Abacavir/Lamivudine Versus Tenofovir/Emtricitabine in Virologically Suppressed Patients Switching from Ritonavir-Boosted Protease Inhibitors to Raltegravir

There are few clinical data on the combination abacavir/lamivudine plus raltegravir. We compared the outcomes of patients from the SPIRAL trial receiving either abacavir/lamivudine or tenofovir/emtricitabine at baseline who had taken at least one dose of either raltegravir or ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors. For the purpose of this analysis, treatment failure was defined as virological failure (confirmed HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/ml) or discontinuation of abacavir/lamivudine or tenofovir/emtricitabine because of adverse events, consent withdrawal, or lost to follow-up. There were 143 (72.59%) patients with tenofovir/emtricitabine and 54 (27.41%) with abacavir/lamivudine. In the raltegravir group, there were three (11.11%) treatment failures with abacavir/lamivudine and eight (10.96%) with tenofovir/emtricitabine (estimated difference 0.15%; 95% CI -17.90 to 11.6). In the ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor group, there were four (14.81%) treatment failures with abacavir/lamivudine and 12 (17.14%) with tenofovir/emtricitabine (estimated difference -2.33%; 95% CI -16.10 to 16.70). Triglycerides decreased and HDL cholesterol increased through the study more pronouncedly with abacavir/lamivudine than with tenofovir/emtricitabine and differences in the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio between both combinations of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) tended to be higher in the raltegravir group, although differences at 48 weeks were not significant. While no patient discontinued abacavir/lamivudine due to adverse events, four (2.80%) patients (all in the ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor group) discontinued tenofovir/emtricitabine because of adverse events (p=0.2744). The results of this analysis do not suggest that outcomes of abacavir/lamivudine are worse than those of tenofovir/emtricitabine when combined with raltegravir in virologically suppressed HIV-infected adults

Cognitive processes associated with the professional development of the mathematics teacher

This paper proposes a model of professional development based on Sfard’s stages of interiorisation, condensation and reification, which highlights the teacher’s cognitive processes. The model is applied to the case study of a primary teacher participating in a collaborative project for professional development. This adaptation of Sfard’s stages proves to be of special value when interpreting the process of the teacher’s professional development from a cognitive perspective. Procesos cognitivos asociados al desarrollo profesional del profesor de matemáticas Este artículo propone un modelo de desarrollo profesional que pone de relieve los procesos cognitivos del profesor, en relación con las fases de interiorización, condensación y cosificación del trabajo de Sfard. El modelo se aplica al caso de una maestra que participa en un proyecto colaborativo de desarrollo profesional. La adaptación de las fases de Sfard se muestra valiosa para interpretar el proceso de desarrollo profesional de la maestra desde una perspectiva cognitiva. Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10481/3509Nº de citas en WOS (2017): 1 (Citas de 2º orden, 0)Nº de citas en SCOPUS (2017); 1 (Citas de 2º orden, 1

Un modelo cognitivo para interpretar el desarrollo profesional de los profesores de matemáticas. Ejemplificación en un entorno colaborativo

A partir del trabajo de Sfard en relación con las fases de interiorización, condensación y cosificación para explicar los procesos cognitivos referidos al aprendizaje de las matemáticas, realizamos una propuesta de modelo interpretativo del desarrollo profesional. A continuación, analizamos sus características aplicándolo al caso de una maestra participante en un entorno colaborativo de desarrollo profesional, evidenciando de este modo las potencialidades del modelo.Based on Sfard's stages of interiorisation, condensation and reification, which she applies to explain the cognitive processes in relation to the mathematical learning, we propose an interpretative model of professional development. We analyse its features and then the model is applied to the case study of a primary teacher participating in a collaborative project for professional development. This way we show the model's potentialities

What knowledge and conceptions mobilize future teachers analyzing a classroom video?

