Restauració del cimbori de la Catedral de Barcelona

Peer Reviewe

Afrontamiento de situaciones de hostilidad y desempeño de la función directiva : planteamientos y reflexiones a raíz de una actividad de formación permanente de directivos de centros educativos de titularidad pública

La intervención ante los conflictos organizativos y, particularmente, el afrontamiento de las situaciones de hostilidad (caracterizadas por la alteración emocional, la tensión, la agresividad verbal, etc.) constituye uno de los aspectos que más preocupa a los directivos de centros educativos y, por tanto, debe otorgársele una atención prioritaria en la formación inicial y permanente para el ejercicio de cargos de dirección y coordinación. El texto recoge algunos aspectos a tener en cuenta en el desarrollo de tales habilidades directivas: a) se establecen las características distintivas; b) se da respuesta al dilema en torno a la existencia de posibilidades de mejora; c) se pone de manifiesto la necesidad de partir de la motivación y la participación activa de los directivos en su propio desarrollo personal y, finalmente, d) se aporta el diseño de un actividad formativa de desarrollo de competencias de afrontamiento de situaciones de hostilidad, dirigida a directivos de centros de educación primaria y secundaria, que se llevó a cabo en Girona, en noviembre de 2005.____________________________________The intervention in the organized conflicts and, particularly, the confrontation of hostile situations (based on the emotional alteration, the strain, the verbal aggressiveness, etc) is one of the aspects that worry the principals of the educative centres and, therefore, a main attention must be given to the initial and permanent training to have managing duties. Throughout the text we take some aspects into account in the development of these managing skills:a) we set the distinctive features; b) we answer to the dilemma about the existence of improvement possibilities; c) we state the need to star from the motivation and the active participation of the principals in their own personal development and, finally, d) we contribute with the design of a training activity to develop skills to confront hostile situations, addressed to the principals of primary and secondary schools, that was done in Girona, in November 2005

Modulation of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Signaling by Medicinal Cannabinoids

Medical marijuana is increasingly prescribed as an analgesic for a growing number of indications, amongst which terminal cancer and multiple sclerosis. However, the mechanistic aspects and properties of cannabis remain remarkably poorly characterized. In this study we aimed to investigate the immune-cell modulatory properties of medical cannabis. Healthy volunteers were asked to ingest medical cannabis, and kinome profiling was used to generate comprehensive descriptions of the cannabis challenge on inflammatory signal transduction in the peripheral blood of these volunteers. Results were related to both short term and long term effects in patients experimentally treated with a medical marijuana preparation for suffering from abdominal pain as a result of chronic pancreatitis or other causes. The results reveal an immunosuppressive effect of cannabinoid preparations via deactivation of signaling through the pro-inflammatory p38 MAP kinase and mTOR pathways and a concomitant deactivation of the pro-mitogenic ERK pathway. However, long term cannabis exposure in two patients resulted in reversal of this effect. While these data provide a powerful mechanistic rationale for the clinical use of medical marijuana in inflammatory and oncological disease, caution may be advised with sustained use of such preparations

Quercetin prevents progression of disease in elastase/LPS-exposed mice by negatively regulating MMP expression

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic bronchitis, emphysema and irreversible airflow limitation. These changes are thought to be due to oxidative stress and an imbalance of proteases and antiproteases. Quercetin, a plant flavonoid, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. We hypothesized that quercetin reduces lung inflammation and improves lung function in elastase/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed mice which show typical features of COPD, including airways inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and emphysema. Methods Mice treated with elastase and LPS once a week for 4 weeks were subsequently administered 0.5 mg of quercetin dihydrate or 50% propylene glycol (vehicle) by gavage for 10 days. Lungs were examined for elastance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Effects of quercetin on MMP transcription and activity were examined in LPS-exposed murine macrophages. Results Quercetin-treated, elastase/LPS-exposed mice showed improved elastic recoil and decreased alveolar chord length compared to vehicle-treated controls. Quercetin-treated mice showed decreased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, a measure of lipid peroxidation caused by oxidative stress. Quercetin also reduced lung inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and muc5AC. Quercetin treatment decreased the expression and activity of MMP9 and MMP12 in vivo and in vitro, while increasing expression of the histone deacetylase Sirt-1 and suppressing MMP promoter H4 acetylation. Finally, co-treatment with the Sirt-1 inhibitor sirtinol blocked the effects of quercetin on the lung phenotype. Conclusions Quercetin prevents progression of emphysema in elastase/LPS-treated mice by reducing oxidative stress, lung inflammation and expression of MMP9 and MMP12.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78260/1/1465-9921-11-131.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78260/2/1465-9921-11-131.pdfPeer Reviewe

Modulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell signaling by medicinal cannabinoids

Medical marijuana is increasingly prescribed as an analgesic for a growing number of indications, amongst which terminal cancer and multiple sclerosis. However, the mechanistic aspects and properties of cannabis remain remarkably poorly characterized. In this study we aimed to investigate the immune-cell modulatory properties of medical cannabis. Healthy volunteers were asked to ingest medical cannabis, and kinome profiling was used to generate comprehensive descriptions of the cannabis challenge on inflammatory signal transduction in the peripheral blood of these volunteers. Results were related to both short term and long term effects in patients experimentally treated with a medical marijuana preparation for suffering from abdominal pain as a result of chronic pancreatitis or other causes. The results reveal an immunosuppressive effect of cannabinoid preparations via deactivation of signaling through the pro-inflammatory p38 MAP kinase and mTOR pathways and a concomitant deactivation of the pro-mitogenic ERK pathway. However, long term cannabis exposure in two patients resulted in reversal of this effect. While these data provide a powerful mechanistic rationale for the clinical use of medical marijuana in inflammatory and oncological disease, caution may be advised with sustained use of such preparations

Una escuela gratuita de diseño: La LLotja

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Disseny d’un espai físic i versàtil per a emprenedors

El present treball pretén dissenyar un producte que cobreixi una necessitat existent en el mercat. L’objectiu és donar suport a emprenedors que basen el seu model de negoci en el comerç online i volen aprofitar els beneficis d’una plataforma física de manera temporal. El projecte neix del concepte del ‘Pop-up Store’, no gaire present en l’àrea metropolitana de Barcelona, on s’ha situat l’estudi per tel de simplificar el gran nombre de conceptes burocràtics que suposa un projecte d’aquestes característiques. Aquesta plataforma física consisteix en un estand prou versàtil i mòbil com perquè sigui atractiu pels usuaris descrits. Per una banda, la versatilitat es veu reflectida, sobretot en un terra tècnic que permet connectivitat elèctrica en tota la superfície de l’estand, maximitzant així els tipus de configuracions possibles. Pel que fa a la mobilitat, el punt clau és l’emmagatzematge: tots els components de l’estand es poden emmagatzemar sobre un palet europeu, que després s’integra en el muntatge de l’espai. Per tal de dur a terme el millor disseny s’han considerat totes les etapes en la gestió de projectes, així com algunes eines per optimitzar el seguiment. Així, per començar s’ha hagut de fer un estudi de l’estat de la tècnica exhaustiu i una definició del context històric i social i tecnològic, seguit del pertinent anàlisi d’usuaris, i priorització de funcionalitats. Un cop dins la fase de disseny ha calgut considerar diferents alternatives, per finalment estudiar la mecànica i el comportament del producte davant les situacions més exigents. A totes aquestes fases se li afegeixen les normatives corresponents, que proporcionen al producte la solidesa necessària. Finalment, en l’estudi de viabilitat econòmica es recapitula per a comparar costos amb productes vistos en l’estat de la tècnica els qual es posicionarien com a competència directa, si més no a nivell de producte i sense tenir en compte la disponibilitat geogràfica. El present document inclou en detall tota la documentació usada i desenvolupada per a dur a terme les fases descrites del projecte

Cathepsin D protects colorectal cancer cells from acetate-induced apoptosis through autophagy-independent degradation of damaged mitochondria

