L’impacte dels creuers a Barcelona

El turisme de creuers, com qualsevol altra activitat de fet, té un impacte econòmic i un impacte ambiental. El debat sobre la seva importància en aquest cas necessita una valoració adequada d’aquests factors. S’inclouen aquí unes primeres idees en aquesta direcció.Postprint (published version

Mechanisms of CPT1C-Dependent AMPAR Trafficking Enhancement

In neurons, AMPA receptor (AMPAR) function depends essentially on their constituent components:the ion channel forming subunits and ion channel associated proteins. On the other hand, AMPAR trafficking is tightly regulated by a vast number of intracellular neuronal proteins that bind to AMPAR subunits. It has been recently shown that the interaction between the GluA1 subunit of AMPARs and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1C (CPT1C), a novel protein partner of AMPARs, is important in modulating surface expression of these ionotropic glutamate receptors. Indeed, synaptic transmission in CPT1C knockout (KO) mice is diminished supporting a positive trafficking role for that protein. However, the molecular mechanisms of such modulation remain unknown although a putative role of CPT1C in depalmitoylating GluA1 has been hypothesized. Here, we explore that possibility and show that CPT1C effect on AMPARs is likely due to changes in the palmitoylation state of GluA1. Based on in silico analysis, Ser 252, His 470 and Asp 474 are predicted to be the catalytic triad responsible for CPT1C palmitoyl thioesterase (PTE) activity. When these residues are mutated or when PTE activity is inhibited, the CPT1C effect on AMPAR trafficking is abolished, validating the CPT1C catalytic triad as being responsible for PTE activity on AMPAR. Moreover, the histidine residue (His 470) of CPT1C is crucial for the increase in GluA1 surface expression in neurons and the H470A mutation impairs the depalmitoylating catalytic activity of CPT1C. Finally, we show that CPT1C effect seems to be specific for this CPT1 isoform and it takes place solely at endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This work adds another facet to the impressive degree of molecular mechanisms regulating AMPAR physiology

Mechanisms of CPT1C-Dependent AMPAR trafficking enhancement

In neurons, AMPA receptor (AMPAR) function depends essentially on their constituent components:the ion channel forming subunits and ion channel associated proteins. On the other hand, AMPAR trafficking is tightly regulated by a vast number of intracellular neuronal proteins that bind to AMPAR subunits. It has been recently shown that the interaction between the GluA1 subunit of AMPARs and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1C (CPT1C), a novel protein partner of AMPARs, is important in modulating surface expression of these ionotropic glutamate receptors. Indeed, synaptic transmission in CPT1C knockout (KO) mice is diminished supporting a positive trafficking role for that protein. However, the molecular mechanisms of such modulation remain unknown although a putative role of CPT1C in depalmitoylating GluA1 has been hypothesized. Here, we explore that possibility and show that CPT1C effect on AMPARs is likely due to changes in the palmitoylation state of GluA1. Based on in silico analysis, Ser 252, His 470 and Asp 474 are predicted to be the catalytic triad responsible for CPT1C palmitoyl thioesterase (PTE) activity. When these residues are mutated or when PTE activity is inhibited, the CPT1C effect on AMPAR trafficking is abolished, validating the CPT1C catalytic triad as being responsible for PTE activity on AMPAR. Moreover, the histidine residue (His 470) of CPT1C is crucial for the increase in GluA1 surface expression in neurons and the H470A mutation impairs the depalmitoylating catalytic activity of CPT1C. Finally, we show that CPT1C effect seems to be specific for this CPT1 isoform and it takes place solely at endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This work adds another facet to the impressive degree of molecular mechanisms regulating AMPAR physiology

