Micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in Mexico’s indigenous population

Objective. To determine the number of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in Mexico’s indigenous population. Materials and methods. One hundred twenty indigenous individuals were evaluated, including thirty from the ethnicities Cora, Huichol, Tarahumara and Tepehuano. The number of micronuclei (MN) and any nuclear abnormality (NA) in oral mucosa cells, including cells with nuclear buds, binucleated cells, cells with karyolysis, karyorrhetic, condensed chromatin and pyknotic cells were determined for each participant. Results. Tepehuano and Tarahumaras showed the greatest damage to DNA. The Tepehuano group presented the highest number of MN and NA, this being a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared with the rest of the studied groups. This group also presented the highest herbicide exposure (46.7%). In relation to the smoking and drinking habits, these were more frequent in the Tarahumara group (33.3 and 50% respectively). Conclusion. The ethnic diversity, habits and customs may influence the DNA nuclear integrity in the Amerindian groups

Optimización de un protocolo de cultivo in vitro de embriones de Coyol (Acrocomia aculeata)

El coyol (Acrocomia aculeata), es una palma distribuida principalmente en la Región del Pacífico de Costa Rica, su principal uso ha sido la obtención de una bebida conocida como vino de coyol y los frutos como alimento para el ganado. Además, es una especie que tiene un gran potencial, debido a que de los frutos y semillas se puede obtener aceite que puede ser utilizado para producir biodiesel, alimentos y cosméticos, entre otros. Son pocas las plantaciones comerciales que existen en el mundo, sin embargo, Brasil es uno de los países que está apostando a la siembra de esta especie en mayores extensiones. Uno de los problemas que se tiene al trabajar con esta especie es la alta dormancia de sus semillas y los bajos porcentajes de germinación. Por tal motivo el objetivo del trabajo fue el establecimiento y estandarización de un protocolo de germinación in vitro de embriones de coyol (A. aculeata). Se colectaron frutos de plantas de coyol (A.aculeata) ubicadas en diferentes sitios de las provincias de Guanacaste, Alajuela, San José y Puntarenas de Costa Rica, durante el año 2018. Se separó el exocarpo y mesocarpo y se desinfectó el endocarpo, posteriormente se extrajeron los embriones y se sembraron en diferentes medios de cultivo in vitro. Se logró obtener un protocolo de desinfección y de germinación.Coyol (Acrocomia aculeata), is a palm distributed mainly in the Pacific Region of Costa Rica, its main use has been to obtain a drink known as coyol wine and the fruits as feed for livestock. In addition, it is a species that has great potential, because of the fruits and seeds you can obtain oil that can be used to produce biodiesel, food and cosmetics, among others. There are few commercial plantations that exist in the world, however Brazil is one of the countries that is betting on planting this species in larger areas. One of the problems we have when working with this species is the high dormancy of its seeds and the low percentages of germination. For this reason, the objective of the work was the establishment and standardization of an in vitro germination protocol of coyol embryos (A. aculeata). Fruits were collected from coyol plants (A. acuelata) located in different sites in the provinces of Guanacaste, Alajuela, San José and Puntarenas of Costa Rica, during 2018. The exocarp and mesocarp were separated and the endocarp was disinfected, subsequently embryos were extracted and seeded in different in vitro culture media. A disinfection and germination protocol was obtained.Consejo Nacional para Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas/[]/CONICIT/Costa RicaFundación para el Fomento y Promoción de la Investigación y Transferencia de Tecnología Agropecuaria de Costa Rica/[]/FITTACORI/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno (EEAFBM)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de BiologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Facultad de Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Escuela de Agronomí

Perspectivas sostenibles del desarrollo: integración de la resiliencia a la ordenación urbana

