Visual decline in aged mice is delayed by proinsulin

1 p.Visual decline is normally associated to the aging process.We search for cellular and molecular processes associated to normal aging. In addition, we have previously shown that human proinsulin (hPi) delays vision loss, as determined by electroretinography (ERG),and retinal degeneration, as determined by photoreceptor counting,in the rd10 mouse and the P23H rat models of Retinitis Pigmentosa.Our aim is to reveal additional potential benets of a hPi-based treatment in the aged retina.CONSOLIDER CSD2010-00045 SpainPeer reviewe

Creación de un Laboratorio de Análisis Socio-Político de América Latina (AMELAT -LAB)

El objetivo principal de este proyecto era crear un espacio de colaboración entre estudiantes, investigadores y profesores para el análisis y comprensión de problemáticas y fenómenos sociales y politicos actuales en América Latina

Caracterización de la enseñanza-aprendizaje del diagnóstico de anomalías dentomaxilofaciales en Sancti Spíritus. 2016

Fundamento: El diagnóstico de anomalías dentomaxilofaciales es una de las funciones del estomatólogo general, de allí la importancia de su enseñanza-aprendizaje con enfoque desarrollador. Objetivo: Caracterizar la enseñanza-aprendizaje del diagnóstico de anomalías dentomaxilofaciales en Sancti Spíritus. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Sancti Spíritus, se seleccionó una población de 6 profesores y 32 estudiantes de cuarto año de la carrera Estomatología en el curso 2014-2015. Se emplearon métodos del nivel teórico, empírico y estadístico con procedimientos matemáticos. Resultados: Predominó el reconocimiento por parte de estudiantes y profesores de la importancia de este contenido en la asignatura Ortodoncia de la carrera Estomatología, existe experiencia de los profesores, prevaleció la educación en el trabajo entre las formas organizativas del trabajo docente, concurren limitaciones para utilizar el diagnóstico pedagógico, precisar los objetivos, estructurar y controlar los contenidos en correspondencia con el método clínico, aplicar alternativas, lograr la implicación activa de los estudiantes durante las tareas docentes y, no siempre se realiza en relación con el contexto laboral del futuro profesional. Conclusiones: A pesar de haber fortalezas para la enseñanza-aprendizaje del diagnóstico de anomalías dentomaxilofaciales, se identificaron limitaciones que la alejan del enfoque desarrollador que debe caracterizar la didáctica contemporánea. DeCS: ANOMALÍAS MAXILOFACIALES; ANOMALÍAS DENTARIAS; ORTODONCIA/educación; ENSEÑANZA/métodos; DIAGNÓSTICO CLÍNICO /educación; EDUCACIÓN EN ODONTOLOGÍA/métodos. Palabras clave: Ortodoncia, diagnóstico clínico, anomalías maxilofaciales, anomalías dentarias, educación en odontología. ABSTRACT Background: The diagnosis of dentomaxillofacial anomalies is one of the functions of the general stomatologist, reason of the importance of it´s teaching-learning with a developer approach. Objective: To characterize the teaching-learning of the diagnosis of dentomaxillofacial anomalies in Sancti Spíritus. Methodology: A transversal descriptive study was carried out at the University of Medical Sciences of Sancti Spíritus. A population of 6 teachers and 32 students of the fourth year of the Stomatology career in the 2014-2015 academical year were selected. Methods of the theoretical, empirical and statistical level were used with mathematical procedures. Results: There was a prevalence of students 'and teachers' recognition of the importance of this content in the Orthodontics subject of the Stomatology career, there is experience among the teachers, prevailing education in work between organizational forms of teaching work, concurrent limitations to use the pedagogical diagnosis, specifying the objectives, structuring and controlling content in accordance with the clinical method, applying alternatives, achieving the active involvement of students during teaching tasks, and is not always performed in relation to the professional context of the future professional. Conclusions: In spite of having strengths for the teaching-learning of the diagnosis of dentomaxilofacial anomalies, limitations were identified that distance it from the developer approach that should characterize contemporary didactics. MeSH: MAXILLOFACIAL ABNORMALITIES; TOOTH ABNORMALITIES, ORTHODONTICS/education, EDUCATION, DENTAL/methods; CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS/education; TEACHING/education. Keywords: Orthodontics, clinical diagnosis, maxillofacial anomalies, dental anomalies, education in dentistry

Multi-pixel Ka-band radiometer for the QUIJOTE experiment (Phase II)

This paper presents the configuration of the Ka-band radiometer developed for the Phase II of the QUIJOTE radio astronomy experiment, as well as the design of the different subsystems involved in the instrument. The new configuration, consisting of around 30 modified receivers working in the 26 - 36 GHz band, avoids the need of a rotating polar modulator at cryogenic temperatures, which is a source of mechanical and thermal difficulties. Moreover, the larger number of receivers will increase the instrument sensitivity. These two aspects are a clear advantage over the receiver developed for the experiment Phase I. The present paper also gives detailed information of some designed subsystems such as the feedhorn, the polarizer, the orthomode transducer, the cryogenic low-noise amplifiers and the back-end module.This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) under Astronomy and Astrophysics research programme, reference AYA2010-21766-C03-03, and the FPI grant BES-2011-046199

