o casi nula, por lo que las enzimas evaluadas no tendrían mayor importancia para determinar daño cardiaco por infección de microquistes de S. Lamacanis en alpacas

Mutual optical injection in coupled DBR laser pairs

We report an experimental study of nonlinear effects, characteristic of mutual optical coupling, in an ultra-short coupling regime observed in a distributed Bragg reflector laser pair fabricated on the same chip. Optical feedback is amplified via a double pass through a common onchip optical amplifier, which introduces further nonlinear phenomena. Optical coupling has been introduced via back reflection from a cleaveended fibre. The coupling may be varied in strength by varying the distance of the fibre from the output of the chip, without significantly affecting the coupling time. © 2008 Optical. Society of America

Avoiding communication barriers in the classroom: the APEINTA project

Education is a fundamental human right, however unfortunately not everybody has the same learning opportunities. For instance, if a student has hearing impairments, s/he could face communications barriers in the classroom, which could affect his/her learning process. APEINTA is a Spanish educational project that aims for inclusive education for all. This project proposes two main accessible initiatives: (1) real-time captioning and text-to-speech (TTS) services in the classroom and (2) accessible Web-learning platform out of the classroom with accessible digital resources. This paper presents the inclusive initiatives of APEINTA. Also an evaluation of the into-the-classroom initiative (real-time captioning and TTS services) is presented. This evaluation has been conducted during a regular undergraduate course at a university and during a seminar at an integration school for deaf children. Forty-five hearing students, 1 foreign student, 3 experts in captioning, usability and accessibility, and 20 students with hearing impairments evaluated these services in the classroom. Evaluation results show that these initiatives are adequate to be used in the classroom and that students are satisfied with them.Publicad

First Field Release of a Genetically Engineered, Self-Limiting Agricultural Pest Insect:Evaluating Its Potential for Future Crop Protection

Alternative, biologically-based approaches for pest management are sorely needed and one approach is to use genetically engineered insects. Herein we describe a series of integrated field, laboratory and modeling studies with the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, a serious global pest of crucifers. A “self-limiting” strain of Plutella xylostella (OX4319L), genetically engineered to allow the production of male-only cohorts of moths for field releases, was developed as a novel approach to protect crucifer crops. Wild-type females that mate with these self-limiting males will not produce viable female progeny. Our previous greenhouse studies demonstrated that releases of OX4319L males lead to suppression of the target pest population and dilution of insecticide-resistance genes. We report results of the first open-field release of a non-irradiated, genetically engineered self-limiting strain of an agricultural pest insect. In a series of mark-release-recapture field studies with co-releases of adult OX4319L males and wild-type counterparts, the dispersal, persistence and field survival of each strain were measured in a 2.83 ha cabbage field. In most cases, no differences were detected in these parameters. Overall, 97.8% of the wild-type males and 95.4% of the OX4319L males recaptured dispersed <35 m from the release point. The predicted persistence did not differ between strains regardless of release rate. With 95% confidence, 75% of OX4319L males released at a rate of 1,500 could be expected to live between 3.5 and 5.4 days and 95% of these males could be expected to be detected within 25.8–34.9 m from the release point. Moth strain had no effect on field survival but release rate did. Collectively, these results suggest similar field behavior of OX4319L males compared to its wild-type counterpart. Laboratory studies revealed no differences in mating competitiveness or intrinsic growth rates between the strains and small differences in longevity. Using results from these studies, mathematical models were developed that indicate release of OX4319L males should offer efficacious pest management of P. xylostella. Further field studies are recommended to demonstrate the potential for this self-limiting P. xylostella to provide pest suppression and resistance management benefits, as was previously demonstrated in greenhouse studies

Lag time and parameter mismatches in synchronization of unidirectionally coupled chaotic external cavity semiconductor lasers

We report an analysis of synchronization between two unidirectionally coupled chaotic external cavity master/slave semiconductor lasers with two characteristic delay times, where the delay time in the coupling is different from the delay time in the coupled systems themselves. We demonstrate for the first time that parameter mismatches in photon decay rates for the master and slave lasers can explain the experimental observation that the lag time is equal to the coupling delay time.Comment: LaTex, 5 pages, submitted to PRE(R

Cellular Immunity to Predict the Risk of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Kidney Transplantation: A Prospective, Interventional, Multicenter Clinical Trial

Background: Improving cytomegalovirus (CMV) immune-risk stratification in kidney transplantation is highly needed to establish guided preventive strategies. Methods: This prospective, interventional, multicenter clinical trial assessed the value of monitoring pretransplant CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) using an interferon-γrelease assay to predict CMV infection in kidney transplantation. One hundred sixty donor/recipient CMV-seropositive (D+/R+) patients, stratified by their baseline CMV (immediate-early protein 1)-specific CMI risk, were randomized to receive either preemptive or 3-month antiviral prophylaxis. Also, 15-day posttransplant CMI risk stratification and CMI specific to the 65 kDa phosphoprotein (pp65) CMV antigen were investigated. Immunosuppression consisted of basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids in 80% of patients, whereas 20% received thymoglobulin induction therapy. Results: Patients at high risk for CMV based on pretransplant CMI developed significantly higher CMV infection rates than those deemed to be at low risk with both preemptive (73.3% vs 44.4%; odds ratio [OR], 3.44 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.30-9.08]) and prophylaxis (33.3% vs 4.1%; OR, 11.75 [95% CI, 2.31-59.71]) approaches. The predictive capacity for CMV-specific CMI was only found in basiliximab-treated patients for both preemptive and prophylaxis therapy. Fifteen-day CMI risk stratification better predicted CMV infection (81.3% vs 9.1%; OR, 43.33 [95% CI, 7.89-237.96]). Conclusions: Pretransplant CMV-specific CMI identifies D+/R+ kidney recipients at high risk of developing CMV infection if not receiving T-cell-depleting antibodies. Monitoring CMV-specific CMI soon after transplantation further defines the CMV infection prediction risk. Monitoring CMV-specific CMI may guide decision making regarding the type of CMV preventive strategy in kidney transplantation. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02550639