The contribution of knowledge of resilience helps to improve the preparation of society and the territories involved in the face of threats of natural origin. That is why the planned consideration of the capacity of environmental resources is essential in territorial planning, when it is complemented by the ecosystem, strategic and participatory approach to help urban-territorial development. It also makes possible better economic resources, better decision making. That is why the general objective of this article was to analyzed the contribution of resilience to territorial and urban planning in order to contribute to the understanding, improvement and assurance of approaches that help the sustainability of development and the capacity to respond to various threats that cause extreme natural phenomena both in urban areas and the rest of the territory. For this, theoretical, statistical and empirical methods were used that allowed the incorporation of resilience components as contributions to urban-territorial planning to reduce risks to extreme natural phenomena, considered as retarders of development in the territories.El aporte de conocimientos de la resiliencia contribuye a elevar la preparación de la sociedad y los territorios involucrados ante amenazas de origen natural. Es por ello que la consideración planificada de la capacidad de los recursos ambientales es esencial en el ordenamiento territorial, cuando se complementa con el enfoque ecosistémico, estratégico y participativo para ayudar al desarrollo urbano-territorial. Posibilita también ante recursos económicos escasos, una mejor toma de decisiones. Es por ello que el objetivo general de este artículo fue analizar el aporte de la resiliencia al ordenamiento territorial y urbano para en contribución al entendimiento, mejoramiento y aseguramiento de enfoques que ayuden a la sostenibilidad del desarrollo y a las capacidades de respuestas ante diversas amenazas que ocasionan los fenómenos naturales extremos tanto en zonas urbanas como al resto del territorio. Para ello se utilizaron métodos teóricos, estadísticos y empíricos que permitieron incorporar componentes de la resiliencia como aportes al ordenamiento urbano-territorial para aminorar los riesgos ante fenómenos naturales extremos, considerados como retardadores del desarrollo en los territorios

Immune Response in Gingival Disease: Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor

The term periodontal disease encompasses a wide variety of chronic inflammatory conditions of the periodontium, including gingivitis and periodontitis. The gingival disease is an infectious process, which occurs due to the progression of untreated gingivitis. It is characterized by a destructive inflammatory process that affects the supporting tissues of the teeth, which causes the loss of the dental organs. As a result of inflammation, a wide range of cytokines and inflammatory mediators together contribute to tissue degradation and bone resorption. However, some molecules that have not been studied in the inflammatory process of this disease, such as the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) which is considered an important cytokine of the innate immune system; it is expressed constitutively in immune and nonimmune cells, and it is released immediately against bacterial stimuli, hypoxia, and proliferative signals. MIF has been described in some chronic degenerative, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. Previous studies have described that in murine models of periodontitis, MIF promotes the activation and differentiation of osteoclasts that could position this cytokine in the immunopathogenesis of gingival disease in humans

Periodontal Disease and Nuclear and Oxidative DNA Damage

Oral health is an important aspect of the overall health status of an individual. DNA damage has been associated with oral health and dental factors due to the increased of oxidative stress (OxS). DNA damage can produce a wide range of effects on human health. These effects could appear immediately, but others do not become evident much later. Chronic diseases have been study to understand their mechanisms, clinical implications, and the development of secondary disease such as cancer. Periodontitis is one of the most common oral diseases. It is an inflammatory chronic infectious disease, which is characterized by the loss of supporting tissues and tooth loss caused by periodontopathogens and long-term release of reactive oxygen species (ROS); thus, oxidative stress is increased during periodontitis. Oxidative stress can produce DNA damage, including the oxidation of nucleosides, which could cause DNA strand break. This oxidative damage leads the formation of micronuclei (MN) a marker of nuclear damage. Also, oxidative stress increased 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels which are the most common stable product of oxidative DNA damage

Development of advanced materials guided by numerical simulations to improve performance and cost-efficiency of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs)