A scoring system to detect fixed airflow limitation in smokers from simple easy-to-use parameters

No validated screening method currently exists for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in smokers. Therefore, we constructed a predictive model with simple parameters that can be applied for COPD screening to detect fixed airflow limitation. This observational cross-sectional study included a random sample of 222 smokers with no previous diagnosis of COPD undertaken in a Spanish region in 2014–2016. The main variable was fixed airflow limitation by spirometry. The secondary variables (COPD factors) were: age, gender, smoking (pack-years and Fagerström test), body mass index, educational level, respiratory symptoms and exacerbations. A points system was developed to predict fixed airflow limitation based on secondary variables. The model was validated internally through bootstrapping, determining discrimination and calibration. The system was then integrated into a mobile application for Android. Fifty-seven patients (25.7%) presented fixed airflow limitation. The points system included as predictors: age, pack-years, Fagerström test and presence of respiratory symptoms. Internal validation of the system was very satisfactory, both in discrimination and calibration. In conclusion, a points system has been constructed to predict fixed airflow limitation in smokers with no previous COPD. This system can be integrated as a screening tool, though it should be externally validated in other geographical regions

Módulo posterior para la integración de polarímetros multi-pixel a 40 GHZ en radioastronomía

This work presents the design and future integration of the back-end module for the 40 GHz instrument of the QUIJOTE project, which is a project aimed to the measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background’s polarization. This contribution focuses on the importance of the concept of modularity in order to facilitate the integration tasks and to enable the assembly of a high number of receivers (pixels) in the instrument, which improves the overall sensitivity. Performance measurements of each individual subsystem are provided and the foreseen whole integration in a metallic rack is presented.Los desarrollos de este trabajo se han financiado con la ayuda del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Programa CONSOLIDER-Ingenio 2010 de referencia CSD2010-00064

The thirty gigahertz instrument receiver for the Q-U-I Joint Tenerife experiment: concept and experimental results

This paper presents the analysis, design, and characterization of the thirty gigahertz instrument receiver developed for the Q-U-I Joint Tenerife experiment. The receiver is aimed to obtain polarization data of the cosmic microwave background radiation from the sky, obtaining the Q,U, and I Stokes parameters of the incoming signal simultaneously. A comprehensive analysis of the theory behind the proposed receiver is presented for a linearly polarized input signal, and the functionality tests have demonstrated adequate results in terms of Stokes parameters, which validate the concept of the receiver based on electronic phase switching

Wikipedia como herramienta de aprendizaje en el EEES

Memoria ID-0008. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015

EMIR, the GTC NIR multi-object imager-spectrograph

EMIR, currently entering into its fabrication and AIV phase, will be one of the first common user instruments for the GTC, the 10 meter telescope under construction by GRANTECAN at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (Canary Islands, Spain). EMIR is being built by a Consortium of Spanish and French institutes led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). EMIR is designed to realize one of the central goals of 10m class telescopes, allowing observers to obtain spectra for large numbers of faint sources in a time-efficient manner. EMIR is primarily designed to be operated as a MOS in the K band, but others a wide range of observing modes, including imaging and spectroscopy, both long slit and multi-object, in the wavelength range 0.9 to 2.5 um. It is equipped with two innovative subsystems: a robotic reconfigurable multi-slit mask and dispersive elements formed by the combination of high quality distraction grating and conventional prisms, both at the heart of the instrument. The present status of development, expected performances, schedule and plans for scientific exploitation are described and discussed. The development and fabrication of EMIR is funded by GRANTECAN and the Plan Nacional de Astronomía y Astrofísica (National Plan for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Spain).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A genome-wide association study follow-up suggests a possible role for PPARG in systemic sclerosis susceptibility

Introduction: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising a French cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) reported several non-HLA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a nominal association in the discovery phase. We aimed to identify previously overlooked susceptibility variants by using a follow-up strategy.<p></p> Methods: Sixty-six non-HLA SNPs showing a P value <10-4 in the discovery phase of the French SSc GWAS were analyzed in the first step of this study, performing a meta-analysis that combined data from the two published SSc GWASs. A total of 2,921 SSc patients and 6,963 healthy controls were included in this first phase. Two SNPs, PPARG rs310746 and CHRNA9 rs6832151, were selected for genotyping in the replication cohort (1,068 SSc patients and 6,762 healthy controls) based on the results of the first step. Genotyping was performed by using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Results: We observed nominal associations for both PPARG rs310746 (PMH = 1.90 × 10-6, OR, 1.28) and CHRNA9 rs6832151 (PMH = 4.30 × 10-6, OR, 1.17) genetic variants with SSc in the first step of our study. In the replication phase, we observed a trend of association for PPARG rs310746 (P value = 0.066; OR, 1.17). The combined overall Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis of all the cohorts included in the present study revealed that PPARG rs310746 remained associated with SSc with a nominal non-genome-wide significant P value (PMH = 5.00 × 10-7; OR, 1.25). No evidence of association was observed for CHRNA9 rs6832151 either in the replication phase or in the overall pooled analysis.<p></p> Conclusion: Our results suggest a role of PPARG gene in the development of SSc