miniAudicle for iPad: Touchscreen-based Music Software Programming

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Presentaciones multimedia para mejorar la efectividad del aprendizaje del Área de Educación para el trabajo en alumnas del quinto grado de secundaria de la Institución Educativa “Esther Cáceres Salgado” Rimac-2010

El presente trabajo de tesis tuvo como objetivo principal demostrar la manera en que las presentaciones multimedia mejora la efectividad del aprendizaje del Área de Educación para el Trabajo en las alumnas del Quinto Grado de Secundaria de la Institución Educativa Esther Cáceres Salgado del Distrito del Rímac 2010” Es un tipo de investigación aplicada, que pertenece a un nivel de investigación explicativo, donde se trabajó con alumnas del quinto grado para ello se empleó el diseño metodológico de investigación cuasi experimental, tomándose una población de 48 estudiantes del quinto grado, 24 de ellas pertenecen a la sección “C”, que conforman el grupo experimental y 24 de ellas a la sección “B”, las mismas que pertenecen al grupo control. La hipótesis que se formuló es: las presentaciones multimedia mejora la efectividad del aprendizaje del área de educación para el trabajo, para lo cual se elaboró y aplicó las presentaciones multimedia en las alumnas de la sección “C”, obteniéndose para ello los siguientes resultados. Las puntuaciones iniciales de la población estudiada eran muy bajas. Pero después de realizado el tratamiento experimental, se observó que hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el aprendizaje del grupo de estudiantes que recibió el tratamiento “presentaciones multimedia”, con respecto al grupo al cual no se le aplicó dicho tratamiento. Se llegó a la siguiente conclusión general: La aplicación de las presentaciones multimedia mejora significativamente el aprendizaje del área de educación para el trabajo, quedando comprobado en ese sentido el presente trabajo de investigación

Relación entre apego romántico adulto y ajuste diádico en hombres y mujeres, de la Región del Maule, que mantienen una relación de pareja

116 p.Título: Relación entre apego romántico adulto y ajuste diádico en hombres y mujeres, de la Región del Maule, que mantienen una relación de pareja El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la relación entre el apego romántico adulto y el ajuste diádico en individuos de la Región del Maule que mantienen una relación de pareja. La muestra estuvo conformada por 362 individuos correspondientes a 181 parejas de la Región del Maule, el rango etáreo de estos participantes fluctuaba entre 37 y 78 años. Dichos participantes respondieron un cuestionario sociodemográfico, una adaptación chilena del Cuestionario de Experiencias en Relaciones Cercanas (ECR), utilizado para evaluar el estilo de apego adulto de los individuos en las relaciones de pareja, y una adaptación chilena de la Escala de Ajuste diádico (DAS) utilizada para evaluar el proceso de adecuación de cada individuo a la vida en pareja. La metodología empleada fue de carácter descriptivo-correlacional. Los resultados generales indicaron la presencia de una correlación inversa significativa entre las dimensiones del apego romántico adulto (evitación y ansiedad) y el ajuste diádico (general y subescalas), correlacionándose en mayor medida la dimensión evitación por sobre la dimensión ansiedad con el ajuste diádico (general y subescalas). Se concluye que las dimensiones de la variable apego romántico adulto (ansiedad y evitación) se relacionan de manera significativa con el ajuste diádico. Además, se evidencia un efecto significativo por parte de las categorías de apego romántico adulto (seguro, preocupado, temeroso y rechazante) sobre la totalidad de las escalas del ajuste diádico. Palabras claves: Apego romántico adulto, Teoría del apego, Ajuste diádico, Satisfacción diádica./ABSTRACT:Title: Relationship between adult romantic attachment and dyadic adjustment in men and women, in the Region of Maule, who maintain a romantic relationship The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between adult romantic attachment and dyadic adjustment in adult couples of Maule Region. The sample consisted of 362 individuals corresponding to 181 pairs of the Maule Region whose age range varied between 37 and 78 years. These participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, adapted Chilean Experiences Questionnaire in close relationships (ECR), used to assess adult attachment style of individuals in dating relationships, and a Chilean adaptation of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) used to evaluate the process of adaptation of the individual to life as a couple. The methodology used was descriptive-correlational. The overall results indicated the presence of a significant inverse correlation between adult romantic attachment dimensions (avoidance and anxiety) and dyadic adjustment (general and subscales), predominating further correlating of avoidance dimension over the anxiety dimension with the dyadic adjustment (overall and subscales). We conclude that the dimensions of the variable adult romantic attachment (anxiety and avoidance) were significantly associated with dyadic adjustment. Also, evidenced by a significant effect of adult romantic attachment categories (secure, preoccupied, fearful and avoidant ) on all dyadic adjustment scales.Keywords: Adult romantic attachment, attachment theory, dyadic adjustment, dyadic satisfaction

Telomeric Heterochromatin Propagation and Histone Acetylation Control Mutually Exclusive Expression of Antigenic Variation Genes in Malaria Parasites

