Obtención de tricepiro resistente a pulgón verde (Schizapis graminum Rondani)

Una línea de tricepiro (triticale x trigopiro) obtenida en la Estación Experimental Agropecuaria de Anguil (INTA fue sometida a pruebas de comportamiento frente al pulgón verde de los cereales, utilizándose como testigo a centeno cv·. Insave F.A., trigopiro Don Noe INTA y avena Suregrain. Dicho tricepiro resultó ser uniformemente sensible al pulgón, lo mismo que el trigopiro Don Noe INTA y la avena Suregrain. El centeno Insave F.A., en cambio, mostró ser altamente resistente. Se sugiere re-elaborar tricepiros con antecesores que. como el centeno mencionado, son resistentes a las razas de pulgón que prevalecen en nuestro país.Director Ing. Agr. Guillermo Cova

Plasma and surface diagnostics of silicon nitride thin film coatings generated by SiH4+NH3 RF discharges.

Although plasma processing in low pressure electric discharge reactors has become an extensive and critical step in the fabrication of microelectronic devices, its development has been carried out mostly empirically so far, by changing external reactor parameters in order to develop the best achievable film properties, whereas the intrinsic state of the plasma has been largely unknown [1, 2]. In this work, silicon nitride (SiN) thin films have been grown on silicon samples and on AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMT) by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE-CVD). The SiN coatings have been produced in a RF discharge reactor, employing SiH4 and NH3 as precursors, at different electric powers and gas flow ratios. During depositions, the plasmas have been characterized by mass and time resolved quadrupole mass spectrometry, and the depletion ratios of parent gases have been observed. Afterwards, the refractive indexes and growth rates of the films have been analysed by ellipsometry, and their composition, by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The electrical characteristics and frequency responses of these films when deposited on HEMT (where they are just usually employed to passivate these devices against current collapses) have been studied too by means of DC, pulsed currents, and small signal RF measurements. The plasma characteristics for the different deposition conditions have been correlated with the subsequent changes in the properties of the films. A comparison with the results previously reported in the literature is addressed

Supervised exercise with or without laser-guided feedback for people with non-specific chronic low back pain. A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Among the most effective therapeutic interventions in non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP), clinical practice guidelines highlight exercise therapy and patient education; However, regarding the combined intervention of exercise and Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE), there is no consensus on the most effective form of exercise. Objetive: To find out what changes occurred after the application of two exercise modalities [Supervised Exercise (SE) and Laser-Guided Exercise (LGE)] and PNE on pain, pain pressure thresholds, disability, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia and lumbar proprioception in subjects with NSCLBP. Methods: Single-blind randomized clinical controlled trial. 60 subjects with NSCLBP. Both groups performed a a total of 16 therapeutic exercise sessions and 8 Pain Neuroscience Education sessions. With the Laser-Guided Exercise Therapy group performing laser-guided exercises. Results: A significant decrease was observed for pain intensity for both groups between baseline and post-intervention and the 3 month follow-up (p < 0.001). There was a significant between-group difference between baseline and post-intervention scores in terms of pain intensity and kinesiophobia in favour of the LGE group. Conclusion: Supervised exercise with or without laser feedback, when combined with PNE, reduces pain intensity, disability, pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia and improves proprioception and PPTs in patients with NSCLBP. At a 3-month follow-up, the combination of LGE plus PNE is most effective for reducing pain intensity

E-learning in “innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship”: Exploring the new opportunities and challenges of technologies

Companies and society demand professionals be able to provide creative solutions with added value as well as to implement them in order to face the arising challenges in the increasingly dynamic environment. Although the transversal competence “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” is essential for engineers that should find innovative solutions to problems, teachers find many difficulties when training and evaluating their students in the scope of the regular courses: large groups, very adjusted time to technical contents. In this context, the School of Industrial Engineering (ETSII) at Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) is aware of the opportunities offered by new information and communication technologies to support teachers in this task while enhancing students’ generic outcomes. For this reason, an e-learning platform has been created on this competence, that offers valuable resources to students to implement this competence throughout the assigned course tasks, and supports teachers prompted to train and evaluate this transversal competence. With this platform, the authors aim to contribute to the still neglected educational aspect of entrepreneurship and address for the first time in an e-learning system its relationship with innovation and creativity

