Trends in photonic lab-on-chip interferometric biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics

Portable point-of care (POC) devices for in vitro diagnostics will be a milestone for the achievement of universal healthcare and environmental protection. The main goal is to reach a rapid, user-friendly and highly sensitive portable tool which can provide immediate results in any place at any time while having a competitive cost. Integrated optical (IO) waveguide based-biosensors are the most suitable candidates to achieve this ambitious objective. They are able to operate in real samples (such as blood, urine, wastewater…) affording relevant sensitivities even under a label-free scheme. In addition, arrays of IO sensors for multiplexed analysis can be integrated in lab-on-chip (LOC) platforms, providing a truly cost-effective fabrication and miniaturization. Among the different IO biosensors, interferometric ones have demonstrated the highest sensitivity for label-free detection ever reported. Although the first interferometric biosensors were developed in the early nineties, they focused mainly on preliminary proof-of-concept studies; only recently the resilient potential of interferometric biosensors as highly advanced POC devices has firmly emerged. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the art in photonic interferometric biosensors, their main biofunctionalisation routes and their integration in LOC platforms, while maintaining a special focus on the real analytical applications achieved so far

Principales retos a la inclusión en la educación superior ecuatoriana

La inclusión de grupos tradicionalmente excluidos de la enseñanza superior: pobres, indígenas, discapacitados, negros, entre otros; se ha convertido en un tema de interés y de debate a nivel internacional y nacional. En este sentido, existen algunos vacíos teóricos y prácticos que plantean retos sustantivos a la inclusión, y que, por tanto, constituyen un punto de partida para el avance hacia una verdadera integralidad en la calidad de la enseñanza superior en la región. El objetivo de este artículo es discutir la problemática vigente de la inclusión en la educación superior ecuatoriana, resumiendo sus principales logros y sus mayores retos y aportar recomendaciones para la práctica y la generación de políticas públicas. &nbsp

El análisis didáctico-tecnológico del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Matemática/ The didactic-technological analysis of the teaching-learning process of Mathematics

El proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Matemática en la actualidad se encuentra en constantes cambios y transformaciones producto del desarrollo alcanzado por las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación, lo cual reconocen organizaciones internacionales como la UNESCO en sus objetivos priorizados de la agenda para la Educación 2030. No obstante, este proceso en las carreras universitarias de la Universidad de Camagüey “Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz”, aún no satisface tales exigencias y aspiraciones, dado por algunas deficiencias, alguna de las cuales están dadas, entre otras causas, por la insuficiente formación de los docentes de Matemática en los contenidos didáctico-tecnológicos ante la ausencia de un marco teórico de referencia desde la Didáctica de la Matemática, lo que se constató, a través de la aplicación de entrevistas y encuestas donde las autoras evaluaron la formación didáctico-tecnológica; de igual forma emplearon el análisis-síntesis y la revisión bibliográfica sobre los marcos teóricos que forman el Enfoque Ontosemiótico (EOS) del conocimiento y la  instrucción matemática de Godino et al., el Modelo Teórico del Conocimiento del Contenido Pedagógico Tecnológico (TPACK)de Mishra y Koehler, y el Modelo Teórico del Conocimiento Tecnológico Pedagógico-Práctico Disciplinar (TPACK-PRÁCTICO) de Yeh et al., para construir el marco teórico de referencia que ofrecen las autoras y que  sirve de fundamento para el análisis didáctico-tecnológico del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la Matemática en el siglo XXI. Abstract The teaching-learning process of Mathematics is currently undergoing constant changes resulting from the achievements of Information and Communication Technologies, that UNESCO has recognized a priority of the agenda for the Education 2030. However, majors at the University of Camagüey "Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz” still fails to satisfy such demands and expectations. This fact, among other causes, is due to insufficient Mathematics teachers’ training on the didactic-technological contents, and in the absence of a didactics of mathematics theoretical framework Mathematics Didactics. The authors assessed teachers’ the didactic-technological training by given interviews and surveys, as well making use of analysis-synthesis and studying current theoretical frameworks from Godino’s Onto-semiotic Approach of knowledge and mathematical instruction, the Theoretical Model of Technological Pedagogical Contents Knowledge of Mishra and Koehler and the Theoretical Model of Technological Pedagogical Disciplinary Knowledge-Practical Disciplinary of Yeh. The study of this framework leads the authors to construct the theoretical frame of reference for the didactic-technological analysis of Mathematics teaching-learning process in the 21st century