Acetate is a short-chain fatty acid secreted by Propionibacteria from the human intestine, known to induce mitochondrial apoptotic death in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. We previously established that acetate also induces lysosome membrane permeabilization in CRC cells, associated with release of the lysosomal protease cathepsin D (CatD), which has a well-established role in the mitochondrial apoptotic cascade. Unexpectedly, we showed that CatD has an antiapoptotic role in this process, as pepstatin A (a CatD inhibitor) increased acetate-induced apoptosis. These results mimicked our previous data in the yeast system showing that acetic acid activates a mitochondria-dependent apoptosis process associated with vacuolar membrane permeabilization and release of the vacuolar protease Pep4p, ortholog of mammalian CatD. Indeed, this protease was required for cell survival in a manner dependent on its catalytic activity and for efficient mitochondrial degradation independently of autophagy. In this study, we therefore assessed the role of CatD in acetate-induced mitochondrial alterations. We found that, similar to acetic acid in yeast, acetate-induced apoptosis is not associated with autophagy induction in CRC cells. Moreover, inhibition of CatD with small interfering RNA or pepstatin A enhanced apoptosis associated with higher mitochondrial dysfunction and increased mitochondrial mass. This effect seems to be specific, as inhibition of CatB and CatL with E-64d had no effect, nor were these proteases significantly released to the cytosol during acetate-induced apoptosis. Using yeast cells, we further show that the role of Pep4p in mitochondrial degradation depends on its protease activity and is complemented by CatD, indicating that this mechanism is conserved. In summary, the clues provided by the yeast model unveiled a novel CatD function in the degradation of damaged mitochondria when autophagy is impaired, which protects CRC cells from acetate-induced apoptosis. CatD inhibitors could therefore enhance acetate-mediated cancer cell death, presenting a novel strategy for prevention or therapy of CRC.FEDER through POFC – COMPETE and by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through projects PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014 and FCT ANR/BEX-BCM/0175/201

Per què no venim del mono? Una proposta per a la contribució al desenvolupament del pensament crític i creatiu a les aules de batxillerat

En el marc de la matèria de Reptes de Biologia i Geologia, l'alumnat de primer curs de batxillerat ha estat treballant en un projecte per entendre i estudiar la filogènia humana i com s'ha dut a terme el procés d'evolució al llarg del temps. El treball s'ha basat en la lectura i anàlisis de notícies enganyoses o "fake news" per tal de desmuntar alguns mites i creences errònies al voltant del procés d'evolució de la nostra espècie, en contraposició a les principals argumentacions científiques i teories acceptades actualment i a partir de la revisió de diferents articles i publicacions científiques provinents de fonts fiables. En fase final, i com a activitat de transferència dels coneixements adquirits, l'alumnat ha presentat, per grups de treball, diferents comunicacions orals en el marc d'un congrés científic en paleontologia dut a terme a l'aula de ciències. I ha participat a la jornada de divulgació científica a Girona, Ciència en Equip, presentant-hi els resultats del seu projecte de recerca.As part of the subject Challenges in Biology and Geology, first-year high school students have been working on a project to understand and study human phylogeny and the process of evolution over time. The project was based on reading and analysing misleading news or "fake news" to debunk myths and misconceptions about the evolution of our species. This was contrasted with the main scientific arguments and currently accepted theories by reviewing various articles and scientific publications from reliable sources. In the final phase, and as a knowledge transfer activity, students presented different oral communications in working groups during a scientific palaeontology congress held in the science classroom. They also participated in the science dissemination event Ciència en Equip in Girona, where they presented the results of their research project.En el marco de la materia de Retos de Biología y Geología, el alumnado de primer curso de bachillerato ha estado trabajando en un proyecto para entender y estudiar la filogenia humana y cómo se ha llevado a cabo el proceso de evolución a lo largo del tiempo. El trabajo se ha basado en la lectura y análisis de noticias engañosas o "fake news" para desmontar algunos mitos y creencias erróneas en torno al proceso de evolución de nuestra especie. En contraposición a las principales argumentaciones científicas y teorías actualmente aceptadas, a partir de la revisión de diferentes artículos y publicaciones científicas provenientes de fuentes fiables. En fase final, y como actividad de transferencia de los conocimientos adquiridos, el alumnado ha presentado, por grupos de trabajo, diferentes comunicaciones orales en el marco de un Congreso científico en paleontología llevado a cabo en el aula de ciencias. Y ha participado en la jornada de divulgación científica en Girona, Ciencia en Equipo, presentando los resultados de su proyecto de investigación