EFFECT OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER ON COPPER BIOAVAILABILITY TO A COASTAL DINOFLAGELLATE

Metal complexation by dissolved organic matter (DOM) is considered to decrease metal bioavailability by lowering the free metal ion concentration, therefore protecting organisms from the deleterious effects of metals (Campbell et al., 2002). In coastal lagoons like Mar Menor, with high terrestrial influence and low exchange with open sea, the levels of both DOM and metals are one or two orders of magnitude higher than in open-waters. In order to verify the free ion activity model (FIAM), copper internalization by Prorocentrum micans, a cosmopolitan dinoflagellate also present in the Mar Menor, was tested in the absence and presence of two types of DOM, commercially available fulvic acids from riverine origin (SRFA) and coastal DOM obtained by ultrafiltration (UF-DOM). The microalgae were exposed to artificial sea water enriched with increasing amounts of Cu65 isotope, at levels from 5 to 100 nM Cu, solely and in combination with DOM. After one-hour exposure, samples were centrifuged and washed and pellets were digested with nitric acid at 90ºC, following Sánchez-Marín et al (2010) and Croteau and Luoma (2005). In parallel, careful measurements of metal complexation by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) were performed and total Cu concentrations were measured by ICP-MS. Preliminary results show that copper internalization by the microalgae increases linearly as a function of labile Cu, both in the absence and presence of DOM, in agreement with FIAM and with labile Cu measurements performed by ASV. Future work might include testing the influence of competing metals, such as Pb or Zn, on Cu internalization, and to study Cu bioavailability in natural samples collected in the Mar Menor, in order to shed light into the factors that control Cu bioavailability in coastal lagoons

The effect of vibration therapy on neck myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled pilot study

[EN] Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-frequency self-administered vibration therapy into myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius and levator scapulae on patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomly assigned into a vibration group, receiving 10 self-applied sessions of vibration therapy in the upper trapezius and levator scapulae trigger points; or a control group, receiving no intervention. Self-reported neck pain and disability (Neck Disability Index) and pressure pain threshold were assessed at baseline and after the first, fifth and 10th treatment sessions. Findings: Significant differences were found in the vibration group when compared to the control group after the treatment period: the vibration group reached lower Neck Disability Index scores (F = 4.74, P = .033, eta(2) = 0.07) and greater pressure pain threshold values (F = 7.56, P = .01, eta(2) = 0.10) than the control group. The vibration group reported a significant reduction in Neck Disability Index scores (chi(2) = 19,35, P = .00, Kendall's W = 0.28) and an increase in pressure pain threshold (chi(2) = 87,10, P = .00, Kendall's W = 0.73) between the assessment times over the course of the treatment. The mean increase in pressure pain threshold in the vibration group after the 10 sessions was 8.54 N/cm2, while the mean reduction in Neck Disability Index scores was 4.53 points. Interpretation: Vibration therapy may be an effective intervention for reducing self-reported neck pain and disability and pressure pain sensitivity in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. This tool could be recommended for people with non-specific neck pain.Dueñas, L.; Zamora, T.; Lluch, E.; Artacho Ramírez, MÁ.; Mayoral, O.; Balasch Parisi, S.; Balasch-Bernat, M. (2020). The effect of vibration therapy on neck myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled pilot study. Clinical Biomechanics. 78:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.1050711978Andrade Ortega, J. A., Delgado Martínez, A. D., & Ruiz, R. A. (2010). Validation of the Spanish Version of the Neck Disability Index. Spine, 35(4), E114-E118. doi:10.1097/brs.0b013e3181afea5dArmstrong, W. J., Grinnell, D. C., & Warren, G. S. (2010). The Acute Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on the Vertical Jump Height. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(10), 2835-2839. doi:10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181e271ccBal, M. I., Sattoe, J. N. T., Roelofs, P. D. D. M., Bal, R., van Staa, A., & Miedema, H. S. (2016). Exploring effectiveness and effective components of self-management interventions for young people with chronic physical conditions: A systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling, 99(8), 1293-1309. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2016.02.012Bishop, M. D., Mintken, P., Bialosky, J. E., & Cleland, J. A. (2013). Patient Expectations of Benefit From Interventions for Neck Pain and Resulting Influence on Outcomes. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 43(7), 457-465. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4492Cagnie, B., Dewitte, V., Barbe, T., Timmermans, F., Delrue, N., & Meeus, M. (2013). Physiologic Effects of Dry Needling. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 17(8). doi:10.1007/s11916-013-0348-5Cagnie, B., Castelein, B., Pollie, F., Steelant, L., Verhoeyen, H., & Cools, A. (2015). Evidence for the Use of Ischemic Compression and Dry Needling in the Management of Trigger Points of the Upper Trapezius in Patients with Neck Pain. 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Self-management interventions: Proposal and validation of a new operational definition. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 80, 34-42. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.08.001Kim, D.-H., Yoon, D. M., & Yoon, K. B. (2015). The Effects of Myofascial Trigger Point Injections on Nocturnal Calf Cramps. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 28(1), 21-27. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2015.01.140151Kraft, K., Kanter, S., & Janik, H. (2013). Safety and Effectiveness of Vibration Massage by Deep Oscillations: A Prospective Observational Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1-10. doi:10.1155/2013/679248Lauche, R., Cramer, H., Hohmann, C., Choi, K.-E., Rampp, T., Saha, F. J., … Dobos, G. (2012). The Effect of Traditional Cupping on Pain and Mechanical Thresholds in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 1-10. doi:10.1155/2012/429718Lluch, E., Arguisuelas, M. D., Coloma, P. S., Palma, F., Rey, A., & Falla, D. (2013). Effects of Deep Cervical Flexor Training on Pressure Pain Thresholds Over Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 36(9), 604-611. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.08.004Lobbezoo, F., Visscher, C. M., & Naeije, M. (2004). Impaired health status, sleep disorders, and pain in the craniomandibular and cervical spinal regions. European Journal of Pain, 8(1), 23-30. doi:10.1016/s1090-3801(03)00061-2Lu, X., Wang, Y., Lu, J., You, Y., Zhang, L., Zhu, D., & Yao, F. (2018). Does vibration benefit delayed-onset muscle soreness?: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Journal of International Medical Research, 47(1), 3-18. doi:10.1177/0300060518814999Lucas, K. R., Polus, B. I., & Rich, P. A. (2004). Latent myofascial trigger points: their effects on muscle activation and movement efficiency. 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Exploiting the Hierarchical Structure of Rule-Based Specifications for Decision Planning

