El caso de Juan, el niño triqui : el aprendizaje basado en casos como recurso para promover la interculturalidad

En México, un país con un 11% de población indígena, cada vez un número mayor de indígenas migra a las grandes ciudades en busca de oportunidades. Este trabajo detalla la problemática que vive uno de tantos niños indígenas migrantes: Juan, un niño triqui, que en la Ciudad de México, asiste a un Jardín de Niños donde sufre exclusión y discriminación por parte de la comunidad escolar. En vista de esta situación es que se desarrolló un espacio virtual basado en el aprendizaje basado en casos (CBL), para propiciar en los docentes de dicho nivel una visión intercultural en el proceso educativo. Fue diseñado con base en el modelo instruccional de casos de S. Wassermann y en la propuesta respectiva de Penn State University.In Mexico, where 11% of the population is indigenous, an ever greater number of indigenous people migrate to the main cities in search of better opportunities. This study explores the problematic life of one –among many- immigrant indigenous boy, Juan, the triqui child, who attends preschool in Mexico City where he suffers exclusion and discrimination from the scholastic community. In view of this situation, we developed a virtual space founded on case based learning (CBL) Is a real case which takes place in a specific educational context, and encourages an intercultural vision. It was designed based on Wassermann´s case-based instructional model and Penn State University´s proposal

Atacama: el desierto salitroso como tema literario en Hernán Rivera Letelier

A lo largo de su obra narrativa Hernán Rivera Letelier (Talca, Chile, 1950) describe la vida en el Norte Grande de Chile, específicamente en el desierto de Atacama durante varias décadas del siglo XX. El tema de las salitreras de Atacama explica el mundo de la gente que no conoce otra forma de vida, si bien las oficinas y los campamentos pueden emular un estilo urbano impostado en su arquitectura y en su operar cotidiano, el destino de los pobladores y su cosmovisión es de aislamiento. Sin embargo, los mineros asentados con sus familias en esa zona desértica han aprendido a sobrevivir en condiciones extremas y, desde la fórmula literaria que presenta el autor, la adaptación se logra incluso bajo una especie de sana resignación que los motiva a disfrutar el ocio. La constante que prevalece en la narrativa de Rivera es la desolación del espacio geográfico y la inclemencia del clima.Throughout his work, Hernán Rivera Letelier (Talca, Chile, 1950) describes the life in the Great North of Chile in the course of several decades of the XXth century, specifically in the Desert of Atacama. The world in Atacama’s nitratefields is the world of the people that do not know another way of life, even though the offices and the camps may emulate an urban style based upon their architecture and their daily management, the destiny and worldview of the people is of isolation. However, the miners settled with their families on this region have learned to live in extreme conditions and, considering the literary device used by the author, their adaptation even comes with a sort of healthy resignation for the free time. The common theme through out Rivera̕s narrative work is the desolation and loneliness at that specific geographical space.Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Sedes Regionales::Sede de Occidente::Recinto San Ramón::Centro de Investigaciones sobre Diversidad Cultural y Estudios Regionales (CIDICER

Dexamethasone protection from TNF-alpha-induced cell death in MCF-7 cells requires NF-kappaB and is independent from AKT

BACKGROUND: The biochemical bases for hormone dependence in breast cancer have been recognized as an important element in tumor resistance, proliferation and metastasis. On this respect, dexamethasone (Dex) dependent protection against TNF-alpha-mediated cell death in the MCF-7 cell line has been demonstrated to be a useful model for the study of this type of cancer. Recently, cytoplasmic signaling induced by steroid receptors has been described, such as the activation of the PI3K/Akt and NF-kappaB pathways. We evaluated their possible participation in the Dex-dependent protection against TNF-alpha-mediated cell death. RESULTS: Cellular cultures of the MCF-7 cell line were exposed to either, TNF-alpha or TNF-alpha and Dex, and cell viability was evaluated. Next, negative dominants of PI3K and IkappaB-alpha, designed to block the PI3K/Akt and NF-kappaB pathways, respectively, were transfected and selection and evaluation of several clones overexpressing the mutants were examined. Also, correlation with inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression was examined. Independent inhibition of these two pathways allowed us to test their participation in Dex-dependent protection against TNF-alpha-cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells. Expression of the PI3K dominant negative mutant did not alter the protection conferred by Dex against TNF-alpha mediated cell death. Contrariwise, clones expressing the IkappaB-alpha dominant negative mutant lost the Dex-conferred protection against TNF-alpha. In these clones degradation of c-IAP was accelerated, while that of XIAP was remained unaffected. CONCLUSION: NF-kappaB, but not PI3K/Akt activation, is required for the Dex protective effect against TNF-alpha-mediated cell death, and correlates with lack of degradation of the anti-apoptotic protein c-IAP1

