Creating and Validating the DESEA Questionnaire for Men and Women

In clinical practice, it is essential to be able to identify hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), with its different severity levels and assess the influence the subject's relationship has on the issue. In order to do this, questionnaires are needed that comprise appropriate psychometric properties. We analyzed the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Sexual Desire and Aversion (DESEA) questionnaire that evaluates sexual desire and interpersonal stress (relationship problems) in male and female couples. A pilot study was conducted with a group of 1583 people. Finally, it included 20,424 Spanish speakers who answered the questionnaire via an online link. The requirements for factor analysis were verified followed by the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient calculated the reliability of the test scores at 0.834 in the pilot group and 0.889 in the final group. A 3-factor factorial design explains the 62.08% variance. The KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) test (p= 0.904), Bartlett's test of sphericity (126,115.3;p= 0.000010) and the matrix determinant (0.0020770) verified the appropriateness of the factor analysis. The results show that the DESEA questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating desire and interpersonal stress, both in women and men, in clinical and research contexts

Crosstalk between chromatin structure, cohesin activity and transcription

Background: A complex interplay between chromatin and topological machineries is critical for genome architec‑ ture and function. However, little is known about these reciprocal interactions, even for cohesin, despite its multiple roles in DNA metabolism. Results: We have used genome‑wide analyses to address how cohesins and chromatin structure impact each other in yeast. Cohesin inactivation in scc1‑73 mutants during the S and G2 phases causes specific changes in chromatin structure that preferentially take place at promoters; these changes include a significant increase in the occupancy of the − 1 and + 1 nucleosomes. In addition, cohesins play a major role in transcription regulation that is associated with specific promoter chromatin architecture. In scc1‑73 cells, downregulated genes are enriched in promoters with short or no nucleosome‑free region (NFR) and a fragile “nucleosome − 1/RSC complex” particle. These results, together with a preferential increase in the occupancy of nucleosome − 1 of these genes, suggest that cohesins promote transcription activation by helping RSC to form the NFR. In sharp contrast, the scc1‑73 upregulated genes are enriched in promoters with an “open” chromatin structure and are mostly at cohesin‑enriched regions, suggesting that a local accumulation of cohesins might help to inhibit transcription. On the other hand, a dramatic loss of chromatin integrity by histone depletion during DNA replication has a moderate effect on the accumulation and distribution of cohesin peaks along the genome. Conclusions: Our analyses of the interplay between chromatin integrity and cohesin activity suggest that cohesins play a major role in transcription regulation, which is associated with specific chromatin architecture and cohesin‑ mediated nucleosome alterations of the regulated promoters. In contrast, chromatin integrity plays only a minor role in the binding and distribution of cohesins.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivenes BFU2012-38171, BFU2015-63698-PAndalusian Government P12-CTS-227

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction risk in cocaine users in a sample of Spanish men

Sexuality should be able to be experienced in a healthy way. This can be affected by drug use in general and cocaine use in particular. Other aspects that can influence sexuality are anxiety and sexual attitudes. The main aim of this work is to explore and analyse how cocaine use affects men’s sexual response. In the present study, the GRISS (Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function, the SOS (Sexual Opinion Survey) questionnaire to evaluate sexual attitudes, and the STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) questionnaire to measure sexual anxiety. The sample consisted of 471 male cocaine users and 82 male non-users. The sampling was carried out in different treatment centres throughout Spain. The results indicate that male cocaine users score worse on the GRISS questionnaire, indicating a higher likelihood of sexual dysfunction, worse scores on the SOS questionnaire and higher anxiety levels. It is also observed that scores on the GRISS questionnaire did not improve over time. The differences were statistically significant and the initial study hypotheses were confirmed. The practical utility of this research lies in the applicability of these data in addiction treatment centres, and the potential for these centres to enhance specific interventions that promote healthy sexuality

Políticas sociales: ¿mejora en los ingresos sin cambios en la posición económico-social?

Este trabajo se enmarca dentro de una línea de investigación centrada en el estudio de la estructura económico-social y los movimientos sociales en Mendoza llevados a cabo por un equipo interdisciplinario en la Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales de la UNCuyo. Actualmente, el proyecto bianual 2011-2013 de SECTYP, "Estrategias de desarrollo y políticas sociales para una redistribución del ingreso en el marco de un modelo concentrador de la riqueza", tiene como objetivo general analizar y explicar las estrategias y las políticas que posibilitaron la coexistencia de un modelo de crecimiento y concentración de la riqueza, con una redistribución progresiva del ingreso durante el periodo 2003/2010. Partiendo de las conclusiones de una investigación anterior (CORTESE, 2011) y desde una comparación histórica estructural con la década de los 90, podemos afirmar que la distribución del ingreso a fines de 2010, mejoró sensiblemente respecto a 2003. Sin embargo, esta distribución de ingresos no significó grandes cambios en términos de la estructura de clases y la proporción de riqueza social de la cual disponen las clases, fracciones y categorías sociales.Fil: Llano, María del Carmen.Fil: Jara, Laura.Fil: Lema, Sandra.Fil: Cabello, Marina.Fil: Lucero, Mariana.Fil: Raía, Soledad.Fil: Salatino. Noelia

