Unveiling the structure of the planetary nebula M 2-48: Kinematics and physical conditions

The kinematics and physical conditions of the bipolar planetary nebula M 2-48 are analysed from high and low dispersion long-slit spectra. Previous CCD narrow-band optical observations have suggested that this nebula is mainly formed by a pair of symmetric bow-shocks, an off-center semi-circular shell, and an internal bipolar structure. The bipolar outflow has a complex structure, characterised by a series of shocked regions located between the bright core and the polar tips. There is an apparent kinematic discontinuity between the bright bipolar core and the outer regions. The fragmented ring around the bright bipolar region presents a low expansion velocity and could be associated to ejection in the AGB-PN transition phase, although its nature remains unclear. The chemical abundances of the central region are derived, showing that M 2-48 is a Type I planetary nebula (PN)

Economic Impact of Quinoa Consumption in the Diet of University Students Case: ESPOCH Agroindustry Career

Quinoa is an ancestral plant, originally cultivated in the Andes. It is a product with exceptional nutritional value and it has been important in the socio-economic evolution of the Andean population. Food is considered a natural, ecological and economic product. Since quinoa has the same amount of protein as meat, it can complement people’s daily food at a very low cost. The objective of this work was to carry out market research to determine the knowledge of university students about the protein value of quinoa in their diet and its purchasing power. The design was semi-experimental and descriptive. The study population was students of the Agroindustry degree of the Faculty of Livestock Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Data were collected through a questionnaire, which contained ten open and closed questions. 192 people were surveyed. Data were also collected through direct observations in the food laboratory. The results indicated a high level of ignorance of the benefits of quinoa. A lack of knowledge about quinoa can result in smaller economic benefits for those who produce this high protein food, which in most cases are indigenous communities. Keywords: economic, consumption, quinoa, incidence. Resumen El presente trabajo, tiene por objetivo realizar una investigación de mercado, para determinar el conocimiento de los estudiantes universitarios, sobre el valor proteico de la quinua en su alimentación y el poder adquisitivo de la misma. El diseño es de tipo semi experimental y descriptiva. La población en estudio, son estudiantes de la carrera de Agroindustria de la Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo; para la recolección de datos se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta, apoyado en el cuestionario de la encuesta, como instrumento, la cual contiene diez preguntas abiertas y cerradas, basados en los objetivos de la investigación, se consideró una muestra de 192 personas, con la finalidad de obtener datos importantes que han sido analizados y explicados de forma descriptiva en el proceso, así mismo la observación directa que se realizó en el laboratorio de alimentos, mediante pruebas que se realizaron. La quinua es una planta ancestral, cultivada originariamente en los Andes, producto con excepcional valor nutritivo, e importante evolución socio económica de la población Andina. Alimentariamente es considerado un producto natural, ecológico y económico, ya que tiene la misma cantidad de proteína como la carne, puede complementar el alimento diario de cada persona a un costo muy bajo. Los resultados obtenidos, permitieron identificar el nivel de desconocimiento de los beneficios de la quinua, dando como resultado el mínimo impacto económico en quienes producen este alimento proteico, que, en la mayoría de los casos, son comunidades indígenas que buscan emprender. Palabras clave: economía, consumo, quinua, incidencia

Effects of bearing unit, spur or cane, on yield components and bud productivity

Research Note

Strategic planning research through fifty years of Long Range Planning: a bibliometric overview

Long Range Planning (LRP) is the first journal focused on strategic planning. It was created in 1968 by the Long Range Planning Society, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018. This event led to the presentation of a complete bibliometric study aimed at identifying the most significant results that occurred in the journal during this period. For this purpose, bibliometric data were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and two bibliometric approaches were used to analyze the journal's publications: a performance analysis and a graphical mapping of the literature. The first of these uses a wide range of productivity and influence indicators that include the number of publications and citations, the h-index, and citations by paper, among others. The second approach uses the VOSviewer software to deliver a graphical view of the various intellectual connections within LRP. The results of both bibliometric approaches are consistent and confirm LRP as a leading journal in strategic planning and management, with increasing participation of authors and universities from countries around the world

The future of direct cardiac reprogramming: any GMT cocktail variety?