Is Liver Enzyme Release Really Associated with Cell Necrosis Induced by Oxidant Stress?

Hepatic diseases are a major concern worldwide. Increased specific plasma enzyme activities are considered diagnostic features for liver diseases, since enzymes are released into the blood compartment following the deterioration of the organ. Release of liver mitochondrial enzymes is considered strong evidence for hepatic necrosis, which is associated with an increased production of ROS, often leading to greater hepatic lipid peroxidation. Lipotoxic mediators and intracellular signals activated Kupffer cells, which provides evidence strongly suggesting the participation of oxidant stress in acute liver damage, inducing the progression of liver injury to chronic liver damage. Elevated transaminase activities are considered as an index marker of hepatotoxicity, linked to oxidant stress. However, a drastic increase of serum activities of liver enzyme markers ought not necessarily to reflect liver cell death. In fact, increased serum levels of cytoplasmic enzymes have readily been observed after partial hepatectomy (PH) in the regenerating liver of rats. In this regard, we are now showing that in vitro modifications of the oxidant status affect differentially the release of liver enzymes, indicating that this release is a strictly controlled event and not directly related to the onset of oxidant stress of the liver

Glycosylated VCAM-1 isoforms revealed in 2D western blots of HUVECs treated with tumoral soluble factors of breast cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several common aspects of endothelial phenotype, such as the expression of cell adhesion molecules, are shared between metastasis and inflammation. Here, we analyzed VCAM-1 variants as biological markers of these two types of endothelial cell activation. With the combination of 2-DE and western blot techniques and the aid of tunicamycin, we analyzed N-glycosylation variants of VCAM-1 in primary human endothelial cells stimulated with either TNF or tumoral soluble factors (TSF's) derived from the human breast cancer cell line ZR75.30.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatments induced a pro-adhesive endothelial phenotype. 2D western blots analysis of cells subjected to both treatments revealed the expression of the two known VCAM-1 isoforms and of previously unknown isoforms. In particular TSFZR75.30 induced an isoform with a relative molecular mass (Mr) and isoelectric point (p<it>I</it>) of 75-77 kDa and 5.0, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The unknown isoforms of VCAM-1 that were found to be overexpressed after treatment with TSF's compared with TNF, could serve as biomarkers to discriminate between inflammation and metastasis. 2D western blots revealed three new VCAM-1 isoforms expressed in primary human endothelial cells in response to TSF stimulation. Each of these isoforms varies in Mr and pI and could be the result of differential glycosylation states.</p

Language attitudes and use in a transplanted setting: Greek Cypriots in London

In this paper we explore language attitudes and use in the Greek Cypriot community in London, England. Our study is based on an earlier survey carried out in Nicosia, Cyprus and we compare attitudes to language and reported language use in the two communities. We thereby highlight the significance of sociolinguistic variables on similar groups of speakers. We further extend our investigation to include codeswitching practices in the London community. \ud Analysis of language attitudes and use within the Greek-Cypriot population of London, and comparisons with findings in Nicosia, reflect symbolic forces operating in the two contexts. Despite obvious differences between the two communities, (most obviously the official languages and distinct cultural backgrounds of the two nations), the Greek Cypriot Dialect continues to play an active role in both. English is however the ‘default choice‘ for young Cypriots in the UK and Standard Modern Greek occupies a much more limited role than in Cyprus. It is argued that differences in language attitudes and use can be interpreted in light of different market forces operating in the nation (i.e. Cyprus) and the Diaspora (i.e. UK)