Machiavelli’s perception in Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries

El presente trabajo discute y argumenta sobre la posibilidad y la forma en que la obra de Maquiavelo repercute en el panorama literario político español en los siglos XVI y XVII. Se centra, primordialmente, en una visión crítica de dos argumentos sostenidos para negar la presencia del pensamiento maquiaveliano en dicho lugar y momento: el escaso número de traducciones al castellano halladas y la intensa actividad antimaquiaveliana de la Inquisición española aun cuando ello no impidió el tratamiento de Maquiavelo por parte de figuras lite- rarias españolas de primer orden e impacto político, tales como Juan de Mariana, Quevedo, Gracián, Saavedra Fajardo, Ribadeneyra, Mártir Rizo, Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda y otros.This paper discusses and argues the possibility and the way in which Machiavelli’s work affects the Spanish political and literary perspective during the 16th and 17th centuries. It focuses primarily on a critical view of two arguments held to deny the presence of the Machiavellian line of thought in that particular place and time: the scarce number of translations into Spanish found and the intense anti- Machiavellian activity of the Spanish Inquisition even though it did not hinder Machiavelli’s treatment by leading literary fig- ures and political impact, such as Juan de Mariana, Quevedo, Gracián, Saavedra Fajardo, Ribadeneyra, Mártir Rizo, Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, and others

Study of protein expresion [sic] in peri-infarct tissue after cerebral ischemia

In this work, we report our study of protein expression in rat peri-infarct tissue, 48 h after the induction of permanent focal cerebral ischemia. Two proteomic approaches, gel electrophoresis with mass spectrometry and combined fractional diagonal chromatography (COFRADIC), were performed using tissue samples from the periphery of the induced cerebral ischemic lesions, using tissue from the contra-lateral hemisphere as a control. Several protein spots (3408) were identified by gel electrophoresis, and 11 showed significant differences in expression between peri-infarct and contralateral tissues (at least 3-fold, p < 0.05). Using COFRADIC, 5412 proteins were identified, with 72 showing a difference in expression. Apart from blood-related proteins (such as serum albumin), both techniques showed that the 70 kDa family of heat shock proteins were highly expressed in the peri-infarct tissue. Further studies by 1D and 2D western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that only one member of this family (the inducible form, HSP72 or HSP70i) is specifically expressed by the peri-infarct tissue, while the majority of this family (the constitutive form, HSC70 or HSP70c) is expressed in the whole brain. Our data support that HSP72 is a suitable biomarker of peri-infarct tissue in the ischemic brain

Adapting RRI public engagement indicators to the Spanish scientific and innovation context: a participatory methodology based on AHP and content analysis

The paradigm proposed by Responsible Research and Innovation in the European Commission policy discourse identifies Public Engagement as a key area for exchange and dialogue among multiple actors following an inclusive and participatory process. Two definite set of indicators have already arisen at European level to monitor Public Engagement activities in the Science and Innovation realm. Our study aims to propose a deliberative participatory process, which involves selected stakeholders, for the adaptation of the European indicators to the specific Spanish scientific and innovation context. The methodological procedure is of exploratory nature and will be based in a combination of, on the one hand, qualitative content analysis techniques for the in-depth study of the deliberative process and the generation of indicators; and, on the other hand, a multi-criteria decision analysis technique such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process for the prioritization of the indicators. The discussion will focus on the procedure to articulate stakeholders' values and use them as the basis for creating a context-based improved list of indicators. Two types of research questions arise: (i) Is the proposed methodology adequate for the adaptation of the European indicators to the Spanish context? (ii) What are the main indicators to monitor and to expand reflection on the public engagement in the Spanish science and innovation

Detection of honey adulteration by conventional and real-time PCR

[EN] This work applies both conventional and real-time PCR DNA amplification techniques for detecting and quantifying rice molasses in honey. Different levels of adulteration were simulated (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50%) using commercial rice molasses. Among the different specific genes of rice tested by PCR, the PLD1 primer was the most effective. This allowed the visualization in agarose gel of this type of adulterant up to 5-20%. Moreover, by means of real-time PCR it was possible to distinguish the different levels of rice DNA, and therefore the percentage of adulteration (1-50%). A standard curve built with the DNA serial dilutions of rice genomic DNA concentrations showed that the quantification level was between 2-5%. These results offer compelling evidence that DNA techniques could be useful not only for the detection of adulterations of honey with rice molasses but also for the quantification of levels lower than those of conventional techniques.This study is part of part of the projects funded by the "Agencia Estatal de Investigacion" (AGL2016-77702-R) and by the "Generalitat Valenciana" (AICO/2015/104) of Spain, for which the authors are grateful.Sobrino-Gregorio, L.; Vilanova Navarro, S.; Prohens Tomás, J.; Escriche Roberto, MI. (2019). Detection of honey adulteration by conventional and real-time PCR. Food Control. 95:57-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.07.037S57629