El uso del vídeo de sesiones de clase de Educación Primaria (EP) en la formación inicial del maestro aporta realismo a las discusiones teóricas de las aulas de magisterio, contribuyendo a la vinculación entre la teoría y la práctica sobre la base de procesos reflexivos que ayudan a trascender los habituales comentarios genéricos de los estudiantes para maestro (EPM). El objetivo de este estudio es identificar las concepciones sobre la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de las matemáticas así como el conocimiento matemático para la enseñanza (particularmente el conocimiento de matemáticas y la enseñanza y el conocimiento de matemáticas y los estudiantes) que un grupo de EPM pone en juego cuando observa un vídeo de EP. Mediante un diseño de investigación consistente con un experimento de enseñanza (Steffe y Thompson, 2000) (en el que un diseño instruccional, orientado a los EPM, acerca de la introducción del concepto de división, se va refinando a través de sucesivos ciclos de implementación y análisis), se pone de relieve cómo el análisis de situaciones de enseñanza en EP promueve el cuestionamiento de los EPM.The use of the Primary Education (PE) class sessions video in the initial training of teachers provides realism to the theoretical discussions of Master’s degree classrooms, contributing to the link between theory and practice on the basis of reflective processes that help to transcend the normal general comments of teacher students (TS). The objective of this study is to identify the conceptions for the teaching and learning of mathematics, as well as the mathematical knowledge for teaching (particularly the knowledge of mathematics and the teaching and knowledge of mathematics and students) that a group of TS use when observing a PE video. Using a research design consistent with a teaching experiment (Steffe and Thompson, 2000) (in which an instructional design, aimed at TS, regarding the introduction of the concept of division, is refined by means of successive cycles of implementation and analysis), the way the analysis of teaching situations in PE promotes the questioning of TS is highlighted.O uso de vídeos de sessões de aula de Educação Primária (EP) na formação inicial do professor oferece realismo às discussões teóricas sobre as aulas de magistério, contribuindo para a vinculação entre a teoria e a prática sobre a base de processos reflexivos que ajudam a transcender os habituais comentários genéricos dos estudantes para professores (EPM). O objetivo deste estudo é identificar as concepções sobre o ensino e a aprendizagem da matemática, assim como o conhecimento matemático para o ensino (particularmente o conhecimento de matemática e o ensino e o conhecimento de matemática e dos estudantes) que um grupo de EPM põe em jogo quando observa a um vídeo de EP. Através de uma criação de pesquisa consistente com um experimento de ensino (Steffe e Thompson, 2000), destaca-se como a análise de situações de ensino em EP promove o questionamento dos EPM.L’utilisation de la vidéo pour une classe d’élèves en école primaire (EP) durant la formation des futurs instituteurs confère un certain réalisme aux discussions théoriques qui ont lieu dans les cours de formation des instituteurs (l’équivalent en France des IUFM) en contribuant à la création de liens entre théorie et pratique basés sur des processus réflexifs qui permettent aux étudiants d’aller au-delà des habituels commentaires généraux. L’objectif de la présente étude consiste à identifier les conceptions sur l’enseignement et l’apprentissage des mathématiques ainsi qu’à s’interroger sur la connaissance mathématique pour l’enseignement (en particulier, la connaissance des mathématiques et l’enseignement des mathématiques et les étudiants) qu’un groupe de futurs instituteurs utilise lorsqu’il observe une vidéo conçue pour l’école primaire. Grâce à un travail de recherche qui va de pair avec une expérience sur l’enseignement (Steffe et Thompson, 2000) (dans lequel un travail propre à l’enseignement conçu pour les futurs instituteurs portant sur l’introduction du concept de division s’affine de plus en plus au fur et à mesure que des cycles successifs de mises en oeuvre et d’analyse sont utilisés), on montre comment l’analyse de situations en école primaire suscite le questionnement des futurs instituteurs

Landscape restoration in a mixed agricultural-forest catchment: planning a buffer strip and hedgerow network in a Chilean biodiversity hotspot

Guidance for large-scale restoration of natural or semi-natural linear vegetation elements that takes into account the need to maintain human livelihoods such as farming is often lacking. Focusing on a Chilean biodiversity hotspot, we assessed the landscape in terms of existing woody vegetation elements and proposed a buffer strip and hedgerow network. We used spatial analysis based on Google Earth imagery and QGIS, field surveys, seven guidelines linked to prioritization criteria and seedling availability in the region’s nurseries, and estimated the budget for implementing the proposed network. The target landscapes require restoring 0.89 ha km−2 of woody buffer strips to meet Chilean law; 1.4 ha km−2 of new hedgerows is also proposed. The cost of restoration in this landscape is estimated in ca. USD 6900 per planted ha of buffer strips and hedgerows. Financial incentives, education, and professional training of farmers are identified as key issues to implement the suggested restoration actions

A Modular Mobile Robotic Platform to Assist People with Different Degrees of Disability

