Building a Corpus of 2L English for Automatic Assessment: the CLEC Corpus

In this paper we describe the CLEC corpus, an ongoing project set up at the University of Cádiz with the purpose of building up a large corpus of English as a 2L classified according to CEFR proficiency levels and formed to train statistical models for automatic proficiency assessment. The goal of this corpus is twofold: on the one hand it will be used as a data resource for the development of automatic text classification systems and, on the other, it has been used as a means of teaching innovation techniques

Role of Glucocorticoid Signaling and HDAC4 Activation in Diaphragm and Gastrocnemius Proteolytic Activity in Septic Rats.

Sepsis increases glucocorticoid and decreases IGF-1, leading to skeletal muscle wasting and cachexia. Muscle atrophy mainly takes place in locomotor muscles rather than in respiratory ones. Our study aimed to elucidate the mechanism responsible for this difference in muscle proteolysis, focusing on local inflammation and IGF-1 as well as on their glucocorticoid response and HDAC4-myogenin activation. Sepsis was induced in adult male rats by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (10 mg/kg), and 24 h afterwards, rats were euthanized. LPS increased TNFα and IL-10 expression in both muscles studied, the diaphragm and gastrocnemius, whereas IL-6 and SOCS3 mRNA increased only in diaphragm. In comparison with gastrocnemius, diaphragm showed a lower increase in proteolytic marker expression (atrogin-1 and LC3b) and in LC3b protein lipidation after LPS administration. LPS increased the expression of glucocorticoid induced factors, KLF15 and REDD1, and decreased that of IGF-1 in gastrocnemius but not in the diaphragm. In addition, an increase in HDAC4 and myogenin expression was induced by LPS in gastrocnemius, but not in the diaphragm. In conclusion, the lower activation of both glucocorticoid signaling and HDAC4-myogenin pathways by sepsis can be one of the causes of lower sepsis-induced proteolysis in the diaphragm compared to gastrocnemius.Fac. de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y PodologíaTRUESpanish Ministry of Economy and CompetitivenessFondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)European CommissionComunidad de MadridFundación SenefroFundación Mutua Madrileñapu

Evaluation of Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Exposed In Vitro to Neonicotinoid Insecticides News

Calypso (thiacloprid), Poncho (clothianidin), Gaucho (imidacloprid), and Jade (imidacloprid) are commercial neonicotinoid insecticides, a new class of agrochemicals in México. However, genotoxic and cytotoxic studies have not been performed. In the present study, human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were exposed in vitro to different concentrations of the four insecticides. The genotoxic and cytotoxic effects were evaluated using the alkaline comet and trypan blue dye exclusion assays. DNA damage was evaluated using two genotoxicity parameters: tail length and comet frequency. Exposure to 9.5 × 10−6 to 5.7 × 10−5 M Jade; 2.8 × 10−4 to 1.7 × 10−3 M Gaucho; 0.6 × 10−1 to 1.4 × 10−1 M Calypso; 1.2 × 10−1 to 9.5 × 10−1 M Poncho for 2 h induced a significant increase DNA damage with a concentration-dependent relationship. Jade was the most genotoxic of the four insecticides studied. Cytotoxicity was observed in cells exposed to 18 × 10−3 M Jade, 2.0 × 10−3 M Gaucho, 2.0 × 10−1 M Calypso, 1.07 M Poncho, and cell death occurred at 30 × 10−3 M Jade, 3.3 × 10−3 M Gaucho, 2.8 × 10−1 M Calypso, and 1.42 M Poncho. This study provides the first report of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in PBL following in vitro exposure to commercial neonicotinoid insecticides

A mixture of algae and extra virgin olive oils attenuates the cardiometabolic alterations associated with aging in male wistar rats