Rule-based specifications have been very successful as a declarative approach in many domains, due to the handy yet solid foundations offered by rule-based machineries like term and graph rewriting. Realistic problems, however, call for suitable techniques to guarantee scalability. For instance, many domains exhibit a hierarchical structure that can be exploited conveniently. This is particularly evident for composition associations of models. We propose an explicit representation of such structured models and a methodology that exploits it for the description and analysis of model- and rule-based systems. The approach is presented in the framework of rewriting logic and its efficient implementation in the rewrite engine Maude and is illustrated with a case study.

Glucose and fructose have sugar-specific effects in both liver and skeletal muscle in vivo: a role for liver fructokinase.

We examined glucose and fructose effects on serine phosphorylation levels of a range of proteins in rat liver and muscle cells. For this, healthy adult rats were subjected to either oral glucose or fructose loads. A mini-array system was utilized to determine serine phosphorylation levels of liver and skeletal muscle proteins. A glucose oral load of 125 mg/100 g body weight (G 1/2) did not induce changes in phosphorylated serines of the proteins studied. Loading with 250 mg/100 g body weight of fructose (Fr), which induced similar glycemia levels as G 1/2, significantly increased serine phosphorylation of liver cyclin D3, PI3 kinase/p85, ERK-2, PTP2 and clusterin. The G 1/2 increased serine levels of the skeletal muscle proteins cyclin H, Cdk2, IRAK, total PKC, PTP1B, c-Raf 1, Ras and the β-subunit of the insulin receptor. The Fr induced a significant increase only in muscle serine phosphorylation of PI3 kinase/p85. The incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes with 10 mM glucose for 5 min significantly increased serine phosphorylation of 31 proteins. In contrast, incubation with 10 mM fructose produced less intense effects. Incubation with 10 mM glucose plus 75 µM fructose counteracted the effects of the incubation with glucose alone, except those on Raf-1 and Ras. Less marked effects were detected in cultured muscle cells incubated with 10 mM glucose or 10 mM glucose plus 75 µM fructose. Our results suggest that glucose and fructose act as specific functional modulators through a general mechanism that involves liver-generated signals, like micromolar fructosemia, which would inform peripheral tissues of the presence of either glucose- or fructose-derived metabolites

Intracellular calcium movements of boar spermatozoa during 'in vitro' capacitation and subsequent acrosome exocytosis follow a multiple-storage place, extracellular calcium-dependent model

This work analysed intracellular calcium stores of boar spermatozoa subjected to invitro' capacitation (IVC) and subsequent progesterone-induced acrosome exocytosis (IVAE). Intracellular calcium was analysed through two calcium markers with different physico-chemical properties, Fluo-3 and Rhod-5N. Indicative parameters of IVC and IVAE were also evaluated. Fluo-3 was located at both the midpiece and the whole head. Rhod-5N was present at the sperm head. This distribution did not change in any of the assayed conditions. Induction of IVC was concomitant with an increase in both head and midpiece Ca2+ signals. Additionally, while IVC induction was concurrent with a significant (p<0.05) increase in sperm membrane permeability, no significant changes were observed in O-2 consumption and ATP levels. Incubation of boar spermatozoa in the absence of calcium showed a loss of both Ca2+ labellings concomitantly with the sperm's inability to achieve IVC. The absence of extracellular calcium also induced a severe decrease in the percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting high mitochondrial membrane potential (hMMP). The IVAE was accompanied by a fast increase in both Ca2+ signalling in control spermatozoa. These peaks were either not detected or much lessened in the absence of calcium. Remarkably, Fluo-3 marking at the midpiece increased after progesterone addition to sperm cells incubated in a medium without Ca2+. The simultaneous addition of progesterone with the calcium chelant EGTA inhibited IVAE, and this was accompanied by a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the intensity of progesterone Ca2+-induced peak, O-2 consumption and ATP levels. Our results suggest that boar spermatozoa present different calcium deposits with a dynamic equilibrium among them and with the extracellular environment. Additionally, the modulation role of the intracellular calcium in spermatozoa function seems to rely on its precise localization in boar spermatozoa