SummaryMalaria parasites use antigenic variation to avoid immune clearance and increase the duration of infection in the human host. Variation at the surface of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes is mediated by the differential control of a family of surface antigens encoded by var genes. Switching of var gene expression occurs in situ, mostly from telomere-associated loci, without detectable DNA alterations, suggesting that it is controlled by chromatin structure. We have identified chromatin modifications at telomeres that spread far into telomere-proximal regions, including var gene loci (>50 kb). One type of modification is mediated by a protein homologous to yeast Sir2 called PfSir2, which forms a chromosomal gradient of heterochromatin structure and histone hypoacetylation. Upon activation of a specific telomere-associated var gene, PfSir2 is removed from the promoter region and acetylation of histone occurs. Our data demonstrate that mutually exclusive transcription of var genes is linked to the dynamic remodeling of chromatin

Plant-Frugivore Interactions Across the Caribbean Islands: Modularity, Invader Complexes and the Importance of Generalist Species

Aim: Mutualistic interactions between plants and animals are fundamental for the maintenance of natural communities and the ecosystem services they provide. However, particularly in human‐dominated island ecosystems, introduced species may alter mutualistic interactions. Based on an extensive dataset of plant–frugivore interactions, we mapped and analysed a meta‐network across the Caribbean archipelago. Specifically, we searched for subcommunity structure (modularity) and identified the types of species facilitating the integration of introduced species in the Caribbean meta‐network. Location: Caribbean archipelago (Lucayan archipelago, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles). Methods: We reviewed published scientific literature, unpublished theses and other nonpeer‐reviewed sources to compile an extensive dataset of plant–frugivore interactions. We visualized spatial patterns and conducted a modularity analysis of the cross‐island meta‐network. We also examined which species were most likely to interact with introduced species: (1) endemic, nonendemic native or introduced species, and (2) generalized or specialized species.We reported 3060 records of interactions between 486 plant and 178 frugivore species. Results: The Caribbean meta‐network was organized in 13 modules, driven by a combination of functional or taxonomic (modules dominated by certain groups of frugivores) and biogeographical (island‐specific modules) mechanisms. Few introduced species or interaction pairs were shared across islands, suggesting little homogenization of the plant–frugivore meta‐network at the regional scale. However, we found evidence of “invader complexes,” as introduced frugivores were more likely to interact with introduced plants than expected at random. Moreover, we found generalist species more likely to interact with introduced species than were specialized species. Main Conclusions: These results demonstrate that generalist species and “invader complexes” may facilitate the incorporation of introduced species into plant–frugivore communities. Despite the influx of introduced species, the meta‐network was structured into modules related to biogeographical and functional or taxonomic affinities. These findings reveal how introduced species become an integral part of mutualistic systems on tropical islands

The influence of smoking, age and stage at diagnosis on the survival after larynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity cancers in Europe:The ARCAGE study

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a preventable malignancy that continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Using data from the ARCAGE and Rome studies, we investigated the main predictors of survival after larynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity (OC) cancers. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate overall survival, and Cox proportional models to examine the relationship between survival and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. 604 larynx, 146 hypopharynx and 460 OC cancer cases were included in this study. Over a median follow-up time of 4.6 years, nearly 50% (n=586) of patients died. Five-year survival was 65% for larynx, 55% for OC, and 35% for hypopharynx cancers. In a multivariable analysis, we observed an increased mortality risk among older (≥71 years) vs. younger (≤50 years) patients with larynx/hypopharynx combined (LH) and OC cancers [HR=1.61, 95% CI 1.09–2.38 (LH) and HR=2.12, 95% CI 1.35–3.33 (OC)], current vs. never smokers [HR=2.67, 95% CI 1.40–5.08 (LH) and HR=2.16, 95% CI 1.32–3.54 (OC)], and advanced vs. early stage disease at diagnosis [IV vs. I, HR=2.60, 95% CI 1.78–3.79 (LH) and HR=3.17, 95% CI 2.05–4.89 (OC)]. Survival was not associated with sex, alcohol consumption, education, oral health, p16 expression, presence of HPV infection, or body mass index 2 years before cancer diagnosis. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapeutic modalities, survival after HNC remains low in Europe. In addition to the recognized prognostic effect of stage at diagnosis, smoking history and older age at diagnosis are important prognostic indicators for HNC

Cu2O-based catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 at gas-diffusion electrodes

Gas-diffusion electrodes are prepared with commercial Cu2O and Cu2O–ZnO mixtures deposited onto carbon papers and evaluated for the continuous CO2 gas phase electroreduction in a filter-press electrochemical cell. The process mainly produced methanol, as well as small quantities of ethanol and n-propanol. The analysis includes the evaluation of key variables with effect in the electroreduction process: current density (j = 10–40 mA cm−2), electrolyte flow/area ratio (Qe/A = 1–3 ml min−1 cm−2) and CO2 gas flow/area ratio (Qg/A = 10–40 ml min−1 cm−2), using a 0.5 M KHCO3 aqueous solution. The maximum CO2 conversion efficiency to liquid-phase products was 54.8% and 31.4% for Cu2O and Cu2O/ZnO-based electrodes at an applied potential of −1.39 and −1.16 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. Besides, the Cu2O/ZnO electrodes are expected to catalyze the CO2 electroreduction for over 20 h. These results may provide new insights into the application of gas diffusion electrodes to alleviate mass transfer limitations in electrochemical systems for the transformation of CO2 to alcohols.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), under the projects CTQ2013-48280-C3-1-R, CTQ2014-55716- REDT and Juan de la Cierva program (JCI-2012-12073)