Plan de auditoría interna para el programa de auditoría del sistema de gestión de inocuidad, elaborado para la empresa productos alimenticios estrella gourmet

No aplicaProductos Alimenticios Estrella Gourmet, es una empresa que hace parte del gremio industrial encargado de la elaboración de salsas y encurtidos, esta empresa se encuentra en un proceso evolutivo y hasta el momento cuanta con la implementación de tres normas importantes dentro de la industria alimentaria, como lo son HACCP, ISO 22000:2018 y la ISO 14001:2015. De acuerdo al programa de auditoría con el que la empresa cuenta, se han implementado auditorías de primera parte según se exige dentro de la norma de modo que se logre verificar que el sistema de gestión de inocuidad y calidad alimentaria se ha ejecutado conforme a las correspondientes exigencias normativas. Como hallazgos de dichas auditorias se ha identificado una oportunidad de mejora en la cual se debe fortalecer el programa de auditoría complementándolo con planes de auditoría, con el objetivo que los hallazgos resultantes se conviertan en una importante herramienta que logre contribuir a mejorar continuamente las etapas de proceso de Productos Alimenticios Estrella Gourmet. Palabras Claves: ISO 22000, ISO 19001, Inocuidad Alimentaria, Auditoría de primera parte.Productos Alimenticios Estrella Gourmet; is a company that is part of the food industry responsible for the production of sauces and pickles. This company is undergoing an evolutionary process and currently has implemented three important standards within the food industry: HACCP, ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 According to the audit program that the company has in place, first party audits have been implemented as required by the standard. The purpose is to verify that the food safety and quality management system has been implemented in accordance with the corresponding regulatory requirements. As a result of these audits, an improvement opportunity has been identified where the audit program needs to be strengthened by complementing it with audit plans. The objective is foe the resulting findings, to become an important tool that contributes to continuous improvement of the process stages of Productos Alimenticios Estrella Gourmet. Keywords: ISO 22000, ISO 19001, Food Safety, First party audit

Article Germacrone Derivatives as new Insecticidal and Acaricidal Compounds: A Structure-Activity Relationship

The supplementary material related to this article includes NMR spectra of new compounds is available online at https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/16/2898/s1.Currently, the use of synthetic pesticides is the main method of plant protection applied in agri- and horticulture. However, its excessive use leads to the development of pesticide resistance, a contamination of the environment, toxicity to non-target organisms, and risks for human health. With the ultimate aim of contributing to the develop of a more sustainable pest management, we used the natural product germacrone (compound 1), reported to possess significant insecticidal activity, as starting material for the generation of molecular diversity (2–24). Some of the generated derivatives are natural compounds, such as 1,10-epoxygermacrone (2), 4,5-epoxygermacrone (3), gajutsulactone A (7), germacrol (11), isogermacrone (14), 9-hydroxyeudesma-3,7(11)dien-6-one (19), eudesma-4,7(11),dien-8-one (20), eudesma-3,7(11)-dien-8-one (21) and eudesma-4(15),7(11)-dien-8-one (22). Compounds, 7,11-9,10-diepoxigermacr-4,5-en-8-ol (17), 7,11-epoxieudesma-4,7(11)-dien-8-one (23) and 7,11-epoxieudesma-3,7(11)-dien-8-one (24) are described for the first time. The biocidal activity of most of these compounds was assayed against the tick Hyalomma lusitanicum. The acaricidal effects of compound 24 were four times higher than that of germacrone (1). Compound 2 is an insect antifeedant a thousand times more potent than germacrone against Rhopalosiphum padi, which makes this substance a promising selective antifeedant against this cereal pest.This research was funded by Grant CTQ-2015-64049-C3-3-R/CTQ2015-64049-C3-1-R; MINISTERIO DE ECONOMÍA Y COMPETITIVIDAD, Spain (MINECO/FEDER)

Metabolites involved in cellular communication among human cumulus-oocyte-complex and sperm during in vitro fertilization