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are directly and indirectly affected byglyphosate application

Fil: Druille, Magdalena. IFEVA. Faculty of Agronomy. University of Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Omacini, Marina. IFEVA. Faculty of Agronomy. University of Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Golluscio, Rodolfo A.. IFEVA. Faculty of Agronomy. University of Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Cabello, Marta Noemí. Instituto Spegazzini. Faculty of Natural Sciences and Museum. National University of La Plata; Argentin

La vivienda social en Hamburgo tras la II Guerra Mundial. De Fritz Schumacher a los “Grindelhochhäuser”

Hamburgo fue una de las ciudades más duramente castigadas de Alemania por la Segunda Guerra Mundial, en parte por las singularidades que la defi nían. Controlaba la práctica totalidad del comercio marítimo, ya que pertenecía a la liga hanseática y, por tanto, era una puerta de entrada y salida de mercancías para Alemania: comida, armas, medios de transporte, productos de lujo con los que fi nanciar la contienda… Además, la situación de la ciudad en el interior del país, pero con acceso directo al mar y su equidistancia a Dinamarca y Países Bajos, así como a la capital alemana, la convertían en un enclave estratégico. El control de Hamburgo suponía poner en jaque al Imperio nazi y los aliados no dejaron escapar la ocasión. Tras la Operación Gomorra en 1943, con más de un 60% de la ciudad reducida a escombros, decenas de miles de muertos y una acuciante necesidad de vivienda, Hamburgo se preparaba para su segunda reconstrucción en 100 años, después del gran incendio de 1842. El debate sobre cómo debía llevarse a cabo y recuperar su identidad, llevó inevitablemente a echar la mirada atrás y valorar las decisiones tomadas por Fritz Schumacher (1869-1947), arquitecto de prestigio que llevaba la gestión urbanística y que consiguió sanear una ciudad que padecía el mismo problema, pero a la vez a considerar que Hamburgo debía ser consecuente con el contexto histórico en el que se encontraba. En este trabajo se analizará en proceso que llevó a tomar las decisiones de cómo debía ser reconstruida Hamburgo y se comparará el cambio en la forma de afrontar el problema antes y después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial mediante una selección de proyectos representativos de vivienda. Del mismo modo, se observará la diferencia en el modo de construir durante la posguerra (1945-1960), tanto en la reforma del interior de la ciudad como en la periferia. Finalmente, y tras evaluar todo en conjunto, se refl exionará sobre la vigencia de estos planteamientos a partir del estado actual de los mismos

Centro deportivo de alta montaña y esquí en Candanchú (Aísa, Huesca).

Este proyecto es realizado a raíz de la necesidad de la sociedad actual de hacer deporte y del análisis de cómo éste configura los hábitos de las personas. Se centra por tanto en el estudio y la ejecución de un Centro Deportivo de Alta Montaña y Esquí en Candanchú, en el término municipal de Aísa en Huesca. Se elige este paraje como un lugar singular en pleno corazón del Pirineo oscense, situado al norte de la comarca de la Jacetania en el valle del Aragón y colindando con la frontera francesa. Dada la falta de conexión entre los edificios y el ausente diálogo de éstos con el entorno natural, hace que Candanchú se perciba como un “no-lugar” sin carácter propio e inconexo. La propuesta pretende no sólo poner en valor el terreno natural de la ladera en la que se sitúa, sino además resolver la articulación espacial del lugar a todos los niveles y dotar a Candanchú de un espacio público y de encuentro que sirva de reclamo para reactivar este enclave tan importante en el desarrollo de las actividades deportivas de montaña.<br /

Glyphosate vulnerability explains changes in root-symbionts propagules viability in Pampean grasslands

Research into the impact of agricultural practices on plant symbionts is essential for understanding the factors that modulate plant community productivity and diversity. Although glyphosate is used worldwide as an herbicide, its effects on root symbionts under natural conditions have not been sufficiently studied. We performed a field experiment to evaluate the influence of glyphosate, used for promoting winter forage production, on the viability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobium propagules and other ecosystem traits in native grasslands. The number of viable propagules was strongly reduced with a single application at the recommended dose. Spore viability reduction was dependent on AMF species. Furthermore, changes in plant community composition and soil salinity were detected, which may eventually influence these symbionts in the future. Considering the low nutrient availability and high root-symbiont dependency of several species with forage value, repeated applications might lead to a loss in the grassland diversity and productivity, decreasing livestock production. Application of sublethal doses of this herbicide could avoid these damages, although success in increasing winter forage production would be less. Our results are relevant for understanding the effects of glyphosate on non-target species and designing sustainable land management systems.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Phosphatidylcholine-coated iron oxide nanomicelles for in vivo prolonged circulation time with an antibiofouling protein corona