[EN] One promising way to improve the efficiency of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) in shallow geothermal applications is to enhance the thermal properties of the materials involved in its construction. Early attempts, such as using metal tubes in the 1980s or the utilization of thin-foil hoses, did not succeed in being adopted by the market for diverse reasons (cost, corrosion, fragility, etc...). In parallel, the optimization of pipe size, the use of double-U-tubes, thermally enhanced grout, etc. were able to bring the measure for the BHE efficiency, the borehole thermal resistance, from 0.20 to 0.15 K/(Wm) down to 0.08-0.06 K/(Wm) in the best solutions today. A further improvement cannot be expected without development of new, dedicated materials, combining the versatility of plastic like PE with an increased thermal conductivity that matches the respective properties of the rock and soil. This goal was included in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of the European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling in 2013. Within an EU supported project, both BHE pipes and grouting materials have been produced prototypically in small amounts, suitable for the first tests in the intended environment. The present work explains the research pathways envisaged and the resulting sensitivity analysis to highlight the influence of some of the most critical parameters that affect the overall performance of a GSHP system. The results have allowed guiding the real development of more efficient new advanced materials for different scenarios representative of different European regions. Finally the developed materials and their properties are discussed, including a comparative assessment about their compliance with reference material properties as currently seen in the BHE market.This article is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 727583.Badenes Badenes, B.; Sanner, B.; Mateo Pla, MÁ.; Cuevas, JM.; Bartoli, F.; Ciardelli, F.; González, RM.... (2020). Development of advanced materials guided by numerical simulations to improve performance and cost-efficiency of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs). Energy. 201:1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117628117201Alva, G., Lin, Y., & Fang, G. (2018). An overview of thermal energy storage systems. Energy, 144, 341-378. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2017.12.037Li, H., Xu, W., Yu, Z., Wu, J., & Sun, Z. (2017). Application analyze of a ground source heat pump system in a nearly zero energy building in China. Energy, 125, 140-151. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2017.02.108Ozgener, O. (2010). Use of solar assisted geothermal heat pump and small wind turbine systems for heating agricultural and residential buildings. Energy, 35(1), 262-268. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2009.09.018Jensen, J. K., Ommen, T., Markussen, W. B., & Elmegaard, B. (2017). Design of serially connected district heating heat pumps utilising a geothermal heat source. Energy, 137, 865-877. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2017.03.164A. C. Crandall, House heating with earth heat pump, Electr World, 126/19, 94-5 (1946).Moegle, E. (2009). Earth- and buildingsided characteristics of a geothermal energy field with five coaxial tubes erected in 1974 in Schoenaich (County of Boeblingen) – a contribution to history for near-surface geothermic drilling in Europe. Jahresberichte und Mitteilungen des Oberrheinischen Geologischen Vereins, 91, 31-35. doi:10.1127/jmogv/91/2009/31Lundh, M., & Dalenbäck, J.-O. (2008). Swedish solar heated residential area with seasonal storage in rock: Initial evaluation. Renewable Energy, 33(4), 703-711. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2007.03.024Ground coupled heat pumps of high technology - groundhit, Funded by FP6-SUSTDEV - sustainable development, global change and ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the focusing and integrating community research programme 2002-2006. Project ID: 503063.Go, G.-H., Lee, S.-R., Yoon, S., Park, H., & Park, Sk. (2014). Estimation and experimental validation of borehole thermal resistance. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 18(4), 992-1000. doi:10.1007/s12205-014-0454-xZhang, S., Huang, Z., Li, G., Wu, X., Peng, C., & Zhang, W. (2018). Numerical analysis of transient conjugate heat transfer and thermal stress distribution in geothermal drilling with high-pressure liquid nitrogen jet. Applied Thermal Engineering, 129, 1348-1357. doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.10.042Fossa, M., & Minchio, F. (2013). The effect of borefield geometry and ground thermal load profile on hourly thermal response of geothermal heat pump systems. Energy, 51, 323-329. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2012.12.043SPIN-PET, Via R. 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Especies de peces con potencial como bioindicadoras de genotoxicidad en el lago La Alberca, Michoacán, México

The presence of spontaneous micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes from 10 fish species in Lake La Alberca, Michoacan (Mexico), was evaluated as a possible biological indicator of genotoxic agents. The peripheral blood samples from each of 56 fishes were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy (100X) to determine frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes (EMN) in 10,000 cells, and polychromatic erythrocytes in 1,000 cells (EPC). The cytoplasm-nucleus ratio in erythrocytes (RC/N) also was calculated. The sampled species and their results were: Xenotoca melanosoma (3.7±1.6 EMN, 29.5±15 EPC, 1.7:1 RC/N), Oreochromis aureus (2.0±1.0 EMN, 21.0±14 EPC, 2.6:1 RC/N), Chirostoma consocium (1.5±0.7 EMN, 19.8±14 EPC, 1.4:1 RC/N), Chirostoma lucius (1.2±1.3 EMN, 34.2±19 EPC, 1.8:1 RC/N), Lepomis macrochirus (1.2±1.6 EMN, 10.3±19 EPC, 2.2:1 RC/N), Alloophorus robustus (1.0±1.5 EMN, 31.1±23 EPC, 1.9:1 RC/N), Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis (0.8±1.2 EMN, 23.8±6.3 EPC, 1.6:1 RC/N), Chapalichthys encaustus (0.7±1.0 EMN, 44.6±28 EPC, 1.9:1 RC/N), Poeciliopsis infans (0.7±0.8 EMN, 12.4±4.4 EPC, 1.8:1 RC/N) and Goodea atripinnis (0.6±1.1 EMN, 11.7±5.7 EPC, 1.7:1 RC/N). The frequency of spontaneous EMN found in Xenotoca melanosoma and Oreochromis aureus suggests that these species can be considered as potential biological indicators of genotoxic agents.Se evaluó la presencia espontánea de micronúcleos en sangre periférica de 10 especies de peces que habitan el lago La Alberca, Michoacán (México), para proponerlas como posibles bioindicadoras de agentes genotóxicos. Se colectaron muestras de sangre periférica de 56 organismos de 10 especies diferentes las cuales se analizaron con microscopía de fluorescencia (100X) para registrar: la cantidad de eritrocitos micronucleados (EMN) espontáneos en 10,000 eritrocitos, la proporción de eritrocitos policromáticos (EPC) en 1,000 eritrocitos y la relación citoplasmanúcleo (RC/N) de los eritrocitos. Las especies muestreadas fueron: Xenotoca melanosoma (3.7±1.6 EMN, 29.5±15 EPC, 1.7:1 RC/N), Oreochromis aureus (2.0±1.0 EMN, 21.0±14 EPC, 2.6:1 RC/N), Chirostoma consocium (1.5±0.7 EMN, 19.8±14 EPC, 1.4:1 RC/N), Chirostoma lucius (1.2±1.3 EMN, 34.2±19 EPC, 1.8:1 RC/N), Lepomis macrochirus (1.2±1.6 EMN, 10.3±19 EPC, 2.2:1 RC/N), Alloophorus robustus (1.0±1.5 EMN, 31.1±23 EPC, 1.9:1 RC/N), Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis (0.8±1.2 EMN, 23.8±6.3 EPC, 1.6:1 RC/N), Chapalichthys encaustus (0.7±1.0 EMN, 44.6±28 EPC, 1.9:1 RC/N), Poeciliopsis infans (0.7±0.8 EMN, 12.4±4.4 EPC, 1.8:1 RC/N) y Goodea atripinnis (0.6±1.1 EMN, 11.7±5.7 EPC, 1.7:1 RC/N). Por el número de EMN espontáneos y la RC/N que se encontró en Xenotoca melanosoma y Oreochromis aureus se sugiere que estas especies son potenciales indicadoras biológicas de agentes genotóxicos

