New Targets for Diagnosis and Treatment Against Alzheimer’s Disease: The Mitochondrial Approach

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. AD is characterized by brain presence of senile plaques, which are formed by aggregates of Aβ peptide and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), formed by pathological forms of tau protein. Evidence suggests that these elements affect neurons compromising energy supply, antioxidant response and synaptic activity. AD principally affects the memory and cognitive functions of the patients, and currently, successful strategies for diagnosis and early treatment are lacking. In this scenario, accumulative evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction precedes the establishment of tau and Aβ pathology and contributes to synaptic degeneration observed in AD. Therefore, reducing mitochondrial injury may have beneficial effects for neuronal dysfunction and cognitive decline observed in AD patients. Interestingly, the examination of peripheral cells from AD patients also presents mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that tracking these mitochondrial defects in peripheral cells could be a potential mechanism of early diagnosis of AD. In this chapter, we analyse current evidence that suggests that mitochondrial injury is an important factor in the pathogenesis of AD and how studying this process could reveal new strategies to mitigate neurodegeneration and to develop new diagnostic methods for an early detection of AD

Ethanol Consumption Affects Neuronal Function: Role of the Mitochondria

Ethanol is a licit drug consumed by a large part of the population, from adolescence to adulthood. High ethanol consumption is a public health problem due to its addictiveness and the risk it produces of developing other diseases, including cardiovascular, hepatic, and mental pathologies. Different patterns of ethanol consumption and its toxic effects in the brain have been reported. Current studies suggest to mitochondria, one of the principal mediators for ethanol neurotoxicity. In this chapter, we will review the effects of ethanol on neurons in different scenarios of ethanol consumption and its relation with mitochondrial function. Finally, we will propose a mechanism of ethanol toxicity in which the mitochondria are the main mediator and in which the mitochondrial alterations correlate with the severity of ethanol consumption. Thus, improving mitochondrial health of brain cells could be considered as a potential therapeutic target to treat ethanol-associated disorders

The Great American Biotic Interchange revisited: a new perspective from the stable isotope record of Argentine Pampas fossil mammals

This study aims at assessing resource and habitat use, niche occupation and trophic interactions from a stable isotope perspective on fossil mammals from the Argentine Pampas during the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI). We present stable isotope data of more than 400 samples belonging to 10 mammalian orders and spanning a temporal range from ~9.5 Ma to ~12 ky. Rodents, notoungulates and pilosians record an increase in the consumption of C4 plants, whereas litopterns and cingulates show δ13C values that remain mostly within a C3-dominated diet. Our stable isotope data indicates that the expansion of C4 vegetation opened up new niche opportunities, probably alleviating resource competition among endemic taxa. Gomphothere, equid and camelid δ13C records show a broad variability pointing to consumption of C3 and mixed C3-C4 vegetation. This flexible dietary behavior may have facilitated the successful settlement of immigrant groups in South America. In the case of carnivorous taxa, Late Miocene pre-GABI endemic sparassodonts consumed prey from C3 environments, whereas immigrant carnivorans preferred prey from mixed C3-C4 areas. Our research contributes to the study of the GABI from a different perspective as stable isotope records permit to characterize, from a (semi)quantitative standpoint, ecological traits within extinct fauna

Experiencia en la UNC: Una aproximación a la internacionalización del currículum

La internacionalización del currículum (IC) implica la inclusión de dimensiones internacionales e interculturales en el contenido del currículo, así como en los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje y servicios de apoyo de un programa de estudios [Leask, 2012]. La finalidad es incorporar habilidades y competencias que permitan a los futuros profesionales desempeñarse en un ambiente internacional e intercultural.La Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias dependiente del Ministerio de Educación Argentino, como parte del Ciclo de Seminarios Web “La Internacionalización del Currículum en la Universidad Argentina”, organizó talleres de capacitación en esta temática, en los que la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC) participó activamente constituyendo dos equipos de trabajo con representantes de distintas unidades académicas. En uno de ellos, formó parte activa la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (FCEFyN) y en este escrito se comparte la experiencia, y se exponen los resultados del trabajo realizado específicamente en la carrera de Ingeniería Electrónica. Esta primera experiencia consistió en el análisis desde la perspectiva de la IC que permite reconocer elementos de la currícula actual que colaboran con esta dimensión, como así también determinar aquellos puntos a fortalecer y las acciones necesarias para lograrlo.Fil: Guzmán, Claudia Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Carro Pérez, Magalí Evelín. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Bruni, Rodrigo Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentin

Wildlife Damage to Crops Adjacent to a Protected Area in Southeastern Mexico: Farmers’ Perceptions Versus Actual Impact

Human–wildlife conflicts occur when wildlife has an adverse effect on human activities (e.g., predation of livestock, crop raiding). These conflicts are increasing, particularly in areas surrounding natural protected areas, where villagers engage in subsistence agriculture. Crop damage may cause farmers to retaliate and harm wildlife species considered responsible for the damage. Among the factors that determine the intensity of the conflict are the frequency of the damage and the amount of biomass consumed relative to the perceptions, values, and cultural history of the farmers affected. To better understand the conflicts between farmers and wildlife, we compared farmer perceptions of wildlife damage to corn (Zea mays) to damage estimates recorded from May to June 2016 in 2 communities located in southern Mexico adjacent to the Natural Protected Area of Agua Blanca. We identified 128 farmers who had reported previous damage and used an administered structured questionnaire to assess their perceptions of the magnitude of the damage. Over 70% of the farmers surveyed considered that wildlife incursions in crops are a problem and 18% of them had implemented hunting and poisoning as a control measure. Farmers attributed their losses mainly to white-nosed coati (Nasua narica) and northern raccoon (Procyon lotor). However, our field data indicated that birds were causing more damage. On average, each corn crop lost $30.80; this value may be considered low, but the farmers’ dependence on the harvest they obtain from their crops causes these losses, added to those they already have due to other causes (i.e., long droughts, insect pests, and fungus), which impact their bottom line. Wildlife crop depredation is not the main cause of economic loss, but its impact negatively influences the perception of some farmers on wildlife. A poor perception in farmers could lead to an increase in the use of lethal methods, which may also affect nontargets

