Taurocholate transport by brush border membrane vesicles from different regions of chicken intestine

Taurocholate transport was studied in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from chicken small (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) and large (proximal cecum and rectum) intestines, using a rapid filtration technique. The purity of the BBMV was verified by the finding that the specific activity of sucrase (a brush border membrane enzyme marker) was severalfold greater in vesicles than corresponding values in mucosal homogenate. The functional integrity of isolated BBMV was evaluated by the uptake of D-glucose, which showed a transient increase in the presence of Na+. A Na+-dependence of taurocholate uptake was shown in BBMV prepared from ileum, cecum, and rectum, as taurocholate transport was transiently increased (accumulation) in the presence of a Na+ gradient between the external medium and intravesicular medium. The magnitude of the accumulation was similar among ileum, cecum, and rectum. In contrast, BBMV prepared from duodenum and jejunum did not show any Na+-dependent taurocholate transport, as the taurocholate uptake was not affected when a Na+ gradient was replaced by a K+ gradient. The use of taurochenodeoxycholate in the incubation medium inhibited Na+-dependent taurocholate transport in the ileum, cecum, and rectum. This study is the first to show the presence of a Na+-dependent bile salt transport in BBMV obtained from chicken ileum, proximal cecum, and rectum

SIG aplicado a la evaluación de vulnerabilidad por inundación en la ciudad de Tixtla, Guerrero. México

Afrontar los efectos de desastres naturales representa altos costos sociales y económicos, a menudo los segmentos más pobres de la población sufren los impactos más severos; sin embargo la experiencia muestra que los efectos pueden reducirse; ya que los riesgos naturales pueden identificarse, son manejables, existen medios de mitigación y los beneficios de reducir la vulnerabilidad pueden ser mayores que los costos de los efectos. Hoy se intenta mitigar los riesgos naturales mediante estudios de planificación, los cuales requieren de conocimiento e información (mapas, documentos, estadísticas, levantamientos, etc.); en tal cantidad, que se requiere de las Tecnologías de Información Geográfica (TIG) para la recolección, manejo y análisis espaciotemporal de características, infraestructura y aspectos sociales relativos a zonas vulnerables. En particular los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) integran operaciones de gestión de bases de datos con gran potencial de análisis de información, con capacidad para visualizar información espacial como un elemento importante para comunicar, difundir e intercambiar conocimiento y proporcionan una plataforma base para interpretar cómo factores físicos, sociales y económicos interactúan en un contexto espacial. La localidad de Tixtla ha crecido sin control en los últimos años, lo cual ha generado una fuerte presión por ocupar el espacio aluvial de la laguna con la cual colinda. Esto aunado a periodos de lluvias extraordinarios como los ocurridos en 2007 y 2013; han generado situaciones de riesgo en la población de la zona, resultando imperante contar con información veraz y oportuna sobre datos y hechos que vinculados al espacio, permitan evaluar la situación de vulnerabilidad de la sociedad. La investigación consiste en la aplicación de TIG’s para integrar información espacialmente referenciada que permita la construcción de mapas de vulnerabilidad a través del diseño de indicadores propios que involucren variables sociales. Los resultados son una serie de mapas que representan diferentes grados de vulnerabilidad que permiten evaluar el riesgo para la población de la zona y que puedan servir como soporte en el establecimiento de planes de atención, mitigación o prevención. Se concluye que en zonas con índices de mayor magnitud, existe alta concentración de población de bajos recursos, con discapacidad, adultos mayores o menores de 5 años; de modo que los mapas pueden apoyar a instituciones de salvaguarda, dando prioridad a la atención de ciertas zonas. Estudios como este pueden complementarse con definición de rutas de evacuación, posibles centros de atención o albergues. Todo esto, centrados en el conocimiento del territorio a través de la aplicación de las TIG’s

Usage of Computer Media among the Students of Pedagogy (University of La Laguna)