Aging is one of the major risk factors for suffering cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Due to the increase in life expectancy, there is a strong interest in the search for anti-aging strategies to treat and prevent these aging-induced disorders. Both omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) exert numerous metabolic and cardiovascular benefits in the elderly. In addition, EVOO constitutes an interesting ingredient to stabilize ω-3 PUFA and decrease their oxidation process due to its high content in antioxidant compounds. ω-3 PUFA are commonly obtained from fish. However, more ecological and sustainable sources, such as algae oil (AO) can also be used. In this study, we aimed to study the possible beneficial effect of an oil mixture composed by EVOO (75%) and AO (25%) rich in ω-3 PUFA (35% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 20% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) on the cardiometabolic alterations associated with aging. For this purpose; young (three months old) and old (24 months old) male Wistar rats were treated with vehicle or with the oil mixture (2.5 mL/kg) for 21 days. Treatment with the oil mixture prevented the aging-induced increase in the serum levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and the aging-induced decrease in the serum concentrations of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Old treated rats showed increased serum concentrations of EPA and DHA and decreased HOMA-IR index and circulating levels of total cholesterol, insulin and IL-6. Treatment with the oil mixture increased the mRNA levels of antioxidant and insulin sensitivity-related enzymes, as well as reduced the gene expression of pro-inflammatory markers in the liver and in cardiac and aortic tissues. In addition, the treatment also prevented the aging-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular insulin resistance through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Moreover, aortic rings from old rats treated with the oil mixture showed a decreased response to the vasoconstrictor AngII. In conclusion, treatment with a mixture of EVOO and AO improves the lipid profile, insulin sensitivity and vascular function in aged rats and decreases aging-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver, and in the cardiovascular system. Thus, it could be an interesting strategy to deal with cardiometabolic alterations associated with aging.This project was funded by the call “Doctorados Industriales 2017” (IND2017/BIO7701), a grant from Community of Madrid (Spain). This program aims to promote the effective collaboration between Universities and Companies and provides funding for the development of the research project at the University and, to hire a PhD student (Daniel González-Hedström) by the Company (Pharmactive Biotech Products S.L.) over a three-year period. Community of Madrid also funded the contract of María de la Fuente-Fernández through the Youth Employment Program (PEJ-2018-AI/SAL-11315

Metodología para el trabajo con géneros discursivos académicos

Este libro está destinado en primer lugar, a profesores, para que puedan aplicar las guías expuestas o elaborar otras similares con el mismo propósito; también a investigadores, en virtud de la «doble naturaleza» del discurso académico, por cuanto concierne a textos que responden a una situación comunicativa específica cuyos rasgos son, precisamente, el reflejo de los recursos expresivos que se pretenden enseñar mediante la práctica universitaria (Jiménez Calderón, 2015); y por último, a los estudiantes universitarios, que encontrarán en las guías expuestas una orientación muy específica para la elaboración de los géneros discursivos académicos a los que se refieren. INDICE: • Introducción: metodología para el trabajo con géneros discursivos académicos • Guía para la elaboración de abstracts • Guía para desenmarañar el comentario de textos lingüísticos • Pautas para el uso del aprendizaje colaborativo en una asignatura de lingüística • El comentario filológico de textos históricos • Elaboración de trabajos monográficos de primer curso • Guía para la elaboración de reseñas • Guía ortotipográfica para la presentación de trabajos de géneros académicos redactados en lengua francesa • Guía para la elaboración de trabajos académicos en el ámbito de la filología clásica • Guía para la elaboración de comentarios de textos poéticos en el área de literatura española • Guía para la elaboración de comentarios de textos narrativos en el área de literatura española • Guía para la elaboración de comentarios de textos literarios (dramática) • Guía para la elaboración de comentarios de textos literarios (ensayística) • El delicado asunto de las exposiciones orales… consejos de un neófito en la materia a un aprendiz de orador • Guía para la elaboración de comentarios de obras de historia del arte • Guía para la elaboración de trabajos monográficos en el área de historia del arte (nivel de grado) • Guía para la elaboración de trabajos prácticos en la fase inicial del grado en geografía y ordenación del territorio: «técnicas geográficas para el análisis territorial»This book is primarily intended for teachers, so that they can apply the guidelines or develop similar ones for the same purpose; Also to researchers, by virtue of the "double nature" of academic discourse, insofar as it concerns texts that respond to a specific communicative situation whose features are precisely the reflection of the expressive resources that are intended to be taught through university practice (Jiménez Calderón, 2015); And finally, to the university students, who will find in the guides exposed a very specific orientation for the elaboration of the academic discursive genres to which they refer