Background: Fertilization is a key physiological process for the preservation of the species. Consequently, different mechanisms affecting the sperm and the oocyte have been developed to ensure a successful fertilization. Thus, sperm acrosome reaction is necessary for the egg coat penetration and sperm-oolema fusion. Several molecules are able to induce the sperm acrosome reaction; however, this process should be produced coordinately in time and in the space to allow the success of fertilization between gametes. The goal of this study was to analyze the metabolites secreted by cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC) to find out new components that could contribute to the induction of the human sperm acrosome reaction and other physiological processes at the time of gamete interaction and fertilization. Methods: For the metabolomic analysis, eighteen aliquots of medium were used in each group, containing: a) only COC before insemination and after 3 h of incubation; b) COC and capacitated spermatozoa after insemination and incubated for 16–20 hours; c) only capacitated sperm after 16–20 h in culture and d) only fertilization medium as control. Six patients undergoing assisted reproduction whose male partners provided normozoospermic samples were included in the study. Seventy-two COC were inseminated. Results: The metabolites identified were monoacylglycerol (MAG), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and phytosphingosine (PHS). Analysis by PCR and in silico of the gene expression strongly suggests that the cumulus cells contribute to the formation of the PHS and LPC. Conclusions: LPC and PHS are secreted by cumulus cells during in vitro fertilization and they could be involved in the induction of human acrosome reaction (AR). The identification of new molecules with a paracrine effect on oocytes, cumulus cells and spermatozoa will provide a better understanding of gamete interaction.This study was supported by grant GV/2009/097 from Department of Education, Generalitat Valenciana, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain (Vigrob-137), the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AGL2012-40180-C03-02 and Fundación Seneca (04542/GERM/06)

Evaluación de recursos digitales para la acción tutorial entre estudiantes universitarios

Memoria ID-223. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2019-2020

The Comparative Treatment of Intraventricular Chemotherapy by Ommaya Reservoir vs. Lumbar Puncture in Patients With Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis

Object: Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis (LCM) represents a state of systemic malignant disease with poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to compare overall survival (OS) between intraventricular chemotherapy through Ommaya reservoir (OR) and chemotherapy through lumbar puncture (LP) in LCM.Patients and Methods: Forty adult patients with LCM were included. All patients underwent lumbar puncture and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty patients received chemotherapy through LP and 10 undergone colocation of Ommaya reservoir for intraventricular chemotherapy.Results: The most common symptom was headache (Present in 50%). The cranial nerves most affected were VI and VII. Leptomeningeal enhancement was the most frequent finding in MRI. The OS in the LP group was 4 months and Ommaya group was 9.2 months (p = 0.0006; CI:1.8-3), with statistical differences in favor to Intraventricular treatment. Proportional hazard regression showed that receiving chemotherapy through Ommaya reservoir was a protective factor (Hazard ratio = 0.258, Standard Error = 0.112, p = 0.002 and 95% CI 0.110-0.606). Using KPS as a factor did not affect the hazard ratio of Ommaya reservoir itself.Conclusions: OS was significantly higher in patients with Ommaya reservoir in spite of Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) previous to chemotherapy. Therefore, intraventricular chemotherapy should be preferred over lumbar puncture chemotherapy administration if there are resources available

AKT activation seems to be associated with apoptotic signals and not with pro-survival signals in a pristane-induced lupus model.

Several studies have shown that in addition to its role as a survival factor and tumor promoting agent, AKT is also able to exhibit pro-apoptotic effects under diverse conditions, including oxidative stress, cytokine stimulation and exposure to cytotoxic chemicals like staurosporine, methotrexate, docetaxel and etoposide. Moreover, phosphorylation of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) by AKT promotes caspase-3 activation during etoposide-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Our data show that injection of pristane into the peritoneum induces apoptosis-mediated cell death of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs), as evidenced by the increased number of annexin V+ peritoneal cells and their increased levels of cleaved/active caspase-3. Indeed, the higher levels of activated caspase-3 protein in WT PECs, particularly at 2-weeks post pristane treatment, are indicative of a higher rate of apoptosis compared to Cd38¿/¿ cells. In contrast, no differences were observed in the levels of MCL-1, an anti-apoptotic protein and member of the BCL2 family. Furthermore, kinases ERK1/2 and AKT showed distinct activation kinetics in pristane-elicited PECs. Interestingly, caspase-3 activation followed similar kinetics to AKT activation in both WT and Cd38¿/¿ PECs, while ERK activation correlated with increased levels of MCL-1. In summary our data strongly suggest that in the pristane-induced lupus model AKT activation is associated with apoptotic signals and not with survival signals. Further studies, however, are required to identify specific pro- and anti-apoptotic target proteins that are phosphorylated by ERK or AKT following pristane treatment, and that regulate the apoptotic process