El objetivo es conocer el perfil del estudiante de nuevo ingreso del Grado de Pedagogía (Universidad de La Laguna), así como sus conocimientos, usos y actitudes hacia el medio informático. Permitirá establecer objetivos reales en la metodología docente de la asignatura de Iniciación a la Economía de la Educación. Se cumplimentaron 272 cuestionarios. Se aplicó un análisis multivariante ALSCAL para determinar el grado de similitud entre el perfil del estudiante y el uso del ordenador. Un resultado destacado es el que asocia formación informática con diversificación del uso del ordenadorThe present work aims to know the students, in first year of the Degree of Pedagogy (University of La Laguna), knowledge profile, practices and attitudes toward computer media. This will allow to establish realistic teaching methodology in the course Introduction to Economics of Education. 272 questionnaires were completed. We applied an ALSCAL multivariate analysis in order to determine the degree of similarity between student profile and computer usage. A remarkable result is that student computing training is associated with a diversified usage of computers

Corporate social responsibility and stakeholders: a cluster analysis

Texto dispoñible en galego e españolNos últimos anos o sector empresarial veu realizando un crecente esforzo no desenvolvemento de políticas de “responsabilidade social empresarial” (RSE). Este comportamento susténtase na expectativa de que estas políticas melloran as relacións cos stakeholders –ou grupos de interese– e a reputación empresarial. Neste traballo dimensiónase a RSE utilizando o enfoque dos grupos de interese e aplicando unha análise clúster a unha mostra de empresas galegas. Como resultado identificamos catro segmentos de empresas que, unha vez caracterizados, proporcionan diversos modelos de resposta e implantación da RSEEn los últimos años el sector empresarial ha venido realizando un creciente esfuerzo en el desarrollo de políticas de “responsabilidad social empresarial” (RSE). Este comportamiento se sustenta en la expectativa de que estas políticas mejoran las relaciones con los stakeholders –o grupos de interés– y la reputación empresarial. En este trabajo se dimensiona la RSE utilizando el enfoque de los grupos de interés y aplicando un análisis clúster a una muestra de empresas gallegas. Como resultado identificamos cuatro segmentos de empresas que, una vez caracterizados, proporcionan diversos modelos de respuesta e implantación de la RSEIn the last years the business sector has come developing an increasing effort in the development of Corporate Social Responsibility activities. This behavior is sustained in the expectations of these improve the relationships with stakeholders and business reputation. This research measure the CSR using stakeholders approach and a cluster analysis is applied on a sample of galician companies. The obtained result is the identification of four segments of companies that provide different models for CSR implementation managementS

Individual test-retest reliability of evoked and induced alpha activity in human EEG data

Diverse psychological mechanisms have been associated with modulations of different EEG frequencies. To the extent of our knowledge, there are few studies of the test-retest reliability of these modulations in the human brain. To assess evoked and induced alpha reliabilities related to cognitive processing, EEG data from twenty subjects were recorded in 58 derivations in two different sessions separated by 49.5 +/- 48.9 (mean +/- standard deviation) days. A visual oddball was selected as the cognitive task, and three main parameters were analyzed for evoked and induced alpha modulations (latency, amplitude and topography). Latency and amplitude for evoked and induced modulations showed stable behavior between the two sessions. The correlation between sessions for alpha evoked and induced topographies in the grand average (group level) was r = 0.923, p<0.001; r = 0.962, p<0.001, respectively. The within-subject correlation values for evoked modulation ranged from 0.472 to 0.974 (mean: 0.766), whereas induced activity showed a different range, 0.193 to 0.892 (mean: 0.655). Individual analysis of the test-retest reliability showed a higher heterogeneity in the induced modulation, probably due to the heterogeneous phases found in the second case. However, despite this heterogeneity in phase values for induced activity relative to the onset of the stimuli, an excellent correlation score was obtained for group topography, with values that were better than those of the grand average evoked topography. As a main conclusion, induced alpha activity can be observed as a stable and reproducible response in the cognitive processing of the human brain

Planning a master's level curriculum according to career space recommendations using concept mapping techniques