Olive Leaf Extract Supplementation to Old Wistar Rats Attenuates Aging-Induced Sarcopenia and Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle

Aging is associated with increased visceral adiposity and a decrease in the amount of brown adipose tissue and muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, which results in the development of metabolic alterations such as insulin resistance. In this study, we aimed to analyze whether 3-week supplementation with a phenolic-rich olive leaf extract (OLE) to 24 months-old male Wistar rats orally (100 mg/kg) attenuated the aging-induced alterations in body composition and insulin resistance. OLE treatment increased brown adipose tissue and attenuated the aging-induced decrease in protein content and gastrocnemius weight. Treatment with OLE prevented the aging-induced increase in the expression of PPAR-γ in visceral and brown adipose tissues, while it significantly increased the expression of PPAR-α in the gastrocnemius of old rats and reduced various markers related to sarcopenia such as myostatin, HDAC-4, myogenin and MyoD. OLE supplementation increased insulin sensitivity in explants of gastrocnemius and epididymal visceral adipose tissue from aged rats through a greater activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, probably through the attenuation of inflammation in both tissues. In conclusion, supplementation with OLE prevents the loss of muscle mass associated with aging and exerts anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle

Addition of Olive Leaf Extract to a Mixture of Algae and Extra Virgin Olive Oils Decreases Fatty Acid Oxidation and Synergically Attenuates Age-Induced Hypertension, Sarcopenia and Insulin Resistance in Rats

Olive-derived products, such as virgin olive oil (EVOO) and/or olive leaf extracts (OLE), exert anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing and antihypertensive properties and may be useful for stabilizing omega 3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) due to their high content in antioxidant compounds. In this study, the addition of OLE 4:0.15 (w/w) to a mixture of algae oil (AO) rich in n-3 PUFA and EVOO (25:75, w/w) prevents peroxides formation after 12 months of storage at 30 °C. Furthermore, the treatment with the oil mixture (2.5 mL/Kg) and OLE (100 mg/Kg) to 24 month old Wistar rats for 21 days improved the lipid profile, increased the HOMA-IR and decreased the serum levels of miRNAs 21 and 146a. Treatment with this new nutraceutical also prevented age-induced insulin resistance in the liver, gastrocnemius and visceral adipose tissue by decreasing the mRNA levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Oil mixture + OLE also attenuated the age-induced alterations in vascular function and prevented muscle loss by decreasing the expression of sarcopenia-related markers. In conclusion, treatment with a new nutraceutical based on a mixture of EVOO, AO and OLE is a useful strategy for improving the stability of n-3 PUFA in the final product and to attenuate the cardiometabolic and muscular disorders associated with aging

Uso de Twitter y la gamificación para fomentar el análisis crítico del conocimiento científico y las vías para su comunicación en estudiantes del Grado de Medicina

El objetivo del proyecto de innovación docente que se presenta fue mejorar la capacidad de análisis crítico del conocimiento científico en el alumnado del Grado de Medicina a través del uso de Twitter. Los estudiantes de la asignatura de Fisiología Humana compartieron a través de Twitter noticias científicas relacionadas con la asignatura. Tras una selección previa, el profesorado publicó un periódico online y los alumnos presentaron una de las noticias publicadas. Se realizó una encuesta online de evaluación del proyecto utilizando escalas de Likert (1-10). Los estudiantes respondieron que el proyecto había aumentado su capacidad de análisis crítico de la investigación biomédica (7,65; ds=1,71) y que la metodología había aumentado su interés por la asignatura (8,05; ds=1,69). La utilización de Twitter combinada con la exposición de noticias científicas resultó útil para mejorar la capacidad de análisis crítico de la evidencia científica biomédica, competencia básica del Grado de Medicina