Identification in rats of a programming window for reproductive tract masculinization, disruption of which leads to hypospadias and cryptorchidism

Becoming a phenotypic male is ultimately determined by androgen-induced masculinization. Disorders of fetal masculinization, resulting in hypospadias or cryptorchidism, are common, but their cause remains unclear. Together with the adult-onset disorders low sperm count and testicular cancer, they can constitute a testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). Although masculinization is well studied, no unifying concept explains normal male reproductive development and its abnormalities, including TDS. We exposed rat fetuses to either anti-androgens or androgens and showed that masculinization of all reproductive tract tissues was programmed by androgen action during a common fetal programming window. This preceded morphological differentiation, when androgen action was, surprisingly, unnecessary. Only within the programming window did blocking androgen action induce hypospadias and cryptorchidism and altered penile length in male rats, all of which correlated with anogenital distance (AGD). Androgen-driven masculinization of females was also confined to the same programming window. This work has identified in rats a common programming window in which androgen action is essential for normal reproductive tract masculinization and has highlighted that measuring AGD in neonatal humans could provide a noninvasive method to predict neonatal and adult reproductive disorders. Based on the timings in rats, we believe the programming window in humans is likely to be 8-14 weeks of gestation

Paraventricular thalamic nucleus: Subcortical connections and innervation by serotonin, orexin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone in macaque monkeys

The present study examines subcortical connections of paraventricular thalamic nucleus (Pa) following small anterograde and retrograde tracer injections in cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis ). An anterograde tracer injection into the dorsal midline thalamus revealed strong projections to the accumbens nucleus, basal amygdala, lateral septum, and hypothalamus. Retrograde tracer injections into these areas labeled neurons specifically in Pa. Following a retrograde tracer injection into Pa, labeled neurons were found in the hypothalamus, dorsal raphe, and periaqueductal gray. Pa contained a remarkably high density of axons and axonal varicosities immunoreactive for serotonin (5-HT) and orexin/hypocretin (ORX), as well as a moderate density of fibers immunoreactive for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). A retrograde tracer injection into Pa combined with immunohistochemistry demonstrated that ORX and 5-HT axons originate from neurons in the hypothalamus and midbrain. Pa-projecting neurons were localized in the same nuclei of the hypothalamus, amygdala, and midbrain as CRH neurons, although no double labeling was found. The connections of Pa and its innervation by 5-HT, ORX, and CRH suggest that it may relay stress signals between the midbrain and hypothalamus with the accumbens nucleus, basal amygdala, and subgenual cortex as part of a circuit that manages stress and possibly stress-related psychopathologies. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:825–848, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61435/1/21934_ftp.pd

Stochastic Modeling of B Lymphocyte Terminal Differentiation and Its Suppression by Dioxin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Upon antigen encounter, naïve B lymphocytes differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. This humoral immune response is suppressed by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other dioxin-like compounds, which belong to the family of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To achieve a better understanding of the immunotoxicity of AhR agonists and their associated health risks, we have used computer simulations to study the behavior of the gene regulatory network underlying B cell terminal differentiation. The core of this network consists of two coupled double-negative feedback loops involving transcriptional repressors Bcl-6, Blimp-1, and Pax5. Bifurcation analysis indicates that the feedback network can constitute a bistable system with two mutually exclusive transcriptional profiles corresponding to naïve B cells and plasma cells. Although individual B cells switch to the plasma cell state in an all-or-none fashion when stimulated by the polyclonal activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS), stochastic fluctuations in gene expression make the switching event probabilistic, leading to heterogeneous differentiation response among individual B cells. Moreover, stochastic gene expression renders the dose-response behavior of a population of B cells substantially graded, a result that is consistent with experimental observations. The steepness of the dose response curve for the number of plasma cells formed vs. LPS dose, as evaluated by the apparent Hill coefficient, is found to be inversely correlated to the noise level in Blimp-1 gene expression. Simulations illustrate how, through AhR-mediated repression of the AP-1 protein, TCDD reduces the probability of LPS-stimulated B cell differentiation. Interestingly, stochastic simulations predict that TCDD may destabilize the plasma cell state, possibly leading to a reversal to the B cell phenotype.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that stochasticity in gene expression, which renders a graded response at the cell population level, may have been exploited by the immune system to launch humoral immune response of a magnitude appropriately tuned to the antigen dose. In addition to suppressing the initiation of the humoral immune response, dioxin-like compounds may also disrupt the maintenance of the acquired immunity.</p