Robotics to support elderly people in living independently and to assist disabled people in carrying out the activities of daily living independently have demonstrated good results. Basically, there are two approaches: one of them is based on mobile robot assistants, such as Care-O-bot, PR2, and Tiago, among others; the other one is the use of an external robotic arm or a robotic exoskeleton fixed or mounted on a wheelchair. In this paper, a modular mobile robotic platform to assist moderately and severely impaired people based on an upper limb robotic exoskeleton mounted on a robotized wheel chair is presented. This mobile robotic platform can be customized for each user’s needs by exploiting its modularity. Finally, experimental results in a simulated home environment with a living room and a kitchen area, in order to simulate the interaction of the user with different elements of a home, are presented. In this experiment, a subject suffering from multiple sclerosis performed different activities of daily living (ADLs) using the platform in front of a group of clinicians composed of nurses, doctors, and occupational therapists. After that, the subject and the clinicians replied to a usability questionnaire. The results were quite good, but two key factors arose that need to be improved: the complexity and the cumbersome aspect of the platform.This work was supported by the AIDE project through Grant Agreement No. 645322 of the European Commission, by the Conselleria d’Educacio, Cultura i Esport of Generalitat Valenciana, by the European Social Fund—Investing in your future, through the grant ACIF 2018/214, and by the Promoción de empleo joven e implantación de garantía juvenil en I+D+I 2018 through the grant PEJ2018-002670-A

Determinants of HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity after Virgin Olive Oil Ingestion: Interrelationships with Fluidity of HDL Monolayer

Scope: Cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL (CEC) is inversely associated with cardiovascular risk. HDL composition, fluidity, oxidation, and size are related with CEC. We aimed to assess which HDL parameters were CEC determinants after virgin olive oil (VOO) ingestion. Methods and results: Post‐hoc analyses from the VOHF study, a crossover intervention with three types of VOO. We assessed the relationship of 3‐week changes in HDL‐related variables after intervention periods with independence of the type of VOO. After univariate analyses, mixed linear models were fitted with variables related with CEC and fluidity. Fluidity and Apolipoprotein (Apo)A‐I content in HDL was directly associated, and HDL oxidative status inversely, with CEC. A reduction in free cholesterol, an increase in triglycerides in HDL, and a decrease in small HDL particle number or an increase in HDL mean size, were associated to HDL fluidity. Conclusions: HDL fluidity, ApoA‐I concentration, and oxidative status are major determinants for CEC after VOO. The impact on CEC of changes in free cholesterol and triglycerides in HDL, and those of small HDL or HDL mean size, could be mechanistically linked through HDL fluidity. Our work points out novel therapeutic targets to improve HDL functionality in humans through nutritional or pharmacological interventions.Fil: Fernández Castillejo, Sara. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; EspañaFil: Rubió, Laura. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; España. Universidad de Lleida; EspañaFil: Hernáez, Álvaro. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición; EspañaFil: Catalán, Úrsula. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; EspañaFil: Pedret, Anna. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; EspañaFil: Valls, Rosa M.. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; EspañaFil: Mosse, Juana Inés. Universidad de Lleida; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Covas, Maria Isabel. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición; EspañaFil: Remaley, Alan T.. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Castañer, Olga. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición; EspañaFil: Motilva, Maria José. Universidad de Lleida; EspañaFil: Solá, Rosa. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; Españ