Association of rs712 polymorphism in a let-7 microRNA-binding site of KRAS gene with colorectal cancer in a Mexican population

Objective(s): The rs712 polymorphism in a let-7 microRNA-binding site at KRAS gene has been associated with cancer. To examine its association with rs712 polymorphism, we analyzed Mexican individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Genotyping of the rs712 polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction in 281 controls and 336 CRC patients. Results: The observed frequencies of rs712 polymorphism indicated an associated protective factor for CRC (P=0.032). An association between genotype and the disease was evident in: colon localization (allele T, odds ratio (OR) 3.82, 95% confidence Intervals (CI) 2.77-5.28, P=0.0001), node metastasis (genotype TT, OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.45-4.28, P=0.0009), poor differentiation (genotype GT, OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.35-4.1, P=0.0033), and poor chemotherapy response (genotype GT, OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-4.24, P=0.0001). Conclusion: Comparison of the data from patients with control group showed that polymorphism of rs712 in KRAS gene was protective factor, which was associated with susceptibility for CRC. However, the genotypes TT and GT of rs712 polymorphism in KRAS could contribute significantly to colon localization, node metastasis, poor differentiation and poor chemotherapy response in CRC patients in this sample population

Empowering Youth Employment through European Digital Bootcamps (EDIBO)

[EN] Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are transforming every area of economic and social life all around the world. New types of jobs different from the traditional ones are created rapidly. The demand for highly skilled staff who uses technology effectively has become a requirement for success of companies and the growing industry. However, the number of IT graduates is not keeping up with the current demand. In addition, companies have little or no training programs to develop ICT skills. Initiatives from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants to support transnational projects for Youth Employment including European Digital Bootcamps (EDIBO) contribute to increase the job opportunities for young people outside of the labour market. In this way the Sustainable Development Goal 8 which aims to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” could be fulfilled. Nowadays, EDIBO is developing different training labs in order to achieve a success model of all processes involved with the organization, execution and evaluation. The goal of this document is to allow a rapid replication of the intensive ICT training among the partners of the project as well to the social innovation community in general.Luzuriaga Quichimbo, JE.; Mauleón, B.; Ampuero Canellas, O.; Lemus Zúñiga, LG.; Mateo Pla, MÁ.; Benlloch Dualde, JV.; González Del Rio Cogorno, J.... (2019). Empowering Youth Employment through European Digital Bootcamps (EDIBO). En Proceedings 5th CARPE Conference: Horizon Europe and beyond. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 21-28. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARPE2019.2019.10207OCS212

El mundo es un parto constante: Poemas ganadores del concurso "Nuevos talentos en homenaje a Osvaldo Sauma"

El libro recoge los poemas ganadores de un concurso de poesía hecho como homenaje al poeta Osvaldo Sauma.Universidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Acción Social::Extensión CulturalUCR::Sedes Regionales::Sede del Atlántic