Direct cardiac reprogramming has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach to treat and regenerate injured hearts through the direct conversion of fibroblasts into cardiac cells. Most studies have focused on the reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs). The first study in which this technology was described, showed that at least a combination of three transcription factors, GATA4, MEF2C and TBX5 (GMT cocktail), was required for the reprogramming into iCMs in vitro using mouse cells. However, this was later demonstrated to be insufficient for the reprogramming of human cells and additional factors were required. Thereafter, most studies have focused on implementing reprogramming efficiency and obtaining fully reprogrammed and functional iCMs, by the incorporation of other transcription factors, microRNAs or small molecules to the original GMT cocktail. In this respect, great advances have been made in recent years. However, there is still no consensus on which of these GMT-based varieties is best, and robust and highly reproducible protocols are still urgently required, especially in the case of human cells. On the other hand, apart from CMs, other cells such as endothelial and smooth muscle cells to form new blood vessels will be fundamental for the correct reconstruction of damaged cardiac tissue. With this aim, several studies have centered on the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiac progenitor cells (iCPCs) able to give rise to all myocardial cell lineages. Especially interesting are reports in which multipotent and highly expandable mouse iCPCs have been obtained, suggesting that clinically relevant amounts of these cells could be created. However, as of yet, this has not been achieved with human iCPCs, and exactly what stage of maturity is appropriate for a cell therapy product remains an open question. Nonetheless, the major concern in regenerative medicine is the poor retention, survival, and engraftment of transplanted cells in the cardiac tissue. To circumvent this issue, several cell pre-conditioning approaches are currently being explored. As an alternative to cell injection, in vivo reprogramming may face fewer barriers for its translation to the clinic. This approach has achieved better results in terms of efficiency and iCMs maturity in mouse models, indicating that the heart environment can favor this process. In this context, in recent years some studies have focused on the development of safer delivery systems such as Sendai virus, Adenovirus, chemical cocktails or nanoparticles. This article provides an in-depth review of the in vitro and in vivo cardiac reprograming technology used in mouse and human cells to obtain iCMs and iCPCs, and discusses what challenges still lie ahead and what hurdles are to be overcome before results from this field can be transferred to the clinical settings

The physical structure of the point-symmetric and quadrupolar planetary nebula NGC 6309

We analyse the point-symmetric planetary nebula NGC 6309 in terms of its three-dimensional structure and of internal variations of the physical conditions to deduce the physical processes involved in its formation. We used VLA-D 3.6-cm continuum, ground-based, and HST-archive imaging as well as long slit high- and low-dispersion spectroscopy. The low-dispersion spectra indicate a high excitation nebula, with low to medium variations of its internal physical conditions. In the optical images, the point-symmetric knots show a lack of [NII] emission as compared with similar features previously known in other PNe. A rich internal structure of the central region is seen in the HST images, resembling a deformed torus. Long slit high-dispersion spectra reveal a complex kinematics in the central region. The spectral line profiles from the external regions of NGC 6309 indicate expanding lobes (~40 km/s) as those generally found in bipolar nebulae. Finally, we have found evidence for the presence of a faint halo, possibly related to the envelope of the AGB-star progenitor. Our data indicate that NGC 6309 is a quadrupolar nebula with two pairs of bipolar lobes whose axes are oriented PA=40 and PA=76. Equatorial and polar velocities for these two pairs of lobes are 29 and 86 km/s for the bipolar system at PA=40 and 25 and 75 km/s for the bipolar system at PA=76. There is also a central torus that is expanding at 25 km/s. Kinematical age for all these structures is around 3700 to 4000 yr. We conclude that NGC 6309 was formed by a set of well-collimated bipolar outflows (jets), which were ejected in the initial stages of its formation as a planetary nebula. These jets carved the bipolar lobes in the previous AGB wind and their remnants are now observed as the point-symmetric knots tracing the edges of the lobes.Comment: To be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics; 11 pages, 8 figures, 4 table