Microglial activation arises after aggregation of phosphorylated-tau in a neuron-specific P301S tauopathy mouse model

Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and frontotemporal dementia are characterized by neuronal expression of aberrant tau protein, tau hyperphosphorylation (pTAU), tau aggregation and neurofibrillary tangle formation sequentially culminating into neuronal cell death, a process termed tauopathy. Our aim was to address at which tauopathy stage neuroinflammation starts and to study the related microglial phenotype. We used Thy1-hTau.P301S (PS) mice expressing human tau with a P301S mutation specifically in neurons. Significant levels of cortical pTAU were present from 2 months onwards. Dystrophic morphological complexity of cortical microglia arose after pTAU accumulation concomitant with increased microglial lysosomal volumes and a significant loss of homeostatic marker Tmem119. Interestingly, we detected increases in neuronal pTAU and postsynaptic structures in the lysosomes of PS microglia. Moreover, the overall cortical postsynaptic density was decreased in 6-month-old PS mice. Together, our results indicate that microglia adopt a pTAU-associated phenotype, and are morphologically and functionally distinct from wild-type microglia after neuronal pTAU accumulation has initiated

In Vivo Theranostics at the Peri-Infarct Region in Cerebral Ischemia

The use of theranostics in neurosciences has been rare to date because of the limitations imposed on the free delivery of substances to the brain by the blood-brain barrier. Here we report the development of a theranostic system for the treatment of stroke, a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. We first performed a series of proteomic, immunoblotting and immunohistological studies to characterize the expression of molecular biomarkers for the so-called peri-infarct tissue, a key region of the brain for stroke treatment. We confirmed that the HSP72 protein is a suitable biomarker for the peri-infarct region, as it is selectively expressed by at-risk tissue for up to 7 days following cerebral ischemia. We also describe the development of anti-HSP72 vectorized stealth immunoliposomes containing imaging probes to make them traceable by conventional imaging techniques (fluorescence and MRI) that were used to encapsulate a therapeutic agent (citicoline) for the treatment of cerebral ischemia. We tested the molecular recognition capabilities of these nano-platforms in vitro together with their diagnostic and therapeutic properties in vivo, in an animal model of cerebral ischemia. Using MRI, we found that 80% of vectorized liposomes were located on the periphery of the ischemic lesion, and animals treated with citicoline encapsulated on these liposomes presented lesion volumes up to 30% smaller than animals treated with free (non-encapsulated) drugs. Our results show the potential of nanotechnology for the development of effective tools for the treatment of neurological diseases

Tear film inflammatory mediators during continuous wear of contact lenses and corneal refractive therapy

OBJECTIVES: To study changes in tear film inflammatory mediators following continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses and corneal refractive therapy with reverse geometry contact lenses. DESIGN: A prospective, case-control study. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects had worn silicone-hydrogel lenses on a 30-night continuous wear basis. Thirty-two subjects had worn corneal refractive therapy lenses on an overnight basis. Thirty-two matched control subjects were also recruited. Tear samples were obtained 12 months after initial fitting and assayed using ELISA for cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). RESULTS: EGF was significantly increased 12 months after both interventions. IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-9 were significantly increased only after corneal refractive therapy. The inflammatory response for the corneal refractive therapy patients was found to be associated with the degree of myopia corrected and the presence of corneal staining. Moreover, an increased level of MMP-9 and EGF was found to be associated with the presence of corneal-pigmented arc in the corneal refractive therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: This research showed long-term increased tear levels of inflammatory markers in subjects wearing corneal refractive therapy lenses when compared with continuous wear of silicone-hydrogel lenses or no lens wear.This research was financed by a grant (PI-081380) from the National Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, Ministry of Health and Consume (General Division for Health Research Funding)