Genome-wide phenotypic RNAi screen in the Drosophila wing: Global parameters

We have screened a collection of UAS-RNAi lines targeting 10,920 Drosophila protein-coding genes for phenotypes in the adult wing. We identified 3653 genes (33%) whose knockdown causes either larval/pupal lethality or a mutant phenotype affecting the formation of a normal wing. The most frequent phenotypes consist of changes in wing size, vein differentiation, and patterning, defects in the wing margin and in the apposition of the dorsal and ventral wing surfaces. We also defined 16 functional categories encompassing the most relevant aspect of each protein function and assigned each Drosophila gene to one of these functional groups. This allowed us to identify which mutant phenotypes are enriched within each functional group. Finally, we used previously published gene expression datasets to determine which genes are or are not expressed in the wing disc. Integrating expression, phenotypic and molecular information offers considerable precision to identify the relevant genes affecting wing formation and the biological processes regulated by the

Los Aljezares archaeological site (Alicante, Spain) and the MIS 6/5 open-air settlement in the Iberian Peninsula

The record of open-air Middle Palaeolithic sites in the Iberian Peninsula—specifically in the Mediterranean basin—is scarce, hampering the interpretation of the landscape use strategies developed by Neanderthals in this area. In this work, we present Los Aljezares, a new Middle Palaeolithic site found in Pleistocene fluvio-lacustrine deposits in the sedimentary basin of the Vinalopó River. A U/Th age (132 ± 10 ka) from associated carbonate deposits allows us to attribute the site to the uppermost part of the Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene (marine isotope stage 6/5). To date, a total of two levels of human occupation have been identified in which the density of lithic remains is low compared with cave and rock shelter sites in the region. The first results of technology and use-wear, raw material procurement and geological data indicate a settlement in Los Aljezares along a territory characterised by ephemeral channels and their associated palustrine and lacustrine zones. This palaeoenvironmental setting provided biotic and abiotic resources in a transit area between inland and coastal locations.The research has been funded through the following research projects: El pasado lejano: aproximación a la conducta y la ocupación del territorio en el paleolítico valenciano (PROMETEO/2017/060), Estudio del registro climático reciente preservado en depósitos cuaternarios: el caso de Los Aljezares (Aspe, Alicante) y su relación con los depósitos del Medio y Bajo Vinalopó (GRE17-02), Caracterización tecnológica y funcional de los elementos líticos apuntados durante el Paleolítico medio en la región central del mediterráneo ibérico (GV/2021/054) and Síntesis del Paleolítico medio y superior en Valencia y Murcia: aspectos cronológicos, paleoambientales, económicos y culturales (HAR2017-85153-P)

Relación entre exposición ambiental al plomo y biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo en niños atendidos en un hospital público de La Plata, Argentina

El plomo es un metal neurotóxico ampliamente distribuido en el ambiente. Uno de los mecanismos de acción propuesto es su capacidad de inducir estrés oxidativo. Estudios experimentales en animales y observacionales en adultos expuestos ocupacionalmente han establecido una relación entre la exposición al plomo y alteraciones en biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo. Sin embargo la evidencia no es concluyente en poblaciones pediátricas expuestas ambientalmente al plomo. Objetivo: Determinar las plombemias de niños expuestos ambientalmente al plomo y establecer su relación con la actividad de enzimas antioxidantes y con el grado de peroxidación lipídica.Trabajo presentado en la LVII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Investigación Pediátrica - SLAIP (Brasil, noviembre de 2019

Strain modulation of Si vacancy emission from SIC micro- and nanoparticles

Single-photon emitting point defects in semiconductors have emerged as strong candidates for future quantum technology devices. In the present work, we exploit crystalline particles to investigate relevant defect localizations, emission shifting, and waveguiding. Specifically, emission from 6H-SiC micro- and nanoparticles ranging from 100 nm to 5 mu m in size is collected using cathodoluminescence (CL), and we monitor signals attributed to the Si vacancy (V_Si) as a function of its location. Clear shifts in the emission wavelength are found for emitters localized in the particle center and at the edges. By comparing spatial CL maps with strain analysis carried out in transmission electron microscopy, we attribute the emission shifts to compressive strain of 2-3% along the particle a-direction. Thus, embedding V_Si, qubit defects within SiC nanoparticles offers an interesting and versatile opportunity to tune single-photon emission energies while simultaneously ensuring ease of addressability via a self-assembled SiC nanoparticle matrix

Effect of Daily Consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 on Cholesterol Reduction in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects

The effect of daily consumption of a yogurt containing Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects was evaluated by performing a prospective, randomized, double-blind, cross-over placebo controlled clinical study. Participants consumed daily a yogurt containing L. reuteri CRL 1098 or a placebo for four weeks, separated by a wash-out period. Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoprotein levels were assessed at the beginning and at the end of each period. We found a statistically significant reduction of total (−7.86 g/dl) and LDL (−7.02 g/dl) cholesterol in absolute changes (before-after) as well as a decreasing trend in the group receiving the yogurt containing L. reuteri with respect to the placebo group, without detecting changes in HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. Our results suggest that low amounts of yogurt (125 g/day) and low doses of the CRL 1098 strain (106 CFU) are sufficient to reduce total and LDL-cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Influence of Milk-Feeding Type and Genetic Risk of Developing Coeliac Disease on Intestinal Microbiota of Infants: The PROFICEL Study