Study of caveolin-1 gene expression in whole adipose tissue and its subfractions and during differentiation of human adipocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Context</p> <p>Caveolins are 21-24 kDa integral membrane proteins that serve as scaffolds to recruit numerous signaling molecules. Specific subclasses of caveolae carry out specific functions in cell metabolism. In particular, triglycerides are synthesized at the site of fatty acid entry in one of these caveolae classes.</p> <p>Objective and Methods</p> <p>We studied the expression of caveolin-1 (<it>CAV-1</it>) gene in association with metabolic variables in 90 visceral and 55 subcutaneous adipose tissue samples from subjects with a wide range of fat mass, in the stromovascular fraction (SVC) and isolated adipocytes, and during differentiation of human adipocytes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>CAV-1 </it>gene expression was significantly decreased in visceral adipose tissue (v-<it>CAV-1</it>) of obese subjects. v-<it>CAV-1 </it>was positively associated with several lipogenic genes such as acetyl-coA carboxylase (<it>ACACA</it>, r = 0.34, p = 0.004) and <it>spot-14 </it>(r = 0.33, p = 0.004). In non-obese subjects v-<it>CAV-1 </it>also correlated with fatty acid synthase (<it>FAS</it>, r = 0.60, p < 0.0001). Subcutaneous (sc) adipose tissue (s<it>c-CAV-1</it>) gene expression was not associated with these lipogenic factors when obese and non-obese subjects were studied together. In obese subjects, however, sc-<it>CAV-1 </it>was associated with fatty acid synthase (<it>FAS</it>, r = 0.36, p = 0.02), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (<it>SREBP-1c </it>(r = 0.58, p < 0.0001), <it>ACACA </it>(r = 0.33, p = 0.03), <it>spot-14 </it>(r = 0.36, p = 0.02), <it>PPAR-γ co-activator-1 </it>(<it>PGC-1</it>, r = 0.88, n = 19). In these obese subjects, <it>sc-CAV-1 </it>was also associated with fasting triglycerides (r = -0.50, p < 0.0001).</p> <p><it>CAV-1 </it>expression in mature adipocytes was significantly higher than in stromal vascular cells. <it>CAV-1 </it>gene expression in adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue (but not in adipocytes from visceral adipose tissue) was significatively associated with fasting triglycerides. <it>CAV-1 </it>gene expression did not change significantly during differentiation of human preadipocytes from lean or obese subjects despite significant increase of FAS gene expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Decreased <it>CAV-1 </it>gene expression was simultaneously linked to increased triglycerides and decreased lipogenic gene expression among obese subjects, paralleling the observations of hypertriglyceridemia in <it>CAV-1 </it>knockout mice. However, the regulation of <it>CAV-1 </it>gene expression seems independent of the adipogenic program.</p

Comparison between artificial neural networks and Hermia's models to assess ultrafiltration performance

In this work, flux decline during crossflow ultrafiltration of macromolecules with ceramic membranes has been modeled using artificial neural networks. The artificial neural network tested was the multilayer perceptron. Operating parameters (transmembrane pressure, crossflow velocity and time) and dynamic fouling were used as inputs to predict the permeate flux. Several pretreatments of the experimental data and the optimal selection of the parameters of the neural networks were studied to improve the fitting accuracy. The fitting accuracy obtained with artificial neural networks was compared with Hermia pore blocking models adapted to crossflow ultrafiltration. The artificial neural networks generate simulations whose performance was comparable to that of Hermia's models adapted to crossflow ultrafiltration. Considering the computational speed, high accuracy and the ease of the artificial neural networks methodology, they are a competitive, powerful and fast alternative for dynamic crossflow ultrafiltration modeling.The Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (Project OPTIMEM CTM2010-20248) is kindly acknowledged.Corbatón Báguena, MJ.; Vincent Vela, MC.; Gozálvez-Zafrilla, JM.; Alvarez Blanco, S.; Lora-García, J.; Catalán Martínez, D. (2016). Comparison between artificial neural networks and Hermia's models to assess ultrafiltration performance. Separation and Purification Technology. 170:434-444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2016.07.007S43444417

The role of the oxide shell in the chemical functionalization of plasmonic gallium nanoparticles

S. Catalán-Gómez, M. Briones, A. Redondo-Cubero, F. J. Palomares, F. Nucciarelli, E. Lorenzo, J. L. Pau, "The role of the oxide shell in the chemical functionalization of plasmonic gallium nanoparticles", SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics Proc. SPIE 10231 (16 May 2017); doi: 10.1117/12.2265665; Copyright 2017 Society of Photo‑Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.Plasmonic Ga nanoparticles (NPs) were thermally oxidized at low temperature in order to increase the native Ga 2 O 3 shell thickness and to improve their stability during the chemical functionalization. The optical, structural and chemical properties of the oxidized NPs have been studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry, scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A clear redshift of the peak wavelength is observed with the increasing annealing time due to the Ga 2 O 3 thickness increase, and barely affecting the intensity of the plasmon resonance. This oxide layer enhances the stability of the NPs upon immersion in ethanol or water. The surface sensitivity properties of the as-grown and oxidized NPs were investigated by linking a thiol group from 6-Mercapto-1-hexanol through immersion. Ellipsometric spectra at the reversal polarization handedness (RPH) condition are in agreement with the Langmuir absorption model, indicating the formation of a thiol monolayer on the NPs