Francés: Aprender desde el placer

Durante el transcurso del segundo cuatrimestre del ciclo lectivo 2011 se inició, en el Colegio Nacional, un período de análisis del Bloque Académico, una instancia de reflexión en el interior de cada departamento para luego compartir las experiencias con los restantes y poder generar un espacio de análisis institucional. Compartir y difundir las prácticas áulicas haciendo hincapié en los logros y revisando las debilidades, permitió promover una etapa de revisión de nuestras prácticas docentes y, también, de nuestras formas de evaluación. Cuando las autoridades de la institución nos convocaron para trabajar en la articulación de segundo y tercer años, nos propusimos reflexionar a nivel departamental con el fin de establecer cuáles eran las metas irrenunciables de segundo, cuál era el perfil de alumno que debería egresar del Bloque sabiendo que no existen los alumnos “ideales” sino alumnos “reales” que tendrían que alcanzar las metas propuestas por el profesor y acordadas conjuntamente con ellos. También procuramos identificar los intereses y las problemáticas de nuestros alumnos para poder lograr un punto de encuentro que permitiese el ingreso, la permanencia y el egreso significativo de todos ellos. Cabe aclarar que, para la mayoría de los alumnos, segundo año es el primer contacto que tienen con el idioma francés.Colegio Nacional "Rafael Hernández

Gregariousness in the giant sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra): multi-proxy approach of a bonebed from the Last Maximum Glacial of Argentine Pampas

Megamammals constituted an important component in the Pleistocene faunal communities of South America. Paleobiological and paleoecological studies involving different megamammal taxa have increased significantly in the last years, but there are still several poorly-known issues of its life history. In this work, we analyze an assemblage composed of 13 individuals of different ontogenetic stages, and possibly different sex, belonging to the giant ground sloth Lestodon armatus (Xenarthra, Folivora), recovered from Playa del Barco site (Pampean Region, Argentina). A dating of 19,849 years Cal BP allows assigning this assemblage to a period of the MIS (Marine Isotope Stage) 2 related to the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Based on multiple lines of research (e.g. taphonomy, paleopathology, osteohistology, isotopy), we interpret the origin of the assemblage and diverse paleobiological and paleoecological aspects (e.g. social behavior, ontogenetic changes, sexual dimorphism, diseases, resource and habitat use, trophic relationships) of L. armatus. Evidence suggests that the assemblage was formed by a local single event of catastrophic mortality, which affected different members of a social group. This record represents the first accurate evidence of gregariousness for this ground sloth, providing new data on a poorly-known behavior among extinct Folivora

Novel Fabrication Technique to Confine Hydrogels with Different Patterns inside Microfluidic Devices without Pillars

In the field of microtechnologies applied to the simulation of controlled biological environments are the so-called organ-on-a-chip, microfluidic cell culture devices. The gradient model plays an indispensable role in this technology. Here, we present a novel microfabrication process for pillarless microfluidic platforms which enables the creation of gradients inside them

Barriers and facilitators of physical activity in adults with severe haemophilia: A qualitative study

Background: People with haemophilia (PWH) tend to be less physically active than the general population, but there is a lack of research on the specific barriers and facilitators affecting their participation in physical activities. Objectives: This study aims to explore perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity in severe PWH. Design: An explorative qualitative study based on focus groups. Methods: Four focus groups including 16 participants (severe haemophilia A patients) were conducted to examine the factors perceived as facilitators or barriers to haemophiliacs engaging in physical activity. One researcher conducted a thematic analysis of all data. Results: Three themes were identified: body function, personal factors, and environmental factors. Key facilitators identified were access to prophylaxis treatment to reduce the risk of bleeding(s), the enjoyability of physical activity, fitness and health motives, social interaction, support, and low cost. PWH faced additional barriers to being physically active including hurtful joints, mobility issues, haemophilic arthropathy, dislike or disinterest, lack of motivation, fear of injury, tiredness, lack of time, lack of guidance, negative social influence, restriction, and lack of coordination of prophylaxis treatment. Conclusion: This exploratory study demonstrated that participation in physical activity in PWH is influenced not only by their own abilities and attitudes, but also by external variables, including family, friends, healthcare professionals, structures, and communities. The results of this study may be used to assist caregivers and health professionals, inform programs, interventions, and policies to promote physical activity and health in severe PWH

Página de reclutamiento de personal institución-empresa.

Este proyecto se realizó, ya que no tenía la facultad algún sistema en donde te pudieras postular para alguna vacante. Se manejaba solo por anuncios impresos en papel, pero esto no era de mucha ayuda ya que no todos se enteraban que vacantes había. Las empresa de dirigían directamente con el maestro y el profesor tenía que buscar alumnos que cumplieran estos requisitos