Interactions between environmental factors and predisposing genes could be involved in the development of coeliac disease (CD). This study has assessed whether milk-feeding type and HLA-genotype influence the intestinal microbiota composition of infants with a family history of CD. The study included 164 healthy newborns, with at least one first-degree relative with CD, classified according to their HLA-DQ genotype by PCR-SSP DQB1 and DQA1 typing. Faecal microbiota was analysed by quantitative PCR at 7 days, and at 1 and 4 months of age. Significant interactions between milk-feeding type and HLA-DQ genotype on bacterial numbers were not detected by applying a linear mixed-model analysis for repeated measures. In the whole population, breast-feeding promoted colonization of C. leptum group, B. longum and B. breve, while formula-feeding promoted that of Bacteroides fragilis group, C. coccoides-E. rectale group, E. coli and B. lactis. Moreover, increased numbers of B. fragilis group and Staphylococcus spp., and reduced numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. and B. longum were detected in infants with increased genetic risk of developing CD. Analyses within subgroups of either breast-fed or formula-fed infants indicated that in both cases increased risk of CD was associated with lower numbers of B. longum and/or Bifidobacterium spp. In addition, in breast-fed infants the increased genetic risk of developing CD was associated with increased C. leptum group numbers, while in formula-fed infants it was associated with increased Staphylococcus and B. fragilis group numbers. Overall, milk-feeding type in conjunction with HLA-DQ genotype play a role in establishing infants' gut microbiota; moreover, breast-feeding reduced the genotype-related differences in microbiota composition, which could partly explain the protective role attributed to breast milk in this disorder

Marco activo de recursos de innovación docente: Madrid

Una guía de espacios e instituciones para actividades educativas complementarias en enseñanza secundaria y Formación Profesional

Functional requirements of protein kinases and phosphatases in the development of the Drosophila melanogaster wing

Protein kinases and phosphatases constitute a large family of conserved enzymes that control a variety of biological processes by regulating the phosphorylation state of target proteins. They play fundamental regulatory roles during cell cycle progression and signaling, among other key aspects of multicellular development. The complement of protein kinases and phosphatases includes approximately 326 members in Drosophila, and they have been the subject of several functional screens searching for novel components of signaling pathways and regulators of cell division and survival. These approaches have been carried out mostly in cell cultures using RNA interference to evaluate the contribution of each protein in different functional assays and have contributed significantly to assign specific roles to the corresponding genes. In this work, we describe the results of an evaluation of the Drosophila complement of kinases and phosphatases using the wing as a system to identify their functional requirements in vivo. We also describe the results of several modifying screens aiming to identify among the set of protein kinases and phosphatases additional components or regulators of the activities of the epidermal growth factor and insulin receptors signaling pathways.PGC2018-094476-B-100 from the Secretaría del Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación. The CBMSO enjoys institutional support from the Fundación Ramón Areces and Fundación Banco de Santander

Factores asociados a la depresión, ansiedad y estrés de los trabajadores del sector público de salud de La Plata y Gran La Plata al inicio de la pandemia por Covid-19

Introducción: La pandemia por COVID-19 expuso a los trabajadores de salud a una enorme exigencia y presión en su labor cotidiana. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en trabajadores de salud durante la pandemia por COVID-19 y su asociación con características personales, laborales, sentimientos, experiencias y conductas relacionadas a la pandemia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio analítico de corte transversal. Durante el mes de junio del 2020 se enviaron formularios vía e-mail y redes sociales a trabajadores de la salud del sector público de La Plata y Gran La Plata. Se evaluó el nivel de depresión, ansiedad, y estrés mediante el cuestionario DASS-21. Se relevaron variables personales, laborales, sentimientos, experiencias y conductas vinculados a la pandemia. Se analizó la asociación entre las características de los trabajadores y la presencia de síntomas psicológicos mencionados. Resultados: Participaron 515 trabajadores, 41 años (33;50), 83,3% femenino. El síntoma psicológico más frecuente fue el estrés (58,2 %), seguido por ansiedad (33,1%) y depresión (24,7%). Se hallaron mayores chances de presentar estos síntomas en trabajadores que percibieron sentimientos, experiencias y conductas negativas vinculados a la pandemia. Los trabajadores de enfermería y administración, y aquellos que convivían con personas de riesgo tuvieron mayores chances de presentar ansiedad. Conclusión: Los trabajadores de salud de La Plata y Gran La Plata presentaron diversos grados de depresión, ansiedad y estrés que se asocian a sentimientos negativos relacionados con la pandemia

The controlled transition-metal doping of SnO_2 nanoparticles with tunable luminescence

SnO_2 nanoparticles doped with transition metals (V, Cr, Mn) have been synthesized by both the hydrothermal method (HDT) in a basic media and the liquid mixed method (LQM) based on the Pechini method. Nanocrystalline particles obtained via a liquid mixed technique show a well-defined chemical composition and an average size of 6 nm, with a high degree of both crystallinity and chemical homogeneity. Nanoparticles prepared via a hydrothermal method exhibit a high dispersion in size as well as agglomeration effects. As the LQM demonstrates advantages with respect to the HDT, a more detailed investigation has been carried out on the SnO_2 nanoparticles doped with V, Cr and Mn grown by this method. The microstructure of the materials was elucidated by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Selected-Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). Luminescence from undoped and doped SnO_2 nanoparticles was characterized by cathodoluminescence (CL). The luminescence studies demonstrate a strong dependence of CL signals with transition metal doping, thus inducing red, green or orange emissions when doping with Cr, V or Mn respectively