Jardins per a la salut

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia. Assignatura: Botànica farmacèutica. Curs: 2014-2015. Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són el recull de les fitxes botàniques de 128 espècies presents en el Jardí Ferran Soldevila de l’Edifici Històric de la UB. Els treballs han estat realitzats manera individual per part dels estudiants dels grups M-3 i T-1 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos de febrer a maig del curs 2014-15 com a resultat final del Projecte d’Innovació Docent «Jardins per a la salut: aprenentatge servei a Botànica farmacèutica» (codi 2014PID-UB/054). Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pels professors de l’assignatura. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica. També s’ha pretès motivar els estudiants a través del retorn de part del seu esforç a la societat a través d’una experiència d’Aprenentatge-Servei, deixant disponible finalment el treball dels estudiants per a poder ser consultable a través d’una Web pública amb la possibilitat de poder-ho fer in-situ en el propi jardí mitjançant codis QR amb un smartphone

Repensar els estudis catalans des de la teoria queer

Catalan Studies are basically focused on national/linguistic identity, but recent debate on Catalan identity triggered by the current pro-independent process in Catalonia, may help reshape this academic field. A more diverse approach to Catalan culture should consider sexuality, which has traditionally been banished from literary analysis as a ‘private’ matter. Here, we discussed how queer theory can reframe Catalan Studies mainly by building a specific LGBT literary tradition, identifying queer episodes and characters in the canon, questioning received meanings, promoting interdisciplinary analysis of Catalan culture and exploring the role of queer subjectivity in history

Del rigor en la Ciencia Política: algunas reflexiones sobre metodología de la investigación

En el primer semestre de 2006, los estudiantes del departamento de Ciencia Política de la Universidad de los Andes realizaron su segundo simposio. A continuación se transcribe la ponencia de uno de los estudiantes y el correspondiente comentario crítico, realizado por uno de los profesores del departamento. Mientras el alumno sostiene que en las ciencias sociales se presenta una dicotomía entre la opción por la complejización o la simplificación en el análisis de los fenómenos sociales, el profesor argumenta, desde la perspectiva de la comprensión interpretativa, que el problema no tiene que ver con aumentar o reducir las variables

Three Papers on Electoral Geography

This dissertation is composed of three papers on electoral geography. The first, entitled MCMC Network Voronoi Algorithm for Electoral Districting , develops a sampling routine (along with R code that implements it, available in the Software section) for systematically exploring the space of partitions that define a contiguous districting plan. Leveraging the properties of MCMC sampling, the routine produces statistically useful distributions of quantities of interest (such as partisan bias, or population equality) over the space of possible districting plans. This should allow reviewers of proposed plans to better answer questions like Does this proposed plan generate an extreme bias in favor of party X? . The second paper, entitled The Partisan Effects of Distance Induced Voting Costs evaluates whether the physical location of polling places can induce biases in favor or against certain parties. The seemingly administrative decision of where to place polling stations can effectively induce different costs of voting for different types of voters. Insofar as preferences for certain parties are not uniformly distributed over space, these different costs can affect supporters of one party more than supporters of another. I use geocoded polling place locations in Hungary to assess these differential costs, as well as their impact on partisan biases. Finally, the third paper, entitled The Policy Effects of Partisan Bias , evaluates the impact of geographically induced partisan biases on policy outcomes. Using a spatial voting formal model, and evaluating the model\u27s comparative statics using government finance data for 25 countries (and, more specifically, national budget compositions), I study the effects of partisan biases, estimated using the approach of King (1990). I find that partisan bias can generate policies that are closer to those pre- ferred by advantaged parties, and provide evidence to this effect using a Dirichlet model

¿Polarización? Posiciones ideológicas durante la campaña presidencial colombiana en 2014

Based on a study of the 2014 presidential campaign in Colombia, this article analyzes how individuals use ideological labels to characterize their own ideological preferences and those of the candidates. Using information from the Americas Barometer, it establishes that individuals do not perceive major differences among the positions of presidential candidates. Secondly, it finds that the ideological preferences of those interviewed are less polarized than the “raw” data would seem to indicate. Finally, it presents evidence that the way individuals interpret ideological labels, within the context of the 2014 presidential elections in Colombia, reflects their preferences with respect to moral issues and the favorability of certain candidates