Naltrexone Reverses Ethanol-Induced Rat Hippocampal and Serum Oxidative Damage

Naltrexone, an antagonist of �-opioid receptors, is clinically used as adjuvant therapy of alcohol dishabituation. The aim of the present work was to test the effect of 1 mg/kg body weight of naltrexone to revert oxidative stress-related biochemical alterations, in the hippocampus and serum of chronic alcoholic adult rats. Malondialdehyde concentration was increased and glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased in hippocampus and serum of alcohol-treated rats. Naltrexone treatment restored these alterations. The in vitro antioxidant ability of Ntx could not justify these effects considering the doses used. Thus this apparent protective effect of Ntx can only be attributed to its pharmacological effects, as herein discussed.Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia SAF2010-21317 Universidad Catolica de Valencia "San Vicente Martir" 2012-029-001 Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2010/059 AI/ICB-Santander 07/1

Luxación carpometacarpiana del primer dedo asociada a fractura de trapecio

Presentamos un caso de luxación carpometacarpiana del primer dedo asociada a fractura de trapecio. Fue tratada mediante reducción abierta y fijación interna. El resultado obtenido después de un año de seguimiento fue excelente. Sólo hemos encontrado once casos en la literatura y ninguno tratado como el nuestro.A case of carpometacarpal dislocation of the thumb associated with fracture of the trapezium in presented. It was treated by open reduction and internal fixation. The result after a one year follow-up was excellent. We have found only eleven cases in literature and none was treated like ours

Potential Role of Insulin Growth-Factor-Binding Protein 2 as Therapeutic Target for Obesity-Related Insulin Resistance

Evidence from observational and in vitro studies suggests that insulin growth-factor-binding protein type 2 (IGFBP2) is a promising protein in non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes. Accordingly, great efforts have been carried out to explore the role of IGFBP2 in obesity state and insulin-related diseases, which it is typically found decreased. However, the physiological pathways have not been explored yet, and the relevance of IGFBP2 as an important pathway integrator of metabolic disorders is still unknown. Here, we review and discuss the molecular structure of IGFBP2 as the first element of regulating the expression of IGFBP2. We highlight an update of the association between low serum IGFBP2 and an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and low insulin sensitivity. We hypothesize mechanisms of IGFBP2 on the development of obesity and insulin resistance in an insulin-independent manner, which meant that could be evaluated as a therapeutic target. Finally, we cover the most interesting lifestyle modifications that regulate IGFBP2, since lifestyle factors (diet and/or physical activity) are associated with important variations in serum IGFBP2

Estudio de los efectos de algunos psicotropos en el test "Open Field"

Por medio del test "opcn-field" se ha analizado el comportamiento de ratas tratadas con diversos psicotropos ncurolépt icos. antidcpresivos, tranquilizntes, barbitú ricos, psicoana l~pt icos) y asociaciones, entre las que figura la de un IMAO (nialamida) y 5-hidroxitriptofano, precusor de la serotonina cerebral. De los resultados obtenidos se deduce que los neurolépticos dieron lugar a una marcada reducción de la motilidad, en tanto que el clordiacepóxido y el fenobarbilal produjeron el efecto con· trario, probablemente como expresión de un efecto ansiolítico notable. La asociación de nialamida y 5-hidroxitriptofano dió lugar a una reducción muy significativa de la deambulación de las ratas tratadas, sugiriéndose una participación de la serotonina en los circuitos moduladores de la actividad de las ratas. Este descenso de movilidad fue hallado, asimtsmo, con la imipramina, r~lacio nándose también, este fenómeno, con una posible intensificación de sistemas serotoninérgicos. En cuanto a la intervención de los psicotropos sobre las estereotipias y las emisiones de bolos fecales, no se han encontrado resultados capaces de informar con eficacia, sobre la utilidad de estos dos parámetros como medida para la "emotividad"