We report the synthesis of micellar phosphatidylcholine-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a new long circulation contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Oleic acid-coated Fe3 O4 nanoparticles were first prepared through thermal degradation and then encapsulated into small clusters with a phosphatidylcholine coating to obtain hydrophilic nanomicelles. A thorough characterization confirmed the chemical nature of the coating and the excellent colloidal stability of these nanomicelles in aqueous media. Magnetization and relaxivity properties proved their suitability as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and in vitro cell viability data showed low toxicity. Vascular lifetime and elimination kinetics in the liver were assessed by blood relaxometry and by in vivo MRI in rats and compared with "control" particles prepared with a polyethylene glycol derivative. These micellar particles had a lifetime in blood of more than 10 h, much longer than the control nanoparticles (≈2 h), which is remarkable considering that the coating molecule is a small biocompatible zwitterionic phospholipid. The protein corona was characterized after incubation with rat serum at different times by high-throughput proteomics, showing a higher proportion of bound apolipoproteins and other dysopsonins for the phosphatidylcholine particles. The antibiofouling properties of this corona and its resistance to the adsorption of proteins corroborate the observed enhanced stability and prolonged systemic circulation.This study is supported by a grant from FP7 Marie Curie, Pulmonary imaging network (PINET), by Fundacio La Maratode TV3 (70/C/2012) and by a grant from the Comunidad de Madrid (S2010/BMD-2326, Inmunothercan-CM) and by Spanish Economy Ministry (MAT2013-47303-P). We thank E. Urones (Centro Nacional de Microscopia de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid) for the transmission electronic microscopy imaging; P. Morales (Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de la Universidad Autonoma de Madrid) for the thermogravimetric and magnetization analysis and B. Salinas (Fundacion Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares and CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias) for the TEM picture of oleic acid coated Fe3 O4. The authors declare no competing financial interests.S

Aprendizaje basado en el proyecto de las especies nativas para la Fitorremediación de las aguas drenadas en la mina Tangana en el distrito de Huachocolpa, Huancavelica

The present research aims to evaluate the project-based learning of native species for the phytoremediation of drained waters in the Tangana mine and the bioaccumulation capacity of lead and cadmium through the species putacca (Family apiaceae) and cattail (Scirpus californicus), in the District of Huachocolpa of the Province and Department of Huancavelica (Peru). Applying the instrumental analytical methodology, satisfactory results were obtained for the environment, since both metals (cadmium and lead) were absorbed by these species. In this context, the following conclusions were obtained: a) The concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in drained waters of the Tangana mine were 0.2661 mg Cd / l and 25.7220 mg Pb / l, the quantification of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentration in the cattail species was 0.0007 mg Cd / Kg and 0.0037mg Pb / Kg, the quantification of the concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the putacca species was 0.0020 mg Cd / Kg and 0.0948 mg Pb / Kg). From the above it is inferred that putacca has a higher absorbance than cattail. b) Collaborative learning with the complement of ICTs allows students of different educational levels to reduce the gaps in access to information and interaction with experts in the field.La presente investigación tiene el objetivo de evaluar el aprendizaje basado en el proyecto de las especies nativas para la fitorremediación de las aguas drenadas en la mina Tangana y la capacidad de bioacumulacion de plomo y cadmio mediante las especies putacca (Familia apiaceae) y totora (Scirpus californicus), en el Distrito de Huachocolpa de la Provincia y Departamento de Huancavelica (Perú). Aplicando la metodología analítica instrumental, se obtuvieron resultados satisfactorios para el medio ambiente, pues ambos metales (cadmio y plomo) fueron absorbidos por estas especies. En este contexto, se obtuvieron las siguientes conclusiones: a) La concentración de cadmio (Cd) y plomo (Pb) en aguas drenadas de la mina Tangana fueron 0,2661 mg Cd/l y 25,7220 mg Pb/l, la cuantificación de concentración de cadmio (Cd) y plomo (Pb) en la especie totora fue 0,0007 mg Cd/Kg y de 0,0037mg Pb/Kg, la cuantificación de concentración de cadmio (Cd) y plomo (Pb) en la especie putacca fue 0,0020 mg Cd/Kg y 0,0948 mg Pb/Kg). De lo mencionado se infiere que la putacca posee mayor absorbancia que la totora. b) El aprendizaje colaborativo con el complemento de las TICs permite que los estudiantes de los diversos niveles educativos reduzcan las brechas de acceso a la información e interacción con los expertos en la materia