Nowadays the European Universities are worried about how to adapt higher education to the new European Higher Education Area, as proposed in the Bologna Magna Charta Universitatum of 1998, and signed by 32 European Education Ministers. One of the key points in this higher education reform was the introduction of new Master’s level curricula. These Masters will look for the professional specialization and they will have to be adapted to the specific skills demanded by the society. This paper presents the results from a cooperation project – funded by the AECI (International Cooperation Spanish Agency) and developed between the University of Seville (Spain) and the Catholic University of Asuncion (Paraguay) – by about the planning of a new master’s level curriculum in digital signal processing (DSP) area, taking into account the Bologna principles and the conclusions obtained by the Career Space Consortium. A scientific method from social science, known as concept mapping techniques, was used to perform this planning. Basically, the idea of concept mapping consists of compiling the opinion from actors belonging to different environments (lecturers, researchers, workers, businessmen, etc.) related to DSP applications. The compiled data were statistically computed to cluster the opinions of the different agents. The result will be a master’s level curricula adapted to the environment requirements and the social setting

Canary Economic relations with Latin America (2000-2011)

En este artículo se revisan las relaciones económicas entre las Islas Canarias y Latinoamérica en el período 2000-2011. Después de un breve repaso de la literatura sobre la internacionalización de las empresas, se analizan las relaciones comerciales, de servicios y los flujos de inversiones directas en el extranjero. La conclusión es que apenas existen relaciones comerciales y de servicios y solamente unos débiles flujos de capital para inversiones directas.This article reviews the economic relations between the Canary Islands and Latin America in the period 2000-2011. After a brief review of the literature on the internationalization of companies we analyzed trade and service relations, and flows of foreign direct investment. The conclusion is that there is little trade and services relations and only weak flows of capital for direct investments Key words: economic relations, trade, service relations, foreign direct investement

Correlation between clinical and pathologic diagnosis in oral leukoplakia in 54 patients

The main aim of this study was to establish a correlation between the clinical and pathologic diagnosis of oral leukoplakia with a particular focus on epithelial dysplasia. We reviewed the medical records of 54 patients with a clinical and histologic diagnosis of oral leukoplakia who were seen at our center between 2002 and 2008. We found that the disease was more common in men (59.3%) than in women and we also detected a significantly greater prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption in men. The mean age of the patients was 62.57 years. Three patients had been histologically diagnosed with invasive cancer and 4 with carcinoma in situ. The most common lesion site for leukoplakias with severe dysplasia and invasive carcinoma was the lateral aspect of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the gums. It is therefore essential to include these sites in the clinical examination to aid early diagnosis. A higher degree of dysplasia should be suspected in non-homogeneous leukoplakias. While dysplasia is associated with a greater risk of malignant transformation, it is also important to monitor leukoplakias without dysplastic features as they can occasionally be the site of carcinoma

Histopathological findings in oral lichen planus and their correlation with the clinical manifestations

Objectives: To highlight the most characteristic histopathological findings of oral lichen planus and their correlation with the clinical manifestations and forms. Study design: We performed a retrospective study of 50 biopsied and diagnosed cases of oral lichen planus obtained over a period of 11 years, spanning from May 1998 to April 2009. We analyzed the age and sex of the patient, type of lichen planus, location and different histopathological findings, comparing them with the clinical lesions. Results: Seventy eight percent of the patients are female and 22% are male, with an average age of 56.06 years for both sexes. The most frequent clinical form is reticular, present in 78% of the cases, and the most common location is the buccal mucosa, present in 70% of the patients. Hydropic degeneration of the basal layer and lymphocytic infiltration in the subepithelial layer are observed in the entire sample. Signs of atypia were identified in 4% of the cases, but without dysplasic features. Other common histological findings were the presence of necrotic keratinocytes (92%), hyperplasia (54%), hyperkeratosis (66%), acanthosis (48%), and less frequently, serrated ridges (30%) and the presence plasma cells (26%) Conclusions: Oral lichen planus is a disease that is more common in women, usually appearing in the fifth and sixth decades of life. The most common clinical form is reticular, manifesting mainly in the buccal mucosa. Histological findings characteristic of oral lichen planus include hydropic degeneration of the basal layer, lymphocytic infiltration in the subepithelial layer and the absence of epithelial dysplasia; however, it is also frequent to observe hyperplasia phenomena at the epithelial level, hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and the presence of necrotic keratinocytes. © Medicina Oral